SIX MILE — Visitors to this year’s Issaqueena Festival have a chance to have a good time for a low price while discovering more about Six Mile’s charm and unique history.

This year’s Issaqueena Festival will be held 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

“We have a lot of free stuff this year,” said Diane Talbert with the Issaqueena Festival committee. “We’ll have lots of stuff for the community to enjoy.”

The Issaqueena Festival takes its name from the story of Issaqueena, a Creek Indian maiden who, after hearing of a planned Cherokee attack on settlers, rode 96 miles to warn the settlers.

During her frantic journey, Issaqueena bestowed names on the landmarks she passed — names which are still used today — Ninety Six, Eighteen Mile Creek, Twelve Mile River, etc.

The story of Issaqueena will be retold as part of this year’s Issaqueena Festival, Talbert said.

“We have a group called the Reedy River Intertribal Association,” she said. “They’re going to do a representation that tells the story of Issaqueena through Cherokee drumming, singing and dancing.”

The Intertribal Association takes the festival stage from noon to 1 p.m., but the entertainment stats earlier than that.

“We have Forget Tomorrow, a Christian rock band, performing at 10 a.m.,” Talbert said.

ONStarz, a beach music group comprised of Oconee Nuclear Station employees, will perform from 11 a.m. — noon.

The HotFoot Cloggers take the stage after the Reedy River Intertribal Association’s performance.

“We have five groups of cloggers that will be performing intermittently between 1:30 and 4 p.m.,” Talbert said.

Gospel group Total Praise performs Saturday afternoon.

All entertainment is free.

This year’s festival features a variety of free rides for kids, Talbert said.

“We’ll have four inflatables, all free for the kids,” she said.

Stop by Six Mile Baptist Church and check out all the classic cars in the cruise-in.

Have a classic car of your own? Show it off in the cruise-in for a chance to win some cash.

“Every hour they’re going to do a cash drawing for those who participate in the cruise in,” Talbert said.

Hungry? The festival’s food vendors will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, snow cones, fried turkey, philly cheese subs — and much more.

The festival is no longer accepting food vendor applications, Talbert said.

In the mood to do some shopping? Browse the many arts and crafts vendors’ booths lined up on Main Street.

Talbert said space is still available for arts and crafts vendors. Contact Talbert at 637-9090.

Spaces are $15 and include electricity.

“It’s very reasonable,” Talbert said.

Local churches will be passing out free water and other items.

Be sure to pick up your official Issaqueena Festival T-Shirt for $10. Shirts can be purchased at Town Hall before the festival or from the committee during the festival.

“We had a really good turnout last year,” Talbert said. “We’re hoping to have a good turnout again this year.”