This month’s Daytrippin’ is a trip about 90 minutes from Colleton County to the City of Camden. We took the day and traveled to enjoy their yearly Fire Fest, which kicks off Fire Prevention Week.
This year, the Camden Fire Fest celebrates 30 years of the festival on Saturday, September 26.
The event allows residents and visitors to learn about the importance of fire prevention and fire safety while enjoying live firefighting demonstrations and competitions, a live burn, getting up close to antique fire trucks, and engaging in other live entertainment and games for all ages, and taking part in the Fire Fest Parade that started at City Hall and ended at the Camden Arena.
Downtown Camden is full of activities with numerous antique shops, bars, restaurants, and the very active Kershaw County Farmers Market. There is also a new hotel being constructed downtown that is being built around the town’s iconic clock tower on the corner of Broad and Rutledge Streets.
Originally established in 1732, Camden is the oldest inland city in South Carolina and was known as Pine Tree Hill until the name was changed to Camden in 1768. The city has a population of just over 8,000 residents.
The city has a big equestrian influence and is home to the Carolina Cup and the National Steeplechase Museum. The Steeplechase derives from 19th-century cross-country races in Britain where riders raced toward distant church steeples, jumping natural streams and walls. The first race in Camden was held on March 22, 1930, and has been held every year since, with the exception of 1943 and 1945 during World War II and 2020 due to the coronavirus. The races have become a South Carolina tradition and normally draw a crowd of over 70,000 spectators to the area. The race is held at the Springdale Racecourse, just north of Camden.
Camden is also a key player in the Revolutionary War and home to the Revolutionary War Visitors Center. This large complex is home to a number of historic structures, paths, and a museum. Revolutionary War Field Days are the signature event in Historic Camden. Since 1970, hundreds of re-enactors from across the country converge each November on the grounds to camp, battle, and gather over the weekend. Visitors have a chance to be a spectator for a battle each day, and they will be able to walk through the camps of the combatants while seeing demonstrations of colonial crafts and skills. The event is also educational as scholars give talks about the Revolutionary War. The event yearly draws more than 3,400 spectators and 350 re-enactors and demonstrators.
Camden also has a large Irish influence, and that is evident on the first Saturday of March when Irish Fest Camden draws over 2,000 visitors to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with Irish and Celtic culture. Irish Fest Camden was founded in 2017, and features live Irish music and dancing, the Lucky Leprechaun 5K race, heavy event athletics, and a kids zone. The festival, which draws hundreds downtown, also features arts & crafts, a Medieval/Renaissance encampment, Irish wolfhounds, Gypsy Vanner horses, exotic birds, food trucks, and the traditional green beer.
We did enjoy our day trip to Camden; the 90-minute drive was rewarded with great food, a very unique festival, and time to slow down, relax, and enjoy a leisurely walk around the area.
