What to Do in South Carolina in October

Looking for something to do in South Carolina during the month of October? No matter what your interests, you're sure to find something that's Just Right for you.

Here's a list of upcoming festivals and events in October to help you make your plans.

MOUNTAINS

Anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain - Blacksburg
Kings Mountain National Military Park, with partner organizations, honors those who fell at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Special ceremonies will be held with a keynote speaker and wreath-laying ceremony.

Antiques, Fine Art & Design Weekend - Greenville
This weekend antiques show brings together top dealers from around the country, offering a variety of period antiques for sale, including silver, jewelry, rugs, folk art and porcelain.

Belton Standpipe Heritage and Arts Festival - Belton
The annual Belton Standpipe Heritage and Arts Festival celebrates the city of Belton and the Belton community. The excitement includes three stages of entertainment, games, rides, children's area and fireworks.

Boo in the Zoo - Greenville
Get ready for thrills and excitement galore at the Greenville Zoo! Kids and adults alike are welcome to don their favorite Halloween costumes for this non-scary event.

Oktoberfest - Walhalla
Nestled in South Carolina's mountain country, Walhalla pays tribute to the famous German festival, Oktoberfest, with a showcase of crafts, food, an authentic German band, dancers, magic shows and a country music band. The festival features a carnival, stunning fireworks display and hot air balloon rides and skydivers.

Pendleton Fall Harvest Festival - Pendleton
Talented crafters and artists as well as merchants and collectors will be selling their wares at the Pendleton Fall Harvest Festival. Local musicians will keep you entertained throughout the day. Food vendors are sure to fill your belly while the children will enjoy old-fashioned games including a pie-eating contest and corn shucking.

Spartanburg International Festival - Spartanburg
The annual Spartanburg International Festival celebrates Spartanburg's diverse multicultural community. The event not only brings the cultural spirit of Spartanburg to light, but also provides an opportunity to share and be a part of such a vast cultural exchange.

Squealin' on the Square - Laurens
The Squealin' on the Square competition and festival is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, and cook teams from across the Southeast gather to compete for cash and other prizes. Besides great barbecue, the festival features arts and crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, a car show and cruise-in, an antique tractor show, a kids' area and a beautiful fireworks display.

Fall for Greenville - Greenville
Enjoy dining outdoors on the cuisine of 46 restaurants while taking in live musical entertainment on four stages. Fall for Greenville is a three-day family-friendly event that highlights Greenville's finest restaurants, musical entertainment and children's activities.

MIDLANDS

Apple Harvest Festival - York
Apple lovers delight in this seasonal South Carolina festival. Apple Harvest Festival patrons participate in apple picking, hayrides, cider making, pumpkin picking, apple-peeling contests, Johnny Appleseed stories and delicious baked apple goods.

Boo at the Zoo - Columbia
Lions and tigers and goblins, oh my! Join Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for a Halloween spook-tacular, Boo at the Zoo. Children 12 and under are invited to wear costumes for a spook-fest!

Carolina Downhome Blues Festival - Camden
The Carolina Downhome Blues Festival is a blues "club crawl" with performances in the cozy theater of the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, plus gigs in bars and restaurants in town, up close and personal, the way the blues were meant to be.

Colonial Times ‘A Day to Remember' - North Augusta
This Colonial Times event at the Living History Park provides hands-on experience and a glimpse of life from 1735-1785. Blacksmithing, open-fire cooking, goldsmithing, spinning and musket firing are among the demonstrations. Exhibits include a working smokehouse and a beehive bake oven.

Cayce Fall Fest - Cayce
Join the city of Cayce for a fun, family-oriented celebration of fall at Granby Gardens Park. Cayce Fall Fest will feature live music, food and drink vendors, artists and crafters, and a children's play area. 

Francis Marion/Swamp Fox Symposium - Manning
Immerse yourself in Francis Marion's world and discover his significance. This Francis Marion/Swamp Fox Symposium is a unique opportunity to celebrate the story of theRevolutionary War in South Carolina.

Gaston Collard & BBQ Festival - Gaston
It's fun for all at the Gaston Collard & BBQ Festival, featuring a live auction, a parade, games, festival rides, live entertainment, crafters, chili and barbecue cook-offs, a dessert contest and, of course, our famous cooked collards, all at the Gaston Civic Center.

HILLarity - Chester
HILLarity is a street show centered "on the hill" in historic downtown Chester featuring arts and crafts, a car show, multicultural entertainment, two stages with a variety of entertainment, children's events and rides and food.

Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee & BBQ Cook-Off - North Augusta
The annual Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee & BBQ Cook-Off offers continuous entertainment, games, contests and activities for children. Also, crafts and food vendors will be on hand.

Jam Room Music Festival - Columbia
The Jam Room Music Festival is proud to be putting on the only free show of its kind in Columbia. Festival organizers are looking forward to bringing the most eclectic and diverse lineup yet to Main Street.

Kingstree Pig Pickin' - Kingstree
What exactly is pig pickin'? It's the best way to eat hot-off-the-fire barbecue. That's exactly what you'll find at Kingstree Pig Pickin' along with other activities like a barbecue cook-off, tennis and golf tournaments, a car show, a lancing tournament, children's activities, a fireworks show and live music performances.

Newberry Oktoberfest - Newberry
The Newberry Oktoberfest features local food vendors, a kids' area, a classic car display, a culinary stage and local, regional and national entertainment. This year's festival will once again have a community focus with a regional appeal.

Ridge Spring Harvest Festival - Ridge Spring
The annual Ridge Spring Harvest Festival began in 1992. Events include a beauty pageant, gospel music, a parade, carnival rides, arts/crafts, food booths and free historic carriage rides. Admission to the event is free; there is a charge for the carnival rides.

Rock Around the Clock Festival - Winnsboro
Rock around the oldest continuously running clock in the nation, built in 1833, in historic downtown Winnsboro. The Rock Around the Clock Festival kicks off with a rocking chair parade followed by a hot dog eating contest, karaoke contest, street dance and shag contest. Other events include a classic car show and various children's activities.

South Carolina Jazz Festival - Cheraw
The South Carolina Jazz Festival celebrates the musical roots and legacy of Cheraw native Dizzy Gillespie. It's a jazz-filled celebration of performances, restaurant crawls, art events, a bebop parade and a Sunday Jazz Mass commemorating the musical roots and legacy of Cheraw's native son.

South Carolina State Fair - Columbia
The 12-day run of the South Carolina State Fair will feature rides, games, exhibits, grandstand entertainment and stages with a variety of acts such as comedy, bands, dancers, local entertainment and entertainment from South Carolina schools across the state.

US Disc Golf Championship - Rock Hill
Established in 1999, the US Disc Golf Championship has since grown into disc golf's most prestigious event. The USDGC has the strongest field, the largest purse and an amazing golf course that challenges even this illustrious field.

Walk for Life - Columbia
Take steps against breast cancer at the annual Walk/Race for Life. Join our fight and help spread the message that annual screenings/mammograms are critical to detecting, treating and beating breast cancer. All proceeds stay in the community and benefit Palmetto Health Breast Center.

Western Carolina State Fair - Aiken
Come on, let's ride! The Western Carolina State Fair has new and exciting rides, attractions and food at this year's fair.

COASTAL & ISLANDS

Art in the Park - Myrtle Beach
Since 1973, Art in the Park has been showcasing original Southeast art, such as paintings, woodworking, photography, jewelry, fabric, glass, metal, pottery and stone.

Beaufort Shrimp Festival - Beaufort
Local restaurants offer samples of Lowcountry dishes featuring shrimp at the Beaufort Shrimp Festival. Highlights of the event include an evening concert in the park, a 5K run over Woods Memorial Bridge and a 5K "Walk through History" in the historic Old Point neighborhood in Beaufort.

Boone Hall Corn Maze - Mount Pleasant
The Boone Hall Corn Maze, in conjunction with the Pumpkin Patch, continues to be an absolute go-to event for the whole family. Each year, the maze has a new design.

Charleston Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch - Charleston
The Charleston Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is open every weekend in October. This 7-acre maze with three miles of twists and turns and five bridges is guaranteed to stump even the best of folks.

Coastal Carolina Fair - Ladson
When the weather gets a little cooler, the Coastal Carolina Fair is near. Come on by and enjoy thrill rides, games, family-friendly competitions and - oh, yes - the food. You can also enjoy nightly fireworks and live musical entertainment.

Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens - Beaufort
The three-day Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens features tours of private, historic homes and plantations. Explore three centuries of architecture in the Beaufort National Historic Landmark District and surrounding Lowcountry.

Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens - Charleston
Enjoy evening walking tours of charming homes, gardens and churches of historic Charleston. Guides provide information on architecture, antiques and history of each site. Tours feature 8-10 properties.

Georgetown Bridge2Bridge Run - Georgetown
The beautiful, historic and charming seaport city of Georgetown offers runners an event that showcases all of the unique features that make this town an interesting coastal community. Runners in the Georgetown Bridge2Bridge Run will go past the downtown's eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and historic landmarks, including the famous Clock Tower at the Rice Museum. The course takes you through a residential area showcasing Georgetown's signature tree-lined streets and beautiful Lowcountry architecture.

Golfweek Amateur Tour National Championship - Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island will host the 54-hole Golfweek Amateur Tour National Championship. The tournament is expected to be one of the largest competitive stroke play events ever held in Hilton Head. A field of 578 golfers from across the country will converge on the island for the tour's national finals. The championship will be contested on six courses, including three at Palmetto Dunes Resort, as well as Robber's Row, Oyster Reef and the Arthur Hills course in Palmetto Hall.

Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance - Hilton Head Island
The annual Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival features more than 400 vehicles throughoutthe two-weekend event including world-class vintage and antiqueautos, German sports cars, performance and muscle cars andmotorcycles from throughout the United States. There will also bean internationally acclaimed collectible car auction, the Hilton HeadSports & Classic Car Auction, and a vintage track event including hot lap rides at racing speeds, auto cross courses and racing exhibitions.

Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival - Bluffton
The Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival is full of activities showcasing the arts, locally harvested seafood, Lowcountry cuisine and the rich history and hospitality found only in Bluffton.

Howl-O-Scream - North Myrtle Beach
McLean Park is a spook-tacular site for an array of activities to include hayrides, pumpkin painting, marshmallow roasting, trick-or-treating and much more. Howl-O-Scream features scare-free and scare zones that offer a variety of excitement levels sure to satisfy all.

Latin American Festival - North Charleston
Feel the heat at this year's Latin America Festival as we celebrate the sights and sounds of the Latino world. Enjoy live Latin music, authentic foods and craft items, along with plenty of activities for children to enjoy.

Little River Shrimpfest - Little River
The Little River Shrimpfest is an annual two-day event staged along the historic Little River Waterfront. The event will include arts & crafts, festival foods including shrimp and seafood specialties from area restaurants, a children's area, a car show and a great variety of live entertainment. New this year is a shrimp & grits cook-off!

Loris Bog-Off Festival - Loris
The Loris Bog-Off is an annual festival held every third Saturday in October featuring a parade, a chicken bog cooking contest, crafts, arts, games, bands, local entertainment, vendors, gospel singing, a kids' pavilion and fireworks.

Movies @ McLean - North Myrtle Beach
Spend a Friday evening watching a movie under the stars. All movies shown for Movies @ McLean are G- or PG-rated and are subject to change depending upon availability. Movies will begin 15 minutes after sunset.

Taste of the Town - Myrtle Beach
Select restaurants gather at the local convention center and provide samples of culinary treats for a nominal price. Taste of the Town is considered make or break for the Myrtle Beach area's new restaurants, so the chefs go all out to showcase their specialties.

Wooden Boat Show - Georgetown
Georgetown has been a working seaport for more than 250 years, linking much of the area's history and culture to the sea. Come celebrate the rich maritime heritage of South Carolina's third-oldest city and second-largest port. This year's Wooden Boat Show will feature one of the Southeast's finest wooden boat exhibits, a wooden boat building competition, children's model boat building, a boat raffle, maritime arts & crafts, food and music.