27 Free Things To Do in Summerville
Jan 27, 2023
A rich history, beautiful parks, and plenty of free things to do.
Summerville, South Carolina is a charming town with a rich history and plenty of free activities to enjoy. Whether you're a local resident or just visiting, here are some fun, budget-friendly activities to keep you entertained and give you a taste of the local culture:
- Visit Mason - the World's Largest Sweet Tea! Mason, a Guinness World Record holder, stands over 15 feet tall and can hold 2,524 gallons of sweet tea. Snap a photo with Mason and tag us on social with @visitsummerville and #visitsummerville! Located in downtown Summerville next to Town Hall, 200 South Main Street.
- Marked by a historic placard, you can discover the front gates of the bygone majestic Pine Forest Inn, an iconic Summerville inn that presidents visited. The Pine Forest Inn sat on 60 acres and opened its doors in 1891. The internationally renowned hotel had four floors, elevators, and 150 sleeping apartments. Located at the intersection of Linwood Lane and Salisbury Drive.
- Attend the Old Time Summerville's Christmas Celebration. Experience the magic of live window displays, the annual Christmas Tree lighting, and Santa in downtown Summerville. Many festive events happen during the Christmas season, and many are free.
- Stop by the Summerville Visitor Center inside the Summerville Area Chamber of Commerce for information on events, attractions, and activities in the area. Friendly and knowledgeable staff will greet you.
- Parking is available for free in the Summerville Parking Garage. From there, you can explore historic downtown on foot.
- Take a self-guided Historic Homes Walking Tour. This walking tour starts in Azalea Park with a leisurely one-hour stroll by 20 historic homes with a sign and QR code with information about each home.
- Take a bike ride on the Sawmill Branch Trail. Check out the newly painted mural celebrating native flora along the Gahagan underpass at the Berlin G. Myers intersection.
- The Fireworks and Freedom Festival is held annually on July 4 at Gahagan Park. You will want to experience this free, family-friendly event with live music, food, fireworks, a kid's zone, and loads of fun!
- If you appreciate art and a little game of hide and seek, keep your eyes peeled for painted rocks in Azalea Park. Guests and locals often hide rocks for others to find, usually with instructions to post to a Facebook page. If you're feeling crafty, bring some to hide, too!
- Discover the past on the Walking the 'Ville Downtown Summerville History Tour. This self-guided walking tour takes you through 13 stops in Historic Downtown, where you'll learn about the beginnings of the "Flower Town in the Pines."
- Find 23 birds hiding around downtown on the B.I.R.D.S. Sculpture and Art Tour! Solve the limerick clues to find their locations.
- Visit Public Works Art Center - always free admission and three galleries with exhibitions that change every six weeks.
- Meander through Azalea Park to explore the sculpture tour placed by Sculpture in the South. Azalea Park has Main Street running through the middle, with paths, ponds, and sculptures on each side. Parking is available at 105 W. 5th S St. or along S. Magnolia St. between E. 4th and E. 5th St.
- Visit one of many playgrounds in Summerville. The Saul Alexander Park playground and Gahagan Park playground are a couple of family favorites.
- Pack a picnic lunch and spend an afternoon at Jessen Boat Landing. The public boat landing and fishing pier has a walking trail and boardwalk area overlooking the picturesque Ashley River.
- Attend a Summerville Parks and Recreation live music concert in downtown Summerville called Sounds on the Square. These shows offer various bands and typically take place in April, May, June, and September from 2 - 9 p.m. Participants should bring their chairs or blankets.
- Window shop around downtown Summerville. There is always something interesting to discover and friendly faces to meet in Summerville.
- Enjoy an outdoor movie on a big screen at one of the parks. Summerville Parks and Recreation hosts Free Movie Fridays; check their schedule for details. Remember to bring a chair or blanket!
- Attend the Summerville Family YMCA's Flowertown Festival. On one 3-day weekend during the spring, thousands of festival-goers transcend this gracious Southern town to take in the flowers and hospitality to attend one of the Southeast's largest arts and crafts festivals. (Dates for 2023 are March 31 - April 2)
- Grab your racquet and play a game of tennis at Saul Alexander, Doty, or Azalea Parks. Doty Park also has a pickle ball court.
- Skate at the Summerville Skate Park, located at the corner of S. Magnolia St. and E. Richland St. It's open every day from dawn to dusk.
- Explore the Oakbrook Nature Trail. This trail is a loop that covers a twelve-acre tract of land located just off Springview Lane near Summerville Medical Center. Keep your eyes peeled, as this area is home to a variety of Lowcountry wildlife, including whitetail deer, turkeys, and a bevy of our reptilian friends.
- Check out Summerville Dream's Sweet Tea Festival, which happens every year in September. (Dates for 2023 are September 16th) Enjoy the local musical talents and a variety of foods and vendors spread throughout the historic downtown area.
- Peek over the white picket fence and into the Summerville Museum and Research Center garden, where you'll see the Saul Alexander Garden House and tea plants.
- Pack a picnic and head to Hutchinson Square to enjoy the shade of the spanish moss-laced oak trees, trains passing by, and the excitement that comes from being in the center of the hustle and bustle of downtown Summerville. The pavilion and sign were inspired by the historic train depot that existed near Hutchinson Square in the early 1900s and the archway that once spanned Main St. near Hwy. 78.
- Peruse the Summerville Farmers Market. The market is held on Saturday mornings from April - November and features fresh produce, baked goods, and crafts from local vendors.
- Grab a photo and have a picnic at the Birthplace of Sweet Tea Mural by Kevin Morrisey. It is located at the back of the Summerville Visitor Center.
These are just a few of many free things to do in Summerville. Whether you're interested in history, nature, or just enjoying the great outdoors, there's something for everyone in this charming town.
Experience the aptly named "Flower Town in the Pines"
"At the Heart of Summerville" is a blog series dedicated to exploring the vibrant community of Summerville, South Carolina. From the historic downtown area to the surrounding districts, we showcase the people and places that make Summerville such a special destination. An interview with The Flowertown Players at the James F. Dean Theater in Downtown Summerville
Unveiling some of Summerville's most iconic historic homes.
Sweet tea is more than just a refreshing beverage - it's a symbol of Southern hospitality and tradition. For many years, this iconic drink has been a staple of Southern cuisine, and nowhere is its history more celebrated than in Summerville, South Carolina, the Birthplace of Sweet Tea. The History of Tea Tea has a rich history in America, with its roots dating back to the late 1700s when French explorer and botanist Andre Michaux first planted tea at Middleton Place Plantation, which is in modern-day Summerville. Beginning in 1880, despite two failed attempts to grow tea in South Carolina, the federal government became interested in this new tea experiment. It established an experimental tea farm at the former Newington Plantation, leasing 200 acres from Henry Middleton. In 1888, Dr. Charles Shepard, a philanthropist and professor at the Medical College of SC acquired 600 acres of the Newington Plantation property. He established the Pinehurst Tea Plantation using plants from the government’s farm. He cultivated about 100 acres, built a factory, and began to sell his tea commercially, becoming the first successful commercial tea farm operation in the United States. After Dr. Shepard's passing in 1915, his plantation became deserted and remained so for over four decades until the Lipton Company purchased it in 1960. They salvaged the remaining plants from Pinehurst and utilized them to open a research facility spanning 127 acres on Wadmalaw Island. In 1987, an expert third-generation tea taster trained in London named William B. Hall, purchased the tea farm to establish what is now the Charleston Tea Garden. In 2003, Bigelow Tea Co. purchased the farm and partnered with Hall. The tea from the Charleston Tea Garden, all derivatives of Dr. Shepard's Camellia sinensis, is still growing there today and has earned the honor of the Official White House Tea and the Official Hospitality Beverage of South Carolina. You can also see specimens of the tea plants from the Pinehurst Tea Gardens in the garden of the Summerville Museum .
Exploring the After-Hours Charm of Summerville's Nightlife
There’s a reason our town is called Summerville. Aside from its rich history and unwavering Southern hospitality, Summerville is also a mecca of outdoor activities.
"At the Heart of Summerville" is a blog series dedicated to exploring the vibrant community of Summerville, South Carolina. From the historic downtown area to the surrounding districts, we showcase the people and places that make Summerville such a special destination. This ongoing blog series will feature interviews with local business owners, residents, and community leaders, as well as highlight the top attractions, events, and hidden gems in town.
Making you feel right at home is exactly what Summerville's hosts do best because they understand that where you stay is just as important as where you go.
Summerville is typically known as the place to be in the spring due to the flowering azaleas and warm weather… but make no mistake that this charming town debuts its own unique beauty this time of year.
2- Enjoy the winning Sweet Tea Cocktail (and all the runners up) from the annual Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest. Local Bartenders create goodness with Sweet Tea as an ingredient.
