If you’re looking for something to do in mid-May, the annual Sumter Iris Festival is a great idea. This year, it’s May 14 to 17, 2026. There will be vendors, a parade, great food, a carousel, and more. Find out more in this post, which we update annually to include the most up to date info.
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There’s something so magical about a town festival. It transports you back in time to when things were easier and no one sat and doom scrolled on their phones all day long.
If you’re looking for a good town festival, head to Sumter, SC.
The city of Sumter, which is in (nearly) the smack, dab, center of the state, hosts the Iris Festival every May. It’s South Carolina’s oldest continuous festival, dating back to 1940. This year, it’s May 14 to 17, 2026.
The festival is really family-friendly because it has a large Kids Carnival area with free rides and activities for kids. It’s good for adults, too, because the entirety of the gardens (120 acres) are open during the festival — and are a great way to escape the festival’s crowds.
This year, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, the theme is Red, White, and Bloom.
We’ve been to the Iris Festival and really enjoyed ourselves — especially the fancy lemonade with popping boba I got from one of the food vendors (although, the year we went, one the days was rained out, which I heard never happened before).
This isn’t the only annual festival at the Swan Lake Iris Gardens. It’s also host to Sumter’s Fantasy Of Lights. So, if you loved the town during the Iris Festival, plan a trip back this winter.
Sumter Iris Festival History
The Sumter Iris Festival was started when a local businessman, J.J. Brennan, brought the idea of celebrating the gardens to the Kiwanis Club. If you know anything about the Kiwanis Club, the Kiwanians are always very good about supporting great ideas. So, the Kiwanians came on board and the festival was a go.
Eight years into it, the local radio station WFIG (appropriately named World Famous Iris Gardens — true story) convinced the popular (albeit questionable) American radio and television game show, Queen for a Day, to visit Sumter for the festival. Since the program aired nationally, the festival was in the homes of listeners from 500 radio stations nationwide that day.
That propelled Sumter’s Iris Festival to what it is today, a four-day festival at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, the United States’ only public park that features all eight species of swans. It’s also filled with Japanese Iris plants, which you can purchase during the festival (in limited quantities, so get there early if you want some).
Besides plant sales, the festival also has over 200 craft vendors, a parade, food, and more.
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Sumter Iris Festival 2026: Dates & Details
- Dates: May 14 to 17, 2026
- Location: Swan Lake Iris Gardens (822 West Liberty Street) in Sumter, SC
- Cost: Admission is free, although food is an additional cost
Sumter Iris Festival: Schedule Of Events
Thursday, May 14
The Taste at the Gardens: It begins at the Garden Street Gate. Admission is free and food and beverages will be available for purchase. From 6:15 pm to 9 pm.
Crowing of the King and Queen: At the Garden Street Gate at 6 pm.
DJ Howie D: The DJ will be playing music during the festival.
Opening Ceremony: At the Garden Street Gate at 6 pm.
Friday, May 15
Boat rides: At the Garden Street dock from 10 am to 6 pm.
Dreamworks Dance Academy: It will perform on the Main Stage from 5 pm to 6 pm.
Education Day Activities: From 10 am to 6 pm.
Festival Trolly: From 10 am to 6 pm.
Karaoke: On the main stage from noon to 2 pm.
Kids Carnival: At the Playground and Garden Street Areas from 10 am to 6 pm. All the rides and activities are free.
Line Dancing: At the Main Stage from 10 am to 1 pm.
Master Gardener Plant Sale: At the Garden Street Gate, selling over 15 varieties of Japanese Iris plus member grown plants.
Music: Bill Eaker on the Main Stage from 10 am to noon; House music will be on the Garden Street Stage from 1 pm to 2 pm then 3 pm to 6 pm; Kevin Jarvis will be on the Garden Street Stage from 2 pm to 4 pm; the 282D Army Band Brass Band “Heat Cat VI” will perform on the Main Stage from 3 pm to 4 pm.
Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians: Will be on the Main Stage from 2 pm to 3 pm.
Vendors: Food and farmers market type vendors will be on site from 10 am to 6 pm.
Saturday, May 16
Boat rides: At the Garden Street dock from 10 am to 6 pm.
Clemson Tiger: The mascot will be roaming from noon to 1 pm.
Festival Trolly: From 10 am to 6 pm.
Kids Carnival: At the Playground and Garden Street Areas from 10 am to 6 pm. All the rides and activities are free.
Line Dancing: At the Garden Street Stage from 1 pm to 2 pm.
Master Gardener Plant Sale: At the Garden Street Gate, selling over 15 varieties of Japanese Iris plus member grown plants.
Music: House music will be on the Main Stage from 10 am to 11 am, 1 pm to 2 pm, and 3 pm to 4 pm and the Garden Street Stage from 10 am to noon; Shag Club will be on the Main Stage from 11 am to noon; Voices of Delta will be on the Garden Street Stage from noon to 1 pm; Frank Fickling will be roaming from 1 pm to 5 pm; 282D Army Band Jazz/Pop Ensemble will be on the Main Stage from 2 pm to 3 pm; The Majestic Gospel Singers will be on the Garden Street Stage from 2 pm to 3 pm; Kevin Hastle and The Community Choir will be on the Garden Street Stage from 3 pm to 4 pm; Gump Fiction will be on the Main Stage from 4 pm to 6 pm; Sumter Violinaires will be on the Garden Street Stage from 4 pm to 5 pm.
Iris Festival Parade: Begins at 10 am. The parade runs from USC Sumter to the Sumter Civic Center. Line up begins at 9 am.
Salsa Lessons: Happening on the Garden Street Stage from 5 pm to 6 pm.
Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians: Will be roaming from 11 am to noon and 3 pm to 4 pm, plus on the Main Stage from noon to 1 pm.
Vendors: Food and farmers market type vendors will be on site from 10 am to 6 pm.
Sunday, May 17
Boat rides: At the Garden Street dock from 10 am to 6 pm.
Festival Trolly: From 10 am to 6 pm.
Kids Carnival: At the Playground and Garden Street Areas from 10 am to 6 pm. All the rides and activities are free.
Master Gardener Plant Sale: At the Garden Street Gate, selling over 15 varieties of Japanese Iris plus member grown plants.
Music: Bill Eaker will be on the Main Stage from 10 am to noon; House music will be on the Garden Street Stage from 10 am to 1 pm; Last Chance Band will be on the Main Stage from 1 pm to 3 pm; Kevin Jarvis will be on the Garden Street Stage from 1 pm to 2 pm; Frank Fickling will be on the Garden Street Stage from 2 pm to 5 pm; Green Swamp Collective will be on the Main Stage from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians: Will be on roaming from 11 am to noon and 3 pm to 4 pm, then on the main stage from noon to 1 pm;
Vendors: Food and farmers market type vendors will be on site from 10 am to 6 pm.
Visitor’s Info:
Transportation / Parking
There’s a huge parking lot at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, where you can park for free during the event.
For overflow, there will be shuttle buses from the Sumter County Civic Center to Swan Lake Iris Gardens on Saturday (11 am to 6:15 pm) and Sunday (10 am to 5:15 pm).
Sumter is a small town, so don’t rely on rideshare to get you to and from your hotel to the festival.
Weather Tips / What To Wear
You’re going to be walking on grass for most of the festival, so we suggest you wear comfortable sneakers. When we went, it had rained the day before and the morning of the festival, so I was really wishing that I had packed my rain boots.
Since you are outside for the entire festival with no shade, we also suggest you wear sunscreen to protect your skin.
We didn’t notice any bugs at the festival, but we do always use Buggins spray when we’re at an outdoor festival in the South because the no-see-ums are really abundant.
What To Bring
Bring cash and credit cards, since some of the vendors are cash only and some are card only.
If the weather is bad, you want to bring a small umbrella that can fit in your purse. The parking lot is at the entrance of Swan Lake Park and the festival is in the back, so it’s not easy to walk back to the car if you forgot something or if it starts to rain and you need your umbrella.
How Long To Plan For The Festival
You’ll want to allow yourself about two hours for the festival.
The festival is filled with traditional food and craft vendors, which you see at nearly every festival, so you’ll probably walk through them quickly.
But, if you have kids, they’ll end up on the rides for at least 45 minutes.
Plus, most of the 120-acre Swan Lake park, like trails and the gazebo, are open to the public during the festival. There aren’t any vendors or activities in that section. So you can just stroll and enjoy nature away from the crowds.
Other parts of the garden, like the chocolate, sensory, and butterfly gardens, are open during the festival as well. Vendors will be set up near these gardens.
The majority of the kids activities, plus many more vendor tents, are on the other side of Swan Lake. There’s a trolly that will bring you between the two sections.
Where To Stay
We stayed at the Hyatt Place Sumter / Downtown when we went to the Iris Festival. It’s a short drive from Swan Lake Iris Gardens and walking distance from Sumter Original Brewery in downtown Sumter, our favorite place to hang out in town, and many local restaurant.
The hotel has free parking and complimentary breakfast, two hotel amenities we look for when booking our trips. Plus, the hotel is really clean and the staff was great and super kind when we were in town.
Other Things To Do in Sumter, SC:
We went to Sumter for the first time a few years ago and found so many things to do in Sumter, South Carolina. There was lots of live music, lots of good food, and more. It’s a fun town to spend the weekend in.
If you’re looking for things to do in the area, check out neighboring Santee, SC. We went last March for the Elloree Trials and spent part of our time at the Palmetto Traverse, a putting course at Lake Marion Golf Course. We’re not golfers, but still really enjoyed ourselves.
More South Carolina Festivals:
If you’re visiting the Sumter Iris Festival because you enjoy floral attractions, you definitely need to check out the South Carolina Festival of Flowers in Greenwood, SC as well. That happens annually at the beginning of June and over 50 topiaries are on display throughout the town.
Greenwood also hosts the South Carolina Festival Of Discovery in July, which we went to in 2022 and had such a good time at. It’s a barbecue and blues festival, filled with great food and great music.
And, if you like barbecue, you also need to check out the Hogs & Hens BBQ Festival in the fall. That’s in Abbeville, SC, which is a short drive from Greenwood.
Have you been to the Sumter Iris Festival? Comment below and let us know what you thought.
Heidrun 🪂
Wednesday 13th of May 2026
Sure, that's fun.
Jennifer Wise
Tuesday 12th of May 2026
How fun! I always enjoy seeing where you're exploring.
Paula Short
Saturday 24th of May 2025
I love town festivals. This sounds like a fantastic festival. I appreciate the schedule and history you shared.
Laurie
Saturday 3rd of June 2023
We have a local Iris Festival in Greeneville, TN. I’m sure it’s a bit smaller than the Sumter one. Enjoy!
Joanne
Wednesday 31st of May 2023
That sounds like a wonderful way to spend Memorial day weekend!