The snort of antique engines, the sounds of livestock and the boom of cannon are returning to Lake Waccamaw this weekend.
After being cancelled for two years due to the pandemic, Southern Farm Days opens Friday morning, and runs through Sunday. Admission is $10, with veterans, active duty military and kids under 11 getting in free.
Volunteer Robert Mills said the Southern Farm Heritage Association has been hard at work getting this year’s event put together.
“It’s going to be good to be back,” he said.
This is the 12th anniversary of the event. Mills said the association’s goal is to help preserve the history, culture and traditions of the rural lifestyle.
“Very few people remember a lot of what went into farming years ago,” he said. “It’s always been a hard way to make a living, but people don’t understand what it was like to plow a field with a mule, or drive one of those old tractors.”
Traditional agriculture isn’t the only part of the weekend’s activities.
The antique swap meet draws vendors from several states away to ply their wares. An auction on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. will benefit the Boys and Girls Home. Local crafters will also be set up, along with a petting zoo where kids can meet farm animals up close and personal.
The association will be operating its early 20th century sawmill throughout the weekend as well. The sawmill is on permanent display in the area that will eventually become a representation of a typical Columbus County homestead from the early days of the last century. Lumber from the mill is being used to build some of the structures at the homestead.
Horse- and mule-powered plowing will be demonstrated throughout the day Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the homestead as well. Other volunteers will show a variety of nearly-forgotten home and farm life skills, including blacksmithing and open fire cooking.
Native American living historians will give visitors the chance to learn more about the area’s earliest residents. Several reenactment groups will be on hand demonstrating the life and lifestyles of soldiers in the War Between the States, Revolutionary War and other eras. Cannon demonstrations are also scheduled throughout the day at the living history camp.
At noon on Saturday, the Parade of Power – one of the largest antique tractor parades in the state – kicks off the official opening ceremonies. Tractor games and an antique tractor pull are set for Saturday, and a lawn mower pull will take place Sunday, along with the ever-popular kiddie tractor pull.
One of the most popular parts of Farm Days, the Wild West show, is returning this year, along with trick riding demonstrations throughout Saturday.
Southern Farm Days is held at the Boys and Girls Home Events center on Sam Potts Highway in Lake Waccamaw. Parking is free, and a shuttle trolley is available all three days.
