7 Towns in South Carolina with Unique Traditions

If you have been keeping tabs on the kinds of unique traditions and festivals kept across the United States, you may already know that Philadelphia has something quite weird: The Naked Bike Ride. What you probably don’t know is that the Palmetto State has its fair share of unique traditions. Mountain Rest, for example, has a Hillbilly Day, something that can curl the eyebrows of many Americans. Did you know that there is a South Carolina town that has a tradition of celebrating the okra vegetable? It does not end there. Discover below 7 towns in South Carolina with unique traditions.

Hilton Head

Nature takes center stage in Hilton Head, where majestic live oaks, sea breezes, and award-winning golf courses often lure visitors in their droves. Plus, speaking of bike-friendliness, Hilton Head is the only Gold-Level community in the Southeast. The Gullah people, who arrived in the area many years before America's independence in 1776, have protected their heritage through several ways, including food and festivals. During the Civil War, newly freed enslaved people of Hilton Head established Mitchelville, the first self-governed freedmen’s town in the United States. Centuries later, Hilton Head still preserves its rich Gullah heritage. The Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration, typically held in February every year, is among the Southeast's top 20 events. The month-long event is also expected to spruce up business in the traditionally low-key February season. Expect delicious food prepared by Gullah cooks, gospel music, dance, and stories that relive the painful history of the Gullah people.

Irmo

They are slimy, not full of flavor, but incredibly nutritious. Okra is believed to be native to Africa and is possibly a corruption of the Asante word "nkru-ma" used centuries ago in West Africa as the name for the heat-loving plant. So, how did folks in Irmo start celebrating Okra during a celebration called Okra Day? It has something to do with books — not even food. In the early 1970s, the Lake Murray-Irmo Woman's Club wanted to build a library, but it needed quite a bit of cash. One day, some club members heard a local radio commentator talk about a shop he had seen in town called “the Ancient Irmese General Store.” The commentator wondered what these Ancient Irmese looked like and speculated that they were “probably short people — a farming tribe who lived off okra.” That same year, in October, the Lake Murray-Irmo Woman's Club held a small arts and crafts fair at Seven Oaks Park. They called it “The Okra Strut,” which involved frying up okra. Today, the event is held at Moore Park in late September, typically Friday and Saturday. The Saturday morning parade, brace yourself for this, is the largest of its kind in South Carolina.

Hampton

Watermelon is sweet and juicy, and loved for its crispy freshness, especially on a hot summer afternoon. One day, a lively conversation took place in the office of Hampton County’s Clemson Extension Agent. The interlocutors included the officer, a local newspaperman, and the mayor. It was at this meeting that the idea of forming a Hampton Boosters Club was suggested. Somehow, watermelons, the plant most associated with the area, would be the identifying brand. In 1939, South Carolina’s Hampton County staged the world's original Watermelon Festival. It has grown to become the oldest continuing festival in the Palmetto State. Only twice has the tradition been interrupted: during World War II (1943-45) and the Korean War (1951). Today, the festival is held each June on the Hampton County Courthouse Square and runs for eight days.

Ridgeland

Their forelimbs resemble shovels — or work like shovels — because they are uniquely designed to dig burrows that can stretch up to 40 feet in length. The gopher tortoise, according to scientists, is among the oldest living species on the planet. They spend 80% of their time in the dimly lit burrows — also used by at least 300 other species, including the Eastern indigo snake, the longest native snake on the continent. In the 19th century, Ridgeland was known as Gopher Hill, a reference to the many gopher tortoises that inhabited the sand hills of the area. Today, the Gopher Hill Festival is held during the first week of October and celebrates the town’s association with gopher tortoises with several activities, including turtle races, a heartwarming event for all ages.

Camden

It may not come close to Milwaukee Irish Fest, arguably the largest celebration of Irish Culture in the world, but the Camden Irish Fest is also a unique tradition that deserves a mention. It has previously been held at the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site every first Saturday of March but will henceforth be celebrated on the grounds of Kershaw County Airport. Needless to mention, the festival celebrates the town’s Irish and Celtic heritage. Camden was established by a group of Scots-Irish from Virginia in the 1730s, and hence, is South Carolina’s oldest inland town. During that time, it was known as “Pine Tree Hill.” Expect live Celtic music, Irish dancing, and most of all, the Pub Crawl. Indulge your taste buds with Shepherd's pie, traditionally a pub favorite in Ireland.

Summerville, Sweet Tea Festival

A vibrant town of about 50,000 residents, Summerville is loved for its bright and burbly azaleas, whose seeds, nature seem to sprinkle about like confetti. Yet Summerville should thank sweet tea more for its fame and popularity — not the funnel-shaped flowers. In the years after the Civil War — the U.S. government leased 200 acres in Summerville from the prominent Middleton family for the cultivation of an experimental tea crop. Eight years later, a professor used plants from the leased farm to create Pinehurst. It was the first commercially viable tea farm in the United States. Around 1904, an old soldier’s reunion in town featured copious amounts of tea, ice, and sugar. Food historians believe this was the first time sweet tea was served on a large scale in the nation. Today, Summerville bills itself as the Birthplace of Sweet Tea and celebrates the heritage with a Sweet Tea Festival held every third weekend in September.

Westminster

Bigfoot tales feature prominently during Westminster's Bigfoot Festival, typically held during a weekend in October, particularly Friday and Saturday. Think of some undiscovered primate wandering through the mountains of South Carolina. Bigfoots have spawned myth and legend in equal measure. Many people claim they have seen what they believe is Bigfoot in the Upstate area of South Carolina. Whether you believe this elusive being exists — or are drawn by the mystery around this hairy, human-like creature — attending this one-of-a-kind festival will bring you an inch closer to the truth. From the mythical Kraken, so big that its body part is the size of an island to Basilisk, feared for its deathly stare, humans have always been fascinated with unusual things, whether animate or inanimate.

Traditions, especially if kept through several generations, give towns character and bring residents together. And why not? They often revolve around something unique to a specific place. For example, although California has hills, do not expect a hillbilly day in the Golden State. Plus, most of these traditions come with fun, adventure, and excitement. Whether you want to experience the Bigfoot Festival in Westminister — or the Watermelon Festival in Hampton —South Carolina has you covered.