Every spring, Rock Hill answers an open invitation with the same enthusiastic reply it has been giving since 1962. The Come-See-Me Festival, now a beloved tradition stretching across 10 full days, returns April 16 through 25, 2026, bringing residents and visitors together for one of the most recognized community celebrations in the Southeast.
What started out as a weekend event has grown into a 10-day festival full of merriment and memories for all ages. From the opening parade downtown to a fireworks finale, the festival covers an extraordinary range of activities, making it as much a way of life as an event on the calendar.
A Week and a Half of Something for Everyone
The festivities kick off Thursday, April 16, with the Come-See-Me Parade rolling through downtown at 6:30 p.m. Friday brings a burst of energy with Musical Mania, Chalk on Main, and the Beach Bash, which runs from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, may be the most activity-packed day of the entire run. Early risers can lace up for the Come-See-Me Fun Run at 7:30 a.m. or the 5K and 10K road races starting at 8 a.m. Families with children will find the Healthy Kids Zone open from 10 a.m. to noon and the Mayor’s Frog Jump underway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gourmet Gardens and Hops at the Park both run through the afternoon, the Cornhole Throwdown gets competitive at 11 a.m., and the day closes with the Come-See-Me Movie Night from 8 to 10 p.m.
Sunday features the Disc Golf Open, with registration opening at 8 a.m. and play beginning at 9:30 a.m. Sundaes with Glen and Mother Goose offers a sweeter option in the afternoon.
The middle of the week belongs largely to Glencairn Garden, Rock Hill’s beloved public garden, which hosts daily entertainment sessions. Tuesday brings the Coloring Contest Awards Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday adds the Teddy Bear Tea Party at 4 p.m. Thursday evening features Broadway Night at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 24, opens with Coffee Conversations with Glen from 9 to 11 a.m. before Moonlight Jazz and Blues takes over from 6 to 10 p.m. The Barbeque Cook-off gets underway that evening as well, with Anything But Butts sales running until sold out.
The final day, Saturday, April 25, wraps everything up with Everything Trucks from 9 a.m. to noon, Barbeque Cook-off judging at 10 a.m. and sales starting at 3 p.m., and a Tailgate Party from 3 to 10 p.m. capped by the Fireworks Extravaganza at 9 p.m.
More Than Parades and Parties
Throughout the 10 days, organizers run a Coloring Contest open to participants who can drop off entries at Comporium Fountain Park at 331 E Main St, Suite 101, or upload them through the CSM Festival app. A Photo Contest runs from April 16 through April 26, with voting beginning in the weeks that follow.
The Come-See-Me Festival showcases the very best of Rock Hill through its people and places, with volunteer leadership and generous sponsors dedicating their time and resources to create events that are cornerstones of the community. The festival operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization supported by sponsors and a grant from the Rock Hill Accommodations Tax and Tourism Commission.
Complete event details, parking and ticketing information for paid events such as Moonlight Jazz and Blues and the Tailgate Party and Fireworks, are available at comeseeme.org and through the official CSM Festival app for Apple and Android devices.
Source: Come-See-Me Festival, comeseeme.org
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