What's Happening Around Berkeley and Dorchester County: September 2026

Every month out here, something opens, something breaks ground, and something goes to a vote. Most of us find out from a neighbor after the fact.

So this is the page I want you to check first. One place, both counties, the stuff that actually changes your week: what's new, what's coming, what to do with the kids, and what your house needs from you before the weather turns. I'll do this every month, and I'll keep the dates straight so you don't have to.

Bookmark it. Here's September.

The big one: Berkeley County votes on Lake Village on September 28

If you live anywhere near Cane Bay, Carnes Crossroads, or Nexton, this is the vote to watch.

Lake Village is a proposed 2,000-acre, 5,500-home mixed-use development off the Highway 17-A corridor next to Cane Bay Plantation, from Gramling Brothers Real Estate & Development. Single-family, multifamily, commercial, and institutional uses, all in one rezoning package.

Where it stands right now:

• County Council approved second reading on August 24 after a hearing so packed that council used a stopwatch to keep public comment moving.
• The Land Use Committee reviews the latest version on September 14.
• Third reading and the final vote are set for Monday, September 28, at County Council in Moncks Corner, with another round of public comment.

What the developer has put on the table so far: about 30 acres donated to the Berkeley County School District for a future school site, a $1,850 school impact fee per home, and 50 units set aside as affordable housing. The Land Use Committee chair asked for that number to go to 250.

The pushback is real, too. Neighbors have raised downstream flooding (a hydrologist and a data analyst warned the plan could make it worse), traffic on a corridor that already backs up, and school capacity. Supporters point to walkable shops and restaurants inside the neighborhood and some relief on 17-A trips.

I've followed this one from the beginning. If you want the full history: what was proposed, what the Land Use Committee changed, and what the council vote actually decides.

If you own in the area: nothing about your home's value changes this month. What changes is the long-term picture for roads, schools, and drainage. Show up on the 28th or send council an email. Either way, know what's being decided.

What's new this month

Two brand-new schools just opened in Berkeley County

Nearly 40,000 students went back to class in Berkeley County this fall, and thousands of them walked into buildings that didn't exist last year:

• Bee Tree Elementary in the Jedburg area, built for about 1,300 students.
• Midtown Middle in Nexton, about 1,100 students.
• A renovated Hanahan Middle.

These are the first finished projects from the penny sales tax voters approved in 2022. Next up from that same tax: renovations and expansions at Berkeley, Cane Bay, and Goose Creek high schools, plus athletic upgrades across the district. District leaders have said another high school could be needed as enrollment keeps climbing. The county has been adding roughly 400 students a year for close to a decade.

Real talk from the same report: the district started the year with 18 teacher openings, and some first-grade classes are over the state size cap. Growth is outrunning hiring.

If you're buying: attendance zones moved when the new schools opened. Verify the assigned school by address with the district, not by what the listing says.

Dorchester's school tax question is on the November 3 ballot

Quick recap for anyone who missed last month's post: Dorchester County Council put a 1% Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax on the November ballot. The money would split 85% to Dorchester District Two and 15% to District Four, run up to 15 years, exempt groceries, and send 10% of each district's share toward paying down existing debt millage.

I'm not here to tell you how to vote. I am here to tell you the deadlines:

• Register to vote by Friday, October 2 (in person, 5 p.m.), Sunday, October 4 (online, 11:59 p.m.), or Monday, October 5 (mail, postmarked).
• Early voting runs Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sunday the 25th. Any early voting center in your county works.
• Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Dorchester District Two schools are closed that day.

A flood insurance discount a lot of Dorchester homeowners still haven't claimed

Back in February, Dorchester County earned its first-ever FEMA Community Rating System designation, a Class 8. In plain English: homeowners with a National Flood Insurance Program policy in unincorporated Dorchester County qualify for a 10% discount on their flood premium.

It doesn't always show up on its own. Call your insurance agent, say the words "CRS discount," and ask them to confirm it's applied. If you're inside a town limit, ask which community rating applies to your address.

Roads: what got funded, and what's closing at night

• US 176 widening. Berkeley County landed a $22.5 million federal BUILD grant in July to widen 2.7 miles of 176 between Nexton Parkway and Jedburg Road from two lanes to four, with seven intersection fixes and a new bridge over Sandy Creek. Total project is about $56.5 million. Construction isn't expected to start until the third quarter of 2028. I broke this one down here.
• Black Tom Road. Still the one-way-in, one-way-out problem for a lot of Cane Bay. The widening could begin as early as 2027 and take 12 to 18 months. Single-lane roundabouts are also planned where Black Tom Road Extension meets Black Tom Road and Cooper Store Road, paid for by the 2022 penny tax.
• I-26 at I-95. The interchange rebuild on the Orangeburg and Dorchester county line means overnight lane closures and traffic pacing on both interstates, on and off, until November 2027. If you're driving to Columbia late, check the 511SC app before you leave.
• Highway 17-A / Boone Hill and US 78. No change since August. Both are funded and in design. Details here.

New in Nexton

Dulce Churros, Ice Cream + Cocktails opened on September 2 at 1262 Nexton Parkway, Suite 201. Churros, ice cream, and a cocktail menu for the grown-ups. Tavern 33 is still listed as coming to Downtown Nexton with no date. And if you haven't been yet, MUSC Health Nexton Medical Park is open with specialty clinics (cardiology, neurology, GI, and more), with hospital plans targeted for 2027.

Across town, Roper St. Francis opened its new Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre near downtown Summerville at the end of June, with emergency, imaging, and lab services. If you've been driving to Berkeley Hospital for an ER visit, you have a closer option now. More on Roper's Berkeley expansion here.

The Summers Corner Publix slipped to 2027

The Publix planned for 1612 Beech Hill Road was pitched for summer 2026. The latest estimate is first quarter 2027. Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant has signed on for space in the same center. If you bought in Summers Corner counting on that grocery run, add a few more months of driving to Old Trolley.

Goose Creek's new city building opens in December

The $13 million Assembly building, 13,500 square feet of city offices plus a public and private event space, is on track to become Goose Creek's administrative hub by December 2026. Worth knowing if you're planning a spring event and want a new venue option.

Hurricane season peaks on September 10

September is Preparedness Month in South Carolina, and this year's forecast calls for 17 to 25 named storms, well above the 30-year average. The state's 2026 hurricane guide has zones, checklists, and the insurance tips most people skip. Your September home checklist is at the bottom of this post.

Things to do in September

Every week

• Summerville Farmers Market, Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., behind Town Hall at 200 S. Main St. Live music 10 to 1. Runs through November.
• Moncks Corner Farmers Market, Thursdays 3 to 7 p.m., Market Pavilion at 418 E. Main St. Through November 12.
• Ridgeville Farmers Market, Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through October 4.
• Central Creek Farmers Market in Goose Creek, September 2 and 16, 4 to 7 p.m.

On the calendar

• Mon, Sept 7: Labor Day. Schools and county offices closed.
• Thu, Sept 10: Boulder Bluff Bites, John McCants Veterans Park, Goose Creek, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Free. Food trucks, live music, games, crafts. It repeats the second Thursday of October and November.
• Sat, Sept 12: Summerville Destination Market at Nexton Elementary, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., free outdoor boutique shopping. Same day in Goose Creek: the Cops & Rodders Car Show and Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night at the Daning Amphitheater.
• Wed, Sept 16: DD2 elementary early release.
• Thu, Sept 17: Third Thursday, Hutchinson Square, downtown Summerville. Vendors, music, and shops open late. Little Main, W. Richardson, and Doty close 3 to 9 p.m.
• Sat, Sept 19: Sweet Tea Festival, Hutchinson Square, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, powered by Summerville DREAM. Food trucks, artisans, entertainment, in the town that claims the birthplace of sweet tea. Same day: Creekapalooza at the Daning Amphitheater in Goose Creek, and Nexton's Endless Summer Open House, noon to 4, if you want to walk model homes.
• Thu to Sun, Sept 24 to 27: MELT Mural Fest on Button Hall Avenue, Goose Creek. Artists paint live Thursday through Sunday; the free street festival is Saturday, September 26.
• Fri, Sept 25: Fall Skate Night, Central Creek Park, Goose Creek, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• Mon, Sept 28: Berkeley County Council, Lake Village third reading and final vote, Moncks Corner. Public comment expected.
• Wed, Sept 30: DD2 elementary early release.

Restaurant of the month: Fam's in Cane Bay

Famulari's Pizzeria, Cane Bay Market, 1724 State Road, Summerville. (843) 809-5423.

Everybody out here just calls it Fam's, and it's earned the nickname. The first Famulari's opened on November 14, 2008, at Oakbrook in Summerville, started by brothers Jason and Justin Famulari with two longtime friends. It's now five pizzerias across the Lowcountry plus Fam's Brewing Co. on James Island, and the pizza has been voted Charleston's best more years than not: Post and Courier Charleston's Choice from 2009 to 2015 and again from 2017 to 2024, and Charleston City Paper's Best of Charleston in 2026.

The Cane Bay location has a comeback story. It closed abruptly in July 2023, then re-leased the same space and reopened in spring 2024. It has been packed most nights since, which tells you what the neighborhood thought about losing it.

What to order:

• New York hand-tossed in 10, 14, or 18 inch. Dough made in-house, fresh mozzarella. The 14 feeds two adults comfortably.
• Chicago deep dish, baked in real Chicago pans with toppings layered between two sheets of dough and a buttered crust. Order it early; it takes a while, and it's worth it.
• The Philly Cheesesteak pizza and The Hog Father if you want something off the standard menu.
• Wings, calzones, stromboli, and a Greek salad that regulars order on repeat.

When to go: Happy hour Monday through Friday, 4 to 7. Open mic Wednesdays 6 to 8. Trivia Thursdays 7 to 9. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 to 10, Friday and Saturday 11 to 11. There's a bar, a small patio, and a rewards program if you're a regular.

Know before you go: it's the Cane Bay home for Jets and Yankees fans, so game days come with some New York volume. The front room gets loud when it's full. With little ones, ask for a booth.

Why it's here: for a lot of Cane Bay families, this is the neighborhood spot. Close enough to walk from some sections, easy for a Tuesday, and good enough for a Friday. Not sponsored. I just eat there.

Plan ahead: October

October fills up fast out here. Put these on the calendar now.

• Thu, Oct 1 to Sun, Nov 1: West Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Barn, Moncks Corner, 22nd season. Corn maze, petting zoo, hayride, apple slingshot. Posted admission is $5 weekdays and $7 weekends; confirm on the farm's site before you go.
• Fri, Oct 2 / Sun, Oct 4 / Mon, Oct 5: voter registration deadlines (in person, online, mail).
• Sat, Oct 3: Two big ones on the same day. Summerville Oktoberfest, Hutchinson Square, noon to 6, free, put on by the Summerville Rotary Club. Bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzel, a 21+ beer garden, live music all day, a kids' zone, and a stein-holding contest at 4. Leashed dogs welcome. And the Goose Creek Fall Festival, Daning Amphitheater, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free, with vendors, kids' activities, and safety demos.
• Tue, Oct 6: end of first quarter, Dorchester District Two.
• Wed to Fri, Oct 7 to 9: Fall break for Dorchester District Two and District Four. DD2 adds a staff day Monday, October 12 (no students). Berkeley County's calendar is different, so pull it up on the district site before you book a long weekend.
• Thu, Oct 8: Boulder Bluff Bites, Goose Creek.
• Thu, Oct 15: Third Thursday, downtown Summerville. Oct 15 to 17: the 4th annual Southern Songwriter Festival in Summerville.
• Mid to late October: Halloween in the Swamp at Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner. Three nights, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., $5, kids 5 and under free, with a marshmallow roast, storytelling, food trucks, kids' games, and the haunted boat ride for ages 12 and up. Dates were still being finalized when I wrote this; check the Cypress Gardens site.
• Mon, Oct 19 to Sat, Oct 31: early voting.
• Late October, dates coming: Boo Bash at Nexton Square (trunk-or-treat, DJ, costume contest) and Summerville's Truck-or-Treat Halloween Bash at Gahagan Park, which usually lands the last week of October, 5:30 to 8:30. I'll post both dates on Facebook the minute they're announced.
• Wed, Oct 28: Moncks Corner Halloween Festival, Main Street and Unity Park, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Free, 15th year, trunk-or-treat, costume contest, and the haunted depot. DD2 has an all-schools early release that day, so the timing works.
• Thu, Oct 29 to Sun, Nov 8: Coastal Carolina Fair, Exchange Park Fairgrounds, Ladson. Closed Mondays.
• Sometime in October: property tax bills start hitting mailboxes in both counties. They're due January 15. If you bought this year and the house is your primary home, check that the bill shows the 4% legal residence rate. If it says 6%, the fix is the legal residence application at the county assessor, and it's worth thousands.

Looking just past October: clocks fall back Sunday, November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Fall Pickin' in the Corner brings antiques and bluegrass to Main Street in Moncks Corner on Saturday, November 14.

September home and life checklist

Storm season, first two weeks

• Restock the kit: water, meds, batteries, cash, pet food, phone chargers.
• Photograph every room and your insurance declarations page. Save it to the cloud.
• Look up your evacuation zone at hurricane.sc. Out here the danger is usually water on the ground, not surge, but know your zone anyway.
• Test the generator. Trim limbs hanging over the roof. Clear yard drains and the swale along the street.
• Remember that homeowners insurance does not cover flood, and a new flood policy usually has a 30-day wait. If you've been putting it off, September is the reminder.

House

• Schedule the fall HVAC service now, before the first cool night when everybody else calls. Fresh filter.
• Clean gutters and downspouts after a summer of storms, and look at the roof from the ground for lifted shingles.
• Clean out the dryer vent. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Batteries get swapped at the time change on November 1.
• Flush the water heater. Sediment builds fast with our water.
• Dial irrigation run times back as nights cool, and check the heads before you shut the system down for the season.
• Check weatherstripping and caulk around doors and windows, and take a flashlight into the attic before the critters move in for winter.
• Renew the termite bond and book the fall pest treatment.

Yard (straight from Clemson's Home & Garden Information Center)

• Centipede and St. Augustine lawns: no more nitrogen fertilizer after September 1 on the coast. Late feeding keeps the grass growing when it should be going dormant.
• Put down a pre-emergent for winter weeds in mid-September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later. On centipede, split the rate in half (half now, half in about 60 days) so the roots aren't stunted.
• Keep mowing at normal height. Don't scalp it going into fall.
• Plant the fall garden: greens, lettuce, broccoli. And dump every bit of standing water. Mosquitoes peak right now.

Life

• Register to vote or double-check your registration by October 2.
• Flu shots, school picture days, fall sports schedules. Book Thanksgiving and Christmas travel now while there are still seats.
• A lot of homeowners policies renew in the fall. Read the renewal instead of auto-paying it, and ask about that flood discount.
• Bought in 2026? File the 4% legal residence application if you haven't.
• Thinking about selling in the spring? Fall is when the listing photos should happen, while the lawn is still green. Thinking about buying? Refresh your pre-approval. They expire.

That's September. I'll do this again the first week of October. If you've got something I should add next month, an opening, a fundraiser, a road closure that's driving you nuts, send it to me. This works better when the whole neighborhood is feeding it.

Moving to the area, or leaving it? Start with the relocation page. One form, and I'll point you in the right direction whether you're headed here or somewhere else.

Jessica Cherie Blommaert, REALTOR®, ABR®, MRP, brokered by NextHome The Agency Group, licensed in South Carolina. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Event dates and details were checked against organizers' published information as of September 2, 2026. Things change; confirm before you go. This post is general information only, not legal, tax, insurance, or voting advice. The restaurant feature is not sponsored.