Every year, South Carolina celebrates its past, present and future with dozens of festivals held throughout the state.
South Carolina - from the soft sandy beaches of the coastal areas to the rolling hills of the inland, the Palmetto State is rich in history and heritage. Every year, South Carolina celebrates its past, present and future with dozens of festivals held throughout the state. Whichever area you may be visiting, chances are good that there will be some sort of event to attend.
The Aiken Horse Show is held the first weekend of every April at Hitchcock Woods, a 2100-acre preserve in the middle of town. The Hitchcock Foundation, which sponsors the horse show, is a non-profit group which works to protect the area's natural resources. Including a traditional fox hunt, the Horse Show offers classes, workshops, and the chance to see some of the South's most beautiful horses.
The second weekend in May, Aiken is the home of the annual Bluegrass Festival. Bluegrass music is one of the oldest forms of music in America today, built heavily upon the traditional tunes brought over from England, Scotland and Ireland by early Colonial settlers. Held in historic downtown Aiken, the Bluegrass Festival features an entire weekend of live music, fun and entertainment for the whole family. Proceeds raised from the festival are donated to STAR, a program which enriches the lives of children and adults with physical disabilities by helping them interact with horses. The 2004 Bluegrass Festival raised enough money that sponsors were able to donate funds of over $12,000 to STAR.
Horses are a big part of Carolina life, and Camden is no exception. Every April this small town hosts the Carolina Cup Steeplechase Race, which has evolved into a time-honored event among South Carolina's high society. This incredible race draws crowds 70,000 strong to enjoy tailgate parties, an unofficial fashion show, and of course, the steeplechase. The race grounds are also home to the National Steeplechase Museum, which features exhibits celebrating the history of steeplechasing in America. The museum includes a library, interactive exhibits, and loads of memorabilia from past races.
The third weekend in August, residents gear up for the Battle of Camden Remembrance Weekend. Camden takes its military history very seriously, particularly when it comes to the American Revolution. In 1780, Lord Cornwallis led British troops into the woods near Camden to crush General Horatio Gates' militia. Although Gates' militia was defeated, a number of Continentals stayed on to fight under Baron Johann de Kalb. This battle and its related skirmishes are the subject of a weekend encampment, held at the 107-acres site of the original town. In addition to the re-enactment, visitors can tour restored houses and interact with costumed interpreters who bring the time of the American Revolution to life.
In November, the same site hosts Revolutionary War Field Days, which includes battle re-enactments, a British court-martial, music, and children's activities. One of the most entertaining parts of the event is the period fashion show, which features ball gowns, military uniforms, and everyday garb all stitched by hand in the styles of the time.
Charleston is often called the City of Light by residents of the Lowcountry, and is truly one of the jewels of the south. Charleston shines all year long, but the festivals are what draw many visitors to this beautiful city. The last weekend in January brings the annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival, held at beautiful Boone Hall Plantation - the site where exterior shots of Tara were filmed for "Gone With The Wind." As the locals say, it's time to "shuck "˜em and suck "˜em," when 65,000 pounds - that's two tractor-trailer loads - of oysters roll into town. The Lowcountry's finest single select oysters are sold by the bucket at the going market rate, which tends to vary, and you should plan on bringing your own glove and knife, although cocktail sauce and crackers are provided with your bucket. There's plenty of beer as well as a food court full of local restaurant fare, for those who aren't interested in actually eating an oyster. Only 10,000 tickets are sold each year, so be sure to get yours in advance.
If slurping down oysters and beer isn't really your style, wait until the end of May, when the international arts fair called Spoleto Festival moves into Charleston. For two and a half weeks, through about the middle of June, the streets and outdoor spaces of Charleston are filled with the best in opera, theater, dance, music, and the visual arts. This innovative arts festival, which began in 1977, is designed not only to bring the arts to the public, but also to offer new young performers the chance to work with the legendary veterans of symphony and stage. Performers travel from all over the world to audition for Spoleto, which was formed as the American counterpart to Italy's own Spoleto festival. This one-of-a-kind event takes place all over Charleston's historic peninsula, on church lawns, in small parks, and even on the steps of city hall.
Come September, dig out your kilt and claymore, and head over to the Scottish Games & Highland Gathering at Boone Hall. One of the largest Scottish Games in the southeast, this event features over 25 pipe bands, exhibitions of Highland dancing, some of the biggest lads you've ever seen tossing the caber, and a border collie demonstration. Each year, the Games picks a particular clan to honor, and the 2005 Honored Clan is Clan Fraser - which means Frasers from all over the world will be descending upon the festivities. Whether you're a Fraser or a member of another clan - or even if you're not Scottish at all - the Scottish Games and Highland Gathering at Boone Hall is a memorable event for young and old alike.
The small town of Gaffney hosts the annual SC Peach Festival every July. Nestled in the hills near the North Carolina state line, Gaffney welcomes visitors each year to celebrate the town's staple crop. South Carolina produces even more peaches than Georgia, so Gaffney residents take their peaching seriously. Voted as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast, the Peach Festival is the home of, naturally, the world's largest peach pie. If you're approaching town from I-85, look for the impressive structure known as the Peachoid. It's a one-million-gallon water tower which looks like - you guessed it - a big peach.
Hilton Head is known for its sandy beaches and lush resorts, but before the tourists discovered it, this little strip of land was the home of the Gullah way of life, and every February celebrates with the Native Islander Gullah Celebration. The island's original settlers were the descendants of West African slaves who were brought to coastal Georgia and South Carolina. Gullah is more than just a language - it's an entire culture, and the islanders go above and beyond in an effort to preserve their heritage. To follow the customs of their ancestors, residents weave sweetgrass baskets, prepare traditional Gullah foods, and celebrate with music and storytelling.
In 1989, the small hamlet of McClellanville made the news when it became ground zero for Hurricane Hugo. Now, a decade and a half later, it's famous for something much better than hurricane devastation -- the annual Lowcountry Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet, held every May. It's an event which brings old fashioned fun to the modern world, with kids' games, live music, a craft exhibit, and of course shrimp prepared in more ways than you can imagine.
In the spring of 1983, a community group in the town of Pickens began hosting a small arts and crafts fair. Over the past two decades, other civic groups have become involved, and the fair has evolved into the popular Pickens Azalea Festival. Over a hundred arts and crafts booths line the streets of downtown Pickens. Stages are set up for live entertainment, from bluegrass to choral groups. A children's area is set aside, and there are enough food vendors to please any palate. Interestingly, the Azalea Festival is a way for many non-profit groups to raise money for charity, and in the past, over $100,000 has been raised for various causes, all from the sales of food and souvenirs.
Pickens County is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and in mid-October the leaves begin to change to brilliant oranges and reds. Folks celebrate accordingly, by heading to Pumpkintown for the annual Pumpkin Festival. There are children's games, including potato sack races and the greased pole climb, traditional southern foods such as chicken and barbeque, lots of country music, and more pumpkins than you can shake a scarecrow at! Pumpkintown was originally settled in 1745, and apparently the original occupants had trouble deciding on a name for their new home. According to town legend, a half-drunk frontiersman wobbled to the front of the crowd, pointed at all the large orange globes in a nearby field, and said, "Why not just call "˜er Pumpkintown?" The name stuck, and residents have been celebrating ever since.
No list of South Carolina festivals would be complete without grits, so if you happen to be near the town of St. George in April, check out the World Grits Festival. Believe it or not, they're not just for breakfast anymore. Meals of every kind imaginable, all prepared with grits, are represented at this fair. The festival began about twenty years ago when the local Piggly Wiggly participated in a survey which revealed that the people of St. George consumed more grits per capita than any other town in the world. The festival prides itself on providing wholesome family entertainment and offering scholarships to needy local students, who might not otherwise get a chance to further their education. The World Grits Festival features arts and crafts, music, a fun run, a giant midway, and of course, tons of grits for you to enjoy!
From bluegrass to opera, oysters to grits, South Carolina's festivals have something for everyone. Next time you're planning a trip to the Palmetto state, check out one of the dozens of festivals available year-round for you to enjoy. For more information on South Carolina's festivals, check out http://www.sciway.net/calendar.html.
