Communities across SC are gearing up for spring festivals. Here are 12 to consider
Spring festivals are well underway throughout South Carolina.
Communities have already paid homage to strawberries in Fort Mill, roses in Orangeburg, shrimp in Myrtle Beach and crawfish in Columbia.
County fairs have also begun. The first, the Great Anderson County Fair, ran for 10 days beginning May 1.
But there are plenty more ahead. The South Carolina Information Highway website has a full calendar of festivals and other events from the mountains to the coast.
Here are 12 festivals being held in South Carolina this month:
May 16-17 — Red Rose Festival, Lancaster
This year’s theme is Western. Live music, food, kid zone with bounce houses and rides, and more than 100 crafts and food vendors from BBQ to almost any type of food you’d want will be available.
Downtown businesses are also staying open late to accommodate the crowds.
A talent show will be held at 5 p.m., and Brayden Phillips & Band and Sawyer Brown will perform afterwards.
Then fireworks.
May 16-18 — Iris Festival, Sumter
One of South Carolina’s oldest festivals, the event includes kids’ activities, a parade, health screenings, stilt walkers, boat rides, all set in Swan Lake Iris Gardens. Musical acts will perform all three days, including a set by the Hartsville Bubble Guy And the Spoon Man will be playing, of course, spoons.
There will also be a car show, archery, a driving simulator, and dogs for adoption.
“With its growing popularity, the Iris Festival has become a must-visit destination, drawing bus tours from across the U.S. and Canada,” the festival says on its website.
May 16-18 — Greenville Greek Festival
The 39th annual Greenville Greek Festival will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 406 North Academy St.
It includes authentic Greek music, dancing, vendors and food. A $3 admission fee benefits GirlUp GVL.
There’s also a drive-thru.
May 16-25 — The Fair at Heritage Park, Simpsonville
There will be a character meet and greet, including superheroes and princesses.
The FireGuy brings the ancient art of fire to life, the fair website says.
There is a new ride — Cyclops 2.0 — as well as pig racing, a circus stunt show, a petting zoo, and of course, all the food and rides you’d expect of a fair.
General admission is $10 and free for children under 10 years old.
The event, held at the SC State Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., includes cultural exhibitions and showcases Black businesses.
“The mission of the Black Expo is to promote economic development through increased exposure for minority-owned businesses,” according to the expo’s website.
May 16-18 — Sun Fun Festival, Myrtle Beach
The 70th annual Sun Fun Festival features the Omar Shriners Parade on Saturday morning and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team demonstration at Plyler Park. There will be games in Plyler Park, photo ops, face painting, stilt walkers, balloon twisters, crafts and games for kids, and more, according to the festival website.
The event was first staged to welcome tourists back to Myrtle Beach for the summer. The first Miss SC pageant was held there in 1952, judged by bestselling author Mickey Spillane, who lived in Murrells Inlet.
May 17 — South Carolina Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival, Columbia
The event runs from 12 to 5 p.m. at the State Fairgrounds with more than 35 trucks, including lobster rolls, mini donuts, gourmet eggrolls, wood fired pizza and Jamaican cuisine.
Dozens of regional and national beers will be available.
May 22-25 — Black Cowboy Festival, Greenfield Farm, Rembert
The festival celebrates the contributions of African American cowboys and frontiersmen, and includes agricultural workshops, fish fry, a Western dinner, trail rides, horse shows, line dancing, live entertainment, and vendor booths.
The event was founded by Mark and Sandra Myers, descendants of African American farmers and sharecroppers.
May 23-24 — Gallabrae, Greenville County
It begins with the Great Scot Parade at 6 p.m. on May 23 on Main Street in downtown Greenville.
The Greenville Scottish Games, which began in 2006 and are part of Gallabrae, will be held on May 24 at Furman University.
There will be a parade of tartans, a military salute on the Main Field, and all-day athletics. Also included are piping/drumming competitions, Border Collie demonstrations, Celtic music, and a British car show.
May 23 - 25 — Original Gullah Festival, Beaufort waterfront
The festival includes storytelling, dancing, jazz, blues, reggae music, and African drums. There will also be vendors selling arts and crafts and a food court serving local cuisine and traditional Gullah favorites.
May 24 — Flopeye Fish Festival at Great Falls First Baptist Church (new location)
A car show, carnival and music center will anchor this event, which was named for not a fish, but a section of Great Falls, which arose from the construction of hydroelectric plants by what is now known as Duke Energy.
The story goes that some 75 years ago, shopkeeper Andy Morrison would sit in front of his general store and have a hard time keeping his eyes open.
Three women passing by saw him and one said, “Who is that old flop-eyed man?”
“Several bystanders heard her, and news traveled fast over the grapevine to the Republic Cotton Mills President, Mr. Rob Mebane,” the festival website says. “Flopeye, a good name for that part of town,” he said.
May 31 — Lake Murray Palooza Music Festival
The event will be held at Fat Frogs Marina (The Old Frayed Knot) on Lake Murray and will include all sorts of music: country, rock n ’ roll, southern rock, DJs, and Reggae.
“This unforgettable outdoor festival is the perfect tribute to giving back to the community while enjoying some great music and fun in the sun,” the website says.
You can get there by land and by lake. Proceeds benefit the Shriners Children’s Hospital.
This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Communities across SC are gearing up for spring festivals. Here are 12 to consider."