The 49th Annual Irmo Okra Strut In South Carolina Celebrates All Things Okra

Every year in September, the unassuming town of Irmo puts on a big party called the Irmo Okra Strut. And even if you snubbed the veggie during childhood or your entire life, this festival offers much more than okra tasting. In fact, it’s so much fun attendance has topped out at 60,000 visitors one year. Irmo’s population is only 11,758 as of 2021! So come along and see what the Irmo Okra Strut in South Carolina is all about.

The Irmo Okra Strut is a two-day event kicking off Friday evening with live music, amusement rides, delicious food, and drinks. Food vendors will be serving until 11 p.m.

Ride-All-Night wristbands are available for purchase, allowing you to ride unlimited rides for an unbeatable price.

The annual Okra Strut parade happens Saturday morning along Saint Andrews Road between Wescott Road and Lake Murray Boulevard.

Following the parade, Saturday Okra Strut festivities begin in Irmo Community Park on Eastview Drive downtown.

You will enjoy attractions on the big stage all day, including local performances, okra eating contests, and lots more.

Admission to the festival is free, but you'll want to bring money for food, drinks, shopping, and amusement rides. ATMs will be available for your convenience.

There will be many vendors with goods to peruse.

Who knows what you might discover? I mean ... Mrs. Bea's Pickles, for example?!

Rumor has it Mrs. Bea can pickle anything, including cucumbers, beats, watermelon skin, and some of the most fabulous chip dip, which you can even put over chicken!

It's a great time for the whole family. So mark your calendar now and make your plans to experience this incredible celebration of a favorite southern vegetable.

The Okra Strut first started in 1974 when the Woman's Club was raising money to build a library for Irmo. The first event was held at Seven Oaks Park with fried okra sold to benefit the fund.

Seven years and thousands of servings of fried okra later, enough money had been raised and Irmo’s first library, located on St. Andrews Road, was built.

Today, the Okra Strut Festival is hosted by the town of Irmo and the money raised is put back into the community through charitable contributions to local civic and school organizations for scholarships and improvements of public areas.

Get all the details about the festival at the Okra Strut Festival website and get updates from the Okra Strut Festival Facebook page. Book a TownePlace Suite to stay in Friday and Saturday evenings or make other accommodations arrangements so you'll be able to enjoy the entire event!