A crowd gathered Tuesday for the opening ceremonies of the Fall Festival and the ribbon cutting of the Estill Walking Trail.
"It's a great feeling," Estill Mayor Anderson Taylor said. "So many people worked together as a team."
Taylor said the best part about the Fall Festival is seeing the citizens fellowship and enjoy one another, which is just what they did at the opening ceremonies. A crowd of well over 100 walked the trail together after the ribbon cutting.
Estill Town Councilwoman Rozia Burison said she was expecting this fall festival to be even larger than the last one with more activities.
Taylor told the crowd that it was a great day in the town of Estill.
"The walking trail is going to be an asset to our community," said Taylor.
Funding for the walking trail was provided by DHEC and through the efforts of the legislative delegation, S.C. Parks and Recreation, and a grant from Lowe's. Taylor said state Rep. Curtis Brantley was instrumental in the effort to get the walking trail project off the ground.
"I think it is nice what they have done for the community," said Faith Manuel, 14.
Fall Festival committee co-chairwoman Jessie M. Taylor said the committee had worked hard to plan an exciting week.
The Fall Festival kicked off with a Gospel Extravaganza at First Thankful Baptist Church last Sunday and a Kiddie Parade on Monday.
There will be many more activities such as Seniors Day at the Best Manufacturer's building from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Mayor's Bingo on Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bull Durham Center. The cost is $8 to play all night and $1 for each additional card.
On Friday there will be a fashion show at the Bull Durham Center at 7 p.m. The cost is $1 for children and $2 for adults.
There will also be a street dance on Railroad Avenue from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. On Saturday there will be two street dances one on Railroad Avenue and an Oldies but Goodies dance near the Bull Durham Center.
The carnival vendors will be in town Thursday through Saturday. The big event will be the parade on Saturday at 10 a.m., which will feature Thomas and Jennier Dawkins as the grand marshals.
The Dawkins work for Hampton County School District Two. Thomas is an agriculture teacher and Jennifer was the school nurse.
She is on leave right now because she was injured in an altercation at the school. The Dawkins have been in Estill 31 years. They have worked with various young people in choirs and at the school. Together they have worked with 4-H, choirs, Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts.
"I'm honored," said Jennifer. "We've done a lot in the neighborhood but I wouldn't consider it a lot. I am just doing what I think God called me to do."
Thomas echoed his wife's sentiments about being chosen as the grand marshals.
"I am overwhelmed," said Thomas. "I never thought we would even be in the running."
Jennifer said she wanted to thank those who thought so much of her and her husband that they selected them as grand marshal.
"It gives credit for the things we've done," said Thomas. "We love working with the young people."
The Dawkins are from the upstate but say the Estill community embraced them. Robinson said they were chosen for the inspiration that they have given to young people.
Thomas is a 1980 graduate of Clemson University. He has been the agriculture teacher for 31 years and is also the advisor for the Future Farmers of America and an assistant girls varsity basketball coach.
Jennifer graduated from the Walterboro School of Nursing in 1984. She has served in various positions at Hampton Two prior to becoming a school nurse. She worked in District Two for 22 years.
The Dawkins say the best part about working with young people is seeing them be successful and when they come back and say thank you.
"It just makes the labor of love that much more worthwhile," said Thomas.
The Dawkins have been married for 32 years. They attend Goodwill Baptist Church and they have seven children: Kimberly, Eric, Michael, Cedric, Shauntay, Thomas Jermaine and Jarell Deon. They also have five grandchildren.