Community in Action
In the early 1970s, the Lake Murray-Irmo Woman’s Club introduced a fundraiser to support a brand-new library in Irmo. The tradition of frying up okra to raise funds for a good cause was established. Their efforts funded Irmo’s first library building on St. Andrews Road, and the Okra Strut became a community tradition. If you have never been to Irmo’s annual Okra Strut, mark your calendar for September 26 and 27, 2025. This year celebrates the Strut’s 50th Golden Anniversary, an important milestone that promises to make the event one of its best.
Recent Irmo Okra Strut Commission Chair, Mike Ward*, first joined the event in 2018 as a volunteer, eventually assuming the role of Chair in 2023. He noted, “It is not a solo role. It takes a lot of minds and a lot of hands to make the Okra Strut happen.” When Ward was not preparing for the Okra Strut, he was working at his full-time job, operating a small business that provides cybersecurity for other small businesses.
Juggling a full-time job and chairing the Okra Strut event can be challenging, but Ward and incoming Okra Strut Chair, Dawn Cilley, love their work with the event. Cilley’s family moved to the area 25 years ago and she followed in 2022. Her curiosity about the Irmo Strut eventually led her to volunteer at the 2023 Strut, becoming a voting commissioner in 2024, and helping plan that year’s event before it was canceled due to Hurricane Helene. Dawn has played an integral part in ensuring that the 2025 50th Anniversary Okra Strut event is well-planned and celebrated. That’s in addition to her full-time job as an airline consultant.
The Okra Strut is held on the last full weekend of every September, but the commitment to this event extends beyond a few days. Planning for the Strut is a year-round endeavor, a testament to the dedication and passion of the organizers.
Volunteers do all of the setup work. The event has arts and crafts vendors, local businesses that come out to exhibit, nonprofits, food vendors, amusement rides, local community group entertainers, bands, lights and shows, and a parade. With the proceeds they receive in a good year, when they make more money than they’ve spent, they reinvest in the community and local nonprofits. They also award two annual $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors who are leaving for college.
Ward said, “If you’ve never been to the Okra Strut, the invitation is there. It’s the biggest party that Irmo throws every single year. If you want to see what community in action really is, come to the Okra Strut.”
Cilley shared, “The Okra Strut is an opportunity to enjoy what the town has to offer. We get people from all over the place, but it’s important to get all the local people to see what the town is about as well. I want people to enjoy this little town that has a lot of heart.” She added, “Remember, you don’t have to eat okra to enjoy the strut!”
The Okra Strut is held at Moore Park on Church Street in Irmo. The event will take place on Friday, September 26, from 6 pm to 11 pm and on Saturday, September 27, from 9 am to 5 pm. For the full schedules and more information, visit their website.
*Ward was officially sworn in as Irmo’s newest council member after a June 3 election and will step down from his role as Okra Strut Chair to dedicate his time to his council duties.