PHOTO BY SUSAN DU PLESSIS
Truckers, dancers and “Mayor of Boykin” Bruce Jackson are regulars at Boykin’s unique holiday gala.
By Kay Gordon
Boykin T
on
he “Road Kill” Cookoff barbecue, a gospel sing and a country
procession of everything from tractors, mules, horses, dancers
and bands to a bevy of bucolic “beauty queens”—and more—
have helped put the rural community of Boykin on the map. The
Parade Boykin Christmas Parade is truly one of a kind. The 10th annual
event is scheduled at 2:30 p.m., December 14. Road Kill Cookoff
barbecue chicken and pork dinner sales begin at noon. A gospel sing
PHOTOS BY ROBERT P. WILKINS
Winter 2003-04 39
at Swift Creek Church, featuring choirs from St.
Stephen and Union Baptist Church, immediately
follows the parade.
Alice Boykin came up with the idea of the
event 10 years ago, gathering several members of
the community for a committee. She and others say
it is a coming together of the community, a celebra-
tion of Christmas and just having fun.
“It’s fun for everybody,” said Larry Westfall,
who chaired the parade committee for the last
seven years. “I believe it gets people in the spirit of
Christmas more than anything.”
Rowland Alston, host of SC-ETV’s “Making it
Grow,” emcees the event with self-proclaimed
Boykin Mayor Bruce Jackson. Alston thinks the
event “epitomizes South Carolina. It’s down-home.
It shows the rural personality of South Carolina.”
The pair ride in the parade with Mayor Pro Tem
Jimmy Moore (also self-proclaimed); then all sit on
the reviewing stand.
Bertha Thompson, who has coordinated the
choirs at Swift Creek Church since the beginning,
said the festivities are more vibrant each year.
“When they come into the sanctuary, they can feel
the Christmas spirit. It’s a wonderful experience of
community coming together.”
John Carmichael, cochairman of this year’s
event with chairman Hank Kerfoot, points to the
festival’s uniqueness. Carmichael, who chaired the
event the first two years, said although the event
has grown, it hasn’t lost its flavor. “It’s still the
same old Boykin parade.”
S
ince the first parade in 1994 with a few hun-
dred spectators and 54 entries, thousands of
people have been marking their calendars for
what’s become a holiday tradition in this Kershaw
County community eight miles south of Camden.
They come from throughout the state and beyond
to spend the day, packing lawn chairs and coolers
to line the two-mile stretch of Boykin Mill Road for
a celebration of community, homespun fun and
Christmas. Some, like Jim and Louise Burns of
Camden, who haven’t missed a single parade, park
their vehicles overnight to ensure a space. By
parade time, cars are parked as far as five miles
away on S.C. 261 and S.C. 521.
Most arrive a couple hours early, not only to
get a space but to buy barbecued chicken and pork
dinners from the Road Kill Cookoff and stroll
through the Boykin Country store, Boykin Mill,
Rosalie’s Cottage, The Broom Place, Swift Creek
Church and Boykin Co. Grille, which also will sell
food, as well as street vendors. Some folks tailgate.
St. Stephen and Union Baptist Church members
40 Sandlapper
ALL PHOTOS ON THESE PAGES BY ROBERT P. WILKINS
entries. There are only a few politicians, and most
of the “beauty queens” aren’t your run-of-the-mill
lovelies. Nancy Tidwell of Rembert, the “queen
person,” invites applicants from a long list who
have a good sense of humor. The Fat Back Queen,
of questionable origin, rides on the top tier of a
float; lesser beauties on the lower tier include the
Grits Queen, Corn Queen, Collard Queen and
Squash Blossom Princess.
Other popular floats include the Swamp
Queens, the “alligator” float and one carrying the
Maxie Branch Boys, who play toe-tapping gospel
and country music.
Bringing up the rear, Santa arrives in differ-
ent ways every year: via combine, manure
spreader, long-horned steer, parachute and, last
year, mule. His mode of arrival is always secret
until parade day.
Most people don’t want to leave. They stick
around after the parade to browse through Boykin,
visit, picnic and attend the gospel sing. Every-
body’s smiling and in the spirit of Christmas and
community—no matter how far they’ve come to
this special place for this special day.
Kay Gordon lives in Rembert, a stone’s throw from
Boykin. She tries to attend the parade every year,
and loves hanging out there year-round.
plan to hold a bake sale at Rosalie’s Cottage, with
proceeds for the Swift Creek Church, scholarships
and other needs in the community. The entire dis-
If You’re Going. . . .
trict is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Road Kill Cookoff plates will be sold at $6 a
B oykin Mill Road extends between S.C. 261 and S.C.
521. From Columbia, take I-20 east to the Sumter/
Camden exit (Exit 98) and turn right on S.C. 521; bear
plate until the food runs out (it has every year, by right on S.C. 261 and follow the signs to Boykin. From
parade time). Proceeds go to Swift Creek Church. Sumter, take 521 toward Rembert; turn left at the Boykin
sign. From Florence, take I-20 west to the Sumter/Camden
Last year, cooks prepared 1,000 plates of chicken or exit and turn left on 521; bear right on 261 to Boykin.
pork, slaw, baked beans, rolls and tea. Allen For information and float applications, call Hank
Wooten coordinates the 10 or 11 volunteer chefs, Kerfoot at Modern Turf, (803) 713-8873, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.,
who start barbecuing about noon the day before Monday-Friday. Entries are free; donations are accepted.
All donations go to the upkeep of Swift Creek Church. A
and cook all night. It’s another example of commu- cash prize is awarded for Most Creative Country Float.
nity spirit. Wooten’s sister, Caroline Lindler, cooks The Boykin Christmas parade is Sunday, December
all the baked beans and oversees the entire “feed- 14. A joggling board building competition is scheduled
ing process” for the masses on parade day. Several Saturday, December 13, with a silent auction of the boards
starting about 1 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit Swift
judges vote, then award a cash prize for the best Creek Church. Boards will be crafted from longleaf pine
pork barbecue. The winner is announced during cut for the event. Visitors can watch the carpenters work.
the parade. The Boykin Company Grille is a popular place for
After mealtime, folks settle down to watch the lunch Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m, and supper
Thursday-Saturday, beginning at 5:30. The Boykin
procession. Last year, between 12,000 and 15,000
Country Store next door is usually open during those
people attended the parade, which featured 100 times. The Mill Pond Restaurant, also a favorite, is open
for dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Susan Simpson’s The Broom
THIS ARTICLE IS SPONSORED IN PART BY MODERN Place is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10:30
TURF, REMBERT. a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Winter 2003-04 41