Every year, South Carolina Humanities sponsors a Humanities Festival in a community in South Carolina. Established in 1993 in honor of South Carolina Humanities’ 20th Anniversary, the Humanities Festival has been held in 24 different communities. Each festival celebrates the local history and culture of the host community, engaging the citizens in lectures, discussions, films, and exhibits and facilitating partnerships among cultural organizations and community groups.
SC Humanities is pleased to announce that the 2025 Humanities Festival will be hosted by the Lancaster County Council of the Arts in Lancaster.
SAVE THE DATE: The festival will take place Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19, 2025.
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Friday, October 17, 2025
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night Reception
Location: Lancaster County Council of the Arts, 201 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
Celebrate the Humanities Festival in Lancaster County with the Opening Night Reception. Join Randy Akers, retired SC Humanities Executive Director, for refreshments and festival program overview, as well as the opening of the exhibition, The Springs Close Family Collection.
Tickets: $50 per person
Reserve a ticket:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-humanities-festival-opening-reception
Saturday, October 18, 2025
All Day Events (view festival guide for specific times): Springs Close Collection at the Historic Springs House, Tour of the Historic Craig House, Pop-up Cultural Exhibits at various locations in downtown, Paws on Parade, Lancaster County History Museum, Open Artist Studios, USCL Native American Studies Center
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Kids Storytime with Arts/Crafts
Main Library, 313 S White St, Lancaster, SC 29720
11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Guided Walking Tour of Public Art and Historic Downtown Lancaster
Meeting location in festival guide
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Storywalk Opening
Lindsay Pettus Greenway, 453 Colonial Ave, Lancaster, SC 29720
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lecture: Reconstruction & the Klan with Fergus Bordewich
Cultural Arts Center, 309 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Family Picnic on the Greenway
Join us for a family picnic on the Greenway. LCCA will provide blankets and fun family activities.
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Explore with Granny Greenway
Lindsay Pettus Greenway, 453 Colonial Ave, Lancaster, SC 29720
1:00 p.m.
Grant Writing Workshop with SC Humanities
Historic Springs House, 201 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lecture and Longleaf Pine Needle Basketry Workshop with Beckee Garris
USCL Native American Studies Center, 119 S Main St, Lancaster, SC 29720
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lecture on Colonel Springs with Ann Evans and Dr. Chris Bundrick
Cultural Arts Center, 309 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
7:00 p.m. – until
Movie Showing of Nina May McKinney in “Hallelujah” with a brief introduction by local film historian, Bart Montgomery (free movie snacks provided)
Historic Springs House, 201 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
Sunday, October 19, 2025
All Day Events (view festival guide for specific times): Springs Close Collection at the Historic Springs House, Pop-up Cultural Exhibits at various locations in downtown, Paws on Parade, Lancaster County History Museum, Open Artist Studios, USCL Native American Studies Center
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Lecture on the Works Progress Administration with Dr. Susan Wallerstein
Historic Courthouse, 104 North Main Street, Lancaster, SC 29720
2:00 p.m.
Guided Walking Tour of Public Art and Historic Downtown Lancaster. Meeting location in festival guide.
3:00 p.m.
Poetry & Prose
The Daily Grind Coffee Bar, 315 S Main St, Lancaster, SC 29720
3:00 p.m.
Bach Akademie Charlotte Concert (tickets required)
Cultural Arts Center, 309 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
Purchase tickets: https://lcshp.org/cultural-arts-center-concerts-events
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Closing Event at Mural Court
Join us as we celebrate the closing of the 2025 Humanities Festival with family activities, food trucks, and live music.
Mural Court, Dunlap Street across from the Historic Courthouse
This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
Previous Humanities Festival Hosts
2024 – North Augusta
2023 – Orangeburg County
2022 – Allendale County
2021 – Horry County
2019 – York County
2018 – Aiken
2017 – Gaffney
2016 – Beaufort
2015 – Camden
2014 – Walterboro
2013 – Summerville
2011 – Sumter
2010 – Chester
2009 – Bennettsville
2008 – Lake City
2007 – Newberry
2006 – Georgetown
2005 – Greenville
2004 – Winnsboro
2003 – Spartanburg
2002 – Pendleton
2001 – Florence
2000 – Beaufort
1999 – Aiken
1997 – Greenwood
1996 – Hartsville
1995 – Beaufort
1994 – Beaufort
1993 – Beaufort
Previous Humanities Festivals – Schedule of Events
2024 SC Humanities Festival – North Augusta – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | Website
2023 SC Humanities Festival – Orangeburg County – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | Website
2021 SC Humanities Festival – Horry County – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
2019 SC Humanities Festival – York County – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
2018 SC Humanities Festival – Aiken – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
2017 SC Humanities Festival – Gaffney – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
2016 SC Humanities Festival – Beaufort – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
2015 SC Humanities Festival – Camden – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
2014 SC Humanities Festival – Walterboro – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
2013 SC Humanities Festival – Summerville – ARCHIVED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | PDF File
For more information about the South Carolina Humanities Festival, please contact us.