The streets of Five Points will be flooded with green once again as South Carolina’s largest one-day festival returns to Columbia on March 14.
Each year, thousands of people from the Midlands and surrounding areas come together for a day of music, culture and community. The festival will last from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
St. Pat's in Five Points will kick off with the “Get to the Green" road race at 7:30 a.m. According to the St. Pat’s in Five Points website, both the 10K and 5K races will have new routes beginning at Maxcy Gregg Park this year. The race is followed by the St. Pat’s Parade at 10 a.m., beginning on Devine Street and ending on College Street. After the parade, families can enjoy a variety of activities for all ages, food vendors and live music.
Heather McDonald, the executive director of the Five Points Association, said that community feedback plays a huge role in the organization of the festival each year.
“We always love to hear feedback," McDonald said. "You can always find ways to make it better and be better.”
Suggestions from previous attendees have led to this year’s expansion of the children’s area, the Pot’O Gold Playland, McDonald said. There will also be the addition of a new dining area in the center of the festival for concessions, The Lucky Fork, so that guests can enjoy new food outside of the vendors and businesses already present in Five Points.
McDonald said music and entertainment are at the center of the St. Pat’s in Five Points Festival, especially because of the unique ability the celebration has to bring together big names and smaller, upcoming artists.
“We say a lot that a lot of times, we get artists on the way up, and then we bring some artists back who’ve kind of been around for a little while," McDonald said. "I think that’s what’s special about St. Pat’s.”
Trae Judy, the talent buyer responsible for booking and curating the musical lineup for St. Pat’s in Five Points, said his role involves bringing together a variety of artists in order to reflect the festival's diverse audience.
“I use my experience and my understanding of the market and what the event is to try to curate something that I think everyone will enjoy,” Judy said. "I try to have as much music as I can for all the different folks."
Judy also said that St. Pat’s in Five Points showcases USC student talent through its partnership with Greene Street Records, the university’s official record label. The festival will feature a new Greene Stage this year that will highlight student artists, including Katie DeMartini, a third-year music industry studies student.
DeMartini is releasing her debut album, "Nobody's Favorite" on March 27 and will be performing a mixture of covers and original songs from the album. She is returning to St. Pat’s in Five Points for her second time, and she is excited about getting to showcase her growth as an artist and to debut some of her new music on a bigger stage.
“It’s more exciting to come back when I feel like I’m better as a performer and have a lot more material,” DeMartini said. "I think I've gotten a lot more comfortable on stage. I've definitely just found my sound more."
DeMartini also highlighted the close-knit music community at USC and the wider Columbia area.
“I think we’re just all very supportive and cheering each other on,” DeMartini said.
McDonald said that students who have never attended the festival before should consider going because the event is a great way for them to spend time with their friends while discovering new music and showing support for their community.
Guests wanting to attend the festival can buy their tickets in advance to save $5 per ticket. Tickets can be bought on the St. Pat’s in Five Points website.