Frogs, strawberries and a whole lot more: Your guide to Rock Hill area spring festivals

John Marks
·3 min read

A parade will roll through downtown Rock Hill on Thursday night to start the city’s iconic nod to spring. It’ll also start a new festival season that’s blossoming well outside Rock Hill.

Come-See-Me in Rock Hill and the South Carolina Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill are the area’s headline events this time each year. Both spring celebrations run more than a week, with dozens of activities each scattered around. Both are expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors.

But Lancaster and Chester county have spring gatherings, too. So do Tega Cay, Clover and York.

Here’s a look at eight events coming up this spring in the Rock Hill region:

Come-See-Me

Dates: April 11-20

Highlights: More than two dozen events throughout Rock Hill include a kickoff parade Thursday through downtown (6:30 p.m.), a downtown beach bash Friday (5:30 p.m.), Mayor’s Frog Jump at Miracle Park (10 a.m.) and movie night in Fountain Park (8 p.m.) on Saturday. Other activities bring a barbecue cook off, road races, tea party, cornhole, disc golf and food trucks.

More info: comeseeme.org

Cody Stegall and 1-year-old Henry Stegall say hello to Glen and Glenda the Frogs Saturday at the annual Come-See-Me Festival at Winthrop Lake.
Cody Stegall and 1-year-old Henry Stegall say hello to Glen and Glenda the Frogs Saturday at the annual Come-See-Me Festival at Winthrop Lake.

South Carolina Strawberry Festival

Dates: April 12-May 4

Highlights: The first week of Fort Mill’s 15th annual festival includes beauty pageants, musical events, a 5K, scavenger hunt and more starting Friday. The main activities kick off May 4 at Elisha Park. Hundreds of vendors including dozens of food trucks will be there along with amphitheater entertainment from 10 a.m. to the 9:45 p.m. fireworks. Amusement rides, a car show, eating contests and pig racing are some of the planned activities.

More info: scstrawberryfestival.com

In 2019, little boys pose with beauty queens and a strawberry Wednesday evening at the Main Street Fort Mill Strawberry Jam as part of the 10th annual Strawberry Festival.
In 2019, little boys pose with beauty queens and a strawberry Wednesday evening at the Main Street Fort Mill Strawberry Jam as part of the 10th annual Strawberry Festival.

Silver in the City

Dates: April 12-14

Highlights: The city of York brings a host of activities around the arrival of Airstream vehicles from the Palmetto State Airstream Club. It’s the seventh annual event downtown.

More info: yorksc.gov

Butts Cook-Off

Dates: April 27

Highlights: New Centre Park in Clover hosts the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event with the South Carolina Barbecue Association. There will be competition cooking and vendors on site.

More info: cloversc.org

Ag+Art Tour

Dates: May 10-12

Highlights: Lancaster has a dozen farm sites and artisans participating in the weekend tour event, plus a free kick-off event on the Friday night. There are 20 counties on board this year at different times throughout the year. York County has events June 8-9 followed by Chester County on June 29-30.

More info: agandarttour.com

Best Dam Food Festival

Dates: May 18

Highlights: Catawba Park in Tega Cay — just beside the dam on Lake Wylie — will have music and vendors at the inaugural event, which runs 2-10 p.m.

More info: tegacaysc.org

Red Rose Festival

Dates: May 17-18

Highlights: The 17th edition in Lancaster includes Lancaster’s Got Talent, food trucks, a car show, 5K and bazaar.

More info: lancastercitysc.com

In this file photo, festival-goers enjoy music, food and vendors Friday evening at the Red Rose Festival in downtown Lancaster.
In this file photo, festival-goers enjoy music, food and vendors Friday evening at the Red Rose Festival in downtown Lancaster.

Flopeye Fish Festival

Dates: May 24-25

Highlights: The Great Falls festival in Chester County has carnival rides, a car show, musical performances and Saturday night fireworks.

More info: flopeyefishfestival.com