Hampton County: Nature, History and Festivals

Hampton County is one of the four southernmost counties in South Carolina’s Lowcountry & Resort Islands region. You’ll find a wide range of things to consider as you plan your trip: small lakes and fishing opportunities, a short nature trail, museums featuring local stories, and festivals at different times of year. This gives you the chance to decide whether you’d like to shape your stay around culture, outdoor activities or an event.

Lakes and Nature Trail

The Webb Center Lakes consist of two small lakes covering 7 and 10 acres, respectively. You can fish for largemouth bass, sunfish, shellcrackers and catfish in the lakes. The specific fish species also make this a fishing spot of interest to travelers who want to focus their time on the water on particular catches.

The Estill Nature Walking and Nature Trail offers a different way to spend time outdoors. The trail is a quarter-mile long and has learning stations along the route. Its short length gives you a clear idea of how to plan your day; check trail conditions locally. When choosing a vacation rental, you can start by asking yourself whether fishing or a walk focused on nature will make up a larger part of your trip.

Stories, Collections and Historic Buildings

The Hampton Colored School Museum and Resource Center is dedicated to the history of Hampton’s African American community. The Hampton Colored School was built in 1931 and was the community’s only educational institution for Black children. The building was restored and listed in both the South Carolina Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. Its construction date, former educational role and later recognition tell different chapters of the same story.

The Hampton Museum and Visitors' Center adds to this perspective with exhibits on Indigenous knowledge, the Watermelon Festival, military exhibits, art and other local topics. Exhibits may change. The museum also has more than 50 books on family history and has documented more than 125 cemeteries. Volunteers offer free walking tours and museum tours; availability may depend on volunteer schedules.

Other historic buildings also give these collections their distinctive settings: the Brunson Museum is housed in Brunson’s original town hall and displays artifacts, photographs, paintings and other memorabilia relating to the history of Brunson and the surrounding region. The Estill Museum, in turn, is housed in a building that was originally Estill’s first town hall and jail. Estill Presbyterian Church is the second-oldest Presbyterian church in Hampton County.

The museum in the Historic Old Jail, operated by the Hampton County Historical Society, preserves artifacts, materials and family histories for residents and visitors. The society also develops and hosts public educational programs and events about the culture and heritage of Hampton County. Another local film connection: Varnville served as the setting for the fictional town of Greenbow, Alabama, in Forrest Gump.

Festivals Throughout the Year

The Watermelon Festival has been held every June since 1939 on the Hampton County Courthouse Square. In Yemassee, the town hosts the Shrimp Festival every September. Shrimp dishes were announced for the 2025 festival; check the current program before your trip. The two dates offer different seasonal reasons to visit and may influence your choice of travel dates.

When looking for a vacation rental, your reason for traveling can be a good starting point: first decide whether you’re mainly interested in museums and local history, fishing opportunities or one of the festivals. If a festival is the main focus, factor its month into your plans. If you want to combine several interests, choose your accommodation based on the places you plan to visit and your intended travel dates.

Discover More Destinations

Also discover Yemassee, Hampton-Varnville Airport and Estill.

Discover more destinations: Dillon County, Greenville, Clay County, Charleston, Union County.

Go to the main travel overview: South Carolina.