NOTE: Please check all venue websites for updated information.
April 12-June 1
Georgia Renaissance Festival
Fairburn
16th-century entertainment includes a medieval amusement park, jousting knights, Shakespearian plays, juggling, sword fighting, live music, entertainment, a 32-acre world bazaar and more than 1,000 costumed characters. Weekends 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. garenfest.com
April 21-29
Charleston Jazz Festival
Charleston
Festival features Terence Blanchard, the Richard White Trio, the Mark Sterbank Quartet, the Kenney/Khayat/Baxter Trio, Jazzmeia Horn, Paquito D’Rivera and more. Various locations. charlestonjazz.com
April 30-May 4
North Charleston Arts Fest
CharlestonEvent includes more than 100 national, regional and local artists and performers of dance, music, theater, visual arts, crafts, photography, media arts and literature. northcharlestonartsfest.com
May 2
SCAD Sand Arts Festival
Tybee Island
Watch Savannah College of Art and Design art students and alumni compete and create sand sculptures. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. South Beach Pier and Pavillion. tybeeisland.com
May 2-3
Taste of Beaufort
Beaufort
Music, arts and seafood festival includes dishes from local restaurants, live music, lawn games, arts and crafts market, 5K and children’s area. Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. atasteofbeaufort.com
May 3
Savannah Scottish Games
Savannah
Event features Scottish dancing and music, traditional athletic games, sheep herding, falconry, food, children’s activities and more. 8:45 a.m. Scottish heritage at Bethesda Academy. savannahscottishgames.com
May 3-4
Jim Gaffigan
Charleston
The comedian and actor performs his Everything is Wonderful! Tour at North Charleston Performing Arts Center. northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
May 7
Alice Cooper
Charleston
The architect of shock-rock performs his summer tour at Charleston Performing Arts Center. 8 p.m. northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
May 7-10
Spring Albino Skunk Music Festival
Greer, SC
Family friendly music festival features bluegrass, Americana, folk, roots and rock music from more than 20 artists. Headliners include Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues, 81 Drifters, The Moon and You, Mystic Vibrations and more. Bring your own food or purchase from food and beverage vendors. Craft vendors, children’s activities and tent/car and RV camping sites available. The Skunk Farm. albinoskunk.coms
May 9-11
Artisphere
Greenville
Named one of the 100 Best Fine Arts Shows in the country, festival features visual, performance and culinary arts in downtown Greenville. artisphere.org
May 9-18
Myrtle Beach Bike Week & Spring Rally
Myrtle Beach
Rally features biker events, concerts and activities for 60 miles along the coast. Includes poker runs, tours, games, contests and entertainment. myrtlebeachbikeweek.com
May 10
Hiawassee Highlands Wine Festival
Hiawassee
Festival features live music, art vendors, food vendors, tours of the Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens and tastings from more than 20 wineries. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. georgiamountainfairgrounds.com
May 10-11
Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival
Atlanta
Named one of the Nation’s Top 100 Arts Festivals. Event features more than 185 artists, live music, gourmet food trucks and children’s area. chastainparkartsfestival.com
May 16
Beach Bum Parade
Tybee Island
Get wetty. This humorous parade for kids and adults is the South’s largest water fight. Locals and tourists on parade floats battle spectators with buckets of water, squirt guns and hoses. 6:30 p.m. tybeeisland.com
May 16-18
Greenville Greek Festival
Greenville
Experience three days of Greek culture through food, beverages, dance and vendors at Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. greekforaday.com
Iris Festival
Sumter
South Carolina’s oldest continuous festival is a Southeastern Tourism Top 20 Event. Includes plants, flowers, concerts, arts, antiques, classic car shows, children’s activities and more. Swan Lake Iris Gardens. sumtersc.gov/irisfestival
May 17
Georgia Mountain Fire & Smoke Cooking Festival
Hiawassee
Outdoor festival features more than 120 cooks and chefs preparing everything from barbecue to desserts on Primo Ceramic Grills and Big Green Eggs. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tasting ticket $30. georgiamountainfairgrounds.com
May 23-25
Hilton Head Island Arts Festival
Hilton Head
Featured works include pottery, glass, wood, jewelry, metal, painting, photography and more. Free admission. Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina. hiltonheadartfestival.com
Original Gullah Festival
Beaufort
Learn the history, customs, cultures and language of African Americans of the Lowcountry through live music, art, storytelling and dance. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. theoriginalgullahfestival.org
May 23-June 8
Spoleto Festival USA
Charleston
Festival features more than 120 fine arts performances throughout Charleston. Includes music, drama, dance and visual arts. Venues and prices vary. spoletousa.org
May 24-26
Atlanta Jazz Festival
Atlanta
One of the country’s largest free jazz festivals. Includes jazz legends, new artists, food vendors and family activities. Piedmont Park. atlantafestivals.com
June 3-August 19
HarbourFest
Hilton Head
Weekly summer entertainment series features live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, kids’ activities and Tuesday night fireworks show. Bring chairs and blankets. 6-9:15 p.m. Shelter Cove Harbour. sheltercoveharbourfest.com
June 5-7
Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival
Helen
The South’s oldest balloon event and the nation’s only long-distance balloon race begins in the Alpine village and ends at I-95. helenballoon.com
June 5-8
South Carolina Festival of Flowers
Greenwood
A Southeast Tourism Top 20 event. Features topiary displays, garden tours, flower shows, juried art show, arts and crafts, family fun zone and more. scfestivalofflowers.org
June 6
Barenaked Ladies
Charleston
The rock group performs its Last Summer on Earth Tour with special guests Guster and Fastball. North Charleston Coliseum. 7 p.m. northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
Vince Gill
Charleston
The country music artist presents An Evening with Vince Gill at North Charleston Performing Arts Center. 7:30 p.m. northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
June 6-7
Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale
SC Highway 23
44-mile yard sale along Highway 23 winds through the seven towns of Batesburg-Leesville, Monetta, Ridge Spring, Ward, Johnston, Edgefield and Modoc. Includes furniture, antiques, toys, clothing, jewelry, farmer’s markets, artist’s markets, local restaurants and more. ridgespringsc.com
June 7-8
Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Hiawassee
Festival includes Scottish athletes, Highland dancers, pipers and drummers, sheep dogs, falcons, birds of prey, blacksmith/knife smith demonstrations, Scottish wares and food and more. Opening ceremony with bands and parade of tartans noon Sat. Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. gamtnscottishfestival.org
To have your event considered for publication, please submit materials to info@columbiacountymag.com. All listings require a two-month lead time.
