Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee
April
This springtime festival is a weekend of quality arts and crafts, antiques, a variety of musical entertainment, historic tours, bike rides, unique shops and restaurants. For more information, visit the Historic Pendleton Jubilee online.
Anderson Soiree
April
Join the City of Anderson for food and entertainment, fine art and pottery, games and fun for the whole family in Historic Downtown Anderson. Events include a 5K road race and 1K walk, professional and amateur acts on four stages, the Kids Kingdom, karaoke on the teen stage and 'You Do Raku' - pick a clay pot, apply ceramic glazes and enjoy the festival while it gets fired. Usually held the last full weekend in April. For more information, see Anderson Soiree online.
Pickens Azalea Festival
April
Held in mid-April on Main Street in Pickens. This one-day event offers children's games, a complete variety of foods, arts and crafts, and live entertainment during the day. Bring your classic car and enter it in the Cruise In (no entry fee or application required). Admission is free. Visit Pickens Azalea Festival online for more information.
Spring Festival on the Square, Abbeville
May
The festival is held the first weekend in May on Abbeville's Historic Town Square. The festival features craft vendors, entertainment all day, food vendors, amusement rides for the young and "young at heart", an antique car show, a beautiful flower show and a special featured event each year. Are you looking for a Charming Southern Town, with the Southern Hospitality that will leave a warm memory?
Artisphere, Greenville
May
Artisphere is a four-day event highlighting the arts in our area. Artisphere brings in patrons from all over the world for this spectacular arts festival. Artist Row presents 100 of the highest caliber visual artists from across the United States and beyond. Artist mediums include: ceramics, photography, glass, jewelry, metalworks, printmaking, graphics, drawing, pastel, painting, mixed media, sculpture, woodwork, fiber, and furniture.
Blue Ridge Fest, Pickens
May
This two-day event is held in mid-May with all proceeds going to charity. Friday offers a night of beach music and a car show followed by a Bike Run on Saturday. Bring your old car or motorcycle and join in the festivities. Visit Blue Ridge online for more information.
Greenville Scottish Games
June
The colors, tastes, sights and sounds you will experience are all evocative of clan life in the wild Highlands of Scotland. The Championship Heavy Athletic competition is drawn from the warrior traditions at ancient clan gatherings, as is the Highland Dancing competion. The Southern Piping Championship will remind you vividly of how the Great Highland War Pipes were an integral part of every Scottish clan marching into battle. The crafts - from the weaving of tartans to the stained glass demonstrations - would have been all around you at a Gathering of the Clans from long ago. Visit Greenville Games online for more information.
Children visiting our Games will have their own miniature Scottish village, called Wee Scotland. They will have their own crafts, athletic events, “mountains” to climb, and much more, all the while absorbing a bit of the culture that settled our region. The Border Collie Trials and Great Scot! Young Writers Contest are very popular, too!
Summer Chautaqua Festival, Greenville
June
Historic figures like Thomas Jefferson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr. come to talk with us. Scholars, costumed as famous people, bring our history and literature to life. It is free educational theater that takes you on an astonishing journey into the past. And it's not a Chautauqua performance unless audience questions are the most dramatic and exhilarating part. Visit Greenville Chautauqua online for more information.
Clemsonfest, Clemson (5 p.m.)
July 3
On the evening before Independence Day, Clemsonfest provides the only opportunity to see a major fireworks display over beautiful Lake Hartwell. Join thousands of revelers for family fun in the early evening with games, food, and crafts. Later enjoy doing South Carolina's official dance, the Shag, to the best of hot beach groups or bluegrass music as the fireworks ring in the 4th.
Red, White and Blue, Greenville
July
Greenville's official July 4th celebration including 75,000 of our closest friends enjoying music, food, drink, and of course...FIREWORKS! Visit Main St. Events for more information.
Anderson Motor Speedway
March to September
The Anderson Motor Speedway is located just north of I-85 at exit 27 - approximately 15 miles from the campground. Anderson Motor Speedway is a 3/8 mile paved oval. Wide straight-aways and tight, tricky corners are infamous for producing close, competitive short track racing most Friday nights in the quest for the checkered flag.
Civil War Reenactments
An American Civil War reenactment is an effort to recreate the appearance of a particular battle or other event associated with the American War between the States by hobbyists known as Civil War reenactors or Civil War recreationists. In our area there are three reenactments. They are:
Battle of Anderson in late March.
Battle of Central in mid-May
Battle of Oconee in mid-July.
Running Events:
'Run for Thought' - March - Greenville - 5K run, walk or roll - benefits Brain Injury Alliance of SC.
'President's Race for the Library' - March - Clemson University - sanctioned 5K.
'Midnight Flight' - August - Anderson - 1 mile, 5K, and 10K races
'Swamp McRabbit Trail 5K Run/Walk' - June - Greenville - 5K (part of Greenville Scottish Festival)
South Carolina Apple Festival, Westminster, SC
September
The Upcountry’s salute to the apple, the SC Apple Festival celebrates the beginning of apple harvest season in Oconee County, the largest apple producing area in the state. The annual festival starts on the Tuesday after Labor Day and continues to the following Saturday. The week long activities include arts, crafts and food vendors, a Chattooga River Float, live entertainment by a variety of musicians and the annual Apple Festival IPRA sanctioned World Championship Rodeo, and much, much more. Most of the events are free and are planned with the family in mind.
Oktoberfest, Walhalla
October
Tucked into the mountainous foothills of the Northwestern Corner of South Carolina, Walhalla bids you "Guten Tag! (Good Day!)". You're invited to experience "Gemutlichkeit!" (good spirits, good Times, laughter and goodwill) at the Annual Walhalla Oktoberfest! The festival features hot air balloons, skydivers, crafts, lederhosen, and carnival rides, as well as fantastic food such as wurst and kraut, AND authentic German music and dancers.
The Anderson Greek Festival
October
Join the Greek-American community for a day of food, dancing, shopping and just plain fun for two days in early October. Eat Greek, dance Greek, play Greek and, before the day is done, you might think you are Greek. Food will be served all day including lamb, chicken, gyros and souvlaki and delicious Greek pastries. Music throughout the day. A Parthenon playground for children, as well as crafts, will provide fun learning. Click on The Greek Festival to learn more.
Fall Harvest Festival
October
Celebrate the changing of the leaves with children's old-fashioned games, live music and quality arts and crafts on the historic Village Green of Pendleton, S.C.
Pumpkin Festival, Pumpkintown, SC
October
Enjoy this daylong event starting at 9 a.m. with a parade and children's activities following. There will be a greased pole climb, great food and the ever present pumpkins and pumpkin pies. In addition, the festival will include art and craft booths and the beautifully designed Pumpkin Festival Quilt. Music and the aroma of delicious food fills the air. Country music and stage dancing is a must see and do. The event is usually held the second Saturday in October and continues until 6:00 p.m.
Holiday Lights
November - December
The annual Roper Mountain Rotary Holiday Light Show opens on Thanksgiving night and runs through the end of December.
The Celebration of Lights is celebrated at the Upper SC State Fairgrounds near Easley with over one million lights which can be driven through. The Celebration of Lights is open nightly from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day. Admission is charged.
