JerryFest
We look forward to seeing you for JerryFest 2025 on Sunday, October 5th!
JerryFest was started to commemorate the life and art of Jerry Garcia. Rock guitarist and musical icon, Garcia was best known as the lead guitarist for the Grateful Dead that inspired legions of followers known as “Deadheads.” The last time the Grateful Dead performed in Columbia was on Halloween 1985 at the Carolina Coliseum. Every year, JerryFest aims to recreate that atmosphere in Five Points.
Housed in various bars and clubs, JerryFest, was started by Five Points’ local mom and pop hippie shop – Loose Lucy’s – over twenty-five years ago to commemorate the life and art of Jerry Garcia. In 2014, the owners of Loose Lucy’s – Don and Jenn McCallister – officially brought the festival to the Five Points Association because they had not found a venue that just felt “right” and decided that Five Points was the best place to call the festival’s permanent home. Amassing over 500 attendees in that first year, it has remained one of Five Points’ signature events for the past 11 years!
Annually held the first Sunday in October, attendees enjoy this FREE live music festival with artisan vendors selling crafts and bohemian clothing, food trucks, and neighborhood restauranteurs setting up shop as well as beverage stations. In 2023, we expanded our festival footprint which allowed us the opportunity to have two entertainment stages, a Lil’ Hippy Corner for children with craft stations, face painting, and MORE. We also saw our attendance numbers double as we expanded on the music genre of the festival and booked bigger name acts with larger followings to encourage out of town guests to join us in the Five Points district for a day full of jam bands, drum circles and acoustic sets that Deadheads and those that love some laid-back rock n’ roll can groove out to from 12pm-8pm! Last year, we celebrated 10 Years in Five Points with historic attendance numbers, a free commemorative t-shirt giveaway, and an elevated VIP experience for our community partners.
This festival is presented annually by the Five Points Association and Loose Lucy’s and is annually held on the first Sunday in October.
2025 Lineup!
Interested in community partnership opportunities? Reach out to us at [email protected].
Commemorative POSTER CONTEST
Artists of all backgrounds are invited to submit original designs that capture the music, creativity, and community spirit of both JerryFest and the Grateful Dead’s six-decade legacy. The winning design will be selected by the JerryFest Event Committee and featured as the official poster for this year’s festival.
Full contest rules and submission guidelines:
- Original 11×17 Artwork – digital or hand-rendered
- Option to include this year’s lineup is artist discretion
- Five Points and Loose Lucy’s must be included in design
- Winner will be selected by JerryFest Event Committee and announced on Wednesday, October 1, 2025
- Rights: By submitting artwork, artists grant the Five Points Association the right to reproduce, distribute, and sell a limited run of the winning poster design. Proceeds from poster sales will directly support the nonprofit mission of the Five Points Association (501c3).
- Credit: The selected artist will be credited in all promotions and recognized on our social media platforms as well as verbally at this year’s event on Sunday, October 5. Winner will also receive Two (2) complimentary Tito’s VIP tickets at Saluda’s.
- Submissions must be received by Friday, September 26, at 5:00 pm. Submissions should be sent in pdf. print format. Send to [email protected] – Subject Line: JerryFest Poster Entry
NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED.
