Last Updated on January 5, 2026 by PorchLightReading
Just 35 minutes from downtown Charleston, is Summerville, SC. A small town filled with historic charm and southern hospitality. All served with a tall glass of sweet tea.
Sweet tea, antique shops, homemade ice cream, historic homes, town festivals and more! Every time we explore downtown Summerville, we are immediately grateful that we get to call this charming place our new home.
Of course we’ve heard the joke “South Carolina is full!” But sometimes job opportunities and transfers bring you here and with each passing day I can feel the sweet tea dripping into my veins. There is most definitely something in the water.
So I’m here to tell you everything you’ll want to know while exploring this beautiful town! The spots downtown that are tucked away, historic places that might interest you, and a bit deeper for those who live here but need a little activity list of things to do.
Plus parking. I always want to know where I can find free parking!
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- Table of contents: Summerville, SC + Things to do
- Downtown Summerville
- Museum, Art, and Visitor Center
- Antique stores and boutique shopping + Where to start
- Gardens and walking tours + Scavenger hunt!
- Seasonal festivals to look for
Looking for more adventures like this? Check out our family adventure to Moncks Corner and Edisto with 7 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Moncks Corner, or Exploring Botany Bay on Edisto Island, South Carolina.
Earlier I mentioned that getting to downtown Summerville, SC, from Charleston only takes 35 minutes. While that is mostly true you’ll want to keep traffic patterns in mind. During the weekday mornings everyone heads into Charleston for work and tourist activity, then rush hour in the afternoon brings them back up.
A trip that can (and should) only take 35 minutes can easily take an hour if you leave during rush hour. Just something to keep in mind.
Also, the same is true for Summerville. During the rush hour times traffic gets a bit heavy and stop lights will be the death of you. Just go slow, put on good music, and be aware of the time.
Summerville SC Things To Do
Downtown Summerville, SC, is everything you want to explore in a small town. The shops in town center are easily walkable and there is a restaurant with amazing cuisine on every corner. You’ll love wandering down Little Main where you’ll find Hutchinson Square with a little pathway around fountains, sculptures, and gardens.
Be sure to continue along to Central Ave. where the street is blocked off to motorized vehicles and you can spread out and enjoy shopping along this brick roadway with string lights above you.
Downtown Summerville
Hutchinson Square- Hutchinson Square is right in the heart of downtown. Here they offer a ton of events and festivals including concerts, festivals, fundraisers, and seasonal activities.
During the summer months you’ll find a series called Sounds of the Square, where they have live music and food trucks! Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a free concert with your family. Be sure to mark your calendars for other happenings including the Christmas tree lighting and free family movie nights in the park!
-View Summerville, SC, events calendar-
- What to expect- Quaint streets filled with boutique shops, antique stores, gardens, coffee houses, and restaurants.
- Things to see- Museums, historic buildings, live music and local events.
- Where to park- Free parking at the Summerville parking garage and along the side streets, including a large parking area along W. Doty Ave.
*Fun story- While our family was visiting from out of town, we all decided to enjoy a nice dinner out at the restaurant Five Loaves Cafe (highly recommend). After an amazing dinner we stopped by town square to treat ourselves to ice cream at Simple Treasures.
To our surprise they were having a Halloween fundraiser for the local school district! Kids of all ages were dressed in their Halloween best and trick or treating at the local shops. There were hayrides, haunted house tours, food trucks and a ton of other goodies.
Summerville Farmers Market- Every Saturday from April to mid November you can find the Summerville Farmers Market. Here you’ll find handcrafted goods, artisans, fresh produce and baked goods and so much more! Rain or shine you can find them downtown at the First Citizens Bank parking lot from 8am-1pm. -More information-
- What to expect- A vibrant open air market.
- Things to see- Local produce, handmade crafts, baked goods, food trucks and more!
- Where to park- Parking is FREE at the Summerville Parking Garage.
World’s Largest Sweet Tea Mason Jar- In 2016 Summerville made the Guinness Book of World Records by having the worlds largest sweet tea! This mason jar holds 2,524 gallons of brewed tea with 1,600 pounds of sugar! This gem is a bit hidden between a couple of buildings, but you can find signs on the lamp posts around town pointing you in the right direction.
- What to expect- Quick photo op with the world’s largest sweet tea!
- Location- It’s a bit hidden, but you can find it next to the Summerville parking garage and by flowing the arrows on the lamp posts nearby.
*Did you know- Did you know that Summerville offers a Sweet Tea Trail Guide? If you’re up for an outdoor adventure you can download the Summerville Trail Guide and follow the instructions to receive prizes! Support local business, visit historic sites, tag photos at festivals and the mason jar and earn a stamp for your booklet. With each stamp you are closer to a prize and can even receive multiple prizes! It’s a fun way to shop local, get out and explore, and see more of this beautiful town. You can pick up your trail guide at the Summerville Visitors Center -View more information-
Museum, Art, & Visitor Centers
Summerville Visitors Center- Stop by the Summerville Visitors Center to get more helpful information about the area. While you’re there pick up the Sweet Tea Trail Guide for a hands on activity while exploring the town. And don’t forget to visit the side of the building and snap a selfie with the Birthplace of Sweet Tea, mural.
Public Works Art Center- Open Tuesday through Saturday, the Public Works Art Center offers free admission where you can stroll through four different galleries. Take your time while admiring the beautiful works of art from some amazing local artists. They also offer pottery classes, painting, art camps and more! So be sure to stop in and ask for more information.
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Summerville Museum and Research Center- Dive deeper into the history of Summerville, and the surrounding area, by visiting the Summerville Museum and Research Center. Here you’ll find exhibits and artifacts while you travel back and time and learn how it all started. Per person admission to enter, children under 18 are free.
The Flowertown Players- This theater was built in 1935 and was showing movies until the mid 1970’s! Now you can enjoy a local show. Plays, musicals, and even youth education classes where an instructor will teach them acting, dancing, and singing. There is always something happening, so be sure to check their website for what’s happening now! -The Flowertown Players-
Antique Stores and Boutique Shopping
There are no short of antique stores in the area and Summerville has it’s fair share. It’s a great way to get out of the heat and find some local treasures. Here we’ll do a brief overview of some of our favorite shopping areas, but I encourage you to explore further!
- Antique stores
- Vintage Vibe on Main St.
- Everything Chic
- Katie Mae’s
- Summerville Antique Gallery
- Splurge Vintage Market
- Antiques and Artisans Village
- Simply Vintage
Shopping- Every boutique, coffee house, and restaurant downtown will quickly become your favorite. If I were to list them all this entire section would become a directory of businesses.
Start by parking in the Summerville Parking Garage and make your way around town on foot. Head to Central Ave. and take advantage of this area being closed to traffic. Here you’ll find gaming stores, boutiques, exotic plants, restaurants and more!
Then, make your way over to Little Main and Hutchinson Square. Stop into the shops, grab a coffee, and be sure to pop into Simple Treasures for ice cream and for the most crazy flavors of popcorn you can think of!
Gardens, Parks, and Walking Tours
Azalea Park and Sculpture Tour- Azalea park is high on the list of things to do, and it’s easy to see why! Tucked under the trees, and nestled between historical homes, you’ll find this beautiful little garden. During the peak season, azaleas cover the grounds attracting visitors from all over.
- What to expect- Over 200 azaleas and several sculptures along the park trail. -View sculptures and park map-
- Where to park- They have two parking lots available. Once near the tennis courts and the other is located on S. Magnolia St.
Historic Homes Walking Tour- Starting at Azalea park, you can make your way around the neighborhoods and see 20 historic homes on this self guided tour. This tour takes just about one hour and offers a brief audio history on each home by scanning a QR code located at each stop. -View walking tour map and homes-
B.I.R.D.S Scavenger hunt- I spy with my little eye… Tour the town with this fun scavenger hunt looking for bird statues! On buildings, poles, and hidden throughout town this activity is perfect for all ages and is a fun, free activity to get you moving. For this scavenger hunt you’ll start at Town Hall and follow the clues to find your next feathered friend. -View scavenger hunt-
Movies In The Park- Enjoy a summertime show with movies in the park! Perfect for families and free to everyone, be sure to bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and movie snacks. These movies play at either Doty Park or Gahagan Park, so be sure to check their schedule. -Movies in the park calendar-
Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site- Spend some time in nature, and learning a bit of history, while strolling around Fort Dorchester. Located on the Ashely River, this historic site offers a self guided walking tour and takes you along the markers with a brochure that tells you about the history of the area.
- What to expect- Beautiful grounds and ruins located along the Ashley River.
- Things to see and do- Follow the trail guide to learn the history of the fort. Explore the tower and fort made of oyster shells.
- Parking and admission
- Lots of parking available
- Admission $3 per adult- $1 ages 6-16 – Free age 5 and younger.
- Free to Start Park pass holders
Bonus location- Flowertown Garden Center- This garden center is a bit of an experience! Parking in the back lot you start in a couple of small sheds filled with interesting looking flowers and decor. Walking back towards the front the garden twists and turns making way for trees, bushes, and large flowers.
Pergolas and fountains are around every corner and eventually you come to a small village inside the garden center. Each small building holds a different theme with decor and household items to match!
A Bit Further Out
I’m going to add a few more parks and trails worth mentioning. They are a bit further out than downtown, but if you’re looking for more of a walking trail, then here are a few you should check out in the Summerville, SC, area.
Ashley River Park- This park is a great place to take the family and enjoy the afternoon. Fish from the boardwalk, walk along the trails, or let the kids enjoy the zip line and splash pad at the playground! -Admission per person or free with Summerville Park Pass
Gahagan Park- Step back into your own childhood and let the littles play at this amazing wooden park! Bonus- Summerville has a great firework display every July 4th, located right at this park. Don’t forget they have summer movie nights here too!
Saw Branch Trail- This trail is great for jogging and biking. You can pick up this trail at several location around town but if you park at the YMCA Oak Brook Facility, you can find a little break in the brush (to the left) where you can walk down to the stream and look for shark teeth! Be sure to visit during low tide and be careful, alligators do live in the area!
Seasonal Festivals To Look For
Summerville, SC, has several annual festivals you should absolutely mark your calendars for! So take notes and be sure to look at their official homepage for the best up to date information.
The Flowertown Festival- Mark your calendars and be sure to visit the Flowertown Festival this town holds every year in the spring. The streets downtown completely shut down and 200 vendors are invited to participate in this one of a kind market. Handmade crafts, artists, speciality food, preserves, gifts, souvenirs and so much more!
This festival spills over into Azalea Park just as the flowers are in full bloom, making it even more magical. Although thousands of people visit the area over a three day period, Summerville has become so good at holding this festival that it doesn’t feel overwhelming, even in a sea of people. Live music is playing and everyone is taking their time and very respectiful as you make your way through.
- What to expect- Three day festival with 200 vendors selling handmade crafts, art, and speciality items.
- Parking- Parking signs and attendants help guide you to a lot and maps are available online to show you where vendors and parking lots are.
Other events you might like- View Summerville events calendar
- July 4th Fireworks and Freedom Festival at Gahagan Park
- Sweet Tea Festival at Hutchinson Square
- Halloween Ghostwalk- School fundraiser
- Old Time Christmas Celebration and Tree Lighting
- Summerville Christmas Parade and Artisan Market
Experiencing everything Summerville, SC, has to offer takes some time. With each season they have another event, concert, festival, or fundraiser. They are constantly thinking of new ways to get involved and offer a ton of free activities that allow you to get out and explore.
It truly is everything you’d want in a small town and a community you’re proud to support. So if you’re new to the area, or just passing by, I highly recommend a trip to this charming town who puts people and the local community, first.
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