Fall festival time is back in SC! Here are a few of the best coming soon
Fall festivals are in full swing across South Carolina and several are planned for this weekend.
Here’s a sampling of the celebrations in some communities from now until the end of October.
The town of Branchville will stage 57th Raylrode Daze Festivul Sept. 25-27. Branchville in Orangeburg County is recognized as the site of the world’s oldest railroad, built in 1828. It features a parade, food, contests, concession stands and live entertainment including the Gunslingers and the Can Can Girls.
MOJA Arts Festival Sept. 25 to Oct. 5 will be held in Charleston to celebrate Black arts and culture, especially those of African American and Caribbean legacies. Festival events include visual arts, music, food, dance, poetry, theater, storytelling, traditional crafts and family activities. MOJA also includes educational outreach through workshops in the public schools and senior outreach in community centers. The Okra Strut will celebrate 50 years Sept. 26-27 at Moore Park in Irmo. Started by the Lake Murray-Irmo Woman’s Club to raise money for a library in Irmo, it was taken up as a community wide celebration with the Lake Murray-Irmo Woman’s Club being “our preferred Okra Vendor.” Organizers say their okra is amazing.
Harvest Day Festival, sponsored by the Inman Area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the City of Inman, will be held Sept. 27. The one-day arts and crafts festival draws about 20,000 visitors each year, festival organizers say. There will be some 200 street vendors, stage acts, street performers, and downtown stores open for business.
The Old Town Festival in Rock Hill will be held Sept. 27 and will include a pumpkin patch, Ferris Wheel, petting zoo, food trucks, beer garden and, perhaps best of all for some, free cotton candy.
The Orangeburg County Fair runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 5. It is South Carolina’s second oldest fair, started in 1911. (The South Carolina Fair is the oldest, started in 1841.} The Orangeburg County Fair, spotlights local agriculture and encourages young people to become involved in their communities.
Newberry Oktoberfest kicks off on Festbier Friday, Oct. 3 with German Brews & Bites and live music. Then on Saturday, Oct. 4 more German Brews & Bites and an artisan marketplace, live music, and a traditional German dress contest. A free Kinderfest Zone is sponsored by Newberry Health.
The Famously Hot SC Pride will mark its 35th annual festival Oct. 3 - 4. The event features the Get Lit Parade and Concert featuring Debby Holiday and a number of performers through the weekend.
South Carolina State Fair will run Oct. 8-19 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia. This year’s theme is Harvesting Happiness, which the fair website says “reflects the joy and pride our team brings to the fairgrounds each day.” The fair awards $500,000 in scholarships each year. It offers rides, games, live entertainment, and exhibits. New food vendors this year include Jim’s Fries, Giant Tenderloin Sandwich, Catina Louie, Brody’s Mac and Cheese, and Surf N Turf Alfredo Sundae (fries coated in garlic parmesan with sirloin steak and sauteed Cajun shrimp, topped with Alfredo sauce, button mushrooms and garlic cheesy bread croutons.)
Fall for Greenville will be held Oct. 10 - 12. First held in 1982 with 14 restaurants on two blocks of Main Street, the event now takes over downtown and attracts more than 150,000 people. Some 60 restaurants with 300 menu items will be offered, seven stages and 80 bands and 15 beer and wine vendors. Oktoberfest Columbia will be held at Incarnation Lutheran Church, 3005 Devine St, Oct. 10-12. Billed as the original Columbia Oktoberfest, it includes German beer and food, live entertainment from oompah bands and dancers, pastries made church members and a Kinderzone with face painting, balloon artist and playground.