Make Waves at Riverfest!
Downtown Conway has never been known for doing things halfway. Give the city a summer Saturday, and the result tends to be loud, lively, and impossible to ignore. On June 27, Conway Riverfest returns, with a little Revolutionary-era flair as the community helps mark America’s 250th anniversary.
The festival has been a Grand Strand tradition since 1980, but this year's event feels particularly tuned to the moment. While many Fourth of July celebrations stick to fireworks and funnel cakes, Conway Riverfest is adding a healthy dose of living history to the mix. Revolutionary War re-enactors will set up camp downtown, visitors can wander through a living history area, and the Horry County Historical Society is even bringing a Marsh Tacky horse for appearances throughout the day. It's the sort of detail that feels incredibly unique, where local history often shows up wearing boots.
A Full Day Along the Waccamaw
One reason Riverfest continues drawing tens of thousands of people is simple: nobody has to work very hard to find something interesting.
Throughout the day, visitors can jump between:
- The Paddle Battle River Races on the Waccamaw River
- The annual golf cart parade
- A cornhole tournament
- An artisans market and business expo
- Family activities in the Kids Zone, including bounce houses, water attractions, face painting, and a petting zoo
- Food vendors and the Yahnis-sponsored beer garden
The festival spreads across downtown and the riverfront, creating the kind of walkable, community-wide atmosphere that Conway does especially well. You might spend an hour browsing handcrafted goods, run into three people you know, grab lunch from a food vendor, then end up watching a river race you didn't plan on seeing.
As the afternoon shifts into evening, the volume knob gets turned considerably higher.
Local favorite Badlander opens the entertainment lineup before nationally known '80s rock bands Slaughter and Vixen take the stage. For anyone who remembers cassette tapes, mall concerts, or the golden age of hair spray, the night promises a healthy dose of nostalgia.
At 9:30 p.m., fireworks will light up the Waccamaw and bring the celebration to a close.
Or at least that's the official ending. Ask anyone who's attended Riverfest before, and they'll tell you the real attraction isn't a single concert, race, or fireworks show. It's watching Conway transform into one giant neighborhood gathering where history, hometown pride, music, and summer all show up to the same party.
Want to know about more events happening all across the state? Check out https://guidetosouthcarolina.com/festivals!
