High Water Fest
Don’t let spring pass you by without some fun! Head off in your RV to North Charleston, South Carolina, for the ever-popular High Water Festival.
Event information
Bringing the best of art, music, food, and people to North Charleston in South Carolina is the coveted two-day High Water Festival. Held in April at the height of spring, this exciting event is going to be the perfect reason to pile into your motorhome, grab your nearest and dearest, and take a spring road trip.
High Water Festival is a musical oasis, with two stages featuring the very best in the music scene. In between acts, you’re also treated to a culinary experience like no other, with local and regional eateries putting up their most exquisite cuisine for you to try. Learn how to shuck an oyster, or relax with a cold craft beer as you listen to the melodic tones of bands playing in the background.
Those who attend High Water Festival along the water of Riverfront Park at 1001 Everglades Avenue can even treat themselves to a spot of shopping. Local craft vendors are ready and waiting to treat you to homemade jewelry, eco-friendly products, leather goods, and more. There is no shortage of fun activities, entertainment, and opportunities to spend time with your friends and family.
The Riverfront Park venue can also offer a glimpse into what this lovely South Carolina city has to offer. Travelers check out the beautiful sights of Cooper River, head out of town to go hiking at Francis Marion National Forest, or go birdwatching at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
The sky’s the limit for things to do in North Charleston, South Carolina. Purchase your High Water Festival tickets today, and get your planning underway.
Tickets
Tickets for High Water Fest are in high demand, so you will want to start saving your pennies early. Fans can purchase weekend passes of General, VIP, and Platinum Pearl, and these have varied in price in the past from between $150 and $1,500. Wristbands will be sent to you up to a month before the concert, and tickets purchased after then will be available from the will-call area at the festival.
Explore High Water Fest RV Rentals
Transportation
Driving
North Charleston is a beautiful city nestled between Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It’s accessible via I-526 and I-26 and sits on the doorstep to Francis Marion National Forest, the Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area, and the Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge.
Navigating your way through the natural attractions and built up city areas can take considerable patience and skill. Therefore, those who are new to the area may like to monitor traffic and any delays on DriveNC to get to their destination safely. High Water Festival is eight miles northeast of Downtown Charleston along the waterside of Riverfront Park.
Parking areas
Limited off-street parking is available at Riverfront Park, which is the site of the former Charleston Naval Base. You can enter the parking area from the naval base entry, or via Virginia Avenue by following the signs.
However, parking is better suited to pilot vehicles, rather than large motorhomes such as Airstreams and Sprinters. If you have purchased a VIP or Pearl Experience package, your parking is reserved and included. Otherwise, consider the convenience of parking off-site and making use of public transportation.
Public Transportation
Cycling, walking, taxis, and rideshare service providers are actively encouraged by High Water Festival organizers. There is a bike valet service for fans who want to ride a bicycle from their RV, as well as pick-up and drop-off points for rideshare services. To make the process go smoothly, there will be attendants, police, and signage for all those converging on the area for the festival.
Where to stay
Onsite
Because High Water Festival is located at a former naval base, it’s not set up to cater for campervans, tenters, or anyone looking for somewhere to stay overnight. When you attend daily, you must vacate the premises before you return the following day. Fortunately, North Charleston has a myriad of different RV campgrounds near Riverfront Park to satisfy any avid traveler.
Nearby
Near or far, you will not have any trouble finding where to stay with an RV. Accommodation providers in North Charleston pull out all the stops to ensure every RV-goer is catered for in the community. Primitive RV camping sites are available on the outskirts of the city, while Charleston KOA Holiday is as little as 15 miles away.
There are also a handful of options that are accessible with a large RV within 20 miles of Riverfront Park. As soon as tickets go on sale for the High Water Festival, book your preferred accommodation. Sites will fill up fast.
Getting around
Getting around High Water Festival is fairly effortless on foot, and organizers ask that you leave your bicycle with the valet or any wheeled transportation back in your RV. Everything from entertainment and music, through to food and market stalls, are within a convenient walking distance of each other at Riverfront Park.
However, if you have purchased a VIP or Pearl Experience package, you can jump aboard the golf cart shuttle that provides quick transport to and from the reserved parking area and main festival entrance.
What to pack
Clothing
North Charleston often likes to turn on the sunshine switch for the High Water Festival, but the water tap has flowed for it in past years as well. While you can confidently pack your t-shirts and shorts for the two-day festival, it’s a wise idea also to bring rain jackets, ponchos, and comfortable footwear that will dry fast. These will prove useful for both the festival and exploring the wider Charleston County.
Gear
While you’ll be thinking about what to take camping in North Charleston, it’s also worth thinking about the items you will bring into the High Water Festival. Small bags under a specific size are welcome, as are empty hydration packs with fewer than two pockets. Festival-goers may also like to pack a blanket or towel, an empty water bottle, cash for vendor purchasers, and a small camera to capture the magic. Attendees must also wear wristbands at all times.
Health & Safety
Anyone who has been looking for advice on RV camping may have a fair idea of what it takes to remain healthy and safe on their RV travels. Carry on this theme at the High Water Festival. Bring your sun safety supplies, such as sunscreen and a sunhat, and don’t forget to pack a first aid kit in your motorhome, too. If you are a smoker, you may do so in a designated area on festival grounds.
Where to eat
Cooking
If your motorhome is kitted out with kitchen appliances, then you are more than welcome to use these at your campsite. Before you light a campfire or use a barbeque, refer to the RV camping rules set out by your host. Some primitive RV camping areas do not allow open flames.
Camp-style chili, hot dogs, and similar are easy menu items for your motorhome adventure, so don’t forget to stock up on supplies in North Charleston. There is a grocery store within a seven-mile drive of Cooper River by the Charleston International Airport.
Restaurants
While you are not likely to go hungry at the High Water Festival, it’s nice to know what your options are for when the gates close for the final time. Within a short driving distance along I-26, you can be within proximity to a range of eateries that will take care of those hunger pangs. North Carolina is big on American fare, but you can also enjoy fast food outlets and privately-owned dining establishments with stunning regional ingredients.
Vendors
The vendors at the High Water Festival change every year, but what doesn’t change is the quality. Regional and local ingredients make the food and beverages exquisite, and it’s worth bringing plenty of cash to ensure you can buy as much as you like. There is a dedicated food area set up within an easy walking distance of the two main stages and market areas.
Safety
Security
Upon arriving at the High Water Festival along the banks of Riverfront Park, security officials will greet you with a friendly smile. Here, you can scan your wristband for entry, then show the staff your possessions for a seamless screening process.
If you have a festival pass, you can enter and re-enter as you wish. However, you must scan your wristband each time you leave and come back.
To streamline the entry process, leave behind large bags, outside food and drink, alcohol, coolers, chairs, picnic baskets, weapons, glass and aerosol cans, pets, and drones. Any concert accessories, such as stickers, glow sticks, confetti, and glitter, are also best left for another event.
Weather
High Water Festival is a rain or shine event, but your comfort is essential. Tune in to a weather app so that you can plan accordingly and know what the procedure is for rain if it were to occur. High Water Festival Staff suggest checking out The Bridge radio station for weather updates and seeking shelter in vehicles in case of high winds or lightning. If you need to warm up or cool down on your travels, make sure your heating and cooling systems are in working order.
Medical
It’s nice to enjoy a beverage or two with friends and family at the High Water Festival, but hydration is essential. Take advantage of the free, filtered water throughout the festival site. Bring an empty water bottle or cup with you.
If you require medical assistance, approach a festival official. In an emergency, dial 911 or make your way to the nearest medical center within a 20-mile driving distance. There is also a pharmacy for first aid supplies within ten miles of Riverfront Park.
