Autumn in South Carolina means it’s festival season and we couldn’t be happier! Who doesn’t love an afternoon or a weekend of food, fellowship and fun with friends and family all gathered in a lively atmosphere with lots going on? There are so many festivals in the fall in the Palmetto State that we plucked 13 of the most unique events from the plethora of great happenings and have listed them here. Enjoy!
- Irmo Okra Strut - Sept 23 & 24, 2016 - Irmo, SC
Facebook/Irmo Okra Strut
Facebook/Irmo Okra Strut The 43rd Annual Irmo Okra Strut kicks off on the 23rd of September and features a perfomance by Atlanta Rythm Section at the annual streetdance. There’s a parade at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and plenty of festival rides, food and fun to fill the entire weekend. More information here.
- Carolina BrewHaHa Festival - September 24, 2016 - Anderson, SC
Facebook/Carolina BrewHaHa The fourth annual Carolina BrewHaHa continues the celebration of craft beers from local, regional and national wizards of concoction. If you’re an adventurer, beerwise, this is the festival for you! More information here.
- MOJA Arts Festival - September 29 - October 9, 2016 - Charleston, SC
Facebook/MOJA Arts Festival
Facebook/MOJA Arts Festival The 33rd Annual MOJA Arts Festival kicks off on Sept 29th for 10 days of African and Caribbean cultural celebration featuring performance art, foods, dance and music. “Moja” is the Swahili word for “one.” This is the ONE cultural festival in South Carolina that you shouldn’t miss. More information here.
- Aunt Het Annual Family Festival - October 1, 2016 - Fountain Inn, SC
Facebook/Aunt Het Annual Family Festival This annual arts and crafts festival features street vendors, a quilt show and a huge car show. All in the name of Aunt Het, a fictional character created by author and founder of the local newspaper. More information here.
- Albino Skunk Music Festival - October 6 - 8, 2016 - Greer, SC
Flickr/Doug Anderson This three-day (mostly) acoustic music festival is in its 18th year. Located on a private farm north of Greer, the Skunk Music Festival happens twice a year. The October Skunkfest is slated to showcase numerous musicians, vendors, food vendors, craft beers and a play area for the kids. Camping is allowed, and encouraged. More information here.
- Balloons Over Anderson - October 7 - 9, 2016 - Anderson, SC
Facebook/Balloons Over Anderson
Facebook/Balloons Over Anderson This year’s Balloons Over Anderson Festival features five scheduled flights, plus tethered balloon rides, food and arts/crafts vendors, the world’s largest pinball machine, live music and three full days of jam-packed fun. More information here.
- Fall For Greenville - October 13 - 16, 2016 - Greenville, SC
Facebook/Fall For Greenville
Facebook/Fall For Greenville No list of “unique” South Carolina Fall Festivals would be complete without the Fall For Greenville listing. The festival unofficially kicks off on the evening of the 13th with a free concert from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. But with six music stages, the whole weekend promises to be filled with free music plus tons of people, activity, vendors, food and fun. More information here.
- Loris Bog-Off Festival - October 15, 2016 - Loris, SC
Loris Chamber
Facebook/Loris Bog-Off Festival The 33rd Annual Loris Bog-Off Festival features a cookoff in the quest for the region’s best Chicken Bog. This one-day event has other great family activities as well, plus more than 200 vendors and a stage for local school performances. Cap off the perfect day at the festival with the great fireworks show. More information here.
- North Charleston Harvest Festival & Block Party - October 15, 2016 - North Charleston, SC
Flickr/North Charleston
Flickr/North Charleston The fun starts at 4:00 p.m. at this street festival in the Olde Village in North Charleston. Come in costume for even more fun! This festival features live music, street vendors, food vendors, a costume contest and more! Intended largely for residents of North Chuck, but open to the public, the parking and admission are free for this event. More information here.
- Duckfest 2016 - October 22, 2016 - Summerton, SC
Flickr/John Summerton, billed as the Duck Capital of South Carolina, is hosting their inaugural Duckfest with plenty of things to keep the entire family entertained. Take part in, or watch the duckcalling contest, experience the first Duckfest cook-off, browse the booths of various vendors on site and make a day of it. More information here.
- Honea Path Sugarfoot Festival - October 22 - 23, 2016 - Honea Path, SC
Facebook/Honea Path South Carolina
Facebook/Honea Path South Carolina The annual Sugarfoot Festival in Honea Path is set for the third weekend in October and features a local “You’ve Got Talent” contest, plenty of rides and attractions for the kiddos, and vendors galore. More information here.
- Jack O Lantern Jubilee - October 28 - 29, 2016 - North Augusta, SC
Jack O Lantern Jubilee This two-day event in North Augusta is in its 32nd year and promises to be all the rage again this year. With a great music line up as well as a car show, vendors, food and a midway, North Augusta is the place to be the last weekend in October. More information here.
- Chitlin’ Strut - November 26, 2016 - Salley, SC
Chitlin Strut This year’s Chitlin’ Strut includes a carnival, craft and food vendors, a parade, hog calling contest and a strut dance, just to name a few. Get in on the action in Salley, SC the Saturday after Thanksgiving. More information here.
Fall just may be the best season in South Carolina for festivals. Maybe that’s why there are so many to choose from. If you’d like to add another fall festival to this list, feel free to in our comments!
Facebook/Irmo Okra Strut
The 43rd Annual Irmo Okra Strut kicks off on the 23rd of September and features a perfomance by Atlanta Rythm Section at the annual streetdance. There’s a parade at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and plenty of festival rides, food and fun to fill the entire weekend. More information here.
Facebook/Carolina BrewHaHa
The fourth annual Carolina BrewHaHa continues the celebration of craft beers from local, regional and national wizards of concoction. If you’re an adventurer, beerwise, this is the festival for you! More information here.
Facebook/MOJA Arts Festival
The 33rd Annual MOJA Arts Festival kicks off on Sept 29th for 10 days of African and Caribbean cultural celebration featuring performance art, foods, dance and music. “Moja” is the Swahili word for “one.” This is the ONE cultural festival in South Carolina that you shouldn’t miss. More information here.
Facebook/Aunt Het Annual Family Festival
This annual arts and crafts festival features street vendors, a quilt show and a huge car show. All in the name of Aunt Het, a fictional character created by author and founder of the local newspaper. More information here.
Flickr/Doug Anderson
This three-day (mostly) acoustic music festival is in its 18th year. Located on a private farm north of Greer, the Skunk Music Festival happens twice a year. The October Skunkfest is slated to showcase numerous musicians, vendors, food vendors, craft beers and a play area for the kids. Camping is allowed, and encouraged. More information here.
Facebook/Balloons Over Anderson
This year’s Balloons Over Anderson Festival features five scheduled flights, plus tethered balloon rides, food and arts/crafts vendors, the world’s largest pinball machine, live music and three full days of jam-packed fun. More information here.
Facebook/Fall For Greenville
No list of “unique” South Carolina Fall Festivals would be complete without the Fall For Greenville listing. The festival unofficially kicks off on the evening of the 13th with a free concert from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. But with six music stages, the whole weekend promises to be filled with free music plus tons of people, activity, vendors, food and fun. More information here.
Loris Chamber
Facebook/Loris Bog-Off Festival
The 33rd Annual Loris Bog-Off Festival features a cookoff in the quest for the region’s best Chicken Bog. This one-day event has other great family activities as well, plus more than 200 vendors and a stage for local school performances. Cap off the perfect day at the festival with the great fireworks show. More information here.
Flickr/North Charleston
The fun starts at 4:00 p.m. at this street festival in the Olde Village in North Charleston. Come in costume for even more fun! This festival features live music, street vendors, food vendors, a costume contest and more! Intended largely for residents of North Chuck, but open to the public, the parking and admission are free for this event. More information here.
Flickr/John
Summerton, billed as the Duck Capital of South Carolina, is hosting their inaugural Duckfest with plenty of things to keep the entire family entertained. Take part in, or watch the duckcalling contest, experience the first Duckfest cook-off, browse the booths of various vendors on site and make a day of it. More information here.
Facebook/Honea Path South Carolina
The annual Sugarfoot Festival in Honea Path is set for the third weekend in October and features a local “You’ve Got Talent” contest, plenty of rides and attractions for the kiddos, and vendors galore. More information here.
Jack O Lantern Jubilee
This two-day event in North Augusta is in its 32nd year and promises to be all the rage again this year. With a great music line up as well as a car show, vendors, food and a midway, North Augusta is the place to be the last weekend in October. More information here.
Chitlin Strut
This year’s Chitlin’ Strut includes a carnival, craft and food vendors, a parade, hog calling contest and a strut dance, just to name a few. Get in on the action in Salley, SC the Saturday after Thanksgiving. More information here.
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