What to do in Sumter

from Shaw Air & Space Expo 2022

A history of Shaw AFB

There’s so much to do right here in Sumter County. Save on gas and commute time and explore everything your new home has to offer, from hiking, fishing and dog-friendly restaurants to festivals, art galleries and museums.

This information was largely gathered from Love Sumter at SumterSC.gov/community. Check out the city tourism’s website to learn more, including links and a community calendar.

Festivals: Outdoor, community festivals pop up year-round in Sumter. For a full list, go to the calendar on SumterSC.gov./community and follow The Sumter Item.

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7. 8. Festival on the Avenue

Typically the second weekend in April, the event this year will be held in September. The West African Bimbe festival of harvest celebrates the spirit of sharing and features traditional soul food, music, art, dance, living history showcases and a parade in the South Sumter community

Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Festival

Held the third weekend of May, the festival celebrates Mary McLeod Bethune, a native of Mayesville who went on to become an American icon. She was an advisor to four U.S. presidents, a champion of human and civil rights and the founder of Bethune-Cookman College in Florida.

Sumter Iris Festival

2022 will mark the 80th rendition of the Iris Festival, held each Memorial Day weekend. It is one of the oldest continuous running festivals in the state and includes music, arts and crafts vendors, pageants, plant and flower sales, antique and classic car shows, contest, concerts, children’s activities and food. It is the only time of the year guests can ride a boat on Swan Lake.

Porches of Sumter

Held the first Thursday of October, attendees stroll through the historic downtown Sumter district to samples food and beverages from houses. Homeowners open their homes and share stories about them while local chefs, caterers and amateur cooks offer up snacks and goodies.

Oktoberfest

Downtown Sumter turns into a block party as streets are closed and friends gather on Main Street to drink, eat, dance and socialize. Many dress in traditional Lederhosen. Bring a chair and relax as you watch the festivities or find space at outdoor restaurants on North Main Street.

Sip and Stroll

Held in November, this event benefits Sumter Senior Services, which provides activities to seniors and delivers hot meals to homebound residents. Explore downtown businesses while sampling snacks and drinks.

Fantasy of Lights

Swan Lake Iris Gardens comes alive with a display of more than one million Christmas lights designed to decorate tall trees and shaped into beloved characters and scenes. It’s the largest free Christmas light display in the state, and it’s open nightly throughout December.

Fourth Fridays

Find a spot to sit or dance on Main Street in front of the Sumter Opera House each fourth Friday of the month, May-September. Concert attendance is free, food and drink is available for sale via vendors and downtown restaurants and cafes. Bring your chairs (no outside food or drink is permitted) and spend the evening listing to live music.

Celebrate the holidays in Sumter:

Easter – Egg hunt at Swan Lake Iris Gardens Memorial Day – Programs at American Legion Post #15, parade through Alice Drive and Swan Lake Iris Gardens Juneteenth – Festival in Downtown Sumter Independence Day – Fireworks at Dillon Park Halloween – Trunk or Treat at USC Sumter, other places Veterans Day – Parade and program in Downtown Sumter Christmas – Santa visits Fantasy of Lights on some weekends, parade in Downtown Sumter

Art & Entertainment

Sumter County Gallery of Art

Exhibits on display year-round, gift shop, classes for adults and children.

Sumter Little Theatre

Community theater with auditions open to the public

Sumter Opera House

Main stage series, matinee shows, cinema, private events, concerts, educational series for school field trips and more

USC Sumter

Four art galleries located on campus that are open to the public

Piper’s Pottery Studio Sip & Gogh

Visit a state park without leaving the county

Poinsett State Park

Where the South Carolina Sandhills of the Midlands meet the coastal plain region, Poinsett

State Park offers a mixed ecosystem that yields biodiversity and some of the most unique natural sightings in the park system, especially along the Palmetto Trail that winds through Manchester State Forest. Go biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, camping, picnicking and birdwatching.

Woods Bay State Park

Get a close-up look at one of the last remaining large Carolina Bays on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. The 1,590-acre park, located in the coastal plains region, features a wide range of habitats, including marsh, sandhills, oak-hickory forest and shrub bog.