12 Best Fall Activities across South Carolina!
As the splendid summer days of South Carolina come to a close, we welcome the milder temperatures of the vivacious fall season in the Palmetto State. And there's no better way to celebrate the season than with picking some plump pumpkins, festivals with your friends, and ghostly tours. Here are the best fall activities to do in South Carolina.
Fall for Greenville, Greenville, SC
South Carolina knows festivals, so you find an abundance of them nearly everywhere you go. And while it's hard to pick and choose, award-winning Fall for Greenville is a definite go-to. Lining the edges of historic Main Street, you'll savor the flavors of over 60 different local food vendors while relaxing to the beat of free entertainment.
Madworld, Piedmont, SC
The terror begins the moment you park your car. The haunt features attractions like "Darkness," a half-mile of indoor/outdoor fright that preys upon your deepest fears and keep you away from a good night's sleep. If you're too afraid of the "Darkness," see if you have the smarts and skills to escape from Alcatraz or the ancient tomb.
Corn mazes
Where there's a farm, there's probably a corn maze. You might not notice at ground level, but many corn mazes are artistically detailed, giving birds and low-flying planes some early Halloween eye candy. For more family-friendly meandering, take a field trip to Denver Downs Farms, where you'll find Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang.
Ghost tours
The ghost enthusiast in all of us tends to rear its spooky head when October creeps around. And there's no better time to learn about South Carolina's hottest haunts than during a fall ghost tour. If you're brave enough, join the 90-minute Ghost & Graveyard walking tour in Charleston, where you'll enter the gates of Charleston's oldest graveyard and visit some of the city's most talked about haunted sites. Or, if you can't make your way coastward, Greenville's Ghost Tours and Paranormal Investigation fills 90 minutes of your life with harrowing, true local tales while walking through downtown's historic district.
Family-friendly farm excursions
Cool fall weather makes the perfect time for a family trip to the farm, and South Carolina's got lots of them. Everyone from Nana to the newborn can enjoy seeing animals like goats, pigs, and horses, plus most farms offer plenty of onsite activities to turn any fall day into an anticipated yearly tradition.
Oktoberfest
You don't have to be German to love Oktoberfest. Typically filled with kielbasa, lederhosen, and das boot beers, Oktoberfest delights with traditional German music, dancing, cuisine and, of course, beer. Though usually only short-lived weekend festivals, you'll find plenty of them across South Carolina, including Columbia, Charleston, Rock Hill, and the authentic German-roots town of Walhalla.
State and county fairs
Whether you come for the rides, the food, the crafts, or the livestock, you'll find a fall fair in just about every county in South Carolina. The South Carolina State Fair in Columbia is by far one of the biggest, and one with some of the most outrageous draws- chocolate-covered bacon, doughnut burgers, and fried Snickers, to name a few of the food oddities.
Pumpkin patches
There's certainly never a shortage of pumpkin patches in South Carolina. From churches and schools that provide pumpkins for fundraisers, to farm-fresh pumpkins and other family-friendly festivities, you can ditch the lines at the grocery store and pick your gourds the old-fashioned way. Most of the farms that feature pumpkin picking usually provide plenty of other activities, like corn mazes, games, and hay rides. If you're in the Upstate, a trip to Denver Downs Farm is a must. For Midlanders, check out Clinton Sease Farms. And if you're lucky enough to live on the coast, Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch doesn't disappoint. Spend an hour - or spend the day.
Myrtle Beach Bike Week, Myrtle Beach, SC
If you didn't get your fill of two-wheelers during the spring gathering, riders rally once more in Myrtle Beach to cap off the season. Typically lingering in Surfside Beach and Murrell's Inlet, motorcycle enthusiasts from all over assemble to showcase their bikes, enjoy "daycations" with fellow riders, and enjoy a host of late night revelries all week long.
Rock the Ranch Music Festival, Seneca, SC
It's one music festival out of hundreds in South Carolina, but with such a unique backstory it's worth the trip. Every year, the festival draws swarms of fans and some top notch bands and artists to Charlie B's Ranch Arena. Back in the day, Charlie B's Ranch Arena played home to some of the biggest rock bands of the 70s, including Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, and the Marshall Tucker Band.
Habersham Harvest Festival, Beaufort, SC
It's one of the many high points of the low country. The beautiful waterfront town of Beaufort hosts a vintage fair filled with local artisans, farmers, and entertainers. Enjoy the rides, sample local flavors, catch a seat on the hay ride, and more!
Haunted houses & trails
You'll find plenty of mansions of mayhem and fields of fright throughout South Carolina. Some of our favorites include Booger Jim's Hollow, Fear Farm, and Terror Under the Bridge.
