Spring Has Sprung: 4 Best Springtime Activities in Manning, SC

With the arrival of spring comes the opportunity to get out and visit some of the beautiful locations and events around the Manning area. Here are four of the best spring activities.

1. Fisheagle Wildlife Tours

Spring is the perfect time to view nature at its finest, and a wildlife swamp boat tour gets you up close to the animals. The Osprey is a 40-foot pontoon boat that holds 30 passengers and will take you on a voyage of Lake Marion lasting around two hours. The trip departs from Santee State Park at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, March through September.

An experienced naturalist will narrate the trip with information about the history of the lake, the natural history of the area’s flora and fauna, and some folklore tales. As you never know what you will see, every trip is unique and will take in wildlife refuges, sunken forests, and places that can only be accessed by boat.

For private parties, you can rent The Osprey or the 26-foot deck boat, FishHawk, which carries up to six passengers. Other tours offered include the historic lock trip and the Wyndham Resort sunset cruise.

2. Swan Lake Iris Gardens

The spectacular iris gardens in Sumter began as a project by a local businessman to develop swampland, landscape his grounds, and create a private fishing retreat. When his Japanese iris failed to flower, he had the bulbs dug up and dumped in the swamp where they burst into bloom the following spring.

Today, Swan Lake forms the backdrop for the stunning display of iris which bloom from late May into June. The garden features many other exotic flowers including Japanese magnolias, azaleas, camellias, and day lilies. On the lake, with its abundant wildlife and colorful islands, you can see all eight swan species.

Memorial Day weekend sees the annual Iris Festival featuring concerts, classic car and antique shows, arts and crafts, and many activities for the whole family.

3. Richburg Farms

Located on Paxville Highway in Manning, Richburg Farms offers you the chance to experience rural farm life. From April through July you can head to this traditional farm and, depending on the current crop, pick your own strawberries, tomatoes, and more.

Other attractions at the farm include animal displays and demonstrations, a hayride, and a corn or crop maze. There are restrooms, a picnic area, play area, and of course, a farm shop where you can buy amazing fresh fruit, vegetables, and other local produce.

4. Mardi Gras vs Jamaica Family Festival 

The first official Mardi Gras vs Jamaica Family Festival will be held on June 15 at the Sumter Fair Grounds. It will feature music by some of the hottest DJs, food and beer trucks, and a variety of vendors. For the kids there will be snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, and more. An adult village for those over 21 years of age will sell alcoholic drinks.

These locations provide fun things for you to do in the spring, so head out and enjoy the season.

Image via Flickr by Ian Sane via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original

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