Ten albums with a total of 635 photographs from last year's festival.

We're glad you're here. We hope you enjoy the activities.

How It Started

The first S.C. Peach Festival in Cherokee County was held as a one-day event in 1977. The next year, Dr. Nathan Lipscomb started the road race.  The first race, a 10K run, was held in July and started at 5pm. It was an out-and-back course starting and finishing at Midway Recreational Park.

Dr. Lipscomb was the director for two years before Lamar Lipscomb, then head of the Bank of Gaffney and sponsor of the road race, asked Herb Smith and Ronald Barrett to co-direct the race.

Mr. Lipscomb accurately measured the 10K to qualify as a sanctioned course, taking the participants along College Drive, Johnson Street, Buford Street, Limestone Street, O'Neal Street, Petty Street and back to College Drive.

Mr. Lipscomb added the 5K run and 1-mile events to the 10K. The start time did change to the somewhat cooler July morning. Mr. Smith and Dr. Barrett, as race directors, organized the events until 1988 or 1990. Dr Barrett not only directed the planning of the road races, he also ran along with the other participants. Don Bridges helped throughout the years of the road race.

Following Dr. Barrett and Mr. Smith, Robbie Sparks held the director's position. Steve Wilson then filled the role. No one, however, has the records of winning times for these early years.   

Currently it is the 5K course that is certified through the U.S. Track and Field. It is the wish of past race director Marc Quick to have the 10K course certified. He served as director from 1998 through 2000. Marc worked with the Spartanburg Running Club to organize and get the word out. He has stayed active on the road race team, serving along with Carlton Bridges, who held the race director position from 2001 through 2007. Carlton brought back the 10K, which had been discontinued for a few years. In 2007 Livia Hazlette worked closely with Carlton and Marc to learn the role of S.C. Peach Festival Road Race Director. She became race director in 2008. 

The decision in 2008 to add walkers to the 5K Dash/Run and combine the 5K Dash, 5K Walk and 10K Run to start at the same time, 7:30 a.m., met with some hesitation but overall acceptance. Participation over the years has steadily increased with the cooperation of the community where the runners and walkers take to the streets. The 5K and 10K 1st- through 3rd-place finishers receive cash prizes. Other finishers receive gift cards and products from area businesses.  

The 1-mile event is extremely popular with first-time enthusiasts, many competing alongside their parents as they head uphill along Griffith Street to College Drive on this out-and-back course. Trophies are provided for the 1-mile event in four age group categories, starting at 6 years-and-under through age 16. 

Many area organizations and businesses support the participation in the road race by providing items for the gift bags that are given to those who sign up early. The sponsorship support is noted on the S.C. Peach Festival Web site.

The Road Race values the volunteer support received from family members, friends, employees of sponsors, the Gaffney High School ROTC, Gaffney Law Enforcement, EMS, and the S.C. Peach Festival Board members and their families. Their support is priceless and a “Thank You” never seems enough.

The Road Race attracts participants from local communities, all across the state of South Carolina, along with surrounding states and those from states further away. A continuing goal for the Road Race is to promote Cherokee County and the runners and walkers striving for a healthy lifestyle.