Free fantastic family fun in Forest Acres
By Mimi M.Maddock
Mimi@TheColumbiaStar.com

(l- r) Omar Itani of Brennen Elementary School and Matthew Hubbard of Satchel Ford Elementary School stop to enjoy Dr. Sims Thompkins booth at the Forest Acres Festival.

A special kind of festival was held on the A.C. Flora High School Athletic Field May 12, 2007. It was free.

Free admission

Free parking

Free rides

Free magic show

Free pony rides

Free face painting

Free live music

Everything was free except food and drinks.

George Shissias of the Forest Acres Rotary Club and head of the festival, said many families have never been able to afford festivals in the Midlands. A woman with seven children told him this was the first festival she had ever been able to bring her children to.

This festival also had special events for the very young. A separate area was available where they could play games, and everyone of the children went home with a prize.

Nick Propst, magician, with George Shissas of the Forest Lake Rotary Club and head of the Forest Lake Festival

Schools performed everything from dance to karate, local bands played, Cocky and Blaze appeared, local restaurants sold food and drinks, and arts and crafts were available.

The City of Forest Acres and the Forest Acres Rotary Club made this festival possible. This was the eighth year of the festival but the first time it has been free.

Rotarians worked hard to get sponsors who provided money or activities or equipment. The sponsors included Trenholm Plaza Merchants Association, Regions Bank, First Citizens, Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors, Jim Hudson Lexus, Arthur State Bank, Air Waves Heating & Air Inc., Ace Glass Company, Dr. H. Sims Tompkins Orthodontics, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Fast Signs on Two Notch, Bruegger's, South Carolina Bank and Trust, Wachovia, Forest Lake Travel, First Community Bank, La- Z- Boy, South Carolina Federal Credit Union, Carpet One, First Palmetto Savings Bank, F.S.B., Shane's Rib, Shacl, Bank of America, Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals, State Farm Insurance, Carolina First, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, Terminix, H. Rubin Vision Center, Allied Waste Services of Columbia, First Cellular, BB&T, EdVenture, Fran's Restaurant, Sen. Joel Lourie, and S.C. Rep. Joan Brady.

Mark Williams, city manager of Forest Acres, said it was his third festival and was the best so far. Chief Sealy and his officers estimated 4,000 people attended.