Honey Festival · October 12–14, 2028 · Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter — the Sumter County seat in the South Carolina Midlands, situated at the transition between the Sandhills and the Atlantic Coastal Plain — anchors one of South Carolina's least-known but most botanically remarkable honey-producing regions, where the longleaf pine savannas of Poinsett State Park, the blackwater rivers and bays of the Wateree and Black River watersheds, and the distinctive Midlands agricultural landscape of cotton, tobacco, and peach orchards create honey varietals of distinctive Southern character. Sumter County's honey landscape is shaped by the gallberry flows of the longleaf pine savannas and wet flatwoods that extend across the Midlands Coastal Plain, producing the pale, mildly sweet gallberry honey that Carolina beekeepers have prized since the colonial era; the titi blossom flows of the blackwater swamp margins along the Black River, Pocotaligo River, and upper Wateree River; the peach and cotton blossom flows of the Midlands' commercial orchard and row crop country; and the goldenrod, aster, and late-season coastal plain wildflower flows that carry Sumter County beekeepers into November. Poinsett State Park — named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, the South Carolinian who introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States — hosts this October festival celebrating Sumter County's honey heritage in one of South Carolina's most ecologically diverse state parks. The festival features a South Carolina Honey Competition with gallberry, titi, and coastal plain wildflower categories; culinary pairings of Midlands honey with Carolina rice dishes, Sumter peach preserves, and Low Country heritage foodways; South Carolina Beekeepers Association educational programs on longleaf savanna apiculture and gallberry honey production; and heritage exhibits celebrating the Catawba Nation's Wateree homeland and the antebellum rice and indigo plantation culture of the South Carolina Midlands.
Type: Honey Festival
Date: October 12–14, 2028
Location: Poinsett State Park, 6660 Poinsett Park Rd, Sumter, South Carolina
Official website: Sumter Poinsett State Park Honey & Longleaf Pine Heritage Festival 2028
Honey festivals feature tastings, vendor booths, educational talks, and family-friendly activities celebrating local honey production and beekeeping traditions.
Discover 210+ honey varieties before attending, or learn how to read honey labels to make informed purchases. Explore our South Carolina Honey Sourcing Guide for local variety recommendations.
Find local honey sources near the event, explore the best honey for your needs, or take our honey personality quiz to find your perfect variety.
Browse all upcoming honey events across the country.