Your Ultimate Fall Bucket List
There’s something about fall in the Olde English District that just hits different. Maybe it’s the first crisp morning, the hunt for the perfect pumpkin, or the excuse to spend an entire Saturday exploring a small town. Whatever brings you out, we’ve got plenty of reasons to stay awhile.
From farm days and colorful trails to festivals that fill our downtowns with music, food, and plenty of personality, consider this your official fall bucket list.
1. Pick the Perfect Pumpkin
Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and hayrides? Consider your fall plans made. Whether you’re in it for the perfect porch pumpkin or an afternoon of getting lost in a corn maze, these four farms know how to do fall right.
Cotton Hills Farm | Lowrys
Come for the pumpkins, stay for the fun. Cotton Hills Farm packs plenty into a fall day with a corn maze, tractor train rides, hayrides, and farm games like pumpkin putt-putt and grain wagon basketball. Pick your own pumpkin, make your way through the straw maze, or stop by on select Saturdays for U-pick flowers and, when they’re in bloom, sunflowers.
McLeod Farms | McBee
A little farm-fresh fun goes a long way at McLeod Farms. Find your way through the charitable corn maze, hop on a wagon ride through the farm, and pick a cup of colorful wildflowers while you’re there. Before you head home, swing by the roadside market for a hand-dipped caramel mountain apple, a local favorite worth the stop.
Cherry Place Farm | Rock Hill
Ready to get a little lost? Cherry Place Farm’s two-acre corn maze is just the beginning. Spend an October weekend taking a hayride, feeding the farm animals, and letting the little ones explore the barnyard play areas. Add pumpkins for sale and plenty of space to play, and you’ve got an easy fall outing for the whole family.
Hall Family Farm | Lancaster
Think you’ve mastered the corn maze? Put your skills to the test at Hall Family Farm, where a seven-acre maze leads the way into a full day of fall fun. Take a musical hayride, pick your perfect pumpkin, or let the kids burn off some energy in the Kid Zone, with a ropes course and zip rail for the more adventurous. When hunger strikes, Hall’s Kitchen and the Bakery have you covered.
2. Chase the Fall Colors
Who says you have to head to the mountains for a little leaf-peeping? With 10 state parks and historic sites across the Olde English District, there’s plenty of autumn beauty to discover right here.
South Carolina State Parks highlights both Kings Mountain State Park and Chester State Park as places to enjoy fall foliage, giving you two very different ways to take in the season. Whether you’re up for a scenic hike or a laid-back afternoon by the lake, consider this your sign to get outside and enjoy the changing leaves.
Kings Mountain State Park | Blacksburg
With nearly 7,000 acres to explore, Kings Mountain State Park is made for a fall adventure. Lace up your hiking boots and hit more than 20 miles of trails, where wooded paths offer plenty of chances to take in the changing colors. Want to make a weekend of it? Set up camp, explore the park’s historic living history farm, or spend an afternoon paddling Lake Crawford or Lake York. Prefer the scenic route on horseback? The park also offers 30 miles of equestrian trails.
Chester State Park | Chester
For a slower-paced fall escape, head to Chester State Park, where 523 acres of natural beauty surround a peaceful 160-acre lake. Follow the 1.3-mile Caney Fork Creek Nature Trail along the shoreline, take in the changing leaves from the park’s 472-foot bridge, or rent a boat from the historic boathouse for a different view of the season.
Pack a picnic, bring your camera, and settle in for a little lakeside leaf-peeping.
Looking for more places to explore? Check out our guide to the OED’s state parks and historic sites for even more outdoor adventures.
3. Fall for Festival Season
When the weather cools down, the OED’s small towns turn up the fun. Think live music, local eats, arts and culture, and plenty of reasons to spend a Saturday exploring somewhere new.
From jazz-filled streets and Southern storytelling to classic county fair traditions, these five festivals deserve a spot on your fall calendar.
Southern Gothic Festival | Camden | October 9–10
A little spooky, a little Southern, and anything but ordinary. The Southern Gothic Festival brings literature, folklore, true crime, and music together for a weekend of storytelling in historic Camden. From author conversations and ghost tours to live performances, it’s a chance to explore the South’s more mysterious side.
South Carolina Jazz Festival | Cheraw | October 15–18
All that jazz, right in the heart of Cheraw. Celebrate the hometown of jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie with four days of live music, a lively bebop parade, and performances throughout town, from free outdoor concerts to evening theater shows. There’s plenty to keep your toes tapping all weekend long.
HILLarity Festival | Chester | October 17
Historic downtown Chester has been throwing this party for 34 years running. Gadsden Street comes alive with live entertainment, local artisans, and food vendors for the annual HILLarity Festival. Bring the kids for the Kid’s Zone, or just come hungry and try your luck at the popular doughnut-eating contest.
Union County Fair | Union | October 20–24
Step right up for a fall tradition more than a century in the making. The Union County Fair brings five days of entertainment and fairground fun, with an aerial stunt show and live music keeping the energy high. Come hungry, stay late, and make a night of one of Union County’s favorite annual celebrations.
Rock Around the Clock | Winnsboro | October 24
Dust off your dancing shoes. Historic downtown Winnsboro turns up the music for Rock Around the Clock, a celebration centered around the town’s iconic clock. Local vendors and classic cars line the street ahead of a community street dance that brings the whole town out. It’s small-town fun with a little old-school flair.
Make Fall Yours in the OED
Fall is one of the best times to explore the Olde English District. From farm days and colorful trails to festivals that bring our small towns to life, there’s plenty waiting around every corner.
Plan a day trip, make a weekend of it, and discover your own favorite way to fall for the OED.
Explore more places to stay, things to do, and upcoming events as you plan your fall getaway.
