FALL IN LOVE WITH THE UPCOUNTRY!
There’s nothing quite like fall in the Upcountry of South Carolina, and we want to see it through your eyes!
Share your favorite fall photo taken in the Upcountry for your chance to:
- Win a $500 VISA GIFT CARD
- Have your photo considered for the 2027 Upcountry Visitors Guide
- Win Upcountry SC swag!
Whether it’s a favorite trail, a beautiful mountain view, a Saturday in town or a waterfall surrounded by fall color, we want to see the places and moments that make fall in the Upcountry special to you.
HOW TO ENTER:
- Post your original fall photo on Instagram
- Tag @upcountrysouthcarolina
- Follow upcountrysouthcarolina
- Tell us where the photo was taken
- Use #UpcountryFall2026 and #UpcountrySC in the caption
The winner will receive a $500 Visa Gift Card and the runner-up will receive an Upcountry SC Swag Bag!
One (1) photograph constitutes one (1) entry.
Each Instagram post may contain only one photograph. Carousel posts, multiple-photo posts, collages, or posts containing multiple photographs are not eligible. Enter as many times as you’d like!
Please respond “Yes” to Upcountrysouthcarolina’s comment requesting usage rights under your photo.
Enter by November 15, 2026. Winner will be announced November 30, 2026.
Get outside, explore the Upcountry and show us your fall! 
Official Rules & Regulations
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
1. Sponsor
The Upcountry South Carolina Fall Photo Contest (“Contest”) is sponsored by Upcountry South Carolina (“Sponsor”).
2. Eligibility
The Contest is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
Employees of Upcountry South Carolina, members of their immediate families, and individuals directly involved in the administration of the Contest are ineligible to participate.
The Contest is open to residents of the United States.
3. Contest Period
The Contest begins on October 7, 2026 at 1:00PM and ends on November 15, 2026 at 5:00PM.
Entries submitted after the contest deadline will not be eligible.
4. How to Enter
To enter the Contest:
- Post one original fall-themed photograph taken in the Upcountry (defined as Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties) to Instagram during the Contest Period.
- Follow @Upcountrysouthcarolina
- Include #UpcountryFall2026 and #UpcountrySC in the caption and tag @Upcountrysouthcarolina and tell us where it was taken.
- Ensure the Instagram account used to enter is public for the duration of the Contest.
- Respond “Yes” to Upcountrysouthcarolina’s comment requesting usage rights under your photo.
One (1) photograph constitutes one (1) entry.
Each Instagram post may contain only one photograph. Carousel posts, multiple-photo posts, collages, or posts containing multiple photographs are not eligible.
5. Photo Requirements
Submitted photographs must:
- Be original photographs taken by the person submitting the entry.
- Feature the beauty, scenery, experiences, people, places, or seasonal character of Upcountry South Carolina.
- Be appropriate for public display and family-friendly.
- Not contain content that is unlawful, offensive, obscene, defamatory, threatening, or otherwise objectionable.
- Not infringe upon or violate the copyrights, trademarks, privacy rights, publicity rights, or other rights of any person or entity.
- Not contain watermarks, logos, or promotional material belonging to another business or organization, unless the entrant has permission to use them.
Photos may be edited for basic adjustments such as cropping, exposure, brightness, contrast, and color correction. The Sponsor reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether an entry meets the Contest requirements.
6. Ownership and Rights to Submitted Photographs
By submitting a photograph to the Contest and responding “Yes” to usage rights, the entrant represents and warrants that they are the original photographer and copyright owner of the submitted photograph and have obtained all necessary permissions to submit and use the photograph.
The entrant retains ownership of their photograph. However, by entering the Contest, the entrant grants Upcountry South Carolina and its authorized partners, representatives, and affiliates a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, publish, display, distribute, edit, crop, modify, adapt, and otherwise use the submitted photograph, in whole or in part, for promotional, marketing, advertising, tourism, editorial, and other promotional purposes of UpcountrySC.
This usage license includes, but is not limited to:
- Printed publications and promotional materials
- The Upcountry South Carolina Visitors Guide, including the 2027 Upcountry Visitors Guide
- Websites and other digital platforms
- Social media accounts and social media advertising
- Email marketing and newsletters
- Advertisements
- Brochures, rack cards, posters, and other printed materials
- Presentations and promotional displays
- Public relations and media materials
- Other current or future promotional channels used by Upcountry South Carolina
No additional compensation will be provided for these uses, regardless of whether the photograph is selected as the Contest winner.
By entering, the entrant also grants Upcountry South Carolina permission to identify the entrant by their Instagram username or name in connection with use of the photograph, where appropriate.
7. Rights of Individuals Appearing in Photographs
If a submitted photograph contains recognizable individuals other than the entrant, the entrant represents and warrants that they have obtained all necessary permissions and releases from those individuals to allow the photograph to be submitted and used by Upcountry South Carolina as described in these Official Rules.
For photographs featuring minors, the entrant must have permission from the minor’s parent or legal guardian.
8. Prohibited Content
Entries may be disqualified if they contain:
- Copyrighted material belonging to another person or organization without permission
- Images downloaded or copied from the internet or another source
- Artificially generated images or photographs created primarily using generative AI
- Content that is sexually explicit, violent, discriminatory, hateful, or otherwise inappropriate
- Political campaign or political advocacy content
- Advertising or promotional material for another business, product, or organization
- Content that violates applicable laws or regulations
- Content that could reasonably damage the reputation of Upcountry South Carolina
The Sponsor reserves the right to remove or disqualify any entry that does not comply with these Official Rules.
9. Judging
Upcountry South Carolina will evaluate eligible entries.
Entries may be judged based on criteria including:
- Creativity and originality
- Quality and composition of the photograph
- Representation of the beauty and character of Upcountry South Carolina
- Seasonal/fall appeal
- Overall visual impact
- Suitability for tourism marketing and promotion
The judges’ decisions are final.
10. Prize
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive:
- One $500 Visa Gift Card, and
- An opportunity for the winning photograph to be considered for inclusion in the 2027 Upcountry South Carolina Visitors Guide.
The inclusion of the winning photograph in the 2027 Visitors Guide is not guaranteed and is subject to editorial, design, production, and publication considerations.
The approximate retail value of the prize is $500.
The prize is non-transferable and may not be substituted for cash.
The $500 gift card Grand Prize will be delivered via email. Must have a valid email address to receive the prize.
One (1) Runner-Up Winner will receive:
- Upcountry South Carolina “swag bag” valued at approx. $100.
No Gift Cards or cash prizes will be available to the runner-up.
The runner-up prize will be delivered via UPS. Runner-up winner must have a valid mailing address and must be able to receive packages at the address.
11. Winner Notification
The potential winner will be notified through Instagram via direct message and/or through the contact information provided by the entrant.
If the potential winner does not respond within 5 days, fails to meet the eligibility requirements, or cannot accept the prize for any reason, the Sponsor may select an alternate winner.
The winner may be asked to provide information confirming eligibility and ownership of the submitted photograph.
12. Instagram Disclaimer
This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.
By participating, each entrant agrees to a complete release of Instagram from any claims related to the Contest.
13. Release and Indemnification
By entering the Contest, participants agree to release and hold harmless Upcountry South Carolina and its officers, employees, representatives, agents, partners, and affiliates from claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, or expenses arising from or related to participation in the Contest, acceptance or use of the prize, or the Sponsor’s permitted use of the submitted photograph.
14. Sponsor’s Rights
Upcountry South Carolina reserves the right to cancel, suspend, modify, or terminate the Contest, or modify these Official Rules, if fraud, technical difficulties, unforeseen circumstances, or other factors beyond the Sponsor’s reasonable control interfere with the proper administration of the Contest.
The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who violates these Official Rules or attempts to interfere with the proper operation of the Contest.
15. Acceptance of Rules
By submitting an entry, the entrant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Official Rules and Regulations.
Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of these Official Rules and grants Upcountry South Carolina the rights to the submitted photograph described above.
