Old Town is Rock Hill's historic downtown: Fountain Park, the Center for the Arts, First Fridays, the Saturday market, independent shops and free parking.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from Visit Rock Hill’s districts guide and Old Town pages, the city’s parks and parking pages, the Arts Council of York County and each business’s own website.

Old Town is Rock Hill’s historic downtown, centered on Main Street and Fountain Park. Visit Rock Hill describes it as a former mill town center that is now a walkable district of local restaurants, shops and hotels, home to Fountain Park and the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center. It is where the city holds most of its festivals, from the Saturday market to ChristmasVille.

Quick list

  • Fountain Park: 300 E. Main St., open 7 a.m. to midnight
  • First Fridays: first Friday of the month from 5 p.m.; next Nov. 6 and Dec. 4
  • Old Town Market: Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Nov. 21
  • Parking help: 803-329-PARK (7275)
  • Events: Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism, 803-329-5620

The landmarks

  • Fountain Park, 300 E. Main St. A large fountain surrounded by lawn, with a small performance stage, built by Comporium and the City of Rock Hill. Open daily 7 a.m. to midnight, according to the city’s park page.
  • Old Town Amphitheater, 144 E. Black St. Next to City Hall, with a clock tower, a fountain and an amphitheater used for Come-See-Me and ChristmasVille events. Open dawn to dusk.
  • Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main St. The Arts Council of York County’s galleries, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, according to the Arts Council, which has also held free open mic nights there.
  • Freedom Walkway, a public art walk honoring Rock Hill people who worked for justice and equality. More on our history and landmarks guide, which also links the city’s Old Town walking tour.
  • The Rock Hill Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, runs roughly from South Oakland Avenue to East Main Street.

What happens here

When Event
Saturdays, April to November Old Town Market at Fountain Park, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
First Friday of every month, 5 p.m. First Fridays: music, art and pop-up markets in Old Town’s businesses
June to October Movies in the Park at Fountain Park, at dusk
July 4 Red, White & Boom street festival and fireworks
Oct. 31 BOO HaHa and the Halloween Spooktacular on Main Street
Dec. 3-6, 2026 ChristmasVille, with the Christmas Parade on Dec. 4

First Fridays run “from Slow Play Brewing to The White Home,” rain or shine, with different happenings at each shop, restaurant and gallery, according to the Arts Council. Details for each festival are on our Halloween, Fourth of July and Christmas parade pages.

Where to eat and drink

Old Town has about three dozen restaurants on Visit Rock Hill’s district map. A few, from their own websites:

  • The Flipside Restaurant, 129 Caldwell St., 803-324-3547: lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
  • Amélie’s French Bakery and Cafe, 157 E. Main St.: pastries and quiches from 7 a.m. daily.
  • Millstone Pizza and Taphouse, 121 Caldwell St., 803-980-2337.
  • Junior Varsity, 108 Oakland Ave.: pizza, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
  • The Journeyman Tavern, 129 Oakland Ave., Suite 110, 803-324-4888.
  • Kounter and its bar, Elsie’s: reservations at Kounter through its site; Elsie’s takes none.
  • Slow Play Brewing, 274 Columbia Ave., Suite 101: from 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and from noon on weekends.

More on our brunch, date night and live music and nightlife guides.

Shopping

Visit Rock Hill’s Shop in Old Town list includes Friends Books on Main, Green Space Plant Company, Joe’s Classic Video Games, McFadden’s Mens Shop and Ramble On Records. The Mercantile, 153 E. White St., has a coffee shop and wine bar in the historic Coca-Cola bottling building, according to its site. Holiday shopping is on our Black Friday page.

Parking

The city runs two downtown decks, the Black Street Deck, 121 E. Black St., and the Elizabeth Lane Deck, 116 S. Elizabeth Lane, and free surface lots at City Hall, the library and the Law Center; Black Street; Hampton Street; White Street; and the First Presbyterian and First Citizens lot. University Center has two more decks on Technology Center Way. Parking help: 803-329-PARK (7275), according to the city’s parking page. On parade and festival days, streets close; see our getting around guide.

Visit Rock Hill says the planned Storyline linear park will one day link Old Town on foot with the Winthrop district.

Related: things to do this month, farmers markets, free things to do and history and landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

What is Old Town Rock Hill?

Old Town is Rock Hill’s historic downtown, a former mill town center that Visit Rock Hill describes as a walkable district of local restaurants, shops, hotels, Fountain Park and the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center.

When is First Friday in Rock Hill?

The first Friday of each month from 5 p.m., in Old Town’s shops, restaurants and galleries, organized by the Arts Council of York County. The remaining 2026 dates are Nov. 6 and Dec. 4.

Where do I park in Old Town Rock Hill?

The city runs the Black Street Deck, 121 E. Black St., and the Elizabeth Lane Deck, 116 S. Elizabeth Lane, plus free surface lots at City Hall and the library, Black Street, Hampton Street, White Street and the First Presbyterian and First Citizens lot.

Is Fountain Park open at night?

Yes. Fountain Park, 300 E. Main St., is open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight, according to the city.

When is the Old Town Market?

Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Fountain Park. The 2026 season runs April 4 to Nov. 21.