Anderson / Lake Hartwell KOA Holiday Events

Campground Events

Local Area Events

Oconee Bell Nature Trail Photo

Oconee Bell Nature Trail

One of South Carolina's most unique and earliest wildflowers, the Oconee Bell, can be found blooming from mid-March to early April. Colonies of the Oconee Bells blooming in their entire splendor can be seen along the Oconee Bell Trail at Devils Fork State Park, a gateway to the Jocassee Gorges. The Oconee Bell is a rare flower found only in a few locations near the southern Appalachians. You can recognize the Oconee Bell by its white and yellow blossom with red stems and red-tinged leaves.

To catch a glimpse of this delicate and unique wildflower, make a trip to Devils Fork State Park during its blooming season and walk the Oconee Bell Nature Trail. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The walk is designed for ages ten and older. The Oconee Bell Nature Trail is an easy 1-mile loop trail that received its name for the rare wildflower that can be found along the footpath.

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Downtown Music - April to October on Thursdays Photo

Downtown Music - April to October on Thursdays

The cities of Anderson, Greenville, and Seneca hold music in their old downtown areas. Bring your own chairs, eat some local food and tap your feet as a variety of musical genres fills the air.

In Anderson - Downtown Sounds is staged at Carolina Wren Park from 6–9 pm each Thursday evening from April through August. The full slate of entertainment includes a variety of music, from oldies, beach, blues, soul, and southern rock. 
In Seneca - every Thursday from April to September, Ram Cat Alley is closed between 6:30 and 9 pm for
Jazz on the Alley, which offers visitors live music and late shopping at the stores on the street. According to town legend, trains carrying produce for Main Street merchants were unloaded onto carts that were then wheeled the two blocks to the shops on Main. So many cats would gather around the carts piled high with meat and fish that one clever wag once quipped: "You couldn't ram another cat into the alley." Main Street was officially renamed Ram Cat Alley in the mid-1990s. 
In Greenville - Downtown Alive kicks off the weekend every Thursday night with music at NOMA Square on Main Street. Check out who's playing here. (March-August)

Anderson Motor Speedway March to October Photo

Anderson Motor Speedway March to October

The Anderson Motor Speedway is located just north of I-85 at exit 27 - approximately 15 miles from the campground. Anderson Motor Speedway is a 3/8 mile paved oval. Wide straightaways and tight, tricky corners are infamous for producing close, competitive short track racing most Friday nights in the quest for the checkered flag. Anderson Motor Speedway roars into action each Friday night throughout the summer. A full lineup of the best driving talent from across the Carolinas and Georgia invade the "Supertrack of the Carolinas" each week in the quest for the checkered flag. Anderson Motor Speedway showcases some of the fiercest competition around. Come check out the Super Trucks.

Check out the Anderson Motor Speedway Schedule

Reedy River Duck Derby Photo

Reedy River Duck Derby

Have you seen the Duck Derby in Greenville, SC? No, it's not a giant bathtub with thousands of rubber duckies – it's the Annual Reedy River Duck Derby! Sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Reedy River Greenville, it is certainly a bucket list item if you live in the Greenville area.  The Duck Derby is not only a fantastic way to spend an afternoon but it's also a great way to support wonderful charities.  The duck race begins at 2:30pm when thousands of rubber ducks, each one "adopted" to support a charity, begin their float down the Reedy River to the finish line. Prizes are won by the first 20-25 ducks from monies to gift certificates. You do not have to be present to win so adopt your duck now. Adoptions, errrr, donations are all tax deductible.

One of those charities is Cancer Camps for Kids sponsored by our KOA.  You can adopt your duck(s) online at the Annual Reedy River Duck Derby Cancer Camps for Kids. In 2023 we had close to 1400 ducks adopted - and we'd love to meet or surpass that number again! You can adopt only one or get a Quack Pack of five ducks. Or, adopt as many as you want. Adopting a duck will help provide the opportunity for a greater number of special children suffering with cancer to enjoy camping experiences and help them to remember what it's like to “just be a kid.”

To learn more about these camps visit KOA Care Camps for Kids.

Artisphere in Greenville Photo

Artisphere in Greenville

Greenville Scottish Games Photo

Greenville Scottish Games

Memorial Day Weekend! 

The Great Scot! Parade marches up Greenville's Main Street from Broad Street to E. North St., with Pipe Bands, faeries, floats and the Royal Highland Fusiliers on Friday evening at 6pm.

On Saturday, head to Furman University for the Scottish Games.  Gates open at 8am. Competitions are over by 4pm and the Awards Ceremony is at 5pm. The greatest Scottish Happy Hour in the world at 5:30pm – Celtic music, pipe bands and beer in the Entertainment Tent!
Heavy Athletics – All day on the Main Field
Piping/Drumming Competitions – All day around Cherrydale Mansion
Border Collie Demonstrations – 10:00am, 1:00pm & 2:30pm
Celtic Music – Main Stage starting at 10:00am
British Car Show – outside Main Gate from 9:30am to 3pm. The featured manufacturer is MG.
The colors, tastes, sights & sounds you will experience are all evocative of clan life in the wild Highlands of Scotland.
The Championship Heavy Athletic competition is drawn from the warrior traditions at ancient clan gatherings, as is the Highland Dancing competition. The Southern Piping Championship will remind you vividly of how the Great Highland War Pipes were an integral part of every Scottish clan marching into battle. The crafts - from the weaving of tartans to the stained glass demonstrations - would have been all around you at a Gathering of the Clans from long ago.
Visit
Greenville Games online for more information.

Children visiting our Games will have their own miniature Scottish village, called Wee Scotland. They have their own crafts, athletic events, "mountains" to climb, & much more, all the while absorbing a bit of the culture. The Border Collie Trials and Great Scot! Young Writers Contest are very popular, too!

SC Festival of Flowers, Greenwood Photo

SC Festival of Flowers, Greenwood

History Comes Alive-Summer Chautaqua Festival (Greenville) Photo

History Comes Alive-Summer Chautaqua Festival (Greenville)

More than history. More than a performance. More than a story. At Chautauqua we believe that stories should be told and that histories deserve to be heard. We celebrate the diversity of our culture through a variety of voices from the past because history belongs to all of us. Our events are and always will be free, fun, and family-friendly. Get ready to laugh, cry, and have an all-around good time.

From antebellum America to the Golden West, from the world of Nazi Austria to the world of American pop music, we have an image of these times, these people. From the 2024 Chautauqua stage we will explore the truth of those images.  Listen to their stories and ask them questions. 

Charles Dickens - He twice visited American and gave us his unvarnished view of what he found
"Stagecoach Mary" Field - She rose from slavery to become a living Western legend
El Vaquero - When it comes to legends, what is a greater image of the West than the cowboy? Learn what the culture of life in the saddle was really like
Maria von Trapp - The Sound of Music told her story, noe hear her side of that story
Cass Elliot - She takes us behind the scenes with the Mamas and the Papas for a backstage look at the swinging '60s and '70s

There's nothing like the experience of outdoors under the Chautauqua tent or in a beautiful park on a summer evening. But if you like your Chautauqua experience indoors in air-conditioned comfort, we have that, too. There will be great story-telling, lots to laugh about, and deep secrets revealed. You'll laugh – you'll cry – you'll have lots of questions - and they'll be answered. Bring your stories. Share your experiences. Get inspired. Because it's not just history – it's personal. Visit Greenville Chautauqua online for more information.

South Carolina Apple Festival, Westminster Photo

South Carolina Apple Festival, Westminster

The Upcountry's salute to the apple, the SC Apple Festival, founded in 1961, celebrates the beginning of apple harvest season in Oconee County, the largest apple producing area in the state. The annual festival starts on the Tuesday after Labor Day and continues to the following Saturday. The week-long activities include arts, crafts, and food vendors, a Chattooga River Float (Wednesday), live entertainment by various musicians, a street dance on Friday evening, the annual Apple Festival IPRA sanctioned World Championship Rodeo (Friday and Saturday nights), and so much more. Most of the events are free and are planned with the family in mind.

Parade is on Friday, 5pm start time. The parade will start in front of Westminster United Methodist Church, turn at Walgreens to go down Main Street, then turn at Blue Ridge Bank to cross the road to Sluders Urban Forestry's parking lot where the parade ends.

Oktoberfest, Walhalla Photo

Oktoberfest, Walhalla

Tucked into the mountainous foothills of the Northwestern Corner of South Carolina, Walhalla bids you "Guten Tag! (Good Day!)". You're invited to experience "Gemutlichkeit!" (good spirits, good times, laughter and goodwill) at the Annual Walhalla Oktoberfest! Oktoberfest is a wonderful fall celebration of Walhalla's German heritage, with something fun for everyone! Each year, thousands of people come to Walhalla to experience Oktoberfest! Listen to the OOPS Polka Band while munching on a bratwurst with kraut. Enjoy a refreshing mug of cold German beer. Join the dance floor for the always fun "chicken dance". Explore our amazing arts & crafts with vendors from all over the Southeast. And don't forget an apple dumpling for dessert! The kids will love our carnival rides and games as well as a delicious funnel cake! 

There's truly something for everyone at the Walhalla Oktoberfest!

Holiday Lights Photo

Holiday Lights

Anderson Christmas Lights, sponsored by the Anderson Lights of Hope (organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes),  is celebrated at the Anderson Sports and Recreation Center. It is a 7/10 mile drive with over one million colored lights through both animated and stationary displays. The Lights of Hope is open nightly from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. Admission is charged, and proceeds are given to local charities. 

The Celebration of Lights is celebrated at District Park (148 Crumpton Lane, Easley 29640), with over 32 million dancing lights that can be driven or walked through. A Santa's free petting zoo has something for everyone with farm animals like goats and donkeys to exotic kangaroos. Feeling adventurous? Take a ride on the pony corral for extra fun (tickets available for purchase onsite).  If you haven't visited recently there are also carnival rides. Safe, fun, and oh-so-merry, the carnival rides are perfect for parents and kids. Ride tickets are available for individual purchase or via ticket bundles for additional savings. Warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or snack on delicious holiday treats while you explore our illuminated wonderland. The Celebration of Lights is open nightly from Thanksgiving through the end of December. Admission is charged.

The Magic of Christmas in downtown Senecais celebrated every year starting in mid-November and going to the end of December.  It's nostalgic with a modern twist. Romantic and family friendly at the same time. It's FREE FUN that everybody can enjoy! Route yourself through historic downtown Seneca to experience the streets aglow with a million lights that “dance” to holiday music. Tune your radio and cruise along, or leave your car and walk around. You'll find lots of spots for pictures and kids love running through the festive setting. Visit with Santa on selected nights, come watch the parade, cook s'mores and sip on hot chocolate. Norton Thompson Park, 300 Main Street, Seneca