While this year may not feel "typical", the 10-day Come-See-Me Festival kicked off last week with activities and fun for the whole family as we welcome in Spring!
The Come-See-Me Festival is Rock Hill’s annual salute to spring and is considered the largest, all-volunteer festival in South Carolina.
Come-See-Me debuted in the spring of 1962 as a community project to encourage tourists, relatives, and friends to visit Rock Hill during its most beautiful season. What started as a weekend event has grown in popularity and expanded to 10 days.
This year, while in-person events are limited, the festival has carried on its tradition of offering fun contests and activities and will culminate on the 24th with a drive-in Fireworks Show. Here are some of the activities going on now! You can get the full line up by visiting the Come-See-Me Festival website.
April 16-24 ~ Frog Scavenger Hunt:
- Turns out, Glen isn’t the only frog in Rock Hill! There are frogs around Old Town Rock Hill, on the Winthrop University campus, and in Glencairn Garden (where the Festival first began in 1962!). Use the clues on the Come-See-Me Festival app to find the frogs, enter the codes on the app. Participation with the right answers, makes you eligible to win prizes! There are 13 frogs in total, so get hopping before time runs out! Post pictures of your adventure and tag us at #CSMFestival!
April 16 ~ Reverse Parade:
- This year, YOU are the parade! Come join us at the ‘reverse’ parade downtown! Turn on Oakland Avenue from Cherry Road to drive through the parade. Parade floats will be stationary alongside Oakland Avenue between Stewart and Wilson. No walk-up traffic will be allowed this year, but you will be able to drive through and view the parade entries. Be ready to show your red, white, and blue spirit (signs, streamers, anything that can be safely shown from your vehicle) as you drive through the parade route!
April 16 ~ Coloring Contest Submissions Due:
- Show off your coloring skills by entering the Coloring Contest. Entry forms are available here, in the Come-See-Me Coloring Book, and in the Come-See-Me app. Entries must be completed and uploaded online or in the app by 7 pm on Friday, April 16. This year’s Awards Ceremony will be presented virtually on Tuesday, April 20 at 5:30 pm in the Come-See-Me Festival App. Please contact comeseeme@comporium.net for additional information.
April 17 - 24 ~ Broadway Night:
- Video will be available for viewing on this page and on Youtube. Watch any time beginning Saturday, April 17th at 5:00 pm through Saturday, April 24th.
Broadway Night is taking the show from the stage to the screen! The 2021 Come-See-Me Festival has decided the best way to provide a fun and safe Broadway experience this year is by going virtual! Broadway Night is a free event featuring amateur performers from the community. Dance and sing along as these performers entertain you with selections from various Broadway productions.
April 24 ~ Everything Trucks Parade (10-12p):
- Are your kids constantly searching for mighty trucks as you ride around town together? If so, rev up your engines, dump everything, and get in gear because we are sounding the alarm for a fun family experience. This year’s format will be different, but it will still be loads of fun! You and your family can drive through the Everything Trucks lineup to see and hear this year’s amazing truck party! Cancelled in the event of rain.
April 24 ~ Drive-in Fireworks Show:
- The Festival ends with a BANG! Join us at Winthrop Coliseum (South Parking Lot) for a Drive-In Only Fireworks show! Cars can start parking at 8pm, and fireworks will be shot off at 9pm sharp. Tune in to the CSM radio to listen to the Festival’s soundtrack as you watch the fireworks from your car. No tailgating is allowed this year, please remain in your car and enjoy the bright lights and big booms!
Created by C.H. “Icky” Albright, a former Rock Hill Mayor and State Senator, Come-See-Me also was nurtured by Rock Hill resident and nationally acclaimed illustrator Vernon Grant. Grant created Kellogg’s® celebrated gnomes, Snap, Crackle and Pop®. He also created the Come-See-Me Festival’s mascot, Glen the Frog®, of which Grant designed more than 30 different styles. Each year the festival chair selects a new logo and updates its design and colors.
Be sure to visit the historic, award-winning Glencairn Garden, created by Dr. David A. Bigger to experience the beauty and spirit of where the Come-See-Me Festival was born.
