Fall is America’s favorite season and the best time of year to visit the barrier islands of South Carolina on the idyllic Atlantic Coastline. The beauty of the changing fall leaves, no more summer crowds, coastal temperatures and miles of pristine and peaceful sandy beaches await on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
This beautiful barrier island is only a short, scenic drive from Charleston and offer visitors the perfect balance of laid-back island living close to the cityscapes and urban charm of historic Charleston. In addition to the beautiful beaches, world-class golf courses and outdoor activities in the extraordinary natural landscapes, Kiawah offers fabulous, family-friendly fall events with harvest festivals, haunted houses, foot stompin’ live music and scrumptious southern BBQ.
Here’s our top pick of Kiawah Island fall festivals and events to consider when planning your vacation to South Carolina’s scenic barrier islands.
Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
LOCATION: Boone Hall Plantation, 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant
SEPTEMBER 29 to OCTOBER 29, 2023
EVENT SCHEDULE & TICKETS: Click HERE!
Travel along country roads through canopies of ancient oaks draped in Spanish Moss to Boone Hall Plantation for one of the largest fall festivals in South Carolina. Wind your way through a corn maze, play with the critters at the petting zoos, go on a haunted hayride and pick the perfect pumpkin for carving jack-o-lantern.
DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION
Friday September 29 – 10AM-5PM
Saturday September 30 – 10AM-5PM
Sunday October 1 – 12pm-5pm
Friday October 6 – 10AM-5PM
Saturday October 7 – 10AM-5PM
Sunday October 8 – 12pm-5pm
Friday October 13 – 10AM-5PM
Saturday October 14 – 10AM-5PM
Sunday October 15 – 12pm-5pm
Friday October 20 – 10AM-5PM
Saturday October 21 – 10AM-5PM
Sunday October 22 – 12pm-5pm
Friday October 27 – 10AM-5PM
Saturday October 28 – 10AM-5PM
Sunday October 29 – 12pm-5pm
Included with admission:
- Family Friendly Halloween Tractor Tour
- GIANT 8-Acre Corn Maze
- All American Petting Zoo
- All American Pig Races
- Two of SC’s Largest Jump Pillows
- Inflatable Giant Slide and Obstacle Course
- Swings, Spiders and Slides, Oh My!
(Farm Play Structures & Equipment) - Live, Interactive HoneyBee Exhibit
- Rubber Duck Races
- Farm Football
- Ask a Farmer Interactive Series
- Homegrown Stage Live Performances
Additional Fee Required:
- Pony rides
- Face Painting & Body Art
And of course, there will be pumpkins for sale by the pound from our pumpkin patch area and a variety of food vendors will offer those festival foods we all love.
Boone Hall Plantation Fright Night
LOCATION: Boone Hall Plantation, 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant
SEPTEMBER 23 to OCTOBER 29, 2023
EVENT SCHEDULE & TICKETS: Click HERE!
If you’re traveling with kids 6 and older, purchase a ScreamPass or VIP Fear Pass for hours of fun on Halloween Fright Night at the Boone Hall Plantation, South Carolina’s largest haunted event. Three terrifying attractions await: the haunted Fallen Oaks Motel, evil destruction at Tiny’s Toy Factory Anarchy and real-life horror on the Sinister Cinema Haunted Hayride. Kids ages 6 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Legare Farms Pumpkin Patch
LOCATION: 2620 Hanscombe Point Rd, Johns Island
WEEKENDS from SEPTEMBER 30 to OCTOBER 30, 2023
ACTIVITIES & ADMISSION: Click HERE!
Legare Farms is located closer to Kiawah & Seabrook on Johns Island. The farm offers free admission to the Farm Animals Barnyard and Kids Playground with fall-themed activities at an extra cost including late night pumpkin picking by torch light, fun hayrides and horse rides, entry to a gem mine and making your own scarecrow at the Scarecrow factory.
Fall Tours of Charleston Piazzas & Gardens
LOCATION: Various Locations, Downtown Charleston, SC
OCTOBER 11 to NOVEMBER 4, 2023
EVENT SCHEDULE & TICKETS: Click HERE!
Charleston is spectacularly beautiful in the fall season and cooler temps make it perfect for a unique walking tour through the historic streets of Charleston. Learn the fascinating stories of Charleston’s historical events while touring the antebellum homes, enchanting gardens, intimate piazzas and historic churches on a fall tour of Charleston.
- HOUSE AND GARDENS TOURS
Each Saturday from 2 – 5 PM, guests have the opportunity to experience some of Charleston’s exceptional homes and gardens. Enjoy going from site to site at your leisure, where volunteer docents are stationed to interpret the history, architecture, and gardens. Each tour includes a unique set of 6-8 properties and features a variety of interiors and exteriors. $100 per person | $75 for PSC Members.
2. INSIDER’S ARCHITECTURE TOURS
The Insider’s Architecture series takes guests inside some of Charleston’s finest buildings, seldom open to the public. These tours are led by noted professionals such as architects, contractors, or architectural historians, with interpretation focused on Charleston’s unique architectural styles, preservation ethic, and interior design. Each tour includes a unique set of 3-4 properties and lasts approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. $200* per person | $150 for PSC Members.
3. INSIDER’S HISTORY TOURS
The Insider’s History series is designed for avid history buffs and are led by noted professionals such as historians, researchers, and scholars. These tours will explore various private homes of Charleston and will focus on the history of the site and neighborhood, as well as the stories and people behind the place. Each tour includes a unique set of 3-4 properties and lasts approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. $200* per person | $150 for PSC Members.
4. INSIDER’S GARDEN TOURS
Insider’s Garden tours are designed for garden enthusiasts and are led by notable professionals such as landscape architects, garden designers, and horticulturalists. In addition to visiting some of the city’s most beautiful private gardens, guests will also learn about subjects ranging from the latest gardening trends to Charleston’s vast horticultural history, and its diverse flora and fauna. Each tour includes a unique set of 4-5 gardens and lasts approximately 2 – 2.5 hours.
5. HISTORIC WALKING TOURS
Explore the streets of Charleston while learning more about the historical events, people, and cultures that have shaped our city. PSC walking tours are designed and led by professional, certified tour guides and scholars. Offerings change from day to day. Walking tours last approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. $35 per person.
- The Architecture of Charleston
OCTOBER 13, 2023 – 10 AM
OCTOBER 18, 2023 – 2 PM
OCTOBER 27, 2023 – 10 AM
NOVEMBER 1, 2023 – 10 AM - Barbados & Charleston Connections
NOVEMBER 2, 2023 – 10 AM - Charleston, The Little London
OCTOBER 19, 2023 – 10 AM - Churches & Cemeteries of the Holy City
OCTOBER 12, 2023 – 10 AM
OCTOBER 26, 2023 – 10 AM - Civic Centers of Charleston
OCTOBER 20, 2023 – 10 AM - Doin’ The Charleston Renaissance
OCTOBER 21, 2023 – 10 AM - Exploring Charleston’s Neighborhoods
Waterfront & Battery
OCTOBER 11, 2023 – 2 PM
Old Village & Shem Creek Maritime History
OCTOBER 18, 2023 – 10 AM
Harleston Village
OCTOBER 25, 2023 – 2 PM
Hampton Park
NOVEMBER 1, 2023 – 2 PM - Forging Ahead: The Ironwork of Charleston
OCTOBER 11, 2023 – 10 AM
OCTOBER 25, 2023 – 10 AM - Lost Stories of Black Charleston
OCTOBER 20, 2023 – 2 PM
NOVEMBER 4, 2023 – 10 AM - The Real Rainbow Row: Charleston’s LGBTQ+ History
NOVEMBER 3, 2023 – 10 AM - Revolutionary Charleston
OCTOBER 14, 2023 – 10 AM
OCTOBER 19, 2023 – 2 PM
OCTOBER 28, 2023 – 10 AM
VIEW ALL TOURS
Now in its 47th year, this year’s Fall Tours offerings are designed to maximize the educational experience for guests while minimizing impacts in the historic district. Join us as we venture into the city’s storied streets, landscapes, and buildings.
Johns Island Harvest Festival
LOCATION: Johns Island County Park, SC
NOVEMBER 4th, 2023 | 11 AM to 5 PM
ACTIVITIES & ADMISSION: Click HERE!
- $10 per person
- Free for kids 12 & under and Gold Pass Members (Gold Pass must be present for festival admission; receipt of purchase will not be accepted. Gold Passes will not be sold on-site.)
Entertainment
- 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Southern Flavor Band
- 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.: YeeHaw Junction
- 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.: New Ghost Town
Event Details
- Gates open at 11 a.m.; Music begins at 12 p.m.
- Food and beverages, including beer/wine and soft drinks, will be available for purchase. ID is required to purchase alcohol.
- Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and/or blankets as needed.
- Outside alcohol and coolers are prohibited.
- Local craft and merchandise vendors will be on-site during the event.
- Dogs are welcome but must remain on leash at all times.
The Johns Island Harvest Festival is an authentic Lowcountry experience for the whole family. Pack your camping chairs or picnic blankets for a day of bluegrass bands, kettle corn and southern BBQs, craft markets and pumpkin decorating, archery and hayrides for the kids.
Riverfront Revival
Riverfront Park
1061 Everglades Ave, North Charleston, SC
Sat, Oct 7, 12 AM – Sun, Oct 8, 11 AM
GET TICKETS
EVENT DETAILS
Curated by Darius Rucker and produced by a seasoned team, Riverfront Revival will be a love letter to country music and to South Carolina’s Lowcountry. The two-day festival will be loaded with unforgettable live music, engaging culture and delicious tastes inspired by the region’s unique foodways. Guests will leave feeling revived – deep in their souls – about the music, the location, and the community we’re building together.
Hello Autumn Festival at Frothy Beard
Charleston, SC
Frothy Beard Brewing Company
1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC
Sat, Sep 23, 2 PM
Celebrate the end of the fall season with a fun family outing at this local’s favorite fall festival at the Frothy Beard Brewing Company. They’ll have craft brews, along with local food from the kitchen and small business vendors! So get out, enjoy the weather, bring your friends and pups and support local this year at Frothy Beard Brewing Co!
Kiawah Island Vacation Rentals
Our Kiawah Exclusives vacation rentals are perfect for your family to enjoy the top rentals on Kiawah Island, true southern hospitality and the best fall festivals near Charleston!
