PICKENS — The Pickens Azalea Festival, scheduled for April 19-20, is bringing in a major country band to close the two-day event Saturday evening.

Little Texas, a group that has earned several top ten records on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks, as well as a platinum and double platinum for albums, will take Center Stage Saturday night.

“This year’s Azalea Festival is going to be big, and we wanted to end it in a big way,” Russ Gantt, director of the event, said. “Little Texas is a popular country band in this area, and we are lucky that their schedule includes a performance in Pickens.”

The band was formed in Nashville in 1988, and signed with Warner Brothers Records in 1991, and released their first album, “First Time For Everything.” The single, “Some Guys Have All The Love,” was listed at 8 on the billboard charts. That debut album itself earned a gold certification.

Two years later, the group’s album “Big Time” reached double platinum, followed by the platinum album, “Kick A Little” in 1994.

In recent years, Little Texas has released two additional albums, including “The Very Best of Little Texas: Live and Loud” and “Missing Years” under the Montage Music Group label.

“The Azalea Festival Committee is excited that we are able to schedule such an admired and well-liked band like Little Texas for Saturday night’s Center Stage,” Gantt said. “Their music holds something for that everyone can enjoy.”

Little Texas will be performing their repertoire of songs, which will include “God Blessed Texas,” “Life Goes On,” “My Love,” “What Might Have Been,” “Kick A Little,” “First Time For Everything,” and “Some Guys Have All The Love.”

“Being a part of a performance by Little Texas will be something to remember,” Gantt said. “It’s going to be a great evening for music.”

In addition to the music, other forms of entertainment, including a magic act, and the ever-popular Pet Pageant, will be occurring Saturday.

“Everyone who has either participated in the Pet Pageant or watched it on stage really enjoyed it,” Gantt said. People owning pretty amazing pets are invited to simply show around 12 noon with their leashed animals in tow to be a part of the pageant on the main stage next to the court house, he said.

Kids of every age will have a good time at the amusement rides, operating in Legacy Square, and offering a variety of rides, games and treats such as cotton candy, Gantt said.

Saturday will also be a banner day for area artists and craftsmen as Pickens’ Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic to allow for a myriad of vendors to set up booths displaying their talents, and offering unique and wonderful items for sale, Gantt said. Visitors to the 29th annual Azalea Festival will be able to find paintings and photography, metal and wood crafting, hand sewn items, and baked goods, he said.

“So far, we have some 75 artists participating in the festival,” he said.

The Azalea Festival kicks off Friday morning with “Your Carolina with Jack and Kimberly” airing live from 10:00AM -11:00AM near court house and main stage. The show will highlight the festival, four local businesses and Pickens County, Gantt said.

WSPA, Channel 7 will also broadcast live their weekly entertainment show “Scene on 7” from the Azalea Festival Friday night from 7:30pm – 8:00pm.

“We are truly glad to have WSPA, Channel 7 as the title sponsor of this year’s festival,” he said. “WSPA, with the station’s programming and news teams, has been a vital part of Pickens County for as long as anyone can remember.

“They are like family, a part of our family,” he said. “And it is certainly exciting to have Jack Roper and Kimberly Kelly to kick off the Azalea Festival by bringing “Your Carolina” to Pickens.”

Friday evening will see the streets of Pickens fill with classic vehicles of every make and model, as the festival gets underway with the Classic Car Cruise-In, Gantt said.

“It is amazing to see these vehicles of years past,” he said. “The owners have worked diligently to bring these classics back to their former glory years.

“It really is something to see,” he said

Also, on Friday evening, the Tams, a Beach Music/Rhyme &Blues/Smooth Soul group that has been performing for over 40 years, will take center stage on Friday evening.

This still popular group has earned two Gold records and a Platinum single for such hits as “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy,” “What Kind of Fool,” and “I’ve Been Hurt.” Original member Charles Pope, who co-founded The Tams in 1959 with his brother, the late Joe Pope, will be performing with the group

“The Tams and Little Texas, arts and crafts, amusements rides, entertainment of all sorts, and an airing of “Your Carolina with Jack and Kimberly,” & the entertainment show “Scene on 7” Gantt said. “What better place or better way to spend a weekend than in Pickens at the Azalea Festival.”

For a listing of schedule events, or to participate as an artist/crafter visit our website pickensazaleafestival.org. The Pickens Azalea Festival is sponsored by the Pickens Chamber of Commerce and the Azalea Festival Committee.