Scandinavian Race returns to Bamberg County, charity relay set for January

Bamberg County will host the Scandinavian Race on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, bringing back the 40 mile relay format modeled on Nordic team relays. Teams may include between one and eight runners, and the event will direct proceeds to Three Crosses Outreach in Norway, South Carolina. Organizers described the race as part of a broader effort to link athletic competition with community support and local fundraising.

County officials announced a partnership with the organizers of the Dam to Dam Relay to launch the Steadfast Relay Series, positioning the Scandinavian Race as a recurring fixture that could draw participants from across the region. Organizers encouraged early registration, with a registration deadline of Dec. 8, 2025, and directed interested teams to register through the Three Crosses Outreach team site or by calling the race contact phone number.

Local leadership framed the event as both a community celebration and an economic opportunity. Bamberg County Council Chair Sharon Hammond and Denmark Mayor Harold Johnson offered statements praising the race for community building and for expected economic benefits to downtown businesses, lodging providers, and restaurants. This will be the third consecutive year for the Scandinavian Race in Bamberg County, reinforcing a pattern of recurring events that can create predictable economic activity during the winter season.

The immediate local impact will be twofold. First, proceeds earmarked for Three Crosses Outreach will support a local charity, keeping fundraising dollars inside the Norway community. Second, the relay format and association with a multi event series could increase overnight stays and consumer spending in restaurants and retail establishments on race weekend. Recurring sporting events tend to generate modest but reliable economic inflows for rural counties through participant and spectator spending, volunteer engagement, and repeat visitation.

Organizers and county officials will need to manage logistics that come with growth, including traffic control, safety staffing, and coordination with municipal services. The new Steadfast Relay Series partnership suggests an intent to professionalize race operations and to expand the event calendar in ways that could deliver sustained economic returns. With the registration deadline approaching, community groups and local businesses have a narrow window to participate as sponsors, volunteers, or service providers while supporting a locally focused charity.