South Carolina State Parks have plenty going on year-round. Check out these annual events!

Winter Events

• Dashing Through the Parks Scavenger Hunt! Thanksgiving to January 1, 2025
• Holiday events:
  • A Cheraw Christmas at Cheraw State Park December 21, 2024
  • Holiday Fun at Barnwell State Park December 21, 2024
• First Day Hikes- January 1, 2025
  • Aiken from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
  • Andrew Jackson 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.
  • Barnwell from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Battle of Musgrove Mill self-guided hike 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
  • Battle of Rivers Bridge from 11 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
  • Caesars Head (pre-registration required)
    • Wildcat Wayside from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
    • Raven Cliff Falls from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
  • Calhoun Falls from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
  • Cheraw from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.
  • Chester from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
  • Colleton from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
  • Colonial Dorchester from 10:00 a.m. until 11 a.m.
  • Croft from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Devils Fork First Day 5K Ranger Run from 10 a.m. until Noon. Register here.
  • Dreher Island from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
  • Edisto Beach from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
  • Goodale from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
  • Hampton Plantation from 11:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
  • Hunting Island from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. and also 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Register here.
  • Huntington Beach from 10:00 a.m. until Noon.
  • Keowee-Toxaway from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Kings Mountain from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
  • Lake Hartwell from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
  • Lake Warren from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Landsford Canal from 12 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.
  • Lee First Day Hike from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
  • Lee First Day Horseback Ride from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Little Pee Dee from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
  • May Forest from 10 a.m. until Noon. Register here.
  • Myrtle Beach from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Oconee Station from 10 a.m. until noon
  • Paris Mountain from Noon until 1:30 and also 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
  • Poinsett 10 a.m. to Noon and also 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Rose Hill Resistance Run from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Register here.
  • Sadlers Creek from 10 a.m. until noon
  • Santee 
    • Sinkhole Pond Nature Trail Noon until 1 p.m.
    • Limestone Nature Trail 11 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
  • Sesquicentennial from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and also 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Table Rock from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. (sold out) and also from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Register here.
  • Woods Bay from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
• First Day Plunge
  • Friends of Paris Mountain Paris Plunge at 11 a.m. Register, here.
  • Friends of Hunting Island Pelican Plunge at 1 p.m. Register, here. 
• February is Black History Month
• Memorial Illumination and commemorative program at the Battle of Rivers Bridge SHS
• The Big Game Tailgate and Viewing Party at Hickory Knob State Resort Park
• Celebrate Presidents Day with Andrew Jackson State Park
• Fox Squirrel 5K at Sadlers Creek State Park in February

Spring Events

• March is Women's History Month
• Bellfest at Devils Fork State Park in March 
  • The rare Oconee Bell blooms from mid-March to early April at the park. Colonies of the Oconee Bells blooming in their entire splendor can be seen along the Oconee Bell Trail. The Oconee Bell is a rare flower of the southern Appalachians found only in a few locations in the mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia in moist woods along streams.
• Birthday Celebration at Andrew Jackson State Park 
• Spring Into Sesqui 5K at Sesquicentennial State Park in March
• Kite Festival at Huntington Beach State Park 
• Easter in South Carolina State Parks (April 20, 2025)
  • Oconee State Park - April 20, 2025
• Founders Day Festival at Charles Towne Landing SHS in April
• Gator Gauntlet 5K at Huntington Beach State Park in April
• Earth Day in South Carolina State Parks (April 22)
• Annual Revolutionary War Encampment at the Battle of Musgrove Mill SHS in April
• May the Forest Be With You 5K at Aiken State Park in May 

Summer Events

• Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies peak mid-May through mid-June at Landsford Canal State Park
  • LilyFest at Landsford Canal in mid-May 
• The Fairforest 5K at Croft State Park 
• Turtlefest at Edisto Beach State Park 
• Tubing the Edisto River at Givhans Ferry State Park from May to September (dates vary)
• Summer Square Dancing at Oconee State Park Memorial Day weekend through July and Labor Day weekend. 
• Sea Turtle Night Walks at Edisto Beach State Park in June and July
• Sea Turtle Patrol at Myrtle Beach State Park
• Juneteenth on June 19
• York-Cherokee Classic Kayak Fishing Tournament at Kings Mountain State Park 
• Independence Day events
  • Fourth of July at Oconee State Park July 4 - July 7, 2025
  • Family Fun on the Fourth at Table Rock State Park
  • Fourth of July Fun at Lake Hartwell State Park
• Wildlife Thursdays at Sesquicentennial State Park 

Fall Events

• Annual Big Daddy Fishing Tournament at Santee State Park  
• Commemoration for the Battle of Musgrove Mill - August 19, 2025
• Hawk Watch at Caesars Head State Park - September to November 
• Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend- September 13-14, 2025
• National Clean-Up Day
  • Lake Sweep at Table Rock
  • Beach Sweep at Myrtle Beach
• Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival at Huntington Beach State Park - September 26-28, 2025
  • Featuring over 100 of the finest artisans, the Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival provides aesthetic beauty against a background of natural beauty. Enjoy fine art, quality crafts, and local food, along with the musical offerings of several of the area’s finest musicians.
• Palmetto Campout at Sesquicentennial State Park 
• Moonlight Canoe Floats at Cheraw State Park
• Take a Kid Fishing Day at Myrtle Beach State Park
• Edisto Blackwater Boogie at Givhans Ferry State Park in October
• Music on the Mountain featuring Andy Leftwich at Table Rock State Park in October
• Halloween Events
• • Sandhills Spooktacular at Aiken State Park
  • Croft will be having Neewollah
  • Lake Hartwell 
  • Trick-or-Treat in the Campground at Calhoun Falls
  • Paint a Pumpkin at Little Pee Dee
  • Hunting Island is hosting Haunted Island Halloween
  • Halloween at Little Pee Dee State Park
    • Hobblin Goblin 5K
    • Hay Rides 
    • Trick-or-Treating 
  • Halloween at Oconee State Park on October 25, 2025
  • Lee State Park Camp-and-Treat and Pumpkin Carving for Campers
  • Creepy Campout at Lake Wateree State Park
  • Sesquicentennial is hosting its annual Howl-O-Ween
  • Legends and Lore at Hampton Plantation
  • Boo Bash at Dreher Island State Park 
  • Barnwell State Park 
• Bat Week is the last week in October 
• Life in the Waxhaws Lantern Tour at Andrew Jackson State Park 
• Artisan's Market at Sesquicentennial State Park in November
• Colonial Trades & Harvest Day at Charles Towne Landing in November
• Anniversary of the Battle of Blackstocks 

Winter Events

• Holiday events:
  • Handprint Turkeys at Little Pee Dee
  • Jocassee Santa at Devils Fork State Park
  • Thanksgiving Buffet at the Hickory Knob Restaurant 
  • Free Admission on Black Friday in all South Carolina State Parks
  • Christmas Crafts and Pictures with Santa at Little Pee Dee
  • Holiday Light Show at Oconee State Park December 1- January 10
  • Arbor Day in South Carolina is celebrated on the first Friday of December. 
  • Santa on the Beach at Myrtle Beach State Park - First Saturday in December
  • Atalaya Holiday Craft Market by the Friends of Huntington Beach State Park
  • Santa at the Lodge at Table Rock State Park
  • Home for the Holidays at Hampton Plantation
  • Breakfast with Santa at Hickory Knob
  • Santa's at Sesqui 5K at Sesquicentennial State Park
  • 1835 Christmas at the White House at Andrew Jackson State Park
  • Christmas at Rose Hill

Year Round Programs

• Jr. Ranger Program
• Free Tours at the South Carolina State House
• Music on the Mountain at Table Rock State Park
• Moonlight canoe floats at Cheraw State Park
• Paddle the Edisto River with a Ranger from Mars Oldfield launch to Givhans Ferry State Park
• Guided Tram Tours at Lee State Park or request a tour here!
• Stargazing at Hampton Plantation SHS
• Boat Tours at Edisto Beach with Plot Twist Charters 
• Tour St. Phillips Island with Coastal Expeditions!
• Ziplining at Keowee-Toxaway State Park
• Take a Bottlenose Dolphin watching cruise with Coastal Expeditions near Hunting Island!
• Are you an adventurous kayaker? Join our email list for last-minute wetland floats at Lee State Park!

**Please note there may be other events that are listed later.  Check our Programs & Events page, or contact the park you are interested in, directly.