Town of Batesburg-Leesville

09/15/2026

Have you looked at the Batesburg-Leesville town website lately? All the answers to this quiz may be found on it. Go ahead, test your knowledge.

1. In what year did the towns of Batesburg and Leesville officially consolidate?
A) 1974
B) 1988
C) 1992
D) 2001

Answer: The two historic communities merged in 1992 to form the unified Town of Batesburg-Leesville.

2. Which annual festival is famously hosted in Batesburg-Leesville?
A) The South Carolina Peach Festival
B) The South Carolina Poultry Festival
C) The Ridge Chitlin' Strut
D) The Okra Strut

Answer: Held every May, the South Carolina Poultry Festival is the town's signature event, drawing thousands of visitors for food, parades, and entertainment.

3. What major community event is scheduled in town next month?
A) The Foodees Festival
B) The Ridge Spring Harvest Festival
C) The Halloween on Main Street
D) The Midlands Craft Beer Exhibition

Answer: The Halloween on Main event is highlighted on the town calendar as a featured October gathering.

4. Which two counties span the municipal boundaries of Batesburg-Leesville?
A) Richland and Lexington
B) Edgefield and Aiken
C) Lexington and Saluda
D) Newberry and Greenwood

Answer: Batesburg-Leesville is unique for sitting directly on the county line, dividing its footprint between Lexington and Saluda counties.

5. According to public service recycling education, what everyday consumer product can recycled plastic soda bottles be manufactured into?
A) Fleece wear
B) Concrete additives
C) Playground mulch
D) Asphalt pavement

Context: The town's environmental guidelines note that PET plastic bottles are frequently repurposed by manufacturers to spin fiber for cozy fleece clothing.

6. How many recycled plastic soda bottles does it take to create enough fiberfill to stuff a single sleeping bag?
A) 15 bottles
B) 25 bottles
C) 40 bottles
D) 60 bottles

Answer: The town's Trash & Recycling public awareness page emphasizes that 40 recycled bottles can be manufactured directly into sleeping bag insulation.

7. In addition to serving the town, the Batesburg-Leesville Fire Department provides automatic emergency aid to which two entities?
A) Saluda and Lexington Counties
B) Aiken and Edgefield Counties
C) The City of Columbia and Newberry County
D) Richland and Orangeburg Counties

Answer: As noted in public safety logs, the Batesburg-Leesville Fire Department serves its immediate town while holding statewide mobilization and mutual aid agreements with both Saluda and Lexington counties.

8. To ensure a safe environment, what is the policy regarding animals at most major events?
A) All leashed pets are welcome
B) Only small dogs under 20 pounds are permitted
C) Only trained service animals are welcome
D) No animals of any kind are allowed

Answer: Only trained service animals are permitted at large-scale municipal gatherings.

9. Which requirement must an applicant meet to be eligible for a position with the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department (BLPD)?
A) Be at least 18 years old
B) Possess a commercial driver's license (CDL)
C) Be at least 21 years old and a United States citizen
D) Have a 4-year college degree

Answer: The BLPD Career Opportunities portal highlights strict baseline criteria for incoming officers, including US citizenship and a minimum age requirement of 21.

10. Which local, historic drive-in theater—originally opened in 1951—is promoted on the town's website as a staple "Area Attraction" for families?
A) The Highway 1 Drive-In
B) The Ridge Cinema
C) The Big Mo
D) The Carolina Skyline

Answer: Located just minutes away in Monetta, The Big Mo Drive-In theater is actively highlighted in the town's visitor guide as a uniquely preserved historical entertainment destination.

Visit the town's website for all kinds of information: www.batesburg-leesville.org/

09/14/2026

📺 A Little Change of Plans!

Due to a temporary YouTube streaming delay, we will be unable to live stream tonight’s meeting. But don’t worry, the cameras will still be rolling!

🎥 The full recording will be uploaded to our YouTube channel later this week.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as technology keeps us on our toes!

09/14/2026

Thank you, Batesburg-Leesville!

🍗Your stretchy pants, bottomless stomachs, and top-tier Southern hospitality made hosting the Foodees Festival an absolute blast.

🚚 You proved that our food trucks and local crafters are no match for your elite snacking and shopping stamina.

🌟 Why You Rock
Wonderful Appetites: You tried new foods and enjoyed your favorites. 🌮

True Grit: You survived the both the heat and the rain. 🛍️

Warm Welcome: You made our traveling vendors feel right at home. ❤️

Generosity: Our Lexington County School District 3 generously provided the location. What a perfect spot they shared with us! Sorry we made a mess of your pretty grass.

Thank you also goes to Mr. Sawvell and EBA Service Group for sharing their parking lot.

Our street department worked all weekend in the hot sun directing the parking area.

The Foodees staff were superb. We need to start a petition to adopt them.

It really was a memorable weekend. Thank you to everyone involved!

09/13/2026

🚨 LAST CHANCE, BATESBURG-LEESVILLE! 🍔

🔥Today is the final day of the first ever Foodees Fest in our town! If you haven't made it out to the Lifelong Learning Center yet, you are missing out on the biggest flavor party.

The gates are open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM today, Sunday, September 13th —so come hungry and bring the whole family!

Here is what is waiting for you before it's all gone:
🚚 Food Trucks & Vendors serving up smoky Southern BBQ, global street eats, tacos, and crazy gourmet desserts.
🛍️ Artisan Marketplace filled with beautiful handmade jewelry, home décor, and unique gifts from local crafters.

🔥90 Total Food Trucks and Vendors to Visit

🎟️ FREE Admission & FREE Parking!

Don't let the weekend end without grabbin' some incredible food and supporting these amazing vendors. Let's send the very first Batesburg-Leesville Foodees Fest out with a bang! 🎉👇

📍 Where: Lifelong Learning Center (101 W Columbia Ave)
⏰ When: Sunday 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM

09/12/2026

🍔 Heading to the Foodees Fest? We are so excited to welcome you to the ultimate weekend of amazing eats, local culture, and community fun!

Have you seen the list of who is here? Take a look: www.foodeesfest.com/vendors/batesburg-leesville-sc-2026

🅿️ Free on-site parking is available at the former high school athletic field next to the Lifelong Learning Center (101 W Columbia Ave).

📍 Parking Options
🅿️ On-Site Parking: Free parking is right on the venue grounds. Please be sure to follow the 'one way' sign.
♿ ADA Spaces: Accessible spots sit along the fence for easy, flat access to the food truck area as well as in the existing parking lot near the entrance.
🗺️ Mitchell Street Overflow: Located on the west side behind the school buildings and north of Walgreens.
🗺️ Trackside Court Overflow: Located behind KFC, available all day Saturday and Sunday (courtesy of Mr. Sawvell and EBA Service Group).
🚗 Side Streets: Allowed as long as you do not block any homeowner driveways.
🚫 Business Parking: Please respect local businesses and avoid parking in their active lots during the festival. We want to be good neighbors.

🐕Special Note on Pets: To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests, only trained service animals are permitted at this event. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

📍 Event Details
Dates: September 11–13, 2026
Location: The athletic field next to the Lifelong Learning Center, 101 W Columbia Ave, Batesburg-Leesville, SC

Hours:
Friday, Sept, 11: 1 PM – 9 PM
Saturday, Sept. 12: 11 AM – 9 PM
Sunday, Sept. 13: 11 AM – 7 PM

More event information: www.foodeesfest.com/vendors/batesburg-leesville-sc-2026

09/11/2026

Then and Now: The Food Scene

Batesburg-Leesville food history is deeply rooted in its agricultural beginnings as an 18th-century transit hub, eventually evolving into a destination for South Carolina mustard-based barbecue and poultry production.

Before the two towns officially merged in 1992, they served as critical economic markets for the surrounding rural farmlands. Today, the culinary identity of the "Twin Cities" is celebrated through decades-old pit-cooked traditions and community food festivals.

🛒 The Agricultural and Trading Roots
The culinary foundation of the area began long before modern restaurants existed:
• The Stagecoach Era: Leesville initially found its genesis as an 18th-century tavern and stagecoach stop, serving food and providing rest to early travelers.
• Nineteenth-Century Crops: As railroads developed in the late 1800s, the area became a bustling market for regional cash crops, including peas, peanuts, corn, potatoes, onions, and timber.
• The Peach Boom: The surrounding "Ridge" region grew into an incredibly prosperous hub for peach farming and livestock trading.
• Early Supermarkets: By 1929, downtown areas featured brick-and-mortar grocery stores and community hubs that fueled local households, some of which still stand today as preserved historic buildings.

🍖 The Barbecue Boom
Batesburg-Leesville sits firmly within the "Mustard Belt" of South Carolina barbecue, an iconic style brought to the state by German immigrants. The town is home to legendary institutions that put it on the regional culinary map.
• Shealy's Bar-B-Que: Founded in 1969, Shealy's Bar-B-Que is a massive, family-friendly buffet famous across the Southeast. It remains a hallmark of the community, serving up pit-cooked pork slathered in a tangy, bright yellow mustard sauce.
• Hite's Bar-B-Que: Alongside Shealy's, the legendary Jackie Hite's Bar-B-Que solidified the town's reputation as a dual-destination powerhouse for serious barbecue lovers. It was a culinary favorite from 1979 to 2018.

🐓 The South Carolina Poultry Festival
After becoming widely known for its commercial poultry industry, a celebration was launched in 1987 and has run for decades.
• The Scale: Held every May, the South Carolina Poultry Festival draws over 100,000 visitors to the Twin Cities.
• The Food: The three-day festival heavily features local food vendors, celebrating the region's agricultural tie to poultry with massive cookouts, parades, and street food.

🥞 Evolution to Modern Farm-to-Table
In recent years, the food scene has expanded to blend historic, localized ingredients with modern food trends. Local eateries pride themselves on sourcing historic staples, fresh poultry, and local meats to keep the town's deep-running agricultural heritage alive on the plate.

Today, we launch a new tradition with the Foodees Festival. Join us for this 3 day celebration of good eats and great artisans. For more information, go to www.foodeesfest.com/vendors/batesburg-leesville-sc-2026

09/11/2026

Batesburg-Leesville… things are about to get DELICIOUS at 1:00 PM today. 🤤🔥

Foodees Fest is bringing a full weekend of crave-worthy eats, sweet treats, unique finds, and BIG festival energy!

Taste your way through so many food vendors, shop from talented local crafters, artisans, and small businesses, and enjoy entertainment and family-friendly fun along the way. 🎉🛍️❤️

Come hungry, try something new, shop small, and make some memories with your favorite people. And of course, save room for dessert… maybe two.

🎟️ FREE ADMISSION + FAMILY FRIENDLY
Grab your crew and get ready for a Foodees weekend!

📍 Event Details
Dates: September 11–13, 2026
Location: The athletic field next to the Lifelong Learning Center, 101 W Columbia Ave, Batesburg-Leesville, SC

Hours:
Friday, Sept, 11: 1 PM – 9 PM
Saturday, Sept. 12: 11 AM – 9 PM
Sunday, Sept. 13: 11 AM – 7 PM

More event information: www.foodeesfest.com/vendors/batesburg-leesville-sc-2026

09/10/2026