There’s nothing like a festival for putting you in the spirit of the season, no matter what the current season may be. Since fall is America’s favorite season, it’s probably not all that difficult to get into the fall spirit for most people. Just the sight of the leaves beginning to change colors, the taste of beloved pumpkin-spice-anything, or the first crisp, cool morning might be enough. For everyone else, we’ve got some of the best fall festivals in South Carolina that are sure to be just the nudge you need.

1. Denver Downs Farm Fall Festival, Anderson – Saturday, September 23 through Sunday, November 12

Denver Downs is a family farm owned by the Garrison family since 1869. It started out with cotton, followed by dairy, and now offers agri-tourism and entertainment. At this fall festival near Greenville, you'll enjoy over 35 family-friendly activities from a corn maze to pig and duck races to a ropes course and so much more!

2. Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch, Mount Pleasant – Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 29

One of the largest fall festivals in the state, the Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch is a fun fall event near Charleston with many fun activities including pony rides, a comedy circus, nature exhibits, a family-friendly Halloween tractor tour, and more. The tractor tour is a mile-and-a-half journey through the woods where guests will experience fun special effects, bright colors, spooky skeletons,

and fun Halloween-themed displays.

3. Beaufort Shrimp Festival – Friday, October 6 through Saturday, October 7

Calling all seafood lovers! Here's your chance to indulge in some of the most delicious shrimp dishes you've ever tasted, as the lowcountry's best restaurants and chefs compete. There will also be live entertainment, a shrimp race (purchase a shrimp for a chance at the $30,000 grand prize!), and a morning 5K run/walk called Run Forrest Run, where you can run the course where the movie Forrest Gump was filmed and have your photo taken at the start/finish line with Forrest Gump. Get more details at the Beaufort Shrimp Festival website.

4. Fall for Greenville – Thursday, October 12 through Sunday, October 15

The Fall for Greenville Festival is held along Main Street in downtown Greenville, where you'll find 50 restaurants with over 250 menu items to taste, six stages with over 80 bands providing live entertainment, and over 50 beer taps and wine vendors. This is a great way to find out why Greenville has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

5. The Harvest Festival, North Charleston – Saturday, October 21

Another fall festival near Charleston, the Harvest Festival takes place in the Olde Village on East Montague Avenue near Park Circle and features live music, food, an artist market, costume contests, trick-or-treat on the street, a petting zoo, children’s activities, and more. It was deemed South Carolina's best fall festival by Taste of Home in 2022.

6. South Carolina Pecan Festival, Florence – Saturday, November 4

The South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence was named the "Best Fall Festival in South Carolina" by Travel + Leisure in 2017, and Florence won the Great American Main Street Award in 2023. The festival is the area's largest event, with over 50,000 attendees each year. At this festival, you'll enjoy live entertainment, over 250 vendors, and various attractions including a classic car show, "Run and Bike Like a Nut," a kids' zone, the Pecan Pub (adults-only!), and more.

Find a Vrbo if you need a great place to stay overnight for any of these fun festivals. Have you ever been to any of these fall festivals in South Carolina? Which one sounds most appealing to you?