SUPER SATURDAY: A day with music, USC sports, pups, friends and more
So many events made for a busy “Super Saturday” this weekend in the Midlands.
People could chose from Bark to the Park in Finlay Park, Hip-Hop Family Day on Main Street, USC baseball at Founders Park, the Palmetto Half Marathon at the Village at Sandhill, and USC’s Garnet & Black and letterman flag football games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Here’s a sampling of the fun and frolic ...
RIVER ROCKS MUSIC FESTIVAL
The River Rocks Music Festival played the perfect soundtrack for a sunny, breezy day by the Columbia Canal.
A laid-back crowd turned out Saturday afternoon to sip beer, soak in sun and enjoy the company of friends, family and fellow music lovers at the annual festival and fundraiser to support the Congaree Riverkeeper.
With the jazzy sounds of the Asheville, N.C.-based band Empire Strikes Brass wafting across the Canalside Esplanade, Aimee Norris and her 5-year-old son, River, relaxed in lawn chairs.
A whitewater kayaking instructor, Norris and her family enjoy supporting River Rocks for the attention it brings to Columbia’s waterways and all they have to offer.
“This year, I hate that we can’t be on the water on the canal, because that’s typically where we do a lot of our volunteering,” Norris said. “My heart and soul is getting people on the water.”
River Rocks was forced to relocate from its traditional location at Riverfront Park because of last fall’s flooding. The move eliminated the water activities that are, typically, a highlight of the festival.
Even so, the Norrises were all smiles Saturday afternoon.
“We always see old friends here, and it’s this fun gathering – great music,” Norris said.
Sarah Ellis
USC’S BASEBALL GAME
Tailgating for the Gamecocks’ afternoon baseball game started with breakfast at “Tanner Pond” early Saturday morning for Robin Clark and his friends.
So named because of the pool of water that forms beneath the shade trees after a heavy rain, “Tanner Pond” is home to Clark-and-company’s weekly tailgates during USC’s baseball season.
“Sunshine, the camaraderie, the fun and, of course, the Gamecocks,” make for an ideal day for Clark.
Clark and his tailgating friends, though, were not among the thousands filing into Founders Park on Saturday afternoon to see USC take on Tennessee in the second game of their weekend series. He had given up his tickets to friends who drove five hours from out of town for a visit.
But Clark was more than comfortable to stay put at “Tanner Pond,” with barbecue roasting on the grill and the game on the radio.
“We like what we see this year,” he said of the team. “We love baseball, and we love tailgating.”
Sarah Ellis
USC’S SPRING GAME
Gamecock fans broke out their garnet and black attire early for the Garnet & Black Spring Game on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Many were eagerly waiting to see how the new players were shaping up under new coach Will Muschamp. Others were enjoying the opportunity to be back in the stadium for a day of football.
Kevin Burleson of Simpsonville brought his son Ethan, 8, for his first game in Williams-Brice Stadium.
“I’m excited to bring him, and I’m excited about the new coaching staff,” Burleson said from the north end zone, adding that Muschamp “has a lot of intensity.”
Down the field near the 50-yard line, Robert Walker and Trevor Gibson said they were not as excited about Muschamp but would always be faithful Gamecock fans.
“We catch all the games during the season,” Walker said.
“Even when we think we’ll lose,” Gibson added.
There weren’t any real winners or losers Saturday, as the team’s offense played the defense.
Shae Tweeddale didn’t care who won, she was just happy to be there.
Tweeddale, an exchange student from Australia, was one of about 500 students to run onto the field before the team.
“I’ve never seen a football game before. The is the first and only game I’ll see here,” Tweeddale said. Luckily, she had friends on hand to explain the rules to her, she said, and had a front-row seat to experience what game day in Columbia is all about.
Erin Shaw
BARK TO THE PARK
Finlay Park was full of wagging tails and wet noses Saturday as hordes of Midlands dogs and their human companions gathered for the eighth annual Bark to the Park.
The walk benefitted Pawmetto Lifeline’s efforts to help homeless pets.
Paul McCravy of Columbia brought his goldendoodle named Grady to the park. “He’s still just a big puppy,” McCravy said of his fluffy 1½-year-old pooch. “He’s trying to meet every dog here and make an acquaintance.”
Chloe, a 6-month-old Yorkie, was at Bark to the Park for the first time with owner Sharon Bethea. Chloe walked in a pink sweater and pink bow, and was getting spoiled with treats from the Pedigree tent, Bethea said. “She gets all kinds of treats.”
Stewart Mungo, husband of Pawmetto Lifeline board chairwoman Deloris Mungo, was out showing his support along with his St. Bernard named Buster.
“He’s a little old for walking,” Mungo said of his 7-year-old dog. “He’s like Marcus Lattimore: He’s had two ACL tears.”
Buster didn’t seem to mind. He slobbered contently while being petted.
“He’s looking for someone to rub his belly,” Mungo said.
Erin Shaw
BASEBALL & SOFTBALL JAMBOREE
Six-year-old Kendall Jenkins, sporting a Spiderman baseball mitt on Saturday, is looking forward to his first year playing baseball for the Hyatt Park Braves.
He joined hundreds of boys and girls in a rainbow of team jerseys lining the Hyatt Park baseball field Saturday at the kickoff jamboree for the city’s youth baseball and softball season.
More than 450 children will play on 39 teams, according to Scot Riley, an athletics specialist for Columbia Parks and Recreation, who said participation has grown each of the past three years.
“They learn discipline, they learn to respect people and to do things the right way in life,” said Brookland Baptist coach Kevin Simmons, who has coached youth baseball for more than 20 years after growing up playing himself.
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin threw the ceremonial first pitch Saturday to christen the season that begins Monday.
“These are Columbia’s children,” Benjamin said before taking the pitcher’s mound. “We’re going to invest in them as much as we can so that they can live up to their God-given potential.”
Sarah Ellis
USC LETTERMAN FLAG FOOTBALL
More than 100 former Gamecock lettermen took part in a flag football game on the north end of Williams-Brice Stadium before the Garnet & Black Spring Game on Saturday. The vibe was more fun than fierce in the good-natured competition.
Marcus Lattimore was a fan favorite, but he had another No. 21 to contend with: former USC running back Ryan Brewer.
The biggest cheers of the game, however, were for Randy Wheeler, a former Gamecock who was paralyzed in an automobile accident in 1998. He scored the game-winning touchdown for the Garnet squad.
After the game, the alumni players gathered at midfield and mingled until the start of the Garnet & Black Spring game. They signed autographs after the game.
Erin Shaw
HIP-HOP FAMILY DAY
The four elements of hip-hop culture – deejaying, rapping, dance and graffiti – converged with a family-friendly atmosphere at the annual Hip-Hop Family Day festival, the culmination of Columbia’s weeklong Love Peace & Hip-Hop celebration.
“It’s amazing. I love to see the people come out and represent true hip-hop,” said Shane DePree, a break dancer with the Dynamic Rockers crew that traveled from New York to perform before hip-hop legend KRS-One later in the day.
Until then, DePree would be showing off his break dancing, or “B-boying,” moves on Main Street and teaching the crowd about the art of the dance.
“I think it’s always pretty much a positive thing to see,” DePree said. “I think they’re captivated by it and want to know more about it and enjoy watching it.”
Hip-hop, DePree said, is “a culture. It’s everything about how you dress, walk, speak. And everything that has to do with the culture, it’s here today.”
Sarah Ellis
PALMETTO HALF MARATHON
The clang of Faith Amick’s bell rang out over the pumping pop music and intermittent cheers at the Palmetto Half Marathon finish line Saturday morning.
“It helps to ring the bell because you can’t yell that long,” Amick said as the fast finishers trickled toward the race’s end at the Village at Sandhill.
Amick said she was out cheering for all runners, although she had on a pink shirt in support of one runner in particular.
Amanda Peake Glover collapsed and died at the finish line of the Palmetto Half Marathon last year. She was 32, with a husband and four children. Many runners and spectators wore pink shirts with the words “Live Life Loud” in her honor.
Glover’s mother, Cindy Peake, was at the finish line Saturday handing out medals – and sometimes a hug – to runners in pink shirts. She described her daughter as a small person with a big personality whose favorite color was pink.
“She’d be so proud of all these people here,” Glover said.
Erin Shaw
This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 11:02 AM with the headline "SUPER SATURDAY: A day with music, USC sports, pups, friends and more."