Sumter's Iris Festival is South Carolina's oldest continuous festival and is consistently ranked among the top festivals in the Southeast.
The 3-day festival includes concerts, arts & crafts, plants & flowers, antique & classic car shows, a number of contests and lots of children's activities. The fun begins the evening before the festival, with the annual "Crowning of The King & Queen" followed by the "Taste at the Gardens", featuring great music and great food from some of the area's leading restaurants and caterers.
Iris Festival (held annually on Memorial Day Weekend) Hours:
- Thursday 6 - 9pm
- Friday & Saturday 10am - 6pm
- Sunday 10am - 5pm
As the festival has gained popularity, it has become a favorite stopping place for bus tours from all over the U.S. and Canada. The annual event receives prominent news and coverage, from such publications as "Southern Living" and "Southern Travel and Lifestyle" magazines and many other major newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations as well as social media and travel web sites.
The host location, the world famous "Swan Lake Iris Gardens" in Sumter, South Carolina was recently recognized as a Top Performing Attraction and received a Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor®, the worlds largest travel site. The Iris Festival has been named numerous times as a Top 20 Event from the Southeastern Tourism Society and was awarded a Top 100 Event in the United States by the American Bus Association.
The Iris Festival is held annually over Memorial Day Weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The opening ceremony will take place at 6 PM on Thursday evening, followed immediately by our annual fundraiser, the Taste of the Gardens, where there is a $5 admission and entertainment until 9 PM. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, but no coolers allowed. Food and beverage available for purchase. All other vendors and activities are open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM - 6 PM and Sunday from 10 AM - 5 PM.
