Spittoono

From ClemsonWiki

Spittoono (or Spitoono in alternating years), is an annual music festival held at the Clemson National Guard Armory baseball field in Clemson, South Carolina in late August to provide mostly wholesome entertainment and raise money for charity.

1 General Info
2 Flash! - July 2007 Update!
3 Contact Info
4 External Links

[edit] General Info

Bands play for the exposure, and no admission is charged for access to the grounds. Money is raised through the sale of cold beverages and the annual t-shirt designed by artist Tom Freeman. Over $45,000 dollars has been raised for regional charities by the festival.

Organized by a loose confederation of Esso Club regulars under the identity of the Redneck Performing Arts Association (RPAA), in 1981, the three-day festival moved to the Armory grounds in 1991.

Spitoono XXV: Enduringly Redneck, was held 25-27 August 2005 but reports of Spitoono's demise proved premature. Despite the organizers getting older and more weary, public response and support was such that Spitoono XXVI will be held on August 24-26 2006. Over $4,800 was raised over expenses for donation to charity.

UPDATE : 7/26/06

The dog is lying around with its tongue lolled out, the cat’s in heat, and the kudzu is nearly in bloom. It must be getting close to SPITTOONO time! It’s time to get the wheels back on the pickup out in the yard, stock up on Red Man, and head on down to Clemson for the premier Redneck Festival.

Yep, it’s the one that started them all. SPITTOONO was here before Bubba Fest and before The Redneck Games. Now redneck festivals are popping up all over the country. But those ne’er-do-wells in the RPAA have been doing this for TWENTY SIX YEARS! And they know how to do it RIGHT!

You like beer?? We’ve got lots of it. Good and cold. You like fashion? We’ve got the best in redneck wear in the form of the classic SPITTOONO T-shirt… designed and drawn by our own Tommy Freeman. Spittoono T-shirts will make you look your best whether you are attending a wedding, a goat-roping, or a circumcision. Music?? We’ve got LIVE music from 6 p.m. ‘til we close for three nights straight. And SPITTOONO’s bands are the best in the Upstate, all together on one weekend.

And here’s the best part: admission is FREE! All you need to do is show up. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket or a used tire to sit on. We ask that you bring NO COOLERS and NO GLASS CONTAINERS onto the festival grounds. We throw this party to raise money for our local charities, so we ask that you do NOT bring in your own beer and food, but rather purchase it on the field.

The RPAA is full of new faces this year. The elder statesmen of the group are stepping down (or is that stumbling?) after 25 years and new drunks are moving in. Most noticeable at the festival will be the appearance of a new emcee. In addition to being the emcee, Jeff Pekarek will also run the production end of Spittoono. There will also be all new faces at the beer tent (on the selling side of the bar, anyway), and the duties of webmaster have already been turned over. We can’t find Doyle Puckett, our Ambassador of Cultural Exchange. I’m sure he’s passed out somewhere, but as soon as he sobers up, I’m sure he’ll be giving up his job also.

SPITTOONO is brought to you by the Redneck Performing Arts Association, a 501.c.(3) charitable organization. SPITTOONO XXVI will be held on August 24, 25 & 26 beginning at 6 p.m. each evening at the Clemson National Guard Armory ballfield in Clemson.

[edit] Flash! - July 2007 Update!

Here it comes again! Duck! It’s SPITTOONO XXVII!!

Yep, those rampaging rednecks are on their way back to Clemson, armed to the teeth with Red Man chewing tobacco and last year’s cozies, ready to show the Upstate of South Carolina how to REALLY throw a party! They’re gathering up stuff to sit on (blankets, lawn chairs, cinder blocks, old tires) so they can kick back with their favorite beverage and listen to the best live music that the Upstate has to offer. Spittoono 27 kicks off Thursday night, August 23rd at 6:00 pm. Friday and Saturday also begin at 6:00 pm. It ends each night when the music is done. BEER SALES WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING AT 2:00 A.M.!

The shows consist of just about any genre of music available…from bluegrass to country, to blues, to rock…18 bands in all! It’s by far the best party in the Upstate. And it’s FREE!! There’s no charge for admission. Zero. Nada. All the RPAA asks is that you do NOT bring coolers or glass containers onto the field. Buy your refreshments at the festival. And buy a Spittoono T-shirt. Sales of refreshments and shirts is how we raise money for the many local charities we contribute to.

There’s a tobacco spitting contest, our primary redneck performing art, and a beer chugging contest. These will be held at a time to be announced later by Jeff, the emcee. Clogging, dancing, hooting and hollering is likely to break out unannounced at any time.

Doyle Puckett, our previous Ambassador of Cultural Exchange, hasn’t been heard from. We suspect either 1) an alien abduction, 2) an injury from trying to ride his moped with 3 six-packs in his arms, or 3) a return to his previous home, the gated community known as the Oconee Law Enforcement Center.

Bring: A Blanket or Chairs to sit on, A Party Attitude, Pets and Kids --- Don’t Bring: Guns, Fireworks, Stupid People, or Coolers.