Summerville Sweet Tea Festival

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Food & DrinkSummerville
Dates19 September 2026Confirmed listing
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkThe festival's entire identity rests on
Language["en"]Currency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Summerville Sweet Tea Festival in Summerville

Summerville Sweet Tea Festival takes over Hutchinson Square in historic downtown Summerville, South Carolina every third Saturday in September, hosted by Summerville DREAM starting at two in the afternoon. The festival features a sweet tea contest, a Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest, the Hold My Tea Bar Crawl through downtown bars, live music, a kids zone, and souvenir merchandise, building on the town's 2016 Guinness World Record for the largest sweet iced tea.

Historic downtown Summerville, South Carolina transforms into an open-air street fair every third Saturday in September when the Sweet Tea Festival takes over Hutchinson Square, celebrating the town's claim as the birthplace of sweet tea in the American South.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's entire identity rests on Summerville's claim as the birthplace of sweet tea, a claim backed by more than folklore since the town set a Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Sweet Iced Tea in June 2016, brewing over 2,500 gallons using 210 pounds of tea and 1,700 pounds of sugar

02

The mystery stays covered

The Hold My Tea Bar Crawl extends the celebration beyond Hutchinson Square itself, sending attendees through participating downtown bars and restaurants to sample tea-based drinks and vote for a People's Choice Award

03

The city starts moving

A separate Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest pushes the theme into adult beverages alongside a more traditional sweet tea recipe contest aimed at home brewers and local businesses

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Building the entire festival around Summerville's sweet tea origin claim has remained the event's defining identity since Summerville DREAM began organizing it

Water and renewal

Living ritual

tying a modern street festival to a specific piece of local food history

The sacred route

Living ritual

The town's 2016 Guinness World Record for the largest sweet iced tea has become part of that ongoing civic story

The local code

Living ritual

frequently referenced in festival promotion even though it was a standalone record-setting event

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Running the Hold My Tea Bar Crawl alongside the main square festival has also continued as a way to extend the sweet tea theme into downtown Summerville's bars and restaurants rather than confining it to a single festival footprint

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

19 September 2026

Getting around

Arrive early for popular stalls and pace the route instead of trying to taste everything.

What to wear

Casual, warm-weather clothing suits a September afternoon and evening in coastal South Carolina, which can still run hot and humid. Comfortable walking shoes matter for anyone doing the Hold...

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

["en"] · USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map33.02 N, 80.18 WOpen in Google Maps

Summerville, United States

TransportArrive early for popular stalls and pace the route instead of trying to taste everything.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Summerville via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Summerville, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, warm-weather clothing suits a September afternoon and evening in coastal South Carolina, which can still run hot and humid. Comfortable walking shoes matter for anyone doing the Hold My Tea Bar Crawl between multiple downtown locations. A light layer is worth having as temperatures drop once the sun goes down.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Summerville Sweet Tea Festival?

Summerville Sweet Tea Festival is listed for 19 September 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Summerville Sweet Tea Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Summerville, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Summerville, United States

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLvisitsummerville.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates19 September 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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