Experience Spring In Full Bloom At Rock Hill’s Come-See-Me Festival

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The Come-See-Me Festival in Rock Hill, South Carolina, celebrates the biggest city in York County every spring. It’s known as the largest all-volunteer festival in South Carolina.

I grew up in Rock Hill and have been attending the Come-See-Me Festival for as long as I can remember. After moving away in my 20s, I was excited to return this past spring to see what had changed, and it turned out quite a lot!

Come-See-Me is bigger than ever, with 60+ events and activities over two weeks leading up to the big fireworks show on the last night.

Keep reading to learn more about this refreshing festival that ushers in the spring every year.

Table of Contents

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Visit York County. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.

A sunny Main Street scene in Old Town Rock Hill, featuring a green banner promoting the "Come-See-Me, Rock Hill's Spring Festival" sponsored by South State Bank. The sun shines brightly through the trees, casting shadows on the sidewalk and highlighting the inviting storefronts along the street

History of the Come-See-Me Festival

The first Come-See-Me was held in 1962 as a weekend event. It was initially created by former mayor (and state senator) C. H. “Icky” Albright to encourage tourists, residents, and neighboring communities to come and enjoy Rock Hill during Spring when it is most beautiful.

Over the years, this event has grown from hosting a few events over a weekend to 10 days full of activities for visitors and locals to enjoy Rock Hill.

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Vernon Grant

If you have ever seen the classic gnomes on an old rendition of Rice Krispies^®, then you’ve seen the hallmark work of artist Vernon Grant.

So what does he have to do with this festival?

Vernon Grant didn’t just create Snap!, Crackle!, and Pop!^®; he also created another beloved mascot for Rock Hill’s Come-See-Me Festival.

A museum display featuring various colorful panels and images detailing the life and work of Vernon Grant, an American illustrator. The panels highlight different decades from the 1920s to the 1970s, showcasing Grant's iconic illustrations, magazine covers, and advertisements, including his famous work for Kellogg's Rice Krispies. Each section provides historical context and examples of Grant's art, celebrating his contributions to American illustration and locally, the Come-See-Me festival in Rock Hill. — This display on Vernon Grant is located in the Historic Lowenstein Building, across from the American Cornhole League Headquarters.

Vernon Grant lived in New York City, working as an illustrator for children. He became famous for his creation of Kellogg’s Snap! Crackle! and Pop!^® characters for Rice Krispies^® in 1932, drawing hundreds of iterations of the well-known gnomes along with nursery rhymes and short stories.

He created many other whimsical characters for commercial advertising, even drawing for the famous company Hershey’s, before relocating to South Carolina in 1947. Vernon served on Rock Hill’s Chamber of Commerce in the 1960s, using his artwork to help promote tourism and business in the community.

A parade during the Come-See-Me Festival features Glen and Glenda the frogs riding in a red convertible, waving to the crowd. Spectators, including a WUPD police officer and a family, cheer and wave back from the sidewalk in front of a brick building, excited to be there despite the rain. — Glen and Glenda the Frogs during the Come-See-Me Parade

Vernon helped co-found the Come-See-Me Festival, debuting its mascot Glen the Frog in 1964.

Every year the board-selected Festival Chair will choose elements from past designs of Glen the Frog by Vernon to create the upcoming Come-See-Me Festival official poster. It’s always fun to see the reveal!

Glen and his friend Glenda now serve as the official ambassadors of the festival to this day, appearing in the yearly parade and at many events and posing for photographs for kids and adults alike.

What to expect

The Come-See-Me Festival is typically two weeks in April. The festival kicks off with an annual parade, followed by many cornerstone events you can expect every year. Often times there are also additional activities and events sponsored by local businesses that vary from year to year.

Annual Events include the Beach Bash, a Friday night concert with a regional beach band, plus vendors and food trucks from around the area serving up delicious fare. Broadway Night brings in regional singers and dancers to perform musical productions.

During the week, you’ll find daily live music at Glencairn Gardens. Visitors can bring a folding chair and enjoy the music during lunch and dinner along with Rock Hill’s incredible spring blooms.

Festival attendees relax on a blanket and in folding chairs while enjoying a live performance on the outdoor stage at the Come-See-Me Festival. The stage is set up on a grassy area with a banner promoting the event, surrounded by trees and open space at Winthrop Lake, creating a casual and inviting atmosphere. — Festival-goers enjoying live music at Moonlight Jazz and Blues

There are also several interactive events including a disc golf open, corn hole tournament, the golf classic, and road races.

The finale weekend for Come-See-Me can’t be missed. Starting off with a BBQ competition and Moonlight Jazz and Blues, it ends with a bang at the tailgate party with live music and a fireworks show.

I enjoyed the beer garden at Hops at the Park, where I tasted brews from around the region and even ran into a few old friends. The tasting area was set up at the back of the field at Winthrop Lake and we got to listen to live music while tasting.

A hand holds up a cup of Sweetdawg freshly squeezed lemonade in front of a lemonade stand at the Come-See-Me Festival. The stand is decorated with lemon-themed signs and lights, with a server in a red shirt preparing more drinks in the background. — Fresh squeezed lemonade hit the spot during a sunny day at the Gourmet Gardens event.

Supporting local businesses

One thing I love about the Come-See-Me Festival is that it gives locals and tourists alike a chance to visit new-to-you businesses. In addition to the events organized by volunteers with the festival, local businesses can also sign up to host activities to encourage new visitors.

Last year I discovered a plant shop with a wine bar at Green Space Plant Co, which had just opened on Main Street earlier this year, and celebrated 3 years of operating across York County through pop-ups. Across the street, the Hickory Post was hosting kid’s activities for upcoming Mother’s Day.

The best way to find these pop-up events is to check the Community Activities section, or walk around downtown Rock Hill and look for the Come-See-Me Approved Activity signs.

A young boy in a camo hat and colorful sneakers participates in a frog race by placing a frog on a starting mat at the Come-See-Me Festival. An adult stands nearby, ready to assist, as the boy leans down to position the frog for the race. — The Mayor’s Frog Jump is a classic activity that kids love.

Activities for kids

Every year since I can remember, there has been the Mayor’s Frog Jump and Teddy Bear Tea Party. These classic events are a staple at the Come-See-Me that you can always count on. However, as the years have gone and the festival has grown, even more kid-friendly activities are hosted each year.

In 2024, Everything Trucks was a huge hit, drawing out kids (and adults) who want to see every kind of truck, from fire trucks to construction cranes, and everything in between.

Movie Night is kid-friendly, showing a family-friendly film at the Fountain Park.

Other kid-forward events in 2024 included chalk drawing at Chalk on Main, Mother Goose story time at Sundaes with Glen, Musical Mania, Healthy Kids Zone, and even a coloring contest.

Almost all of the events during Come-See-Me welcome children, however, and there is a great chance you will catch a glimpse of Glen the Frog! Says the festival admin Emily Smith: “I always think it’s worth noting that we keep all of our events free for children under 21.”

People gather and dance on a black-and-white checkered dance floor in front of Rock Hill City Hall during the Come-See-Me Festival's annual Beach Bash. The scene is lively with families and friends enjoying the event, surrounded by trees and the iconic dome of the City Hall building. — The annual Beach Bash is fun for all ages!

Stay Updated

Things can change quickly, so keeping an eye on the Come-See-Me organization’s pages is the best way to stay updated. Events will be added to their website and app as they become organized leading up to the festival.

It’s a good idea to also connect to their social media. Last-minute updates such as schedule changes due to weather can be found on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Last year, there was an incredible micro-burst that only hyper-local sections of the town experienced. Those of us not seeing the hail coming down and bursting car windows would not have had any idea this was happening on the other side of town. Given the situation, the organizers quickly communicated via Facebook with changes to the fireworks finale.

A close-up of a mini slider on a donut hole bun, held up in front of a backdrop of tents and a beautiful sunset sky at the Come-See-Me Festival. The hand also holds a ticket stub for taste testing during the Anything But Butts cookoff. — Taste your way through the Anything But Butts Cookoff

Michele wearing sunglasses and a blue floral dress smiles while holding a glass of beer at the Come-See-Me Festival. She wears a festival badge around her neck, with trees and outdoor booths visible in the background, highlighting the cheerful and relaxed atmosphere of the event. — Enjoy sips of local brews in the biergarten while listening to live music

Other things to do in Rock Hill

If you are coming into town for the Come-See-Me Festival, there are plenty of other things to do around Rock Hill and all of York County. Rock Hill is known as being an affordable neighbor to the busier Charlotte, and there are many options on a budget.

Sip your way through the breweries on YoCo Brew Trail, stroll around the trails of Anne Springs Greenway, or kayak down the Catawba River.

Final Thoughts

I hope this has been helpful to you while planning your trip to Rock Hill for the Come-See-Me Festival

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Experience Spring in Full Bloom at Rock Hill’s Come-See-Me Festival