Are you inspired to explore more of what South Carolina offers? At 275 years old, we’re only getting better with age. Today, there is no shortage of sights to see and activities to enjoy.

With over 300 festivals in South Carolina each year, not to mention sporting events, concerts, and performing art shows, we have some unforgettable experiences. Mark your calendars for these 15 must-attend events in South Carolina.

#1- South Carolina State Fair

For twelve days in October, over 400,000 visitors will descend outside Columbia, SC, for the classic fair experience. Whether you enjoy wandering through the exhibit halls admiring blue-ribbon roses and prize-winning pigs, or you look forward to the many amusement rides on the midway, you’ll find it at the South Carolina State Fair.

Feast on corn dogs, funnel cakes, and other fair favorites. Visit one of the stages for live music and other entertainment. The Circus section features incredible acts of acrobatics and daring. Stop by the barns with the kids for the petting zoo, pig races, and horse shows. The Skyglider takes riders for a bird’s eye view of the fair’s rides.

Operating hours are generally from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., but the hours at the fair vary, so you’ll need to check the schedule for the day you plan to visit. Rides operate until 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on the day.

General admission ticket prices for 2024 were $0 online and at Circle K when bought ahead of time but $20 at the door. Seniors (55 and older) paid $15. There’s no charge for children 0-5 years old.

#2- South Carolina Festival of Flowers

If you’re planning a visit to the Piedmont area in South Carolina, put the South Carolina Festival of Flowers on your event calendar. Avid gardeners from around the country attend this 54-year-old festival, which is fun even if you’re not into plants. It’s not the only flower festival in South Carolina, but it’s grown in popularity due to its uniqueness and accompanying events. The Juried Art Show features local artists, photographers, live vegetation, and a flower show.

Bring the family! Everyone will enjoy magical tours of living topiaries, which are set up across Greenwood, SC. Other festival activities include a classic car show and musical performances. The food and shopping are top-notch, with special bunches and BBQ cookouts. This must-visit summer celebration takes place during June, with the Main Weekend usually scheduled in early June.

The address information for the festival is 110 Phoenix St., Greenwood, South Carolina, 29646. Admission is free.

#3- Gullah Festival

Set aside May’s Memorial Weekend for the Gullah Festival at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort. Join over 70,000 visitors to experience the Gullah culture’s achievements, language, customs, and history. The Gullah are African Americans descended from plantation workers whose isolation on the sea islands enabled them to preserve unique traditions and culture. Today, Gullah people live on the southeastern coast of the US.

Visitors to this special cultural event can taste Gullah local foods, experience dances, check out traditional arts and crafts, learn about Gullah culture in presentations, and explore the Black Inventions Museum.

Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. There is a charge for some of the events. Keep an eye out for more information on the event schedule and updated price of admission. The address for the park is 1010 Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina.

#4- Artisphere

Art enthusiasts looking to boost their passion for creativity will appreciate Artisphere. Founded in 2003 as a fine art festival, it has evolved into one of the signature South Carolina events. Art patrons and tourists come from all over the country to Greenville, SC, for the experience at Artists Demonstration Row, where over 100 talented visual artists display their creativity. You’ll be amazed by the stunning pottery, glassblowing, printmaking, and metalworking. Artist demos show how to work in these mediums on the spot.

Don’t forget the music! Artisphere performers come from all genres, including American folk music, opera, jazz, and ballet. Children can express their creativity at Kidsphere, where they can get hands-on to design crafts they can take home.

The three-day event takes place in early May, usually centered at 101B Augusta Street, Greenville, SC, 29601. Art installations are spread across Greenville. Admission is free.

#5- Lake Murray 4th Of July Fireworks Show

Celebrate America’s birthday with a boat parade, fireworks, and live music at the Lake Murray 4th of July Fireworks Show just outside Columbia, South Carolina. Why not make a day of it and bring your beach chairs and a picnic at Dreher Island State Park? This is a fun family-oriented event celebrating our nation’s founding.

The boat parade starts around noon and is viewable from park sites at the Lake Murray Dam. The fireworks show begins around 9 p.m. from Spence Island and Dreher Island. Some years, the show is choreographed to music broadcast on local radio. Viewing the fireworks is technically free, but you may need to pay park site fees, depending on where you go to watch.

#6- Beaufort Water Festival

Over 100,000 visitors can’t be wrong! Experience one of the Lowcountry’s favorite annual events, the Beaufort Water Festival, happening every year in July for ten days.

The festival debuted in 1956 to honor the bond between the Lowcountry and the sea. It includes various water-based events like raft races, sailing regatta, shrimp boat tours, and ski shows. The festival pairs the maritime events with arts and crafts shows, a Lowcountry supper, and an air show. Guests can enjoy evening live music concerts, a beauty pageant, a road race, golf and tennis matches, and fishing contests.

The main venue for the Beaufort Water Festival is Bay Street in Beaufort. Admission for 2021 was $10. Some events, like the Lowcountry supper, charge additional fees. Generally, the festival takes place in mid-July.

#7- South Carolina Apple Festival

From the day after Labor Day through the following weekend, the South Carolina Apple Festival celebrates the start of the apple harvest season in Oconee County. It’s the largest apple-producing area in the state with six local orchards. Every year, thousands of visitors visit Westminster, South Carolina, to bask in the late summer weather and enjoy everything apple.

Fair rides entertain the kids, and adults can wander vendor booths featuring crafts, clothing, and jewelry. An open-to-all parade kicks off the festival. But, food is a star at this event, with trucks serving everything from BBQ to hot dogs to funnel cakes. And the apples! Visitors love the homemade fried apple pies, fresh cider, donuts, and fresh apples. The Apple Festival sets up on Historic Main Street in Westminster, South Carolina.

#8- Southern 500 At Darlington Raceway

Race fans gather on Labor Day Weekend to cheer on 40 of the best stock car drivers in the world as they go head-to-head in a 500-mile race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington County, SC. Since 1950, drivers have kept fans on the edge of their seats in a race considered one of the most challenging races on the NASCAR circuit. The Southern 500, officially known as the CookOut Southern 500, is an exciting way to end the summer.

Ticket prices ranged from $50 – $109 in 2021. Darlington Raceway offers paid tent and RV camping in both infield and outside of the track spaces.

#9- 54th Annual World Championship Chili Cook-Off

Like it spicy? Then keep an eye out for the Annual World Championship Chili Cook-Off to come back to Myrtle Beach. The sunny weather and the proximity to the ocean add to the fun-packed weekend featuring the best chili chefs from around the nation. The People’s Choice Chili Competition’s featured event draws teams from all over the US, Canada, England, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The Beach’n’Chili event is not just any chili cook-off. It’s a jam-packed weekend of fun in Myrtle Beach. The Family Fun Zone has activities for the kids, while the grown-ups can pair their chili tasting with craft brews at the beer garden. Live music and performance artists hit the Main Stage all day. Watch competitors sweat it out in a hot pepper-eating contest.

Beach ‘n’ Chili is around mid-September 17-19. General admission is free, but you’ll need to purchase passes for the chili sampling or VIP access. For $15, guests taste from over 500 different chili recipes and vote for their favorite.

#10- Golfweek Amateur Tour National Championship

Weekend golfers who enjoy a round at the finest golf courses will have many memorable experiences at the Golfweek Amateur Tour National Championship. Competitive stroke play lets you improve your game, while tournament conditions keep it as realistic as possible. All tournaments use USGA rules. No luck needed—just skill!

The Southern Icebreaker is held in January at Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The Four-Ball Championship in Myrtle Beach takes place in February, while the St. Patrick’s Day Regional is held in Pawleys Island, SC. Other events are at courses on Fripps Island, Kiawah Island, and Myrtle Beach during the year.

The Golfweek Amateur Tour annual membership card costs between $80.00 and $120 per year, depending on your location. Tournament costs range from $65 to $250. Early Bird Membership fees are available for purchase starting sometime in November.

#11- Annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show

On the third weekend in October, South Carolina’s oldest city and second-largest port hosts the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show. Visitors gather to enjoy wooden boat exhibits, model boat building, maritime arts and crafts, and, of course, food trucks and live music.

A show favorite is the Corrugated Boat Regatta. Participants design a human-powered boat made entirely from cardboard and launch it on the Sampit River. The weekend also features educational exhibits and activities. Past exhibitors included the U.S. Coast Guard, Dan the Knot Man & The Spirit Knot Tyers, and the Lowcountry Maritime School.

Admission is free. Registration for the Corrugated Boat Regatta was $20 per boat.

#12- South Carolina Pecan Festival

Looking for an event where you can go nuts? How about the South Carolina Pecan Music & Food Festival? This one-day festival in downtown Florence has been highlighted in Travel + Leisure Magazine and is one of central South Carolina’s largest events. Here, going nuts is encouraged–as long as it’s the pecan kind of nut.

Don’t miss the Pecan Cook-off, where chefs whip up an array of pecan-filled delicacies. The festival also has a “Run like a Nut” 5k, 10k, and Half-marathon road race. Check out the chalk art contest, where what the artists create will have you stunned.

For the kiddos, there’s a free Kid’s Fun Zone. Adults can unwind in the Pecan Pub with local and specialty-made craft brews. All ages will enjoy the classic car show and eight stages where various musicians, dancers, and entertainment acts perform throughout the day. Over 250 vendors, from the food trucks to the artisans, are available at the festival.

As the event organizers say, “You’re not nuts! Admission is free!”

#13- Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals

If you’re looking for a unique holiday event in SC, don’t miss the Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The event’s focal point is the 100,800 sq ft Victorian Holiday Market! Experience a few Victorian-period events, such as The Festival of Trees and The Festival of Wreaths. Visitors can purchase decor pieces by silent auction during the show. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits.

Children will never forget meeting Santa in his Victorian castle. Another unique event option is to attend a Christmas Tea with Mr. Dickens. Purchase tickets at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center ticket booth near the entrance to the show floor. Ticket prices start at $12 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets for the Victorian Tea start at $32 for adults and $23 for children.

#14-Fall for Greenville

Greenville, SC, is an incredible town for so many reasons, and one is the amazing festivals it throws. Another one to add to your events calendar, the annual Fall for Greenville, celebrates everything Upstate South Carolina. Thousands descend for what is a one-part beer festival, food festival, and music festival rolled up into one fun weekend. Main Street is set up with seven stages for performances, while over 60 local restaurants join in to serve delicious and creative takes on food. For 2024, over 80 bands are scheduled to perform, and over 50 craft beers will be on tap. The festival also has a kids’ area with carnival-style rides for the little ones.

#14- Denver Downs Farm Fall Festival

Nothing says fall like corn mazes, apple cider, and pumpkin pickin’. Luckily the Denver Downs Farm Fall Festival in Anderson, SC, has it all. Starting in late September, come on down to the farm for over 35 family-friendly activities. It starts with a flower fest in early September, perfect for sunflowers and fall blooms. The November weekends bring ciderfest, with its warm apple cider donuts, hard ciders, and pumpkin patch open. Kids will love all the activities: the mega-slide, jumping pillow, tire playground, cow train, and pig racing. The farm also has classic farm animals and a petting zoo. Walk at night in the lighted candy corn forest or relax as the crisp evening chill flows in to live music.

If you can’t make it in the fall, Denver Downs Farm also hosts the South Carolina Sunflower Festival. Fill the bucket with sunflowers you pick while enjoying live bands and sipping wine from the Silo Bar.

#15- Hilton Head Island Wine And Food Festival

You know it’s spring when it’s time for the Hilton Head Island Food and Wine Festival. This annual event celebrates Southern culinary culture with world-class wines. It features wine tastings, gourmet food pairings, and culinary demonstrations from renowned chefs. Hilton Head Wine And Food Festival includes live music and a casual atmosphere. At the Public Tasting and the Grand Tasting, guests can sample various wines curated from around the world. The festival attracts foodies, wine enthusiasts, and vacationers looking to enjoy the coastal charm of Hilton Head Island while indulging in local flavors and international wines. This popular spring event‘s proceeds support local charities and educational scholarships for hospitality students.

A Sampling of South Carolina Events

With so many cultural festivals in South Carolina, the hardest may be picking your favorites. The list of festivals updates yearly, so check in with upcoming events near you. Event sponsors update ticket prices and dates each year. For specific events, check out the best annual music festivals, art events, or special holiday events in South Carolina.

We hope you’ve enjoyed discovering some of our state’s unique events. Visit the EZ Home Search blog for more information on these exciting events and more things to do in South Carolina.

FAQ

What are the quirkiest South Carolina events?

Like something a little different? South Carolina has you covered! Check out these unique things to do and events in the Palmetto State:

• South Carolina Bigfoot Festival: all things Bigfoot come to Westminster in October
• Albino Skunk Music Festival: held three times a year outside Greer
• Atalaya Castle: at Huntington Beach State Park, the historic site is beautiful and interesting. Visit for the fall Atalaya Arts and Crafts festival.
• Night of a Thousand Candles: a special holiday event at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet
• Loris Bog-Off: an annual festival in Loris with a chicken bog-off cooking contest.

What are some South Carolina spring events?

• Abbeville Spring Festival: a musical showcase and family-friendly event in a charming southern town
• South Carolina Strawberry Festival: celebrate the delicious fruit at this packed Fort Mill event
• RBC Heritage: a top golfing tournament held at Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head a week after the Masters
• The Carolina Opry: new shows kick off in the spring season
• Spoleto Festival: a multi-day arts event hosted in beautiful Charleston
• Myrtle Beach Bike Week and Spring Rally: ten days of roaring, two-wheeled fun

What things to do in summer in South Carolina?

• South Carolina Peach Festival: Gaffney, the epicenter for growing peaches, delivers big on the peach theme
• Beaufort Water Festival: Enjoy the waterfront and Lowcountry food
• Original Gullah Festival: three days highlighting the Gullah culture of the southeast coast
• Carolina Country Music Festival: the biggest stars in country music play at Myrtle Beach

What things to do in the fall in South Carolina?

• Charleston Beer Fest: complete with craft brews and live music
• Walhalla Oktoberfest: an authentic German experience in a German-themed Upstate town
• Summerville Italian Feast: mix Italian dining favorites with the Lowcountry
• Western Carolina State Fair: hosted in October in Aiken
• Newberry Oktoberfest: a regionally fun event with national entertainment and German beer
• Irish Italian International Festival: a North Myrtle Beach event with delicious food and fun contests

What South Carolina winter events should I check out?

• Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival: a delicious February event with regional specialties
• Lowcountry Oyster Festival: Charleston brings on the shucking and eating contests
• Great Christmas Light Show: a 1.5-mile drive-through light show in North Myrtle Beach
• Intracoastal Christmas Regatta: A maritime parade in Little River held right after Thanksgiving