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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The 13 Best Small-Town South Carolina Festivals You’ve Never Heard Of

Discover 13 of the best small-town festivals in South Carolina, each offering unique local experiences and entertainment.

Updated May 21, 2024

Written by 

Robin Jarvis

Small-town festivals can be quirky or just plain, including those that make the rounds each year in South Carolina. From a festival that grew out of a barbecue contest to one dedicated to ripe juicy watermelons, the Palmetto State has enough of these celebrations to keep you entertained and busy all year. Here are 13 of the best small-town festivals near me!

1. Catfish Feastival, Ware Shoals: May 23-25, 2024

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Catfish Feastival/Facebook

This fantastic event is called a feastival because you eat your way through! Some of the fun includes carnival rides, the Laurens County Cruisers Car Show, Jack Roper the magician, and live music from Too Much Silva. Read all about it on the Catfish Feastival website.

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2. Ridge Peach Festival, Trenton: June 15, 2024

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Ridge Peach Festival/Facebook

The festival schedule packs in all of the peachy goodness you can take! The 51st annual event celebrates diversity through art, music, food, and cultural performances. Keep up to date on the Ridge Peach Festival website.

3. Hampton County Watermelon Festival, Hampton: June 15-22, 2024

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Hampton County Watermelon Festival www.hcmelonfest.org/Facebook

Eight days of watermelon fun earmark this small-town festival, now in its 82nd year in Hampton. Live entertainment, a street festival dance, and a Miss Watermelon Festival contest are a few of the fun events ahead at the Watermelon Festival. Discover more on the Hampton County Watermelon Festival website.

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4. SC Festival of Stars, Ninety Six: June 26-29, 2024

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SC Festival of Stars/Facebook

This annual celebration started out as a fireworks extravaganza and has evolved into a full-out event. Watch the pageant and the Star-Spangled Community Parade, and participate in the street dance, activities, and games. And be sure to stay for the magical fireworks finale! Follow the SC Festival of Stars Facebook page for updates.

5. Celebrate Surfside Beach Festival, Surf Side Beach: Sept. 14, 2024

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Celebrate Surfside Beach Festival/Facebook

Plan to attend the fourth annual event offering three blocks of delicious food, interesting vendors, and live music. Returning this year is "The Guys" band and magician Greg Holt. Read all about it on the Celebrate Surfside Beach Festival Facebook page.

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6. Harvest Hoe-Down Festival, Aynor: Sept. 21, 2024

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Aynor Pilot Club/Facebook

In it's 44th year, this fun event, sponsored by Pilot Club of Aynor, kicks off with a parade. The celebration features children's activities, arts and crafts, live music, and lots of delicious eats. Find out more on the Harvest Hoe-Down Festival web page.

7. Okra Strut, Irmo: Sept. 27-28, 2024

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LexMed Irmo Okra Strut/Facebook

It's not hard to figure out what this annual festival at Irmo Park celebrates! Fun for the whole family, the Okra Strut Festival dishes up free live entertainment, plenty of food, a street dance, a midway, and a parade. See the lineup on the Okra Strut website.

8. Aunt Het Annual Family Festival, Fountain Inn: Oct. 5, 2024

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Aunt Het Annual Family Festival/Facebook

This giant street festival in Fountain Inn celebrates a fictional character, Aunt Het, who was created by the founder of the local newspaper. This 41st event features vendors, food, children's rides, and music. It all takes place on Main Street in Fountain Inn. Check out the photos on the Aunt Het Annual Family Festival Facebook page.

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9. Hogs & Hens BBQ Festival: Oct. 18 and 19, 2024

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City of Abbeville/Facebook

Among the live music and local vendors, folks will compete earning Southern Barbecue Network championship points, monetary prizes, and an invitation to the SBN Invitational Event. ​Meat categories include pork, chicken, ribs, and brisket which you will surely taste. Stay tuned to the Hogs & Hens BBQ Festival web page for 2024 details.

10. Walhalla Oktoberfest, Walhalla: Oct. 18-20, 2024

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Walhalla Oktoberfest/Facebook

Forget those airline tickets to Germany, you can celebrate Oktoberfest right here in South Carolina at the Walhalla Oktoberfest. The event features traditional fare, like bratwurst and sauerkraut, funnel cakes, Strudel, and of course, beer. Oktoberfest takes place on the Sertoma field in Walhalla with some very distinguished guests. Discover more on the Walhalla Oktoberfest website.

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11. Loris Bogoff Festival, Loris: Oct. 19, 2024

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Charlie J/flickr

What's a festival without food? The annual Bogoff features local vendors facing off with their own chicken bog recipes. Look for more than 200 vendors, two stages full of entertainment, a children's area, and a fireworks finale at one of the weird small-town festivals. For further details, visit the Loris Bogoff Festival Facebook page.

12. Hook & Cook Festival, Jackson: Oct. 19, 2024

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The annual Hook & Cook Festival features a fishing contest, a BBQ cook-off, live entertainment, a car and boat show, and lots of vendors including arts and crafts along Main Street in Jackson. Visit the Hook & Cook Festival Facebook page for updates. This photo was taken during the 25th Annual Kid's Fishing Derby at Calhoun Falls, South Carolina.

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13. Pig On The Ridge, Ridgeway: Nov. 1 and 2, 2024

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Pig on the Ridge/Facebook

If you love BBQ, you'll want to attend this upcoming festival! You might have guessed there's a cookoff, but there's also a dance-off, a shag contest, and live music. Don't miss the hog-calling contest or the classic car show. For further information, visit the Pig On The Ridge Facebook page.

Small-town festivals are treats for the whole family. Did your favorite event make the list? If not, you're always welcome to add it in the comments below.

For more South Carolina fun, take this unforgettable waterfall-horseback tour. And while you're traveling around the Palmetto State, search for the perfect Vrbo for an overnight adventure.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south-carolina/horseback-waterfall-tour-in-sc/

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The Remote Town in South Carolina We Simply Can’t Get Enough Of

This sea island is characterized by an undeveloped landscape and a vibrant cultural heritage.

Published Oct 29, 2024

Written by 

Beth Copenhaver

South Carolina's sea islands offer so much in the way of natural beauty; in fact, the simple act of getting there seems to be a vacation from the everyday hustle and bustle. This is especially true of Edisto Island, an island of the ACE Basin that's accessible via a 14-mile scenic drive along the Edisto Island National Scenic Byway, a road framed by ancient live oaks. Edisto Island is famous for its beach, of course, but there's even more to uncover when you spend time exploring this remote South Carolina town.

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Trinity Episcopal Church, constructed ca. 1876, is significant architecturally as the only Episcopal Church and the only example of Victorian church architecture on Edisto Island. The church is a one-story wooden meeting house form structure built on ground level. A short flight of steps leads to the porch which extends the full width of the building. The porch has slender, square posts which support a triangular pediment. Vertical planks of the pediment, pointed at base, form a zigzag design. The triangular louver at center of the pediment is both decorative and functional. The inset steeple, covered with white shingles, has decorative louvers. The double, three-panel entrance of the façade is surmounted by an elaborate, semi-circular fanlight. This building with its white boards and shingles contrasted with its dark green roof, shutters and louvers fits in well with its parklike surroundings. This structure replaced an older structure which was burned accidentally.

These days, it seems as though Charleston gets all the attention when it comes to popular South Carolina destinations, and it's no mystery why. The stunning architecture, the extensive history, the world-class restaurants — there's so much to love about South Carolina's Holy City. And yet, there's another option just a short drive away that proves every bit as magnificent. Edisto Beach, home to about 400 full-time residents, is a place where time seems to move much slower. It's a destination void of chain restaurants and even traffic lights, giving residents and visitors the chance to slow down and appreciate the stunning surroundings.

The Island is named for the Edisto Native Americans who lived there in the 1500s. After the Civil War, the island became a place of refuge for formerly enslaved people, who could return to the area to work freely. Today, the island is home to a Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of those forced from their West and Central African homes to work on the region's plantations.

If it's your first visit to the island, a trip to the Edisto Island Museum is a must. It's here you can learn more about the resilient communities that have lived and worked on the island. You'll also want to find a place to stay because there's much more to discover than a quick day trip will allow. You'll need to find an Edisto Island rental home as there are no hotels in town.

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Waves in the Atlantic Ocean and beachfront homes at sunrise, Edisto Beach, South Carolina

Of course, no visit to the island is complete without spending time on the famous Edisto Beach. This 4.5-mile stretch of shoreline is one of the most beautiful beaches in South Carolina. It's part of a state park, and there's a small admission fee. The cost is well worth it, as visitors will have the chance to collect seashells and witness some of the most breathtaking sunrises in the state. And, if you're lucky, you may even spot some dolphins!

Other visit-worthy attractions on the island include the Edisto Island Serpentarium, the Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area, and the Hutchinson House.

When you're ready for some food, head on over to Ella & Ollie's, Briny Swine, or Whaley's Store. Each is a fantastic place to interact with residents and enjoy the island's bounty of seafood and produce.

Have you spent much time exploring this vibrant community? If not, we'd certainly recommend a trip! Be sure to take a look at our ultimate road trip essentials if you're planning to load up the car and drive there.

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

At Christmastime, Greenville, South Carolina Has the Most Enchanting Main Street in the Country

Greenville's Main Street transforms into a festive winter wonderland during the Christmas season, offering various holiday events and activities.

Updated Oct 22, 2024

Written by 

Robin Jarvis

The Christmas holiday is the most magical time of the year. Families unite - some from all points around the world - and the spirit of Christmas fills the air as we gather to celebrate the joyous occasion. If you're looking for a quintessential South Carolina town where you can have an enjoyable day or night filled with enchantment and holiday cheer, then head to Main Street at Christmas in Greenville, South Carolina.

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No matter the season, Main Street Greenville, SC retains a small-town vibe, even in the wake of major growth in other parts of town over the last decade.

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This is a high angle view of downtown Greenville, South Carolina on at dusk in winter.

Visitors can still park their cars and find Greenville's Main Street an enjoyable, walkable experience.

When you're in Greenville, SC at Christmas, a visit to Main Street is especially wonderful. The many shops, restaurants, and hotels all band together to make a visit to Main Street not unlike walking through a winter wonderland filled with Christmas cheer.

Visit during the day or evening to find shops, restaurants, and coffee shops, all intertwined among a wonderful mixture of special events. You'll even encounter carolers on the street.

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Jason A G/Flickr

Over at the Courtyard by Marriott, take a twirl on the 3,200-square-foot ice rink at Ice on Main. Not into ice skating? No problem: they have just the thing to prop you up while giving this spot a whirl.

The rink is open seven days a week (except Christmas Day) into January.

More information, including pricing and hours of operation, can be found on the Ice on Main website. Or, follow the Ice on Main Facebook page for special events announcements and updates.

Christmas in Greenville, South Carolina is also celebrated through its Night of Lights which features a dazzling Christmas tree.

Watch as the giant tree is illuminated, along with thousands of plaza lights. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and vendors, as well as a visit from Santa. After, head over to Ice on Main for a special Glow Skate.

There is also an annual Greenville Poinsettia Parade and many other local events that are worth checking out. Check the Visit Greenville website to see an entire list of local events and to check dates and times.

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Whenever you visit, be sure to carve out enough time to visit the Festival of Trees at the Hyatt Regency on Main Street. The sights and the scents of Christmas fill the air at this annual Christmas tree extravaganza and it's sure to heighten your holiday spirits.

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AnneMarie/OIYS

Learn more about the Festival of Trees on the Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation website.

Of course, thousands of twinkling lights adorn the trees that line Main Street, and a special kind of magic is in the air during the holidays. Just take a peek at this brief video:

With so much to see and do in Greenville, South Carolina during the Christmas season, including all of the festive special events, it's easy to see why this South Carolina Main Street is the best place to be for the holidays! Book a stay at this historic downtown craftsman suite and enjoy part of your Christmas season in Greenville, South Carolina this year.

Do you love this South Carolina town? Keep reading for even more reasons to love Greenville.

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