The Colleton County Rice Festival in Walterboro, South Carolina is an annual event featuring arts and crafts, food, fireworks, music and other entertainment.

Since it first arrived in 1685, rice helped create enormous wealth for the Lowcountry, and Colleton County was perfect for growing it. During the annual Rice Festival we celebrate the heritage of rice in this community and the beauty of the people and land that continue to bless this great country.

Come enjoy a fun-filled week of family activities in the warm Carolina sun. The Rice Festival has all the elements that make it fun for the entire family. Central to the festival is an arts and crafts area with a wide array of handcrafted items. The queen of the Rice Festival is crowned in a special pageant and she takes her rightful place of honor in the Rice Festival Parade as it meanders through downtown as a kickoff event to the festival. A 5K run, rated one of the top races in South Carolina, is another signature event for the festival. And what Carolina Festival is complete without a food court? Sprinkle in activities such as fireworks, music and other entertainment, and you’ve got an event sure to please the entire family.

Explore the streets of our county seat and experience a full schedule of family activities. Come see why Walterboro is the front porch of the Lowcountry.

Start your visit to the Rice Festival at the Welcome Center located just off I-95 at exit 53. There you will find plenty of tips about what to see and do before, during, and after the Rice Festival.