Whether you are looking to cool off and relax, stay active or learn something new, South Carolina has a summertime event for you to discover. June is filled with fun festivals, concerts and more.
Sun Fun Festival
The first Sun Fun Festival happened in 1951 and more than 60 years later, it still serves as the opener for Myrtle Beach's vacation season. There's no better way to welcome vacationers from all around to the South Carolina coast for their summer holiday. This year's celebrations include live performances, carnival games, a parade and a spectacular fireworks display. Say hello again to a South Carolina summer at the Sun Fun Festival.
South Carolina Festival of Flowers
Greenwood hosts the 50th anniversary of the South Carolina Festival of Flowers. One of the Southeast Tourism Society's "Top Twenty Events," this month-long celebration kicks off with a bang the first weekend in June. The main weekend welcomes visitors with living topiary sculptures in Uptown Greenwood Square and along the Topiaries and Tastings Wine Walk. There's also an arts and crafts show and outdoor concert at Music at the Market. Find the full schedule on their website.
Drift Jam
June means the return of one of Lake Murray's beloved events. Drift Jam is a one-of-a-kind floating music festival that lets you embrace the summer heat with a day of music at the lake. This is the fourth year of Drift Jam, and the live music and performances from regional bands draw all kinds for a day of fun and sun with family and friends.
The Native Sons Salt Games
Myrtle Beach is hosting its 5th annual Native Sons Salt Games the first weekend in June. The Games offer fun for attendees and competitors alike, with more than 15 different events including a surf-off, beach volleyball, a hot dog eating contest and a CrossFit challenge. Begin the weekend with yoga on the boardwalk or by taking part in the 5k race. For those who are only looking to spectate, the weekend offers live music, food vendors and beer trucks, plus plenty of activities like Twister and cornhole.
AG + Art Tour
Spend your weekends this month exploring designated farms all across the state. South Carolina's AG + Art Tour offers a unique opportunity to learn about rural life and where the food we eat comes from. The largest farm and art tour in the country, it covers 11 different counties and has played host to more than 20,000 visitors since 2012. Admission to the farms is free, but participants will have the option to purchase food, beverages and artisan products as well as take part in activities at each location. Be sure to sign in at your first stop each weekend and check out this self-guided tour any Saturday or Sunday of the month.
Carolina Country Music Festival
Country music lovers, this one is for you. A lineup of more than 30 top artists in country music will make their way to the South Carolina coast once again for this year's Carolina Country Music Festival in Myrtle Beach. What better way to spend an evening this summer than listening to your favorite songs with a beach breeze on your face and a cold drink in your hand? See the full lineup of incredible artists like Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Chris Young on their website.
Columbia Fashion Week
June is fashion month in the Capital City, and the 6th year of Columbia's Fashion Week is shaping up to be the best one yet. Celebrate all things stylish with five days and five nights of fashion, mixers, live entertainment, exclusive shopping and fashion education. See the full schedule and get your tickets on their website.
Chautauqua History Alive Festival
History buffs won't want to miss Greenville's Chautauqua History Alive Festival. This event has been a tradition for 17 years, giving crowds a glimpse into the lives of iconic historical figures. Witness nationally acclaimed historical interpreters as they take on the roles of some of the biggest names in history. For two weeks in June, listen and learn from a number of famous figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou, Cesar Chavez, Walter Cronkite and Rachel Carson. Learn more about the festival and to choose from more than 30 performances and events across the Upstate.
Mighty Moo Festival
A crowd will be coming to Cowpens this month for the 40th annual Mighty Moo Festival, a four-day event celebrating not only the town's history but also the veterans and crewmen of the USS Cowpens CVL25 and USS Cowpens CG63. The four-day festival features numerous active events, including a golf tournament, baseball game, street dances and a tug-of-war competition known as the "Mighty Moo Tug-Fest." Additionally, the weekend offers a beauty pageant, arts and crafts sale, parade and fireworks.Read more here:
Blackwater Summer Festival
Aiken State Park will host its 4th annual Blackwater Summer Festival this month. Festivities include canoeing or kayaking along the river, hiking expeditions, as well as education activities involving nature and wildlife. Pack a picnic blanket and a cooler to accompany your plate of home-cooked BBQ at lunchtime, and bring along your well-behaved canines for a day spent outdoors at Aiken State Park.
The Hampton County Watermelon Festival
The Hampton County Watermelon Festival is a 75-year tradition, and this year's festival will offer all kinds of fun. Lake Warren State Park will be bustling with activities that include a youth parade, arts and crafts contests, pet show, carnival, fishing contest and bluegrass concert. This week is the perfect opportunity to check out the Hampton County area while celebrating the most refreshing fruit of a Southern summer. Find more information on the event visit their website.
Southeastern Piano Festival
The third week in June, the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia will transform into a rigorous training facility for the young pianists chosen as finalists in the Southeastern Piano Festival. By day, the chosen students will take part in daily lessons and master classes with incredible, world-class pianists. And in the evenings, concerts and showcases will be given for general audiences to allow these artists to show off their skills. Come be amazed by the best and brightest upcoming names in the piano world.
Dragon Boat Beaufort
For the fifth year, dedicated racers will inhabit Beaufort River, paddling in dragon boats to win trophies and raise money for local cancer patients. Teams compete in three heats of races throughout the day as thousands of guests look on from Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. The event also includes a ceremony celebrating the lives of cancer survivors. Join local businesses and teams of family and friends as they come together to compete for an important cause.
