COLUMBIA, S.C. — Thousands gathered in Columbia for the 42nd Annual St. Pat's in Five Points Festival.
Rachel Talbot with the Bang Back Pinball Lounge said Saturday was their third and biggest Saint Patrick's event, and they sold out their VIP tickets. She said the last week has been packed with preparations.
"Me and my crew, we stayed in the back room doing things constantly: making koozies, making decorations, all of the really important details, getting things set up for the EDM show," she said. "This is the weekend, and it's so cool and it's absolutely so fun to see all of Columbia come together."
Restaurants and bars hosted outdoor services, vendors sold food and other merchandise, and six stages welcomed 40 bands and performers. According to organizer Trae Judy, around 35,000 people called Five Points home for the day.
"The community buys into it, the merchants buy into it, the surrounding neighborhoods buy into it," he said. "It allows us to do our job and create something cool and unique for the city. There's 600, 700 volunteers, and we've got several hundred city employees or CPD."
In the morning, a mile-long parade traveled down Devine Street with Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickennmann passing out candy. He said the festival serves as an economic driver in the city.
"It kind of kicks off the spring. In a month, we'll have this whole town packed with people here for the Masters, and then we get into the spring game, and then we roll into baseball and then everything," he said. "It's a really kick-off for the spring."
John Robert Barth, the co-owner of the Flying Biscuit in Five Points, said they had a full staff serving people outside near the Green Fountain.
"It took a lot of planning; I'm not going to lie about that," he said. "We got it. Everything came together. We have a few extra people here to help us out. Business at the restaurant comes in waves, but being down here allows us to be in the mix, in the fold, and a part of it."
The event draws thousands, many from other parts of the state or outside South Carolina. First-time visitor Stanley Engle moved from Ohio and was trying all the Southeast's St. Patrick's events.
"We were in Tybee last weekend, Camden the weekend before, so Five Points today and Lexington tomorrow," he said. "This place is great—different stages, vendors, it's just wonderful."
Lexington will host its St. Patrick's Day parade at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
