 |
||
From world-class Healthcare, state recognized Education facilities, and annually increasing Employment, Florence is a great place to be. |
Whether for Business or Pleasure, a visit to Florence is sure to please. Select from the links below to help plan your trip. |
Network yourself within the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce through offices such as the Small and Minority Business Division. |
|
|
Area Information Florence is a community that plays as hard as it works, a quality that is reflected in the abundance and variety of leisure activities. Its accessible location at the intersection of two major interstates paired with its mild climate makes Florence a regional center for sports, shopping, and the arts. Diverse cultural and recreational opportunities enrich the community and stimulate the economy. Whether through sports, shopping or the arts, the Florence area offers something for everyone.
Skip to desired description area: Recreation and Leisure Activities, Shopping, The Arts, or Area Arts Organizations.
Recreation and Leisure Activities
The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce hosts The Pee Dee Air Show and Festival in June each year at the Florence Regional Airport. The festival draws thousands of visitors to see international aerobatic talent, historic and contemporary aircraft, military planes and elite sky diving teams.
Florence provides a thrill of all kinds of sports starting when the Florence Phantoms take the field at the Florence Civic Center in February each year. The Florence Phantoms are a professional indoor football team playing in the American Indoor Football League.
In a traditional Southern sport, NASCAR drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jeff Gordon draw thousands of fans to nearby Darlington Raceway. The "Lady in Black" racetrack had the distinction of hosting the first stock car race run completely on pavement 56 years ago, making it NASCAR's original super speedway. The track was also a featured film location of "Days of Thunder," starring Tom Cruise. In 2005, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series' provided Darlington with the first-ever full weekend of night racing. Besides the action on the legendary "track too tough to tame," race fans can view extraordinary mementos in the NMPA Stock Car Hall of Fame and Joe Weatherly Museum on the raceway grounds.
If local racing is more your style, you'll want to zoom down to the Florence Motor Speedway. With over 200 laps of exciting stock car racing in six classes, from street stocks to the elite NASCAR-type late models, race junkies won't be able to get enough of the local track battles. There are even mini cup races for children ages 3 to 5 and for a lucky ticket holder, you can take a ride with a racecar driver for the thrill of you life. For more information, call 346-7711.
The Florence Red Wolves brought "baseball the way it ought to be" back to Florence. As a college summer baseball team of the Coastal Plain League, the Red Wolves give college-level players a chance to showcase their talent for professional scouts, improve their skills, and gain experience in a minor league atmosphere. From June to August, the American Legion Park adjacent to Memorial Stadium hosts America's favorite pastime, and Florence fans cheer on their hometown team.
Golf is one of the Pee Dee's predominant recreational activities. Golfers appreciate the extended playing season made possible because of the mild climate, as well as the variety of excellent courses in the Florence area. Golfers will find challenging play on exceptional greens among the 30 public and private courses in the area.
Florence also offers collegiate athletic competition at Francis Marion University and at Florence-Darlington Technical College. Francis Marion University has 14 NCAA Division II sports, the most popular of which are men's and women's basketball. Also FMU's Men's Golf Team took home the 2003 NCAA National title. For more information and schedules, visit www.fmarion.edu. Florence-Darlington Technical College offers collegiate NJCAA baseball and softball. More information can be accessed at www.fdtc.edu.
The YMCA, the City Parks and Leisure Service Department, and the County Parks and Recreation Department offer a wide range of sports activities for youth and adults. The 12 public parks in Florence include tennis courts, baseball fields, swimming pools, roller skating/skateboard parks and hiking trails. In addition, Timrod Park and American Legion Field are home base for the annual Spirit of Florence, a day-long community celebration commemorating July 4th.
Lynches River County Park is located just south of Florence, adjacent to Highway 52. The park includes fishing along the river, canoe/kayak rentals, nature trails, picnic areas, camping areas, cabins, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The park also plays host to the Southeastern Bluegrass Association concerts on a monthly basis. Lee State Natural Area, Little Pee Dee State Park, and Woods Bay State Natural Area are short drives from Florence providing convenient day trips for the family.
“Timrod Park commemorates Henry Timrod, the Poet Laureate of South Carolina and the Confederacy and also houses the one-room structure where he taught school and which today stands as a shrine to the poetic genius who gave so much to his beloved State. The park hosts many events, including the annual Spirit of Florence festival, the monthly Concerts in the Park series, the summer Jazz in the Park series, and various tennis tournaments throughout the year. For more information about the Neighborhood and Events in this area visit the website at http://www.timrodpark.com”
Freedom Florence, a premier five-field softball facility, hosts various state, regional, and national tournaments. Freedom Florence also boasts a 10,000 square foot gymnastics center, walking/jogging and biking trails, picnic areas and a lake.
There are many opportunities in Florence for those seeking involvement in athletics. From the youth teams organized by the city and county, to the Florence Area Swim Team to high school sports to fitness clubs, there is something in Florence for every age and skill level.
Another popular attraction is the "Skirmish at Gamble's Hotel - Confederate Reenactment" at The Columns Plantation in March. Numerous members of the local community participate in the dramatic recreation of this Civil War battle.
Florence has a full range of local social, civic, and cultural organization; and these organizations have a wide variety of facilities to hold events and meetings, including numerous restaurants, hotel meeting rooms, and country clubs. The 10,000-seat Florence Civic Center also plays host to a wide array of entertainment and cultural events, including popular music as well as concerts of the Florence Symphony Orchestra. The facility offers ample space for headliner entertainment, sporting events, trade shows, conventions and theatrical attractions. Additional rooms provide more space for meetings, receptions, banquets and social or civic functions.
There are over 500 establishments for dining in the area. Whether fine dining, bistro-style dining, or fast food - Florence has it all! The area also has numerous nightclubs and bars that are an additional attraction to the Florence social scene. Live entertainment, sometimes even national acts, is frequently featured at a number of these establishments. Often popular in these clubs is the "shag," the official dance of South Carolina, which became popular along the Carolina beaches in the 1930s. Florence has even contributed to the development of the dance by being the hometown of famed shag dancer and organized recreation enthusiast Billy Jeffers.
Florence can satisfy and shopper's desire. From bridal shops to craft stores to surf and skate shops, Florence is a shopper's delight. The city is home to several superstores, membership-oriented shopping clubs, malls, and many national retailers that have all made an investment in Florence, providing the Pee Dee region with accessibility to fashions, products, and foods.
On the other hand, locally based companies offer consumers that "hometown" touch that is nearly impossible for a national chain to recreate. Locally owned gift and clothing shops provide the Florence area with a variety of unique products.
Magnolia Mall, the Florence Mall, and an array of antiques and specialty shops throughout the city attract shoppers from outlying communities throughout Florence County and the Pee Dee. Magnolia Mall is a 74-store, enclosed facility with department stores, specialty shops, and restaurants. Magnolia Mall has also made recent expansions across the street adding a new Home Depot, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse with plans to add more stores in the near future. Not far away are independent national vendors, including Target, Goody's, Outback Steakhouse, and Wal-Mart, and just down the street are Sam's Club and Lowe's.
The newly renovated Florence Mall offers a wide variety of stores and shops, from a small formal wear shop to several restaurants, including Atlanta Bread Company, Schlotzsky's Deli and Cold Stone Creamery. Widely known chains such as Piggly Wiggly and Books-A-Million also contribute to the appeal of the Florence Mall.
Some shoppers choose to venture into the heart of Florence to find their consumer goods, where most will be pleased to find a large number of smaller retailers to meet individual needs. Florence has wonderful smaller shops that offer everything from antiques and hardware to books and shoes. The city also has one of the best piece goods stores in the area.
Bargain hunters can take a weekend stroll through the Florence Flea Market to find deals galore. The flea market is open every weekend from 7 am to 5 pm. Both the retailers and the goods vary from week to week, ensuring that each visit is truly unique.
Consumers seeking wares of a more agricultural nature can sample the produce and stop to smell the flowers at the Pee Dee State Farmers' Market. Agriculture, once the backbone of the Florence economy, is still strong in the area. The Farmers' Market is one of only three open-air markets still in operation in the state of South Carolina. The market provides access to numerous area growers and their products throughout the year. A must for any personal calendar is the Southern Plant and Flower Festival in April and the Fall Plant and Flower Festival in October.
Those in the market for a new automobile come from across the Pee Dee to Florence's car dealerships. The city boasts over 30 different dealers, from Toyota to GMC, ensuring that in Florence, you're sure to find the car of your dreams.
Florence, distinguished by a strong and active arts community, has played a vital role in providing cultural events and memorable evenings of entertainment for local, area and regional audiences. Because of recent highly significant investments by the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation, the State of South Carolina via Senator Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., Francis Marion University, the City of Florence, McLeod Regional Medical Center, and Florence County, the Greater Florence Area is emerging as a major civic and cultural center for the Pee Dee Area of Eastern South Carolina.
The Florence Regional Arts Alliance serves as a chamber of commerce for artists, arts organizations and school arts programs and is dedicated to promoting a vibrant arts community for Florence County. Many activities, events and programs offered are supported in part by The Arts Alliance, which resides at 412 South Dargan Street in Downtown Florence. Over the past 22 years, The Arts Alliance has provided over $225,000 in financial assistance to artists, art organizations, schools and teachers through its various grants programs. The Arts Alliance awards two annual Betty Ann Darby Scholarships to Florence County high school graduating seniors pursuing advanced academics or professional degrees in the arts or arts education and annually recognizes the most outstanding graduating seniors in the various high schools arts programs through its Excellence In Arts Education Awards program. In addition, the Arts Alliance collaborates with municipal entities, organizations and the corporate community to offer monthly Concerts In The Park, the annual ArtsFest celebration of the visual arts and fine crafts, and the annual Spirit of Florence July 4 Celebration of Family. Information is available on the web at www.florenceweb.com/artalliance.
The oldest cultural organization in the community is the Florence Little Theatre, which in 2005 was recognized by the State of South Carolina with the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award in the Arts. The Theatre presents an annual season of six productions, comprised of musicals and plays, featuring casts of local talent. In addition, the Theatre offers a Children's Workshop and produces a Summer Youth Production. Currently located at 417 South Dargan Street in the new Downtown Arts and Cultural District, The Theatre is widely considered one of the leading community theaters in the Southeast. Florence Little Theater, despite the Depression and World War II, has been providing excellence in entertainment since 1923. Show times, schedules, and ticket information are available on the web at www.florencelittletheatre.org.
Founded in 1924 and incorporated in 1936, The Florence Museum of Art, Science, and History was established to promote the arts and sciences; to collect, preserve, and exhibit objects of various interests; and to be a cultural resource as well as a cultural outlet for the Pee Dee area. The Museum exhibits focus on science, local history, Pueblo pottery, Asian and archaeological artifacts, and a variety of visual arts. Amongst The Museum's most distinguished collections are four works by internationally acclaimed Florence native William H. Johnson. The Museum hosts regional juried shows and offers special programs for children. The Museum is located at 558 Spruce Street adjacent to Timrod Park. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, 2pm to 5pm.
First conceived in 1948 as a civic band to play in the park on Sunday afternoons, the Florence Symphony Orchestra is one of the few remaining volunteer orchestras in the State of South Carolina and has a long history of performing commissioned works. A staunch supporter of music in the schools, the Florence Symphony Orchestra has organized a Youth Symphony which performs under its auspices. Currently performing at the Florence Civic Center but looking to the future when its performance facility will be the Francis Marion University Center for the Performing Arts, the Symphony offers an annual season of four performances that feature guest performances by local, regional, and national musicians. Concert times and ticket information are available on the web at www.florenceweb.com/florencesymphony.
The Masterworks Choir annually performs two choral concerts of classical music at Central United Methodist Church. Founded in 1979, the 40-voice choir is a highly respected and critically acclaimed regional community chorus. The Masterworks Choir has also performed in Greenville, Charleston, Baltimore, the National Cathedral in Washington, and was universally praised when it performed on tour in Europe.
The South Carolina Dance Theatre, a pre-professional company based at the School of Dance Arts, annually presents The Nutcracker as well as a spring show of varied choreography and dance style. Besides dance, area youth can also participate in learning about the arts through music and fine arts lessons at the Fine Arts Academy or from the many private individual teachers who reside in the area.
Francis Marion University offers a comprehensive schedule of cultural events each year. Francis Marion arts activities range from gallery displays to theatrical productions to choral and orchestral concerts. In addition, the Francis Marion campus is home to the annual Arts Alive festival held each April and the annual Pee Dee International Festival held in September. Students present various concerts, recitals, and plays along with a broad range of visual art exhibits throughout the year. Information about these events is available on the web at www.fmarion.edu.
The high schools of Florence Public School District One offer a variety of marching band, concert and jazz band, orchestra, theatre, and show choir productions at South Florence, West Florence, and Wilson High Schools at little or nominal cost. Information about these programs is available on the web at www.fsd1.org.
Community organizations hold popular arts and crafts events as well. These events include the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior’s Greek Festival in May, Central United Methodist’s Central Market on Election Day and the Junior League’s Merry Marketplace during the fall at the Civic Center.
Timrod Park commemorates Henry Timrod, the Poet Laureate of South Carolina and the Confederacy and also houses the one-room structure where he taught school and which today stands as a shrine to the poetic genius who gave so much to his beloved State. The park hosts many events, including the annual Spirit of Florence festival, the monthly Concerts in the Park series, the summer Jazz in the Park series, and various tennis tournaments throughout the year.
Visitors can also visit the War Between the States Museum and view the various artifacts, pictures, and stories of the period. Located on South Guerry Street, The Museum is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 to 5. Also showcasing the past is the Railroad Museum, a testament to the impact of the railroad industry on Florence’s growth and livelihood in its early years. The Railroad Museum is open during weekends of the summer months from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment. The Railroad Museum is located next to the Florence City-County Complex on Irby Street. Other area historical sites include the Florence National Cemetery, which was opened during the Civil War, and The Columns, a 1,500-acre plantation that hosts a Civil War Reenactment each year.
From music to literary pursuits, there is something for everyone who appreciates the arts in Florence. The Florence Area is committed to the arts and culture and will continue to foster an environment that promotes local, area, and regional artists, arts organizations, and art lovers.
Allegra Literary Club |
Whether its promotion, people, or place the chamber is at the front of the pack with an unequalled reputation for quality programs and outstanding events. |
The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce |
© 2006-2007 - All Rights Reserved - Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce - Legal & Advertising - web architecture by HillSouth