Press: Ridgeland gears up for 'Octurtlefest'

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on October 06, 2000 at 07:11:43:

BEAUFORT GAZETTE (South Carolina) 29 September 00 Ridgeland gears up for 'Octurtlefest' (Brian Whitmore)
Ridgeland: Once they were many - now they are few.
But gopher tortoises still are celebrated in Ridgeland each year.
Gopher Hill Festival 2000 will celebrate "Octurtlefest" on Oct. 6-7 with a street dance, parade, arts and crafts, music, a turtle race and a festival dance.
"We'd like people to come and see what Ridgeland's all about," said Mike Laney, president of the Gopher Hill Festival Committee. "We want them to come and enjoy it with us and become a part of this growing town, if only for the weekend."
About 5,000 people attended last year, and Laney expects a record crowd this year, as the festival moves from Turpin Park to Main Street and the downtown area to show off its recent redevelopment, Laney said.
The $750,000 Ridgeland Redevelopment Project included 300,000 bricks laid, 75 palm trees planted and 83 street lights installed.
"We want to show off downtown and Main Street," Laney said. He said he hopes downtown merchants will stay open during the festival, adding a new dimension to the event.
Also new this year are new types of children's rides (rock climbing, Titanic slide, etc.) and the East Coast Party Band, performing at the Gopher Hill Dance. The second annual antique car show and street dance and a variety of musical stylings by local performers are other highlights.
This year's theme is "Octurtlefest."
"Everyone in the world has Octoberfest, but only Ridgeland has Octurtlefest," said Laney.
The festival mascot, Ridgerunner the turtle, will greet children, and parade participants will be encouraged to dress the part, with feathered hats, suspenders and shorts.
Ridgeland was known as Gopher Hill before the 1880s, because of the abundance of gopher tortoises in the area. The name was changed to Ridgeland by the Plant Railroad, which thought the name more dignified and worthy of a stop.
Gopher tortoises are now a South Carolina endangered species. Only about 200 remain near Ridgeland at the Tillman Sand Ridge Preserve.
A highlight of the festival is the "Great Gopher Turtle Race," but the race doesn't include gopher tortoises, only a variety of domestic critters.
At least one gopher tortoise will be at the festival, brought by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

Ridgeland gears up for 'Octurtlefest'

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: BEAUFORT GAZETTE (South Carolina) 29 September 00 Ridgeland gears up for 'Octurtlefest' (Brian Whitmore) : Ridgeland: Once they were many - now they are few. : But gopher tortoises still are celebrated in Ridgeland each year. : Gopher Hill Festival 2000 will celebrate "Octurtlefest" on Oct. 6-7 with a street dance, parade, arts and crafts, music, a turtle race and a festival dance. : "We'd like people to come and see what Ridgeland's all about," said Mike Laney, president of the Gopher Hill Festival Committee. "We want them to come and enjoy it with us and become a part of this growing town, if only for the weekend." : About 5,000 people attended last year, and Laney expects a record crowd this year, as the festival moves from Turpin Park to Main Street and the downtown area to show off its recent redevelopment, Laney said. : The $750,000 Ridgeland Redevelopment Project included 300,000 bricks laid, 75 palm trees planted and 83 street lights installed. : "We want to show off downtown and Main Street," Laney said. He said he hopes downtown merchants will stay open during the festival, adding a new dimension to the event. : Also new this year are new types of children's rides (rock climbing, Titanic slide, etc.) and the East Coast Party Band, performing at the Gopher Hill Dance. The second annual antique car show and street dance and a variety of musical stylings by local performers are other highlights. : This year's theme is "Octurtlefest." : "Everyone in the world has Octoberfest, but only Ridgeland has Octurtlefest," said Laney. : The festival mascot, Ridgerunner the turtle, will greet children, and parade participants will be encouraged to dress the part, with feathered hats, suspenders and shorts. : Ridgeland was known as Gopher Hill before the 1880s, because of the abundance of gopher tortoises in the area. The name was changed to Ridgeland by the Plant Railroad, which thought the name more dignified and worthy of a stop. : Gopher tortoises are now a South Carolina endangered species. Only about 200 remain near Ridgeland at the Tillman Sand Ridge Preserve. : A highlight of the festival is the "Great Gopher Turtle Race," but the race doesn't include gopher tortoises, only a variety of domestic critters. : At least one gopher tortoise will be at the festival, brought by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

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