12 South Carolina Fall Festivals Food Lovers Plan Their Year Around

Autumn in South Carolina feels like a long invitation to gather. The air shifts, carrying the scent of roasted peanuts and sweet apples, and every town seems to find its way of celebrating with food.

I followed that pull across the state, moving from marshes along the coast to hills thick with color, finding festivals where meals are woven into memory. Shrimp pulled fresh from Lowcountry waters, pies cooling on tables in mountain towns, and fried treats handed over in paper boats all became part of the season.

What struck me most was how food and community kept meeting in the same space, with warmth that outlasted the chill. These twelve festivals became my map of fall.

1. Beaufort Shrimp Festival (Beaufort)

The waterfront comes alive with sea air, banners snapping as you hear knives tapping shells. People stroll the boardwalk balancing plates, music weaving through the crowd. There’s a salty buzz that matches the tide.

Shrimp is the star: grilled, sautéed, fried, even layered into creamy grits. Booths showcase Lowcountry cooking styles that highlight freshness rather than fuss.

Arrive early and buy plenty of food tickets at once. Lines move quickly, but stalls selling shrimp po’boys disappear faster than you’d think.

2. Little River ShrimpFest (Little River)

Gulls cry overhead while smoke from fryers drifts across the harbor. The sound of fiddles and drums mixes with laughter, giving the air a lively texture. You can smell saltwater and butter before you even see the tents.

Vendors fill the waterfront with seafood plates, especially local shrimp. Recipes range from Cajun spice to buttery classics, each stall competing for your attention.

Visitor tip: wear comfortable shoes. Some paths are grassy and uneven, and you’ll want hands free for trays stacked with shrimp baskets.

3. South Carolina Pecan Music & Food Festival (Florence)

The first thing you notice is the smell of roasted pecans—sweet, nutty, almost smoky in the autumn air. It clings to your clothes as you walk between stages. Music rolls across the blocks while the crowd sways.

Booths offer pecan pies, candied nuts, pralines, and savory dishes dusted with crushed pecans. Bakers and cooks fold the nut into every possible form.

I still remember trying pecan-crusted chicken here. The crunch and sweetness together felt like Florence itself, unexpected but satisfying, and worth the chilly wait in line.

4. Irmo Okra Strut (Irmo)

The festival feels like a small-town parade stretched into a full weekend. Marching bands thread through crowds, while the air shifts between brass notes and fryer smoke. Families claim folding chairs along the sidewalks.

Okra takes many forms here, fried golden, simmered in gumbo, and even frozen into novelty desserts. The creativity surprises newcomers and delights locals.

Arrive early on Saturday for the parade. Afterward, food booths open in earnest, and lines for fried okra build fast enough to test your patience.

5. South Carolina Sweet Potato Festival (Darlington)

Sweet potato pies line tables, their crusts flaking under cinnamon-rich filling. Vendors add inventive twists: fries, doughnuts, casseroles, and ice cream all shaped around the root. The scents combine into a sugary autumn perfume.

Darlington’s festival began in the 1980s, highlighting a crop that remains a staple of local fields. Each year, the community gathers downtown to show off recipes that link soil to table.

Tip: try the sweet potato ice cream. The chilly cream balances warm spices, turning an odd idea into something surprisingly delightful.

6. Spartanburg International Festival (Spartanburg)

The first sensory jolt is sound, languages layering over each other, music from multiple stages colliding mid-air. Flags ripple above booths, setting a patchwork backdrop. You feel pulled toward every aroma at once.

Food spans continents: empanadas, curries, schnitzel, kebabs. Each stall insists on authenticity, and the crowd moves as though orbiting a culinary globe. The energy is restless but joyful.

I paced myself here, starting small. Sampling bites from four different countries in one afternoon made me grateful for a festival that treats food as passport.

7. South Carolina Apple Festival (Westminster)

Orchard air hangs sweet over Westminster’s streets, and baskets of apples crowd every corner. There’s a mountain-town calm, broken by fiddles and festival chatter. A cider press churns slowly nearby, its rhythm pulling a crowd.

Apples appear in every form: butter, fritters, pies, and jugs of fresh-pressed cider. Local growers show off their harvest while cooks build recipes around the fruit.

Seasonal quirk: September’s cooler nights here mean sharper, sweeter apples. That crisp bite mirrors the air, carrying fall’s arrival straight to your tongue.

8. Fall For Greenville (Greenville)

Main Street pulses with music from multiple stages, the thrum carrying down alleys and across sidewalks. Neon tents flicker as plates shift from hand to hand. There’s a carnival electricity paired with serious eating.

Food here isn’t limited to one tradition: shrimp and grits, brisket sliders, pumpkin ravioli, and caramel apples all coexist. Restaurants across the city set up booths, turning downtown into a tasting map.

I suggest buying a booklet of tasting tickets in advance. They disappear faster than expected, especially on Saturday nights.

9. South Carolina State Fair (Columbia)

The midway glows with color, and the smell of oil, sugar, and roasting nuts blends into a haze. Music blares from rides while laughter carries across the grounds. Every sense feels heightened.

Food is indulgent, funnel cakes, smoked turkey legs, fried green tomatoes, boiled peanuts, and pecan pralines. Fair vendors lean on tradition, but local touches anchor it in the state’s culture.

I love the weekday evenings best. Shorter lines let me wander freely, trying fried treats until I felt both stuffed and oddly content.

10. Loris Bog-Off Festival (Loris)

The scent of simmering chicken and rice rises before you even reach Main Street. Music spills from the stage while vendors ladle steaming bowls into waiting hands. The mood feels small-town yet celebratory.

The “bog” here, chicken bog, is a rice dish with sausage and chicken, thick and comforting. Local cooks compete, tweaking seasoning and texture to stand out.

Tip: bring cash and arrive hungry. Portions are generous, and once you taste one version, curiosity will send you sampling another.

11. Myrtle Beach Greek Festival (Myrtle Beach)

The Myrtle Beach Greek Festival brings the rich flavors of Greek cuisine to South Carolina every October. Visitors can enjoy a variety of Greek dishes, from gyros to baklava.

The festival also features traditional Greek music and dance, creating an immersive cultural experience. It’s a celebration of heritage and hospitality, offering a taste of Greece along the beautiful coastline of Myrtle Beach.

12. Squealin’ On The Square (Laurens)

Garlic, lemon, and oregano perfume the festival grounds, drifting from grills stacked with skewers. Tents gleam with trays of baklava, spanakopita, and loukoumades dripping honey. The rhythm of Greek music keeps feet tapping nearby.

Organized by St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, this festival blends food with culture. Parishioners prepare family recipes, making the event feel more like a community table than a commercial fair.

Visitor advice: head inside the church hall. The pastry tables there are quieter, and you’ll find desserts before they vanish.