The public is invited to join park rangers and volunteers for special programs to celebrate SwampFest at Congaree National Park on October 4. SwampFest is a local heritage tourism event, which will take place October 3-4 in Lower Richland County. All park programs are free and begin at the Visitor Center.
Park Program Schedule
9:00 am-5:00 pm: SwampFest Art Competition Entries on display at Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Co-sponsored by the Southeast Rural Community Outreach (SERCO) and the Friends of Congaree Swamp, the competition is an opportunity for young artists to showcase their talent while celebrating the park's wilderness resources.Students were asked to submit art to their teachers, depicting close up views of plants, animals, water, or recreational opportunities found within Congaree National Park. Park staff will select first place and honorable mentions from the entries. The first place entries will receive cash prizes, provided by the Friends of Congaree Swamp and SERCO. All entries will be on display through December.
9:30 am: Nature Discovery Walk
Join a volunteer naturalist to look and listen for animals in the forest along the boardwalk.
10:00 am-12:00 pm &1:00-4:00 pm: Creative Congaree Children's Activities
Meet a park ranger in the screened porch for art activities. Participants may come and go.
11:00 am, 1:00 pm &3:00 pm: Maroon Communities Walk
Join a park ranger on a short walk to hear stories of strength and survival in the Congaree floodplain.
11:00 am-3:30 pm: Boardwalk Briefs Every 30 minutes. A great way to see the park for the first time! Take a stroll on the boardwalk to see why Congaree is called a forest of giants.
A free shuttle will take visitors between the Old Mt. Moriah church site on Old Bluff Rd. and Congaree National Park's Harry Hampton Visitor Center from 11:00 am-4:00 pm on October 4. Additional programs and activities are sponsored by SERCO at the Harriet Barber House and Old Mt. Moriah church site in Lower Richland County. Festival information can be found at http://www.congareeswampfest.com/. Join Congaree National Park on Facebook or Twitter (@congareenps).For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/cong.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
