Frogs, strawberries and a whole lot more: Your guide to Rock Hill area spring festivals
A parade will roll through downtown Rock Hill on Thursday night to start the city’s iconic nod to spring. It’ll also start a new festival season that’s blossoming well outside Rock Hill.
Come-See-Me in Rock Hill and the South Carolina Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill are the area’s headline events this time each year. Both spring celebrations run more than a week, with dozens of activities each scattered around. Both are expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors.
But Lancaster and Chester county have spring gatherings, too. So do Tega Cay, Clover and York.
Here’s a look at eight events coming up this spring in the Rock Hill region:
Come-See-Me
Dates: April 11-20
Highlights: More than two dozen events throughout Rock Hill include a kickoff parade Thursday through downtown (6:30 p.m.), a downtown beach bash Friday (5:30 p.m.), Mayor’s Frog Jump at Miracle Park (10 a.m.) and movie night in Fountain Park (8 p.m.) on Saturday. Other activities bring a barbecue cook off, road races, tea party, cornhole, disc golf and food trucks.
More info: comeseeme.org
South Carolina Strawberry Festival
Dates: April 12-May 4
Highlights: The first week of Fort Mill’s 15th annual festival includes beauty pageants, musical events, a 5K, scavenger hunt and more starting Friday. The main activities kick off May 4 at Elisha Park. Hundreds of vendors including dozens of food trucks will be there along with amphitheater entertainment from 10 a.m. to the 9:45 p.m. fireworks. Amusement rides, a car show, eating contests and pig racing are some of the planned activities.
More info: scstrawberryfestival.com
Silver in the City
Dates: April 12-14
Highlights: The city of York brings a host of activities around the arrival of Airstream vehicles from the Palmetto State Airstream Club. It’s the seventh annual event downtown.
More info: yorksc.gov
Butts Cook-Off
Dates: April 27
Highlights: New Centre Park in Clover hosts the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event with the South Carolina Barbecue Association. There will be competition cooking and vendors on site.
More info: cloversc.org
Ag+Art Tour
Dates: May 10-12
Highlights: Lancaster has a dozen farm sites and artisans participating in the weekend tour event, plus a free kick-off event on the Friday night. There are 20 counties on board this year at different times throughout the year. York County has events June 8-9 followed by Chester County on June 29-30.
More info: agandarttour.com
Best Dam Food Festival
Dates: May 18
Highlights: Catawba Park in Tega Cay — just beside the dam on Lake Wylie — will have music and vendors at the inaugural event, which runs 2-10 p.m.
More info: tegacaysc.org
Red Rose Festival
Dates: May 17-18
Highlights: The 17th edition in Lancaster includes Lancaster’s Got Talent, food trucks, a car show, 5K and bazaar.
More info: lancastercitysc.com
Flopeye Fish Festival
Dates: May 24-25
Highlights: The Great Falls festival in Chester County has carnival rides, a car show, musical performances and Saturday night fireworks.
More info: flopeyefishfestival.com
This story was originally published April 10, 2024 at 11:37 AM.
