Here comes the 42nd Anniversary of Mayfest coordinated by The Rotary Club of Bluffton!
Mayfest, known as The Bluffton Mayfest, is one of the best hometown festivals in the country. ADMISSION IS FREE!! Get ready for an outstanding event!
It features:
- local and regional arts and crafts
- great music
- delectable local foods up and down the street
- our hilarious Ugly Dog contest
- and the messy, funny, pie eating contest
Around the country, the advent of summer is often heralded by the bloom on a rose, an abundance of ripened strawberries, or the return of migrating birds. But around these parts, summer is heralded by “ugly” dogs, faces covered in pie, and shrimp salad that is so tasty it disappears as quickly as the blooms on Wisteria. Here in Bluffton, summer is heralded by the Bluffton Mayfest, an annual tradition held the Saturday before Mother’s Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Old Town Bluffton.
Art and local artists take center stage during the festival, with over 200 arts, crafts, and food vendors.
But it’s the entertainment and activities that create much of the anticipation.
Attendees delight at the sight of their friends, neighbors, and even a few local ‘celebrities’ covered ear to ear with fruit and filling from the annual pie eating contest. The ugly dog contest provides a copious amount of cuteness, and is one of the original and oldest contests of its type in the nation. Don’t forget the shrimp salad sandwiches made and sold by the ladies from The Church of the Cross. People attest that they come to the event from hundreds of miles solely for the tasty treat. They always sell out early, even though the ladies make more and more each year.
The one day event is a great experience for folks of all ages, their families, and even their dogs. After all, it’s a family event, and most Bluffton residents consider their canine part of the clan. In fact, Mayfest is one of the few events in the country where the family pooch is encouraged to come.
The event takes thousands of man-hours, and is organized by the Rotary Club of Bluffton.
The hard work certainly pays off, as the event grows in popularity from year to year. Even though there are vendors and commercial sponsors, the festival is the antithesis of a commercialized fair. You can spend the entire day making unforgettable family memories without ever spending a dime. The Bluffton Village Festival exudes a laid-back attitude. Its unique local flavor exists only in that “Bluffton state of mind.”
It’s the perfect start to your Lowcountry summer!
Admission to the festival is free and sponsored by many local businesses and media sponsors. For more information or to volunteer, call 843-540-7957, visit blufftonmayfest.com, like us on Facebook or email blufftonmayfest@gmail.com.
Source: https://blufftonrotary.org/3988/Page/Show?ClassCode=Page&Slug=history-of-mayfest
