Camden, South Carolina

Signature Experiences

Southern Gothic Festival

Step into the shadows of the South at the Southern Gothic Festival.

One of the south’s greatest festivals celebrating Southern literature, folklore, history, and music.  Join us in Historic Camden, SC to convene with Award-winning authors, journalists, historians, and musicians to explore the stories of the Southern Gothic — from true crime to ghost stories and the region’s most unsettling tales.

Join us for two unforgettable days of Southern stories, strange history, live music, and folklore that lingers long after dark. Get tickets, learn about the line up and explore the festival’s origins.

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Stay up to date with new voices, festival dates and all the gothic details.

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Must See Events & Experiences

Explore everything you need to make the most of your weekend at the Southern Gothic Festival.. We’ve assembled some of the best reasons to make the journey to historic Camden, South Carolina.

An older man in a plaid suit jacket speaks at a podium in front of an audience, gesturing with one hand. A microphone and water bottle are on the podium, and a “Conference Room” sign is visible behind him.

Author Talks & Readings

The Southern Gothic Festival features Southern surrealists, true-crime journalists, hoodoo practitioners, re-enactors, and horror authors who bring the region’s unsettling folklore, noir sensibility, and haunted histories to life.  The line up gets more compelling every year; you’re sure to find (and meet) some unique voices.  

Explore The Lineup

Crafts, Merch and Swag

Southern Gothic Festival is more than just voices. While you’re here,  explore books to buy, artisans and craft vendors, food trucks, and exclusive Southern Gothic merchandise.

Two musicians perform under string lights at the Sandy & Joe Shull Pavilion at night. One plays a violin and the other stands nearby. The stage is lit warmly, with bushes and a table in the background.
Two people stand in front of a brightly lit food truck at night, reading the colorful menu displayed on the window and waiting to order.

Dining & Drinks

Between sessions and performances, explore Camden’s dining scene — from classic Southern comfort food to contemporary farm-to-table fare. Food trucks are onsite at the festival and several local restaurants will feature specialty drinks created to celebrate the festival weekend. 

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Live Music

Nothing pares quite like storytelling, history, great food and live music. The Southern Gothic festival wouldn’t be complete without the Friday night sounds in historic downtown Camden, bringing the community together through music and story.

A band of five musicians performs on an outdoor stage under a white canopy at night, lit by colorful lights. The group includes a violinist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, and a singer in a red and black dress.
Child wearing a red poncho waves a small American flag at a public parade.

Storytelling

While the Festival will be fun, it’s rooted in storytelling and history. It’s a space for conversation, curiosity, and narratives that blur the line between history and folklore, journalism and myth.  The festival brings together a diverse set of voices—writers, journalists, folklorists, historians, cultural critics, musicians, and curious minds.  

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Curated

Itineraries

Ready to launch your next getaway? We've collaborated with some notable locals to create compelling and easy to access itineraries just for you. Their stories, your freedom to explore - get ready for history, horses, hospitality and more with your own unique Camden experience.

A person wearing a blue cap and ear protection aims and fires a shotgun outdoors, with smoke visible from the barrel and clay target fragments in the distance against a blurred landscape.
A Sporting Weekend
The Culture Vulture
Mother Daughter Get Away
The Outdoor Adventurer
Couples Get Away
A jockey in a yellow helmet and purple-striped shirt rides a brown racehorse past a cheering crowd at an outdoor horse racing event, with tents and trees in the background.
Horse Lovers
culture conniseur
Culture Connoisseur
A group of people dressed as Revolutionary War soldiers in historical uniforms fire muskets, with smoke filling the air during a reenactment on a grassy field.
History Buff
A dirt path leads through tall green trees toward a wooden fence, with a river or lake in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Outdoor Adventures
A jockey in a yellow helmet and purple-striped shirt rides a brown racehorse past a cheering crowd at an outdoor horse racing event, with tents and trees in the background.

More To Explore

Looking to take your time?  Explore more of what makes this region so special by checking out all the things to do and see in Camden and Kershaw country and assemble your own adventure.

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Events & Happenings

Camden offers myriad ways to enjoy our city’s rich hospitality with a full calendar of arts, culture, outdoors, equine, history and related events. Find your “thing” in Camden, SC.  All Events →