Egg Scramble Jamboree kicks off today

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

LAMAR — Tri-county residents won't have far to go to attend one of the state's most popular and prestigious festivals.

The Lamar Egg Scramble Jamboree begins today in downtown Lamar with carnival rides and begins in earnest on Friday with vendors offering food, arts and crafts.

Saturday will be the festival's big day with a parade, car shows, a karate exhibition, musical entertainment and an evening beach music blast.

Mayor Bobby Hudson said all roads lead to Lamar this weekend.

"We are excited about the upcoming Egg Scramble Jamboree and hope everyone will be coming out to the event," he said. "This is a long-standing tradition in Lamar, and town council wishes everyone will have a great time. We have a small town atmosphere with big city flair."

Victor Pizzurro, director of development and planning, said the Egg Scramble has a proud history in South Carolina.

"The festival has been a part of the town since the early 1980s," he said, "and we have many special events planned for all the public to enjoy. We look forward to everyone in the Pee Dee and abroad coming out to enjoy the festivities."

Lamar's annual festival was established as a salute to the Egg and I farm, one of the largest independent egg producers in the world. In its heyday, the farm, located just outside the town limits, had a million chickens producing 10,000 cases of eggs a day, which is roughly about 1.6 billion eggs a year.

Pizzurro said the farm is still in operation.

Visitors to this year's jamboree can expect to see eggs prominently featured on displays and decorations throughout town.

Organizers said the festival's varied activities promise to appeal to the entire family. Most of the festival, except Saturday's Beach Blast and carnival rides, is free to the public.

The Beach Blast will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Pearl Street Warehouse located near West Main Street.

Featured performers are Sent by Ravens, Mudfish Jones and Summertime Legends.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 on Saturday. Attendees are allowed to bring their own beverages, but IDs will be required.

Friday night's entertainment will feature Lamar's own Grover Windham and Prisoners of Freedom, a southern rock band.

Saturday's highlights will include a parade at 11 a.m. and entertainment on the downtown stage beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The festival will end on Sunday with a Gospel Fest beginning at 2 p.m. at the downtown library park. Featured performers will include Danny Wainright Ministries, New Direction and Mike Parnell.

For more information, visit the Web site: www.townoflamar.com or call (843) 326-7304.



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.