Free SC Events June/July 2013


A follow up to my post for April and May free events.
It's been fun finding free things to do around the state. The weather has been great and summer is when it seems everyone is outside. And there's always great events during 4th of July!
Some of my resources for finding events:
Columbia's Free Times
SCiway
and local visitors bureau websites (great resources!)

June

June 1 - Williamston Parkfest - http://www.williamstonsc.us/festivals.html#parkfest
  • 11 am - 7:30 pm
  • between Anderson and Greenville, off of I-85
  • family event with music, food, emergency personnel visits, farmers market
June 1 - Sweetgrass Festival - http://www.sweetgrassfestival.org
  • 12 pm - 8 pm
  • Mt Pleasant, under the Arthur Ravenel Bridge (free parking)
  • celebrating Gullah Geechee culture; arts and crafts, music, food, demonstrations, water slide
June 1-2 - Old Depot Arts & Crafts - http://www.olddepot.org/index.php?page=arts-crafts-show
  • 10 am - 5 pm Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm Sunday
  • Black Mountain, North Carolina (yeah it's not in SC but it's not far)
  • arts and crafts, drinks, food, antiques; go check out the rest of Black Mountain while you're there. It's a fun little town.
June 1 - 23 - South Carolina Festival of Flowers - http://www.scfestivalofflowers.org/
  • Greenwood, SC
  • many events, some free some for a fee, throughout the month. 
  • amazing topiarys decorate downtown Greenwood
June 7-9 - Taste of Charlotte - http://tasteofcharlotte.com
  • 11 am - 11 pm, Friday and Saturday, Sunday until 6 pm
  • free admission, to sample food or drinks you have to buy coins
  • in downtown Charlotte with entertainment and it's family friendly
June 8 - craft.bar.happy weekend at the Columbia Museum of Art - http://www.columbiamuseum.org/cbhh/weekend/
  • 10 am - 2 pm
  • Main Street, Columbia
  • there's a paid event on Friday you can go to as well but Saturday is free and is mostly a craft show with food and music
June 8 - Clover Scottish Games - http://www.cloverscottishgames.com/
  • 9 am - 4 pm
  • NorthWest of Rock Hill
  • sports competitions, sheep dog competition, Celtic rock, Irish dancing, food and crafts
June 12-15 - Cowpens Mighty Moo Festival - http://www.cowpensmightymoo.com (link doesn't seem to be working right now)
  • North of Spartanburg
June 13-15 - SC Farmer's Festival - http://www.scfarmersfestival.org/
  • Not much info posted yet, I'm not even sure it's free but I think it should be. 
  • Lake City, SC, outside of Florence
June 14-23 - Greenville Chautauqua Festival - http://greenvillechautauqua.org/
  • historical outdoor shows
  • around Greenville, some events in Spartanburg and Asheville
June 15 - Ridge Peach Festival - http://www.ridgepeachfestival.com
  • 9 am - 4 pm
  • Trenton, SC - between Columbia and Augusta
  • food, parade, crafts, antique car and tractor show, live entertainment, demonstrations
June 20 - 22 - Charleston Carifest - http://www.charlestoncarifest.com/event/
  • some events are free, some you pay for
  • celebrating Caribbean heritage
June 21-23 - SC Irish Arts Festival - http://cornerhousemusic.com/Redbird/redbird_SCIAW.php
  • concerts, arts, dance, workshops and food
  • Columbia and West Columbia - music events held at Conundrum Music Hall, arts and workshops at Columbia Art Museum, closing concert and events held at Delaney's in Five Points
  • many concerts are free, workshops and Friday night's concert has a charge
June 22 - 30 (yes it's a week-long) - Hampton County Watermelon Festival - http://hcmelonfest.org/
  • many events throughout the week. The festivities on the weekend last most of the day.
  • in and around the town of Hampton, west of Walterboro
  • free watermelon slices on Saturday, many events including a motorcycle ride, a mud run, contests, crafts and entertainment
June 28-29 - Festival of Stars - http://www.townofninetysixsc.com/
  • 6 pm - 10 pm Friday, 10 am until? on Saturday
  • outside of Greenwood, SC
  • Parade, Food, Music, Entertainment, Amusement Rides, Custom Car Show, Contests, Nighttime Fireworks Display
June 29 - Lake Murray 4th of July Celebration - http://www.lakemurraycountry.com/pages/july-4th-celebration/
  • Lake Murray, outside of Columbia 
  • Starts at noon with a boat parade and concludes with fireworks at 9 pm

July 

July 4 - Lexington County Peach Festival - http://lexingtoncountypeachfestival.com/
  • all day activities
  • Gilbert, outside of Lexington, SC
  • parade at 9:30 am, peach-themed activities, crafts, food, car show, tractor show, fireworks at 10 pm
July 4 - Red White and Blue Festival - http://www.greenvillesc.gov/PublicInfo_Events/RedWhiteBlue.aspx
  • 5 pm - 10:30 pm
  • downtown Greenville
  • fireworks, music, food, they've yet to post the schedule
July 11-13 - South Carolina Festival of Discovery - http://www.festivalofdiscovery.com
  • Greenwood, SC
  • bbq, blues music and family fun
July 12-13 - South Carolina Peach Festival - http://scpeachfestival.org
  • 5 - 10 pm Friday, 10 am - 10 pm Saturday
  • Gaffney, SC, north of Spartanburg
  • parade at 10 am Saturday, music, food, contests, carnival rides
July 19 - 20 - Pageland Watermelon Festival - http://pagelandwatermelonfestival.com/
  • 3 pm - until Friday, all day Saturday
  • East of Rock Hill, near the NC border
  • food, parade, contests, carnival rides, watermelon contests, entertainment
July 19 - 28 - Beaufort Water Festival - http://bftwaterfestival.com/
  • over a week of water sports and activities around Beaufort
  • nightly entertainment, some events are free, some cost money
  • 19th - 21st is when the main festival takes place with crafts and vendors; Friday is opening ceremonies with fireworks, Saturday evening there's a concert and children's day is Sunday
  • parade on Saturday, the 27th with an air show in the afternoon
July 26-28 - Bele Chere Festival - http://www.belecherefestival.com
  • yes this is in Asheville but it's a large FREE music festival. And Asheville knows good music.
  • not much info available yet but it's downtown Asheville and looks like a fun event. There's a children's area, booths for vendors and non-profits, art exhibits and more

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