The Southeast Tourism Society has named Gaffney, South Carolina’s Christmas on Limestone – Laser Light Show one of the STS Top 20 Events in the Southeast.
Travel industry experts select the 20 top events and festivals, and the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) publicizes them throughout the United States. The STS Top 20 Festival and Event Awards have highlighted programs around the southeast since 1985. Their goal is to highlight the efforts of devoted event organizers and provide additional media exposure and accolades for the events.
A few years ago, the City of Gaffney changed their annual Christmas on Limestone event to bring back Gaffney’s nighttime Christmas parade. Combining the two events proved festive and very successful. In 2019, the City and several local business sponsors added the Christmas lights laser show. The combined events drew a weekend crowd of over 10,000 people.
“Everything the City does to put feet on the street is great for all downtown businesses,” stated Kevin Jolley, owner of Liberty Cigar & Coffee Bar. “We had a great night transforming our corner into Whoville with the Grinch as our special guest. Events like these encourage us as small business owners to be creative and add to the event.”
Gayle White, owner of Pieces from the Past Antiques, has been downtown longer than Christmas on Limestone has been an event. “People love the historic downtown and the feel of freely walking along the streets, the way it used to be. Last year’s crowd was the largest ever and was different from the normal crowd. We had many out of town shoppers in the store that night. Some that have been back since to make purchases.”
“For 35 years, STS has been spotlighting the best festivals and events in the Southeast with our Top 20 Festival and Events program. Our goal is to highlight the efforts of devoted event organizers and provide additional media exposure and accolades for their events,” said Monica Smith, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society. “The Southeast offers so many unique, year-round, opportunities for tourists and festival-goers to create memories and support the tourism industry-–a vital economic generator for communities.”
STS Top 20 Festivals and events are considered from communities throughout fourteen southeast regions: Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Virginia, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
“We are extremely excited to learn this incredible news,” says LeighAnn Snuggs, Director of Marketing and Tourism for the City of Gaffney. “This accomplishment and national recognition would not have been possible without community leaders, our downtown businesses, and partners who were willing to sponsor the event.”
If the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, Christmas on Limestone 2020 will be held December 4th (downtown festival, parade & laser show) and 5th (laser show).