These Towns In South Carolina Come Alive In Winter
The southeastern state of South Carolina may not be a “winter wonderland” 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 “Palmetto State” 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 Blue Ridge Mountains 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’s 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’s 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 “Garden City,” 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’s Garden Christmas and Kid’s Walk each December, offering spectacular light displays and much more. Visitors can shop in Orangeburg’s revitalized downtown or make a quick trip to Greenville for additional winter shopping and entertainment options.
Gaffney
Affectionately called the “Peach Capital of South Carolina,” Gaffney has a long agricultural heritage and former boom times due to the textile industry. Today’s 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—Cowpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain National Military Park—also remain open and accessible during winter. And, when the winter weather takes a turn for the worse, Gaffney has two indoor fun parks—Skateland of Gaffney and The Big E Gaffney.
Clover
While the northern South Carolina town of Clover has been swallowed up by the rapidly growing Charlotte (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 “Grinch-mas” 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’s early settlers.
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 Victorian-era homes and buildings, especially in the National Historic District located downtown. This architectural heritage points back to the town’s prosperous past as an agricultural and commercial hub, while today’s 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 Beaufort resides on Port Royal Island along South Carolina’s Atlantic Coast and is affectionately known as the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands.” 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’s 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 “birthplace and deathbed of the Confederacy” during the Civil War era, but this community of about 5,000 is more than just a historical footnote. One of Abbeville’s architectural gems, the 1908 Abbeville Opera House, presents annual holiday shows, and the town also hosts a holiday parade, a cookie walk, a “reindeer run” 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!
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’s 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!
