The Bamberg TreasureFest Festival is back. The 2008 festival kicks off at 11 am on Friday November 7th and 9 am on Saturday November 8th at the Ness Sports Complex in Bamberg.

The festival which has been cancelled for the last two years because of the road construction of Highways 78 and 301 is back and in full swing.

Courtney Owens of Bamberg was crowned the very first Miss TreasureFest Friday night, November 1st at the Bamberg Civic Center. This was the first annual TreasureFest beauty pageant that was held in Bamberg and was a huge success with 23 participants from Bamberg and surrounding counties. Summer Yoakum won Junior Miss TreasureFest, and Lindsey Darnell of Bamberg won Little Miss TreasureFest. Tiny Miss TreasureFest was Caroline Antley with Amelia Stembridge winning the Wee Miss TreasureFest title.

Renee Crosby of Bamberg was the pageant director and hosted the event for the evening.

Bamberg Mayor Alton McCollum is excited and expects a good turnout at this year’s TreasureFest. “The committee has done a great job in organizing and getting this together and I am proud of them,” said McCollum. “We have lots of exciting things scheduled for both Friday and Saturday and the City of Bamberg welcomes everyone back to this year’s festival.”

The festival is full of events on Friday and Saturday and will have something for all ages to enjoy. There are approximately 40 vendors with food, arts and crafts and just about a little bit of everything to sell.

Saturday there will be lots of entertainment scheduled throughout the entire day with local musicians and singers like Jimmy Still, Marty Clayton, Marion Dobson and David Cooler, along with Otis Brown (formerly of the Drifters) and Norman Bolen with a tribute to Elvis. There will be Salkehatchie story telling throughout the day featuring story tellers, Barbara Still, Thom Bristow and Travis J. Godley. Kids need to sign up and register at 9:30 am on Saturday morning to participate in the ‘Children’s Sidewalk Art’ contest.

Friday will feature Caleb Hartzog’s Petting Zoo beginning at 3 pm, a favorite among children and Air Fun Rental Rides will be open from 6 pm-10 pm. Saturday the Zoo will reopen at 9 am and the rides will open at 12 noon.

The parade will begin at 11 am on Saturday Morning starting at the Ness Sport’s Complex with the lineup beginning at 10:30 am.

The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade will be ‘Bamberg Red Raider baseball Coach’ and ‘Bamberg County Citizen of the Year,’ David Horton and the Red Raider Baseball Team ‘2008 State Champions.’