🌿 Memorial Day Magic: MeMe’s Trifle + Tips for Savoring SC Summers {May 20, 2025}

Memorial Day weekend is almost here, and with it comes the unofficial start of summer—sweet, slow, barefoot days we’ve been dreaming about. This week, I’m sharing MeMe’s famous Strawberry Trifle 🍓, a little barefoot wisdom for grounding yourself 🌿, and some easy ways to soak up the Southern sunshine while keeping you cool.

Let’s step into the season with full hearts. 💛

This issue of The Palmetto Pulse is sponsored by

As summer celebrations roll in, there’s no better place to find the perfect gift or elevate your entertaining than Kathy’s Kreations. Located in the heart of Irmo, right off St. Andrews Rd, Kathy’s is the spot for thoughtful graduation gifts and everything you need to make your summer gatherings unforgettable. Be sure to stop by and say hello to FiFi for us while you're there!

This sweet treat comes straight from Sunday Lunch at MeMe’s—a cherished collection of family favorites passed down with love. Light, fruity, and perfectly layered, this Strawberry Trifle is just the thing for summer gatherings and Memorial Day celebrations.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 1 store-bought Angel Food Cake

• 2 large (family-size) packages of Vanilla Instant Pudding

• 1 large basket of fresh strawberries, sliced

• 2 (8 oz.) containers of whipped topping (Cool Whip or store brand)

• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup powdered sugar

👩‍🍳 Directions:

• Step 1:

  • Tear (or “pick”) half the angel food cake into chunks and layer in the bottom of a trifle bowl.

  • Prepare 1 package of vanilla pudding as directed and pour over the cake layer.

  • Add a layer of sliced strawberries.

• Step 2:

  • Mix together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 container of whipped topping until smooth.

  • Spread over the strawberry layer.

• Step 3:

  • Repeat Step 1 with the remaining cake, pudding, and strawberries.

  • Top with the second container of whipped topping.

  • Refrigerate overnight for best flavor and texture.

💡 Serving Tip: Garnish with a few whole strawberries or a sprig of mint just before serving for a pretty presentation!

🎶 Soda City Market

📍 Main Street, Columbia, SC
📅 Saturday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
A vibrant open-air market featuring local vendors, live music, and delicious food. Great for families to enjoy a lively atmosphere and support local businesses.
💡 Inside Tip: Get there early to grab some of the best handmade goods and avoid long lines at the food trucks!​

🎻 Spring Bluegrass Festival at Fiddler Branch Farm

📍 232 Fiddler Branch Rd, Lexington, SC
📅 Saturday, May 24, 2025
Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a day of toe-tapping bluegrass music, food trucks, and sweet tea in a charming farm setting.
💡 Inside Tip: Pack a picnic blanket and arrive early to snag a shady spot near the stage!

🥎 NCAA Super Regional – South Carolina Softball 

📍 Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field, Columbia, SC
📅 Friday–Sunday, May 23–25, 2025
Watch the Gamecocks compete in one of the biggest weekends in college softball. This Super Regional series determines who advances to the Women’s College World Series.
💡 Inside Tip: Grab seats behind home plate early—they go fast for postseason games!

🍅 The Market at Icehouse

📍 Icehouse Amphitheater Pavilion, 107 West Main Street, Lexington, SC
📅 Every Saturday from May 17 through September 27, 2025 (excluding July 6)
⏰ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🌿 A farmer, grower, and local artisan market focused on fresh produce, handmade goods, and supporting the Certified SC program.
🤝 Enjoy a community-friendly atmosphere where you can learn about the benefits of eating fresh and supporting local artists.

Coming Up Soon! 🚜 South Carolina Ag + Art Tour

• Lexington County: May 31

• Richland County: June 7–8

• 🎶 Live music, 🍓 fresh produce, 🐐 goats, 🎨 local artisans

• Free + self-guided — perfect family weekend!

Savor Summer: Southern Outdoor Living Tips

🌞 Create Shade & Comfort
It’s warm out there, y’all! Add a shade umbrella, outdoor curtains, or even a DIY sail cloth to make your space more usable during peak sun hours. Don’t forget comfy cushions, a few throw pillows, and maybe even a fan to keep the breeze moving.

🌿 Use Planters to Add Life
Freshen up your space with pots of flowers or greenery—ferns, begonias, and coleus do great in containers and love Southern humidity. Add a pot or two of citronella or lemongrass to naturally help with mosquitoes!

🍉 Keep it Cool & Refreshing
Set up a little beverage station with lemonade, iced tea, or fruit-infused water. A metal drink tub or an old galvanized bucket makes it cute and functional.

🕯️ Add Twinkle & Glow
String lights, solar lanterns, or mason jar candles bring instant charm and make your space perfect for evening chats or slow dinners outside.

🪑 Mix in a Little Southern Charm
A vintage rocker, mismatched chairs, or even an old quilt tossed over a bench can add that classic, down-home feel. It doesn’t have to be fancy—it just needs to feel like you.

🌿 Bonus Tip: Keep a basket with bug spray, citronella wipes, or a handheld fan by the door for grab-and-go comfort!

🚤 Where to Get on the Water This Memorial Day Weekend

If you’re craving time in the sunshine and looking for the perfect place to kick off summer, South Carolina’s got no shortage of beautiful spots to soak it all in—especially if you’re hoping to be near the water this Memorial Day weekend.

🌊 Lake Murray – Columbia’s Backyard Oasis
Just a quick drive from Columbia, Lake Murray is a local favorite for boating, paddleboarding, fishing, and lakeside picnics. Whether you're anchoring in a quiet cove with a sandwich and a book or towing the kids behind the boat on a tube, this lake is made for memory-making.
💡 Local Tip: The walking path across the dam offers incredible sunset views—bring a picnic and end your day with a stroll and the sky on fire.

🌺 Landsford Canal State Park – A Rare Bloom Along the Water
Tucked along the Catawba River in Catawba, SC, this hidden gem is home to one of the largest blooms of Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies in the world—and it peaks right around Memorial Day weekend. The short, shady hike leads to a breathtaking view of the lilies dancing in the rapids.
💡 Bring your camera! This is one of those "only in the South" sights you won’t want to miss.

🎣 Catfish “Feastival” in Ware Shoals
Okay, it’s not exactly lakeside lounging—but it’s a South Carolina tradition worth the drive. Thousands gather every Memorial Day weekend in Ware Shoals for crispy fried catfish, craft vendors, and family-friendly fun.
💡 Make it a road trip: Grab some friends, hit the road, and take the scenic route through the Upstate. You’ll leave with a full belly and a happy heart.

🇺🇸 Memorial Day Ceremony – Chapin, SC
And before the weekend winds down, take a moment to pause and remember what the holiday is truly about. The American Legion Post 193 in Chapin hosts a heartfelt Memorial Day ceremony that honors those who served.
💡 Arrive early and bring a folding chair. It's a beautiful way to close out the weekend with gratitude and community.

There’s something sacred about bare feet on Southern soil. It brings back memories of chasing fireflies or “lightning bugs”, running through sprinklers, and feeling completely at home. What we didn’t know as kids is that walking barefoot—what some now call “grounding”—actually helps calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and reconnect us to the steady rhythm of the earth.

This summer, take a moment to step outside, slip off your shoes, and feel the grass. Let it remind you that slow, simple things are often the most healing.

💡 Slow Summer Tip: Keep a pair of slip-on shoes by the door—but every now and then, choose not to use them. Let your feet find their way back to joy.

On a personal note…Living in the country with two coops full of chickens means that I may step on something I may not want to if I go out barefoot. So, I make sure to get out in the grass just after it’s been cut or walk barefoot on my sidewalk in the early morning hours before the concrete burns the bottoms of your feet. Both are such lovely grounding practices…and I highly recommend stacking this habit with your water in hand to get on top of your hydration as the heat rises! I’m loving squeezing a little lemon or lime in, too!

Thanks for spending a little piece of your week with The Palmetto Pulse! We hope you found something to love, laugh about, or look forward to. If you enjoyed this edition, share it with a friend who might love a little Southern charm in their inbox too! 💙🌿