SWANSEA -- Tons of summer fun at on tap in Swansea this weekend at the 2nd Annual Family Festival and Parade.

The theme of this year’s festival, which is sponsored by the Mt. Pleasant Swansea Outreach Foundation, is “Families United Hand in Hand.”

According to Barbara Rivers, sponsorship coordinator, and Linda Butler, festival coordinator, the purpose of the festival is to promote community awareness and advance outreach ministries and fellowship among families in Swansea, Gaston and other local communities. Among the programs previously supported by the Foundation are Harvest Hope Food Bank, Chosen Generation Summer Camp, Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, After-School Care, Youth Ministry Mentoring Program and Sister Sister Ministry.

Cindy Dibble, one of the festival planners, said the event will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 11, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 12.

Dibble said all of the events, with the exception of the parade, will be held at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church located at 505 South Church Street. She said the parade will start at the Swansea High School parking lot at 10 a.m. Saturday. The procession will follow Highway 6 to U.S. 321, turn left at Highway 692 and end at the Monroe Pinkney Administration Building. Both the North High School Band and the Savannah High School Band will be featured entries in the parade.

A Houdini’s World magic show will highlight the live stage entertainment which will also include a puppet show, a martial arts demonstration by United Christian Martial Arts and choirs from various area churches. Youth groups will perform stepping, miming and praise dancing.

Carnival ride enthusiasts can purchase a $15 wrist ticket and ride all day.

Other amusements include clowns, arts and crafts and face painting. Food concessions will be available, and there will be other vendors with souvenirs, mementos and festival T-shirts for sale.

Dibble said two special components of the festival this year will be an ice cream eating contest and a cruise-in car show from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday. Race cars, antique cars and many others will be on display for car lovers to enjoy.

For more information on the festival or to purchase ride tickets in advance, call the Outreach Foundation at 803-568-2722.

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