This is South Carolina Rave Culture

Poratrait of a couple outside a rave in Columbia SC — *Words and photos by* *Sean Rayford*

When you think about South Carolina — a few things might come to mind:

Bad politicians, boiled peanuts, and poverty.

And in Columbia, SC — it might be the Gamecocks, Fort Jackson and Hootie and the Blowfish. But we’ve got more than that — including a tradition where young people reclaim empty buildings for a place to pump music and dance all night. This isn’t New York or London — this is South Carolina Rave Culture, engineered by Folk Tech Worldwide — Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Poratrait of a young fashionable woman inside a rave in Columbia SC

Poratrait of young men outside a rave in Columbia SC

Three people ata. rave in a warehouse, one with chest tattoos

rave portrait in warehouse in south carolina

two poeple pose for a photo at a warehouse rave in SC