The Sweet Tea Trail

 - Summerville, SC -
The Official Birthplace of Sweet Tea

In the heart of the Lowcountry, there is a place where flowers bloom by the acre, and history lives on every corner. Where World-class cuisine is served with a side of Southern charm, sweet tea is measured by the gallon, and it’s a short ride to Rainbow Row and the historic gardens. ï»¿

  World's Largest Sweet Tea

Stop by anytime day or night and visit Mason- The World's Largest Sweet Tea.  Mason lives in historic Downtown Summerville next to Town Hall, 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC.  Follow the signs to find him! 

Mason stands over 15 feet tall and can hold up to 2,524 gallons of Sweet Tea- The Champagne of the South.

The Town of Summerville made it's way into the record book by setting the Guinness World Record for the World's Larg est (Sweet) Iced Tea on National Iced Tea Day, also known as June 10, 2016.

So what does it take  to brew 2,524 gallons of sweet tea? The recording holding tea was brewed using SCE&G Natural Gas, 210 pounds of local tea from the Charleston Tea Plantation, 1,700 pounds of Dixie Cry stals- the sugar of the south and a lot of local support.

Sweet Tea Festival 

Enjoy the annual Sweet Tea Festival hosted by Summerville Dream with plenty of sweet tea and food! Explore the many unique shops, boutiques and vendor booths.


Enjoy the local musical talents they will have throughout the historic downtown area in Summerville. The free festival takes place in historic Downtown Summerville. 


Saturday, September 20, 2025


Historic Downtown Summerville is everything you imagine a small town to be.


It’s filled with quaint shops, historic buildings, creative boutiques and world class restaurants. Our business owners and their staff represent true southern hospitality with remarkable customer service and genuine care for all that visit. Everyone feels as if they have been transported to a special place and time. 


Come find out why it's sweeter here.

Sweet Tea Mural

When you stop in to see us at the Visitor Center, don't forget to snap a selfie in front of our #BirthplaceofSweetTea Mural!  Share your pics on social media with us for a chance to be featured.

Get your Bingo Card!

Purchase and enjoy Sweet Tea Cocktails crafted by Summerville's best bars!

Have FUN in Summerville while marking 7 spots in a row!

Redeem your Bingo card

for a FREE shirt!

Join us September 15th - 21st, 2025



In celebration of Summerville Dream's Sweetest Week Ever and Sweet Tea Festival (September 20th, 2025), you are invited to join us for the Hold My Tea Bar Crawl!


Summerville's best bars and restaurants are competing in the Summerville Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest! You get to explore various venues and indulge in the entries of Summerville's most talented bartenders! Vote for your favorite during the week long Hold My Tea Bar Crawl.


Sip and play the Bingo game! Trade in your completed card for a free bar crawl shirt at the Summerville Visitor Center or Cotton-Tea booth at the Sweet Tea Festival while supplies last. (If we don't have your size or shirts left, we have some fun Summerville swag, too!)


How to Vote: While you're enjoying the event, don't forget to cast your vote using the QR code on your Bingo card. Your vote will help decide the winner of the People's Choice Award. This crawl spans several days and is more like a "cocktail trail," so you have plenty of time to try these fantastic drinks! Recipes will be posted on social media, @visitsummerville.


PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS (TBD)



2024 Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest Winners

Explore the Sweet Tea Trail

Shop, Sip and Taste

Welcome to the Sweet Tea Trail, a delightful adventure designed for our guests to fully immerse themselves in the charm of Summerville as the Birthplace of Sweet Tea.

We warmly invite you to experience all the sights, sounds, and flavors that make life in Summerville so sweet. 

Trail Guides are available for your convenience at the Summerville Visitor Center and all participating stops. Alternatively, you may download the guide below.

Collect stamps at each of the participating stops with your purchase. Once you have enough stamps, you can redeem them at the Summerville Visitor Center for Official Birthplace of Sweet Tea gifts that will serve as treasured keepsakes of your sweet adventure.

Sweet Tea Trail Stops

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