A month-by-month guide to festivals in Columbia and the Midlands, from Five Points and Main Street to Irmo, Cayce, Chapin, Gilbert and Newberry.
Festival season around Columbia, SC runs from March through October. Spring brings St. Pat's in Five Points, Tartan Day South (April 1–4, 2027), the Columbia International Festival (April 17–18, 2027) and the free Sharpvue Irmo International Festival (Sunday, May 2, 2027, Moore Park, free). Summer has the Caribbean Festival, Juneteenth and the Main Street Latin Festival, and fall is packed with the Greek Festival, Jubilee, the Irmo Okra Strut, Oktoberfest in Newberry and the South Carolina State Fair.
How to read the dates: “Confirmed” means the festival has announced its 2027 date. Otherwise we show when it usually happens and when it happened last time, until the new date is announced. Plans can change, so check the festival's own website before you go.
Cayce's spring street festival, combining the Cayce Festival of the Arts with Soiree on State: artists, food vendors and musicians all afternoon.
A long-running St. Patrick's Day street festival in Columbia's Five Points district.
A celebration of Japanese culture and history, with art and everyday Japanese items shown by the Japan America Association of South Carolina.
Newberry's international festival, with live music such as jazz fusion and mariachi, demonstrations and family activities.
A multi-day celebration of Scottish and Celtic heritage.
A two-day festival of the foods, songs, dances, clothing and traditions of the many cultures that call the Midlands home.
Benedict College's annual community festival, held in the Midlands for more than three decades.
A crawfish boil and music festival with an artist village, run by the Greater Rosewood Merchants Association.
One day of international food trucks, music and dance from around the world on the Prisma Health Amphitheater stage, cultural booths, international vendors, a free Kid Zone, a car show and a helicopter display.
Four days of Caribbean culture, music, food and community events.
Columbia's Juneteenth celebration in Finlay Park.
A small-town Fourth of July festival with vendors, makers and producers, rides, live music and plenty of peach products.
Latin American culture, music, dance and food on Columbia's Main Street.
Chapin's Labor Day weekend festival, including a parade.
Greek food, music and culture hosted by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Historic Columbia's celebration of Black history and culture, with storytelling and family activities.
Irmo's hometown festival, with concerts at the Prisma Health Amphitheater in Moore Park and a 5K.
German brews and bites, an artisan marketplace and live music.
Live music, food and drinks, vendors and a free kids' area.
The state's big annual fair, with rides, food and exhibits; the fair says it draws about 400,000 visitors.
These Midlands festivals were free to attend the last time they were held: the Sharpvue Irmo International Festival (free admission and parking), the Main Street Latin Festival, Columbia's Greek Festival, the SC Juneteenth Freedom Fest, the Lexington County Peach Festival ($5 parking) and the Cayce Fall Fest. The Irmo Okra Strut's evening concerts and the Newberry International Festival's family activities are free too. See our full guide to free festivals.
Spring festivals in the Columbia area include St. Pat's in Five Points (March), the Irmo Cherry Blossom Festival (March), Tartan Day South (April 1–4, 2027), the Columbia International Festival (April 17–18, 2027), Benedict College's Harambee Festival (April), the Rosewood Crawfish Festival (early May) and the Sharpvue Irmo International Festival (Sunday, May 2, 2027).
Fall festivals include the Chapin Labor Day Festival, Columbia's Greek Festival and Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture (mid-September), the Irmo Okra Strut (late September), Newberry Oktoberfest and the Cayce Fall Fest (early October), and the South Carolina State Fair (mid-to-late October).
The Sharpvue Irmo International Festival (free admission and parking), the Main Street Latin Festival, Columbia's Greek Festival, the SC Juneteenth Freedom Fest, the Lexington County Peach Festival and the Cayce Fall Fest were all free the last time they were held, and the Okra Strut's evening concerts are free.
The Columbia International Festival is April 17–18, 2027 at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, according to the festival's website.
Yes. The Sharpvue Irmo International Festival is Sunday, May 2, 2027 from 11 AM – 7 PM at Moore Park, 7473 Church Street, Irmo, SC 29063, with free admission and free parking.
