Batesburg-Leesville, SC – 02/11/2021 (Paul Kirby) – The ever-popular SC Poultry Festival in Batesburg-Leesville has been postponed again in 2021. This very difficult decision was made after the Steering Committee met and looked at all aspects of the festival’s planning and the uncertainty of the spring schedule due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2020, The South Carolina Poultry Festival Steering Committee, “Made one of the hardest decisions we ever had to make concerning the festival.” At the time, the pandemic was in its infancy and few knew much about it and how and how long it would impact the lives of Americans. No one anticipated the committee would be in the same position eleven months later and the pandemic would still be an issue of concern.
The Committee said in a prepared statement issued this week that they love presenting the festival each May; however, they must first and foremost think of the safety of the attendees, the volunteers, the vendors, the workers, and everyone who labors to organize the festival or attends. Throughout the past 11 months, they have carefully monitored the COVID-19 situation, consulted the CDC, as well as the SC Department of Commerce. In order to have this and any other large gathering, organizers are required to seek permission for the gathering if it draws more than 250 people. That is the threshold set by the state. The SC poultry Festival has ALWAYS drawn many more people than that and there are no indications that this year would have been any different.
In closing their statement that was posted to social media, the Steering Committee said, “Due to the current climate, we are deeply saddened to announce that we will be postponing this year’s event.”
They said they will continue to plan the festival for May 2022 and will endeavor to bring you the Most Excellent South Carolina Poultry Festival EVER!
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