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On the 200th anniversary of the US Library of Congress, this event was nominated and selected as one of several entries to represent South Carolina in the Local Legacies Archive. This Archive lists events that depict the heritage of our country. The Strut has also been touted as one of the "Top 20 Events in the Southeast" by the Southeastern Tourism Society. It has been featured in the World Book Encyclopedia, The State Newspaper (Columbia, SC), Southern Living, Thoroughbred Country, and other major magazines and newspapers including the International Edition of the Herald Tribune (1970 Paris edition).

Salley becomes the 5th largest city in South Carolina the day of the Chitlin' Strut. During the Chitlin' Strut, Salley ranks higher in population than Rock Hill, Sumter, Mt Pleasant, Spartanburg, Hilton Head, Florence, and Myrtle Beach. Salley's population becomes larger than 22 other county's in the state. The increase of population from 410 people to over 50,000 is 122 times the amount of people that normally live in Salley.

The Chitlin' Strut is held on the former site of the Salley Public School which served the community for approximately fifty years.  Proceeds from the Chitlin' Strut were used to purchase the facility from the local school district after consolidation brought about the school's closure.  Today the facility is used throughout the year for various community activities.  For instance, the local museum is located in one of the former school buildings.  Also, a local Indian tribe uses a portion of the facility for its organizational headquarters.

The Chitlin' Strut is also a very good example of community service and self-sacrifice.  The amount of planning and preparation that is required for the Chitlin' Strut to take place is very impressive.  As with most festivals, volunteers comprise a large portion of the workforce.  Approximately seventy persons volunteer their time and effort (out of a total population of approximately 410).  Most sacrifice their Thanksgiving holiday to assist in the event preparations.  Besides serving on the committees which plan the festival, the volunteers are indispensable on the day of the Chitlin' Strut.  They help with all aspects of the festival, including ticket sales, chitlin' preparation, chitlin' sales, souvenir book sales, and the sale of baked goods.  The festival could not be held without the efforts of these dedicated volunteers.

Here are some of the comments written about the Chitlin' Strut:

"The residents of this one hog town live and die for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Country music and over 10,000 pounds of chitlins are waiting for you!" - What's Going On.com

"If you're going to have a festival for pig intestines, you might as well have fun with it." - Augusta Chronicle

"When the town of Salley, South Carolina, prepares for its annual chitlin strut, many locals actually gag as old-timers clean the fortitude out of the intestines. Some 70,000 people stream into Salley for the chitlin strut." - Dallas Observer

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