Governor McMaster
Porchfest Committee: Wade Cleveland, Judy Benedict, Amy Connor, Dr. Robert Benedict, and Travis Seward (missing: Crimora Carter)
Agency Director, State Historic Preservation Officer, and State Archivist: Eric Emerson, PhD
Preservation South Carolina: John Hildreth, Chair
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2025
Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest Committee Wins South Carolina Heritage Tourism Award
Greenville, SC & Columbia, SC – The Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest Committee is proud to announce that it has been awarded the 2025 Heritage Tourism Award by Preservation South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, and the Office of the Governor. The recognition honors the Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest for its outstanding contribution to heritage tourism and historic preservation in South Carolina.
The award was presented by Governor Henry McMaster during a formal ceremony held on June 18, 2025, at the South Carolina Statehouse, followed by a reception.
This year’s award celebrates the work of the Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest Committee:
Judy Benedict, Robert Benedict, Crimora Carter, Wade Cleveland, Amy Connor, and Travis Seward.
Now in its fifth year, Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest is a free community event that brings people together through music, history, and community spirit. The 2025 festival features 24 musical performances on 12 historic porches in Greenville’s Hampton-Pinckney neighborhood—one of the city’s most storied and beloved historic districts.
About the Heritage Tourism Award
The South Carolina Heritage Tourism Award honors those who effectively utilize South Carolina’s cultural and historical assets to promote and develop tourism, or who use tourism as a tool to support and preserve the state’s rich heritage.
Award criteria include:
- Measurable impact on tourism in South Carolina
- Challenges overcome in executing the project
- Demonstrated commitment to historic preservation and use of exemplary preservation techniques
- Direct involvement with historic buildings, structures, sites, landscapes, cemeteries, or archaeological locations
Since 1995, this award program has highlighted exceptional achievements in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of South Carolina’s architectural and cultural heritage.
About Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest
Founded in 2021, Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest was created to bring neighbors and visitors together through live, family-friendly music experiences while highlighting the importance of historic preservation. The event underscores the cultural value of Greenville’s historic neighborhoods and raises funds to commemorate and preserve the area’s rich history. Funds raised from the event have enabled the committee to purchase and install paid for five (5) South Carolina historic markers in the surrounding area.
To learn more, visit www.hpporchfest.org or follow Hampton-Pinckney PorchFest on Facebook and Instagram.
