Okra Strut marks 51 years in Irmo

The 51st annual Okra Strut was held last weekend in Irmo. The event ran from 6-11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

On Friday, the celebration began at the Prisma Health Amphitheater inside Moore Park. The opening ceremony began at 6 p.m. The Big Time Band performed until 9 and was followed by Monsters of Yacht, who performed until 11 p.m.

The excitement continued Saturday morning with the Irmo Okra Strut 5K race kicking off at Irmo Village Shopping Center at 7:30 a.m. Afterward, the traditional Okra Strut Parade began at 9 a.m. along St. Andrews Road.

After the parade ended, people made their way to Moore Park for a full day of community festivities. These included a variety of food and beverage vendors such as fresh-cooked okra prepared by the Lake Murray Women’s Club of Irmo.

Children enjoyed amusement park rides including the Ferris wheel along with swings, a bounce house and children’s golf. Artists performing at the amphitheater included the country-western band Dixiana and Elizabeth as Taylor.