Chicken Bog and wetlands give Loris two distinct identities: the Great Loris Bog-Off features a cooking competition for the dish, while trails in Loris Nature Park lead into a wetland. There, visitors can observe native plants and small animals. The town also offers creative activities and glimpses of its history. When planning a stay, it’s worth deciding first what you’d like to focus on: a festival, wildlife watching or local culture.
Festival Dates and Chicken Bog
The Great Loris Bog-Off Festival takes place every year on the third Saturday in October. At its heart is a cooking competition for Chicken Bog, a dish made with chicken, rice, sausage and spices. Two stages offer live entertainment; the festival also features more than 100 arts and crafts vendors and a classic car show. The entertainment program and number of vendors may vary from year to year. Check the event date before planning your trip around it.
The Small Town, Big Show Festival features judged classes for cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles. The festival is scheduled for the third Saturday in April; vehicle classes may vary from year to year. Unlike the Chicken Bog competition, this festival focuses on vehicles. The different themes can help you choose the right festival; plan around the date of the edition you want to attend.
Nature, Creative Activities and Food
Trails in Loris Nature Park lead into a wetland where visitors can observe native plants and small animals. The park also has a disc golf course. This gives visitors a choice of different activities within the same park: wildlife watching and disc golf.
Tea + Pottery in Loris offers pottery classes on the wheel and Paint-and-Sip evenings. Tea parties featuring organic tea blends are held in the front tea room. Each activity offers a different experience: the pottery class focuses on working at the wheel, while Paint-and-Sip evenings and tea parties provide other ways to spend a visit.
Barn View Winery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; reservations are not required. Check the opening hours before your visit if you plan to include the winery in your itinerary.
Art and Local History
The Loris, S.C. Mural in downtown Loris was created by artist Tommy Simpson and celebrates the region’s agricultural history. A downtown revitalization also brought a town clock and carillon system to the central business district. These two features offer different ways to connect with the townscape: public art and the design of the business district.
In the late 19th century, Loris was home to a major railroad depot and an agricultural center. Since 1887, the Loris Historical Society has worked to preserve the history of Loris and its immediate surroundings. Downtown, Tippitiwichit combines a bookstore, gift shop and art gallery. Together, these features show different sides of the town—from its historical development and a mural to its current cultural offerings.
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See the main travel guide: Horry.
