Almost 50,000 spectators are expected at the SC Pecan Festival in downtown Florence

FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — This weekend, thousands are expected to attend the 20th annual South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence.

The one-day event is expected to draw nearly 50,000 people and will feature food, crafts, entertainment, children's attractions, a vintage car show and more.

This year’s headlining band is Starship.

The festival website says: “This exciting one-day festival has delighted residents and visitors alike and is the region’s largest event with over 50,000 visitors each year. The festival consistently wins Best of the Pee Dee Awards and has been featured in numerous national publications such as Travel + Leisure Magazine Online and AAA's Go Magazine.”

The first SC Pecan Festival was created in 2003 to bring the local community together in emerging downtown Florence for fellowship and family fun and to celebrate one of South Carolina's most popular nuts – the pecan.

It grew enormously over the next few years and has since taken its place in Florence's history as a “time-honored and highly anticipated annual fall event” held each year on the first Saturday in November.

RECOMMENDED: Georgetown Co. opens three new adventure trails for kids and families

In 2011, Act No. 9 of 2011 designated the festival as the official South Carolina State Pecan Festival.

Officials said the festival has since received numerous awards.

The multi-block festival takes place in downtown Florence.

The streets are lined with food and craft vendors, stages throb with a variety of music and entertainment on every block, and children can enjoy a full day of activities in a dedicated area on the lawn of our FMU Performing Arts Center.

The SC Pecan Music Festival is owned, organized and produced by the Florence Downtown Development Corp., a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Florence, South Carolina that supports the revitalization of downtown Florence.

Entry is free.

Further information about this year's event can be found here.