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

Winter Events

• Holiday events:
  • Thanksgiving Buffet at the Hickory Knob Restaurant on November 23, 2023 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Free Admission on Black Friday at South Carolina State Parks on December 24, 2023
  • Holiday Celebration at Little Pee Dee on November 24 ,2023, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
    • 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Pictures with Santa
    • 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday crafts and cookies
    • 4:30 p.m. Annual tree lighting
  • Holiday Light Show at Oconee State Park December 1, 2023 - January 10, 2024
  • Jocassee Santa at Devils Fork State Park- November 18, 2023
  • Santa on the Beach at Myrtle Beach State Park on December 2-3, 2023. Also, check out this Dog Show happening on December 2!
  • Home for the Holidays at Hampton Plantation on December 2, 2023. Registration required.
  • Go GREEN Holiday Craft Workshop at Andrew Jackson State Park on December 2, 2023
  • Christmas on the Farm at Kings Mountain State Park on December 2, 2023
  • Santa at the Lodge at Table Rock State Park- Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Atalaya Holiday Craft Market by the Friends of Huntington Beach State Park on December 2, 2023, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
  • Christmas at Rose Hill Plantation on December 2-3, 2023
  • Breakfast with Santa at Hickory Knob on December 2, 2023 from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
  • A Cheraw Christmas at Cheraw State Park on December 9, 2023
  • Hardtack and Coffee: Christmas During the Civil War at Redcliffe Plantation on December 16, 2023. Register here.
  • Santa's at Sesqui 5K at Sesquicentennial State Park on December 16, 2023. Register here.
  • Holiday Creations ornament workshop at Aiken State Park on December 21, 2023
  • Hognamay at Andrew Jackson State Park on December 30, 2023
• First Day Plunges
• First Day Hikes- January 1, 2024
  • Aiken from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and also 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
  • Battle of Musgrove Mill 
    • Accessible Horseshoe Falls Hike from 11 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Register here.
    • British Camp Trail Hike 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Register here.
  • Battle of Rivers Bridge from 11 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
  • Barnwell from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Caesars Head from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Charles Towne Landing First Day 5K from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Register here.
  • Cheraw from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.
  • Chester from Noon until 2:30 p.m.
  • Colleton from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.
  • Colonial Dorchester from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Croft from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Devils Fork First Day 5K Ranger Run form 10 a.m. until Noon. Register here.
  • Devils Fork Nature Walk from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Dreher Island from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
  • Edisto Beach from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m.
  • Goodale from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
  • Hampton Plantation from 11:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Hickory Knob from 10 a.m. until 11:30 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.
  • Kings Mountain from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
  • Lake Hartwell from 11 a.m. until Noon.
  • Lake Warren from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.
  • Lake Wateree from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 
  • Landsford Canal from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Lee from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
  • Little Pee Dee from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
  • May Forest from 10 a.m. until Noon. Register by emailing the park at mforestsp@scprt.com by December 25. 
  • Myrtle Beach from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
  • Oconee from 10 a.m. until Noon. 
  • Oconee Station from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
  • Paris Mountain from Noon until 1:30 and also 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
  • Poinsett Bike Ride form 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Poinsett hikes 10 a.m. to Noon and also 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Redcliffe from 3:30 p.m. until 5:15 p.m. Register here.
  • Rose Hill Resistance Run from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Register here.
  • Sesquicentennial from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and also 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Santee 
    • Sinkhole Pond Nature Trail Noon until 1 p.m.
    • Limestone Nature Trail 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Table Rock from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Register here.
  • Woods Bay from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
• Memorial Illumination and commemorative program at the Battle of Rivers Bridge SHS 
• Fox Squirrel 5K at Sadlers Creek State Park on February 24, 2024

Spring Events

• Bellfest at Devils Fork State Park
  • 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.
• Kite Festival at Huntington Beach State Park in March
• Birthday Celebration at Andrew Jackson State Park on March 16, 2024
• Spring Into Sesqui 5K at Sesquicentennial State Park on March 16, 2024
• Easter at South Carolina State Parks (March 31, 2024)
  • Easter at Oconee State Park on March 31, 2024
  • Dreher Island State Park Egg Hunt 
  • Lake Wateree Egg Hunt 
  • Little Pee Dee State Park Easter Eggstravaganza 
• Founders Day Festival at Charles Towne Landing SHS in April
• Gator Gauntlet 5K at Huntington Beach State Park on April 20, 2024
• Earth Day in South Carolina State Parks (April 22, 2024)
• Annual Revolutionary War Encampment at the Battle of Musgrove Mill SHS  in April
• Cinco-K de Mayo 5K at Hickory Knob in May
• Run Through The Jungle 5K at Aiken State Park on May 4, 2024

Summer Events

• Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies peak mid-May through mid-June at Landsford Canal State Park
  • LilyFest at Landsford Canal in May
• The Grenade Dash 5K at Croft State Park on June 8, 2024
• Turtlefest at Edisto Beach State Park in June
• Tour de Turtles- Travel to three, and maybe more, of our South Carolina State Parks to learn about and hopefully observe three to four different species of sea turtles in the wild! Spot a leatherback or Kemp’s ridley from the fishing pier at Myrtle Beach, walk to the jetty at Huntington Beach and observe immature greens, see a nesting loggerhead at Edisto Beach, and attend a sea turtle nest inventory at any of our four coastal parks! Capacity for this special program is filled for 2023 but check back for this opportunity in 2024!
• Tubing the Edisto River at Givhans Ferry State Park from May - September (dates vary)
• Summer Square Dancing at Oconee State Park Memorial Day to Labor Day
• Sea Turtle Night Walks at Edisto Beach State Park
• Sea Turtle Patrol at Myrtle Beach State Park
• York-Cherokee Classic Kayak Fishing Tournament at Kings Mountain State Park 
• Independence Day events
  • Fourth of July at Oconee State Park June 28 - July 4, 2024
  • Family Fun on the Fourth at Table Rock State Park
  • Fourth of July Fun at Lake Hartwell State Park
• Wild Wednesdays at Sesquicentennial State Park

Fall Events

• Annual Big Daddy Fishing Tournament at Santee State Park -August 5, 2023
• Commemoration for the Battle of Musgrove Mill - August 19
• Music in the Woods at Paris Mountain State Park on Saturdays in September and October from 2pm-4pm!
• Hawk Watch at Caesars Head State Park - September to November 
• Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend- September 14-15, 2024
  • Recycled Art with Ranger Laura at Lee State Park on September 14, 2024 from 10 a.m. until Noon. Register here.
• National Clean Up Day- September 21, 2024
• Camp Cedar Creek Climb at Keowee-Toxaway State Park on September 21, 2024
• Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival at Huntington Beach State Park - September 27-29, 2024
  • 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 in October
  • Never camped before? Want to learn how from experts? Apply today to join us at Sesquicentennial State Park for the 14th Annual Palmetto Campout! If selected, you will be one of the lucky families to join us for an overnight campout in the park's campground and learn all the basics of camping from fire building to camp cooking and more to make your first camping experience a fantastic and fun one! Unplug, reconnect with family and learn a new hobby all at the same time! To apply, please complete the online application and submit by September 24, 2023. Overnight spaces are limited and families will be notified if their application has been accepted. 
• Paddlesplash Southeastern Paddlesport Race Series at Devils Fork State Park on October 7, 2023
• Carolina Tales and Beyond at Rose Hill Plantation on October 14, 2023. 
• Fall Fun Night at Andrew Jackson State Park on October 20, 2023
• Take a Kid Fishing Day at Myrtle Beach State Park on October 21, 2023
• Edisto Blackwater Boogie at Givhans Ferry State Park- October 27-29, 2023
• Halloween Events
  • Croft will be having their Neewollah event on October 21, 2023 
  • Lake Hartwell will be having a Halloween event on Saturday October 21, 2023 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.!
  • Join Redcliffe Plantation October 26-28, 2023 for Redcliffe After Dark. 
  • Spooky Stories of Paris Mountain on October 27, 2023! 
  • Hunting Island is hosting Haunted Island Halloween on October 28, 2023 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.!
  • Halloween at Oconee State Park on October 28, 2023
  • Run For You Lives 5K at Hickory Knob State Resort Park on October 28, 2023 at 9 a.m.
  • The Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving Party at Hickory Knob is on October 28, 2023 at 12 p.m.! This program is BYOP (Bring your own pumpkin), all other supplies will be provided.
  • Sandhills Spooktacular at Aiken State Park on October 28, 2023 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
  • Lake Greenwood State Park Halloween events are listed below:
    • S'more Social Bonfire on October 27, 2023, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
    • Halloween Jingo on October 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
    • Halloween Crafts on October 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
    • Trick-or-Treat on October 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • Lee State Park will have Camp-and-Treat on October 28, 2023, also go ahead and register for pumpkin carving for campers from 3pm-4pm on October 28, 2023!
  • Creepy Campout at Lake Wateree State Park on October 28, 2023! 
  • Sesquicentennial is hosting their annual Howl-O-Ween on October 28, 2023
  • Legends and Lore at Hampton Plantation on October 28, 2023.
  • Boo Bash at Dreher Island State Park on October 28, 2023
• Bat Week - October 
  • Bat Week drop-in at the Edisto Beach Environmental Learning Center October 24-28, & 31 from 10am - 3pm!
  • Going Batty at Table Rock State Park on October 27, 2023
  • Hanging out with Big-eared Rafinesque Bats at Hampton Plantation on October 27 & 28, 2023
• Artisan's Market at Sesquicentennial State Park on November 5, 2023
• Colonial Trades & Harvest Day at Charles Towne Landing on November 18, 2023
• Anniversary of the Battle of Blackstocks Hike on November 20, 2023
• Thanksgiving Buffet at the Hickory Knob Restaurant on November 23, 2023 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
• Free Admission on Black Friday at South Carolina State Parks

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
  • 2023 trip dates: June 30, July 28, August 25, September 8, and November 10.
• 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.