For centuries, Carolinians have gathered together throughout the countryside to celebrate the bounty of a plentiful land. In short, they throw a party. In keeping with tradition, modern day South Carolina food festivals feature live entertainment, parades, pageants, games, arts, crafts, street performances, and of course, the food of honor. Fun food festivals honor such home grown favorites as peaches, okra, watermelon, crabs, gourmet cuisines, wines and even chitlins. How? By preparing them every which way under the sun.
Ready to savor the day? Add a fun food festival to your South Carolina vacation Trip Planner.
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Enjoy family entertainment and fun with a parade, five stages of live entertainment, contests, crafts, a street dance, fireworks, amusement rides.
SCHEDULE
- May 8, 2008 - May 10, 2008
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 Leesville |
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Taste sweet potato ice cream and take part in a sweet potato baking contest at the Lower Richland Sweet Potato Festival.
SCHEDULE
- May 10, 2008, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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 Hopkins |
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Sample a variety of local foods and beverages on the grounds of beautiful Kalmia Gardens of Coker College, a 30-acre botanical garden.
SCHEDULE
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 Hartsville |
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Riverbanks Botanical Garden will open its doors from 6 to 9pm for Rhythm and Blooms, an after hours social event. Guests will enjoy live entertainment, displays from local artists and food and wine sampling from featured retailers throughout the Midlands.
SCHEDULE
- May 15, 2008, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- May 22, 2008, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- May 29, 2008, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
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West Columbia |
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Friday Night's SAVE THE PIGS party is an anything but a pork event! For $8 a ticket or two for $15, enjoy music and taste-test samples of numerous Southern specialties prepared by the 40+ cooking teams from across the region. Food samples are served as long as the delicious dishes last and the terrific band, the Sensational Epics, will play from 7-10 pm.
Saturday's BBQ Cook-off will be complete with savory side items. BBQ plates are $8 at the door or $7 if purchased in advance. Kids 11 and younger eat for $3. Enjoy performances by local children's groups, the kids can enjoy crafts in the Little Piggies area and enjoy savory food for all. There's even have a drive-thru for those of you who can't stay for the festivities. And you can purchase BBQ by the pound. It's a day of delicious food and fun for the whole family!
SCHEDULE
- May 16, 2008, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- May 17, 2008, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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Columbia |
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Join Charleston Tea Plantation for the First Flush Festival. Each spring Mother Nature awakens the tea plants to another growing season. Bring a blanket or chair and come celebrate for a full day of fun, food, live music, games, relaxation and friendship. Observe the process of making tea in the factory and take the bus tour of the plantation.
SCHEDULE
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 Wadmalaw Island |
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Cooks and Books will feature local food tastings, a chefs' competition and authors/cookbook authors - some nationally known - signing their books.
SCHEDULE
- May 18, 2008, 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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 Hilton Head Island |
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Entertainment, arts & crafts, amusement rides and lots of food. Get your taste buds ready for fried catfish and catfish stew. If you're not in the mood for fish, there will also be barbecue chicken. Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs will provide live entertainment.
SCHEDULE
- May 23, 2008 - May 24, 2008
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 Ware Shoals |
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This 10-day event salutes the peach industry with concerts featuring nationally-prominent country music concerts, sporting events, a parade, truck and tractor pulls, and delicious peach desserts.
SCHEDULE
- June 20, 2008 - June 29, 2008
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 Gaffney |
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Featuring food from some of the state's finest restaurants in Newberry. Food ranges from crepes, scallops, seafood pizza, baby beef wellington's, shrimp and grits, medallions of beef, ribs, Greek pizza, Mexican delicacies, decadent desserts and wine tastings. Held at Memorial Park in Downtown Newberry.
SCHEDULE
- June 20, 2008, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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 Newberry |
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