BridgeWay Station to Transform into a Renaissance Village for Community Wellbeing Event
MAULDIN, SC — BridgeWay Station, with its European-style architecture, offers the perfect backdrop for a lively Renaissance village, and on Saturday, May 2, the grounds will come alive as Walt’s Waltz hosts Bridgeway Beckons: A Renaissance of Hope and Community.
The family-friendly event will take place from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, followed by live music from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and all family activities throughout the day are free.
The event is hosted by Walt’s Waltz and their merry team of Stigma-Free Environment ambassadors, partners, volunteers, and community supporters, all working together to bring a day of creativity, connection, and wellbeing to the Upstate.
Bridgeway Beckons is made possible in part through the support of an Elevate Upstate Grant, and through the partnership and hospitality of BridgeWay Station, whose distinctive European-inspired architecture provides an ideal setting for this Renaissance-themed community gathering.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors will find local artisans, food vendors, street painters, roaming musicians, and performers bringing the atmosphere of a Renaissance town to life. Festival favorites such as turkey legs will be available, along with demonstrations from artisans including traditional wooden bowl turning.
The event is designed for young and old alike, welcoming families and visitors of all ages.
Guests will find a wide variety of free family activities throughout the afternoon, including decorating royal crowns and knightly shields, crafting fairy and wizard wands, face painting, bubbles drifting across the green, and playful pool noodle jousting.
Children can enjoy Renaissance-themed inflatables including a castle bounce house, try their hand at foam axe throwing, and explore a children’s Renaissance-themed tree, where young visitors may discover small treasures.
Families can also visit a free petting animal area, and children may create princess and knight headpieces fit for the royal court.
A central activity of the day will be the “Break the Stigma” Wall, where adults and children can write words such as stigma, fear, shame, or silence on stacked boxes and then run through them together, symbolically breaking down the barriers that often surround conversations about mental health.
Community wellbeing partners will host tables throughout the event sharing information about local resources and support available across the Upstate.
During the afternoon, Walt’s Waltz will also present Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environment plaques, recognizing organizations that are helping create spaces where people feel safe talking about mental health.
Guests are welcome to dress in Renaissance costume if they wish, though costumes are not required. Kings, queens, knights, princesses, fairies, and villagers are all welcome to join in the spirit of the day.
Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome, and the afternoon will include a lighthearted Royal Hound Costume Parade for those wishing to present their most nobly dressed pup.
Bridgeway Beckons opens Mental Health Awareness Month and coincides with the launch of the organization’s annual Walt’s Waltz Raffle Rouser, a two-week fundraiser supporting year-round community programming.
Walt’s Waltz was founded in Greenville after Walt Crooks died by suicide on August 22, 2019 following a long struggle with treatment-resistant anxiety and PTSD. What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a recognized mental health education organization across the Upstate.
Through arts-based workshops, community events, and partnerships with schools, libraries, and community organizations, Walt’s Waltz works to end stigma, reduce suffering, and empower individuals and communities to talk openly about mental health.
Organizers hope Bridgeway Beckons will become an annual community tradition that blends creativity, joy, and meaningful conversations about wellbeing.
With colorful costumes, roaming musicians, artisans, animals, and families gathering across the grounds, the event promises a vibrant and welcoming celebration to begin Mental Health Awareness Month.
Event Details
Bridgeway Beckons: A Renaissance of Hope and Community
Saturday, May 2
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Renaissance Faire Activities
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Live Music
BridgeWay Station
Mauldin, South Carolina