Downtown

Things to do in Summerville, SC

February 19, 2026
Summerville Town Hall features a classic facade with city and American flags flying in front.

Summerville has a rare mix of small-town walkability and space to breathe. You can spend a morning in the historic downtown area, then be on a shady trail or at a playground within minutes. This guide focuses on places you can count on year-round, plus a few seasonal traditions worth knowing about.

Start in downtown for a walkable morning

Begin at Hutchinson Square, right in the center of downtown. It works as Summerville’s front porch, with a pavilion and space for community gatherings throughout the year.1 Once you are there, it is easy to build your own walking loop. Stroll along Main Street, pause for coffee, and keep going until something pulls you in. This part of town rewards an unhurried pace.

Sign for Hutchinson Square with brick border and greenery in foreground, historic building in background.

On the third Thursday of each month, downtown hosts Third Thursdays, an evening street event with vendors and entertainment centered around Hutchinson Square and nearby blocks.2

On Saturdays in season, the Summerville Farmers Market brings a steady stream of local produce and handmade goods to the downtown area. Organizers list it as running on Saturdays from April through mid-November, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.3 The South Carolina Department of Agriculture also lists the market as operating April through November, Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.4

Before you leave downtown, stop by Mason, the oversized sweet tea jar beside Town Hall that stands over 15 feet tall and holds up to 2,524 gallons.5

Gardens near Main Street

Azalea Park sits just outside the downtown area, with walking trails, gardens, bronze sculptures, tennis courts, and a children’s garden and playground. It is open daily from dawn to dusk.6

Doty Park adds another easy option, especially for families. It features a playground, picnic shelters, a walking trail, restrooms, and a splash pad, with hours posted as dawn to 10 p.m.7

Colorful tree leaves signal early fall, with an old wooden fence in the foreground and a blue sky above.

A longer walk or bike ride on Sawmill Branch Trail

For a simple, paved route, head to the Sawmill Branch Trail, a paved walking and biking path just under seven miles, running along the Sawmill Branch Canal. It includes fitness stations and multiple trailheads, which makes it easy to choose a short walk or a longer hike.8

History you can see up close

The Summerville Dorchester Museum offers a compact, local perspective on how Summerville and Dorchester County grew over time. It’s mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit artifacts, plus they provide educational programs tied to the area’s cultural and natural history.9

For more Lowcountry history, plan a visit to Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, a colonial village settled in 1697 along the Ashley River, with preserved ruins and interpretive features that help bring the story into focus.10

Arts and live performance without a long drive

Public Works Art Center is the creative anchor of downtown Summerville. They offer free admission and regular gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, plus rotating exhibitions and classes for different ages.11

For live theatre, The Flowertown Players operates from its James F. Dean Theatre location on South Main Street and maintains box office hours mid-week, plus show weekends.12

Parks for an easy afternoon reset

Gahagan Park, also known for the Jerry Blackwell Sports Complex, works well for families who need space. It offers a large playground, plus fields and amenities, and is open daily from dawn to dusk.13

Wassamassaw Community Park adds variety with dog parks, a playground, pavilion space, and basketball courts. The town lists it as open daily from dawn to dusk.14

For skating, the Summerville Skate Park sits at the corner of S. Magnolia St. and E. Richland St. It is open daily from dawn to dusk and features rails, ramps, and ledges.15

Seasonal traditions worth knowing about

The Flowertown Festival is a major spring event in Summerville. Hosted by the Summerville Family YMCA, it is a three-day arts and crafts festival held every spring, with a long-running history as a fundraiser.17

Summerville’s sweet tea legacy also led to a record-setting moment. Guinness World Records reported Summerville reclaimed the largest iced tea record in 2016 with 2,524 U.S. gallons.16

Practical tips locals tend to follow

Summerville days get hot and humid for long stretches. Water, sunscreen, and bug spray can make the difference between a pleasant walk and a rushed one, especially near water and wooded edges. For parks and trails, hours and access can shift during maintenance or construction. A quick look at the town’s pages before you leave home helps you avoid closed sections and wasted time.68

 

References

  1. Town of Summerville. (n.d.). Hutchinson Square. https://summervilleparks.com/443/Hutchinson-Square
  2. Summerville DREAM. (n.d.). Third Thursdays. https://summervilledream.org/events/third-thursday/
  3. Summerville DREAM. (n.d.). Farmers market. https://summervilledream.org/farmers-market/
  4. South Carolina Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Summerville farmers market. https://agriculture.sc.gov/farmers-markets/summerville-farmers-market/
  5. Visit Summerville. (2025, January 21). Mason – The world’s largest sweet tea coloring page. https://www.visitsummerville.com/mason-the-world-s-largest-sweet-tea-coloring-page
  6. Town of Summerville. (n.d.). Azalea Park. https://www.summervillesc.gov/437/Azalea-Park
  7. Town of Summerville. (n.d.). Doty Park. https://www.summervillesc.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Doty-Park-9
  8. Town of Summerville. (n.d.). Sawmill Branch Trail. https://www.summervillesc.gov/448/Sawmill-Branch-Trail
  9. Summerville Dorchester Museum. (n.d.). Museum history. https://www.ourmuseum.org/museum-history.html
  10. South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. (n.d.). Colonial Dorchester. https://southcarolinaparks.com/colonial-dorchester
  11. Public Works Art Center. (n.d.). Public Works Art Center. https://publicworksartcenter.org/
  12. The Flowertown Players. (n.d.). The Flowertown Players. https://www.flowertownplayers.org/
  13. Town of Summerville. (n.d.). Gahagan Park. https://www.summervillesc.gov/444/Jerry-Blackwell-Sports-Complex-at-Gahaga
  14. Town of Summerville. (n.d.). Wassamassaw Community Park. https://www.summervillesc.gov/451/Wassamassaw-Community-Park
  15. Town of Summerville. (n.d.). Summerville Skate Park. https://www.summervillesc.gov/450/Summerville-Skate-Park
  16. Cremonni, C. (2016, July 7). Small US town reclaims record for largest iced tea. Guinness World Records. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/7/small-us-town-reclaims-record-for-largest-iced-tea-434835
  17. Summerville Family YMCA. (2026, January 29). Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival. https://summervilleymca.org/flowertown/