The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival announced the winners of the Annual Bass Fishing Tournament, held as part of the Festival on May 2. There were 22 teams participating.

First place adult team in the tournament was Banks Bowie and Paxton Webb with a total of 26.04 pounds. Second place was Glenn Shealy and John Clary with 23.68 pounds. Third place was Cory Molina and Anson Banson with 19.68 pounds.

Adult Big Fish Winner was Banks Bowie and Paxton Webb with 9.92 pounds. Second in the category as Glenn Shealy and John Clary with 6.92 pounds.

In the Youth under 14 category, first place was Grayson Berry and Luke Berry with 13.64 pounds. Second place as Owen Brown and Sawyer Brown with 10.28 pounds. Third place was Eli Fields with 4.18 pounds.

1st Place Youth Big Fish winner was Grayson Berry and Luke Berry with 3.10 pounds. Second place was Owen Brown and Sawyer Brown with 2.62 pounds.

At this year’s Festival, patrons descended on Johnston to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to open its arms to visitors.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T.

Other Corporate Sponsors are Edgefield County Healthcare, J.W. Yonce and Sons, Spanky’s Service Center/Ridge Auto Parts and Supply, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, KJs Market, Darling Ingredients, Generac, Luck Companies, Bondex, SC Pet Food Solutions, Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop, Meta, SRP Federal Credit Union, National Wild Turkey Federation, Regions Bank, and First Citizens Bank.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Entertainment Sponsor is 3 Star Vineyard and Orchard.

Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Pendarvis Chevrolet, Trantech Radiator Products, Herlong Ford, and Titan Farms.

The Johnston Development Corporation, a non-profit volunteer organization, sponsors the Festival. The Corporation works to aid the community in areas such as economic development, education, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, scientific and cultural opportunities, and continued promotion of Johnston.

Grand Marshal is the Strom Thurmond High School Rebel Football Team and coaches, 2025 2A State Champions

On May 2, the Johnston, SC, Peach Blossom Festival will showcase great entertainment, arts and crafts, food concessions, a parade, and rides, a cruise-in, and much more. The popular Festival is now in its 42nd year.

The parade Grand Marshal this year is the Strom Thurmond High School Rebel Football Team and coaches, 2025 2A State Champions.

The 2025 Strom Thurmond Rebels were led by a group of Seniors who set 4 goals before the season started.

The group wanted to go undefeated at home, win the conference championship, win the upper state championship, and bring home the state championship trophy. The team worked hard to accomplish these goals.

They went 9-0 in the Peach Fields. Rallied from down 14-0 in the 4th quarter for a comeback overtime win 28-26 over Batesburg Leesville and stopped Saluda on the last play of the game to capture the conference championship.

The Rebels made a goal line stop with no time left to defeat Fairfield Central 15-13 to win the upper state championship. Finally, they completed their mission with a dominating 26-7 win over Hampton County, bringing home the first state championship in 20 years. 

The Johnston Development Corp. congratulates the Team, Coaches, and Cheerleaders on this special recognition as Grand Marshal.

Festival Activities

The Festival begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, when crafters and food vendors open and entertainment begins. The parade is held at 10 a.m. A Cruise In will bring in many vehicles for participants to enjoy. The cars will be available for viewing after the parade through about 3 p.m. in the parking lot of All About Performance (formerly Jim Satcher Motors). The Festival will also feature antique tractors, along with old pickup trucks.

All events are held in historic downtown Johnston.

Midway Rides

From April 30-May 2, midway rides will be operating as part of the Festival. The rides, which will be located around downtown Johnston at Calhoun St. near the Post Office, will be held 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 30 and May 1. On the day of the Festival, the rides operate beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Tickets are $1.25 each or 20 for $20 or 45 tickets for $40. Wrist bands are available Friday for $25 and Saturday for $30.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T.

Other Corporate Sponsors are Edgefield County Healthcare, J.W. Yonce and Sons, Spanky’s Service Center/Ridge Auto Parts and Supply, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, KJs Market, Darling Ingredients, Generac, Luck Companies, Bondex, SC Pet Food Solutions, Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop, Meta, SRP Federal Credit Union, National Wild Turkey Federation, Regions Bank, and First Citizens Bank.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Entertainment Sponsor is 3 Star Vineyard and Orchard.

Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Pendarvis Chevrolet, Trantech Radiator Products, Herlong Ford, and Titan Farms.

Thousands of patrons descend on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to open its arms to visitors.

This year’s recipient of the $1,000 Johnston Development Corporation (JDC) Scholarship is Kelley Widell, a Strom Thurmond High School (STHS) Senior.

The scholarship is given to a high school student who exemplifies outstanding community service.

Kelley has been very active in the Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) group. In addition, she has been the acting State President, Vice President, and Chaplain in this organization. She has been a speaker at both the state and national conferences.

Kelley has also been a leader in the C.A.R. William Stroud Society and a member of Mecklenburg Militia Living History Reenactors.

Locally, Kelley wrote 250 thank you letters to Dominion Energy linemen for their hurricane relief efforts in 2024 and made spaghetti plates for the community during Hurricane Helene cleanup efforts, as well as presented doughnuts to honor Johnston’s First Responders in 2025.

She was active in helping with the Believe Prom 3 years and volunteered informing students about the STHS Health Science program at Merriweather and Douglas Elementary School in 2026.

Kelley has been a Page at Daughters of the American Revolution Regents Spring forum, laid wreaths for Wreaths Across America for 2 years, cleaned grounds of the Battle of Hanging Rock for C.A.R. days of service, and has been a speaker at many engagements.

The volunteering opportunities that Kelley has been involved in are molding her into the civic leader God wants us all to be. Congratulations to Kelley Widell and thank you for all you do for your community.

The award is presented each year in the run-up to the Johnston Peach Blossom Festival, sponsored by the JDC. This year’s Festival is May 3.

The popular Festival is also taking applications for individuals, organizations, or businesses interested in being a part of the event in these areas:

• Arts and Crafts: Donna Livingston, (803) 275-7002, P.O. Box 311, Johnston, SC 29832
• Parade: Jenny Herlong, (803) 480-2595, 607 Edisto Street, Johnston, SC, 29832

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T.

Other Corporate Sponsors are Edgefield County Healthcare, J.W. Yonce and Sons, Spanky’s Service Center/Ridge Auto Parts and Supply, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, KJs Market, Darling Ingredients, Generac, Luck Companies, Bondex, SC Pet Food Solutions, Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop, Meta, SRP Federal Credit Union, National Wild Turkey Federation, Regions Bank, and First Citizens Bank.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Entertainment Sponsor is 3 Star Vineyard and Orchard.

Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Pendarvis Chevrolet, Trantech Radiator Products, Herlong Ford, and Titan Farms.

Thousands of patrons descend on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to remind citizens about the peach industry and to open its arms to visitors.

The Johnston, S.C., Peach Blossom Festival entertainment for the day is now set, with a variety of performers for the May 2 event.

The day’s entertainment begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome address by Johnston Mayor Thomas Holmes, which is followed by a Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Josh McClendon, Phillipi Baptist Church. Imelda Shofner, JET Middle School Chorus Instructor and local recording artist, performs National Anthem.

After the National Anthem, the Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle School Chorus will perform.

At 10 a.m., the parade will be held in downtown Johnston.

At 10:45 a.m., North Augusta Baptist Church takes the stage. After that, Wardlaw Academy Chorus will perform.

Beginning at 12:15 p.m., Johnston Elementary School Chorus will entertain the crowd. They are followed by The Hillary Family and Next Generation Cloggers, from Greenwood, SC.

On stage at 2:15 p.m. is the Band of Ages, a classic rock band from the CSRA, celebrating 60s and 70s Pop and Rock. They are followed by Joseph and Jody Woods; Josh Bowles.

The entertainment downtown is free.

From 4-8 p.m. is the After Peach Blossom Festival Music and Dancing at Three Star Vineyard and Orchard with entertainment by Martin and Phillips Blues Revue.

Midway Rides

From April 30-May 2, midway rides will be operating as part of the Festival. The rides, which will be located around downtown Johnston at Calhoun St. near the Post Office, will be held 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 30 and May 1. On the day of the Festival, the rides operate from 11:30 a.m.

Tickets are $1.25 each or 20 for $20 or 45 tickets for $40. Wrist bands are available Friday for $25 and Saturday for $30.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Entertainment Sponsor is 3 Star Vineyard and Orchard.

Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Pendarvis Chevrolet, Trantech Radiator Products, Herlong Ford, and Titan Farms.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T.

Other Corporate Sponsors are Edgefield County Healthcare, J.W. Yonce and Sons, Spanky’s Service Center/Ridge Auto Parts and Supply, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, KJs Market, Darling Ingredients, Generac, Luck Companies, Bondex, SC Pet Food Solutions, Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop, Meta, SRP Federal Credit Union, National Wild Turkey Federation, Regions Bank, and First Citizens Bank.

Thousands of patrons descend on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to open its arms to visitors.

The popular Festival is still taking applications for individuals, organizations, or businesses interested in being a part of event in the areas of:

• Arts and Crafts: Donna Livingston, (803) 275-7002, P.O. Box 311, Johnston, SC 29832
• Parade: Parade: Jenny Herlong, (803) 480-2595, 607 Edisto Street, Johnston, SC, 29832

Citizens can participate in two events that lead into the 42nd Annual Johnston Peach Blossom Festival: A Night of Games sponsored by the Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce and a Friday night street dance.

The Night of Games will be held on Thursday, April 30, 6 p.m., American Legion Building, 99 Edisto St., Johnston. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Chamber programs.

Game cards are $10 for one card or $15 for two cards for 18-20 games.

The street dance will be held Friday, May 1, next to the rides off Jackson St. The dance will run from 7-10 p.m. Spinning the tunes at this year’s Dance will be Elevated AV Productions, Travis Scott.

The popular Festival, which will be held May 2, is also taking applications for individuals, organizations, or businesses interested in being a part of event in these areas:

• Arts and Crafts: Donna Livingston, (803) 275-7002, P.O. Box 311, Johnston, SC 29832
• Parade: Parade: Jenny Herlong, (803) 480-2595, 607 Edisto Street, Johnston, SC, 29832
• Food Concessions: Noah Peterson, (803) 480-0135, P.O. Box 282, Johnston, SC 29832

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Sponsor is AT&T.

Other Corporate Sponsors are Edgefield County Healthcare, J.W. Yonce and Sons, Spanky’s Service Center/Ridge Auto Parts and Supply, Dominion Energy, Bridgestone, KJs Market, Darling Ingredients, Generac, Luck Companies, Bondex, SC Pet Food Solutions, Ole Edgefield Butcher Shop, Meta, SRP Federal Credit Union, National Wild Turkey Federation, Regions Bank, and First Citizens Bank.

The Johnston Peach Blossom Festival Premier Entertainment Sponsor is 3 Star Vineyard and Orchard.

Peach Blossom Festival Entertainment Sponsors are Pendarvis Chevrolet, Trantech Radiator Products, Herlong Ford, and Titan Farms.

Thousands of patrons descended on Johnston each year to enjoy the day set aside to honor the peach industry, which has been so important in the development of the area. Each year, the Town goes all out with the Festival to open its arms to visitors.