These Towns In South Carolina Come Alive In Winter
The southeastern state of聽South Carolina聽may not be a 鈥渨inter wonderland鈥� in the traditional sense, but it has plenty of small towns that really know how to shine once the winter season arrives. From fun festivals to great holiday activities to fantastic food, communities throughout the 鈥淧almetto State鈥� buzz with winter excitement. Check out our list of seven South Carolina towns that truly come to life during the holiday season and beyond.
Pickens
Located in the foothills of the聽Blue Ridge Mountains聽in western South Carolina, Pickens is a lovely community of about 3,000 residents that is nearly as picturesque as its natural surroundings. The town鈥檚 architectural highlights, including the stately Pickens County Courthouse and the imposing Old Pickens Jail, look even more magnificent when decorated for the holidays. Downtown Pickens hosts a popular Christmas parade each December, and the public amphitheater on West Main Street hosts events throughout winter. Pickens is also a great gateway into the Blue Ridge鈥檚 many hiking trails and state parks.
Orangeburg
Located about 40 miles from the state capital, Orangeburg is home to two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Claflin University and South Carolina State University. Orangeburg is also nicknamed the 鈥淕arden City,鈥� but there are still many reasons to visit during winter when the flowers are not in bloom. For instance, the lovely Edisto Memorial Gardens transforms into the Children鈥檚 Garden Christmas and Kid鈥檚 Walk each December, offering spectacular light displays and much more. Visitors can shop in Orangeburg鈥檚 revitalized downtown or make a quick trip to聽Greenville聽for additional winter shopping and entertainment options.
Gaffney
Affectionately called the 鈥淧each Capital of South Carolina,鈥� Gaffney has a long agricultural heritage and former boom times due to the textile industry. Today鈥檚 Gaffney, home to about 13,000 residents, has undergone a successful revitalization of its historic downtown area, making it a wonderful spot for a winter walking tour. Two nearby tourist draws鈥擟owpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain National Military Park鈥攁lso remain open and accessible during winter. And, when the winter weather takes a turn for the worse, Gaffney has two indoor fun parks鈥擲kateland of Gaffney and The Big E Gaffney.
Clover
While the northern South Carolina town of Clover has been swallowed up by the rapidly growing聽Charlotte聽(NC) metro area and has seen its population nearly double since 1990, it still has a small-town look and feel. During the holiday season, downtown Clover hosts a fun Winter Wonderland Parade, a 鈥淕rinch-mas鈥� Crafts Day, holiday home tours, and other fun events. Additionally, Clover is a great winter getaway for visitors to both Charlotte and Kings Mountain National Military Park and travelers who are interested in the Scots-Irish history and culture of Clover鈥檚 early settlers.聽
Bennettsville
Bennettsville, a charming town of 7,000 set alongside the Great Pee Dee River in northeastern South Carolina, is well known for its large collection of聽Victorian-era聽homes and buildings, especially in the National Historic District located downtown. This architectural heritage points back to the town鈥檚 prosperous past as an agricultural and commercial hub, while today鈥檚 Bennettsville has transformed into a heritage tourism destination that really sparkles during the holiday season. Downtown Bennettsville hosts an excellent holiday parade each December but is also ideal for a walking tour throughout the wintertime.
Beaufort
The town of聽Beaufort聽resides on Port Royal Island along South Carolina鈥檚聽Atlantic聽Coast and is affectionately known as the 鈥淨ueen of the Carolina Sea Islands.鈥� As one of the oldest colonial settlements in the state, the town has perhaps the greatest collection of pre-Civil War homes and buildings in South Carolina. Beaufort鈥檚 National Historic Landmark area, which covers more than 300 acres downtown, is a picture-perfect spot for a wintertime horse-drawn carriage tour. While Beaufort only gets snow about once a decade or two, it is hard to imagine a more timeless and picturesque winter escape!
Abbeville
The western South Carolina town of Abbeville has a legitimate claim as the 鈥渂irthplace and deathbed of the Confederacy鈥� during the聽Civil War聽era, but this community of about 5,000 is more than just a historical footnote. One of Abbeville鈥檚 architectural gems, the 1908 Abbeville Opera House, presents annual holiday shows, and the town also hosts a holiday parade, a cookie walk, a 鈥渞eindeer run鈥� 5k, a Victorian Christmas at the historic McGowan House, a tree lighting festival in the picturesque county courthouse square, and more. Abbeville knows how to fill the short days and long nights of December with holiday sparkle!聽
If your idea of a winter wonderland involves a sleigh ride in freshly fallen snow, South Carolina is not the destination for you. But wintertime cheer is about so much more than snow! South Carolina鈥檚 small towns fill the holiday season and beyond with ample cheer and charm, making winter an unexpectedly great time to visit the Palmetto State. Leave your skis and heavy coat at home, but make your plans for a winter getaway to South Carolina today!
