Spartanburg Spring Fling cancelled, will not return: here is why

Yahoo

05-02-2025

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – The Spartanburg staple has been bringing people downtown since its start in the 70's. Now, city officials said it has 'completed its mission.'
The Spring Fling event goes back decades, to a time when the city told us the downtown area was struggling. They said now, that's no longer the case.
'We don't have that problem anymore,' Christopher George, the City of Spartanburg communications manager said. 'Now it's more about enhancing the downtown environment, because we do have large crowds going downtown when there's no events at all. We are more of a destination now. Now it becomes about how can we support that environment as opposed to trying to lead that the entire time?'
The announcement Tuesday came as a shock to many who have enjoyed Spring Fling for years.
'It's kind of sad; I mean the fact that something that's been going on for a long time and I think a lot of people were expecting it even this year,' said longtime Spartanburg resident, Ralph Brendle. 'And then all of a sudden they find out it's not going to happen.'
Other Spartanburg locals reminisced on the event. 'Gosh it was terrific,' said Chris Barlettano. 'It was a great place for people to come. As a family, kids of all ages, a safe place to come and enjoy the things that we Americans get the opportunity to enjoy. It stinks that they're not going to get to do that any longer.'
George said the city no longer needs to be in a leadership position. He said the city's efforts will go toward enhancing downtown and helping support other smaller events like the Hub City Hog Fest and Cribbs Burger Cookoff.
'The downtown we're creating right now gives us an opportunity to create new memories,' he said. 'It gives us the opportunity to create new experiences'
Without Spring Fling, a common concern of those we spoke with was for the downtown businesses.
'I think the biggest thing is the retail,' said Brendle. 'The people that are downtown now they're looking forward too. The people coming down here and spending some money with them.'
George told us they heard reviews from businesses during Spring Fling, some said they even closed their doors during the festival.
'If we're putting on an event that's meant to bring in customers for folks and what it's actually doing is driving their customers away, then we've got to do some retooling,' he explained.
He said the city is focusing on bringing in a steady stream of visitors to benefit the downtown environment as a whole, on a day-to-day basis.
'The idea is that everyone would benefit from an approach that was more 365 days a year focused,' George said.
He told us a portion of the Spring Fling budget will also go toward the Morgan Square programming. He said once completed, there will be small activities seven days a week, weather permitting.
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