The 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 12 best fall activities to do in South Carolina.

Fall for Greenville, Greenville, SC

South Carolina knows festivals, which is why 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 flavors of over 40 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 quite artistically detailed, giving birds and low-flying planes some early Halloween eye candy. For heart-racing thrills, check out Cherokee County's Field of Scream haunted corn maze. 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. If you're on the coast, take a trip to Legare Farms or Holiday Farms; Midlands folks will love Clinton Sease Farms or Lever Farms; and Upstate dwellers can count on Stewart's Farm for family fun.

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.

Share your favorites!
South Carolina Search
Best Things To Do Near You
Best Things To Do Near You
Mar
29

We Them Ones Comedy Tour

8:00 PM
Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
Learn More
Mar
30

REO Speedwagon

7:00 PM
Township Auditorium, Columbia, SC
Learn More
Apr
02

Briscoe

7:00 PM
New Brookland Tavern, Columbia, SC
Learn More
Apr
06
Apr
06

Herb Festival

9:00 AM
Lexington County Museum, Lexington, SC
Learn More
Apr
06

Columbia International Festival

10:00 AM
South Carolina State Fairgrounds, Columbia, SC
Learn More
Apr
06

Emo Nite La

8:00 PM
The Senate, Columbia, SC
Learn More
Show More
Best Places To Go Near You
Best Places To Go Near You
1351 Jim Hamilton Boulevard, Columbia, SC
The 15,000 square-foot park features a street plaza, stairs, metal plated rails, and "pool" bowls ranging in depth from 4-to-12 feet. Pads are requ... Read More
816 Bull Street, Columbia, SC
McKissick Museum is located at the heart of the historic Horseshoe on the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina. It was established i... Read More
Downtown, Columbia, SC
History:What started in 2011 as a New Year's Eve street concert with a fireworks show, has grown to a state-wide celebration that is the catalyst f... Read More
USC School of Music, Columbia, SC
About the FestivalEach summer the Southeastern Piano Festival transforms the University of South Carolina School of Music and Columbia into a major... Read More
1051 Greene Street, Columbia, SC
History:The Ira & Nancy Koger Center for the arts demonstrates the cooperative spirit present in South Carolina. Its construction is the produc... Read More
1515 Main Street, Columbia, SC
Mission:The Columbia Museum of Art seeks to inspire, educate and enrich the lives of the community, South Carolinians, tourists and visitors by col... Read More
1107 State Street, Cayce, SC
Columbia's most friendly and complete outdoor outfitter. Our passion is sharing the outdoors of the Carolina's with the world.  Read More
301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC
History:In March of 2001, an event of note took place with the dedication of an African-American History Monument on the grounds of the South Carol... Read More
301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC
The Mission Statement:The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum serves as the State’s military history museum by collecti... Read More
301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC
Mission:Through innovative partnerships, comprehensive collections, and stimulating exhibits and programs, The South Carolina State Museum provides... Read More
401 Laurel Street, Columbia, SC
About Us: Allie Scollon Founded in 1988 by Allie Scollon and her son John, the Columbia Marionette Theatre is South Carolina's premiere family thea... Read More
500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC
About Us:Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 2,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of the nation's most beautiful and inspir... Read More
4101 McCords Ferry Road (Highway 601), Eastover, SC
History:Matthew Richard Singleton (1817-1854) completed Kensington Mansion in 1854. The house stands on what was known as Headquarters Plantation o... Read More
Show More
Select a South Carolina town to find
the Best Things-To-Do and Places To Go around you
Cherokee County