South Carolina Offers Travelers Tasty Vacations

Whether upstate, in the coastal Lowcountry or somewhere in between, South Carolina simmers with culinary treats for travelers. Roll in the grits with the locals in St. George—the grits-eating capital of the nation. Mash hash and learn about this barbecue delicacy’s African-American origins in Greenwood. Sharpen the senses with celebrity chefs in Greenville during Southern Exposure. A multitude of year-round food festivals awaits in the Palmetto State. Here’s a small sampling:

>Seafood

>BBQ

>Fruits / Vegetables

Seafood

-Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival • Mount Pleasant, April 27
Each year, folks in Mount Pleasant and nearby Charleston gather to celebrate the thriving shrimping industry and ask for a “divine blessing” for the safety of those at sea and another prosperous year. The event entices festival-goers with a sampling of dishes from 11 local seafood restaurants accompanied by the music of local favorite “The East Coast Party Band” on the main stage. A smaller stage hosts the actual blessing of the fleet at 1 p.m. This traditional blessing includes two local clergymen who bless each individual boat as it passes down the creek to the harbor.
For more information, visit www.charlestonlowcountry.com/specialpages/blessingfleet.html.

-Lobster Race • Aiken, May 2
It started as a spoof of the Kentucky Derby in downtown Aiken, 24 years later the red crustacean rivals are crawling and creeping with an occasional lengthy antennae determining the winner. The $5 proceeds benefit local charities. For more information, visit www.lobsterrace.com.

-Lowcountry Shrimp Festival • McClellanville, May 3
This McClellanville tradition started in 1976 and is truly the coastal community favorite. Sample selections of shrimp prepared in endless ways. There is also a children’s area with pony rides and arts and crafts!
For more information, visit www.discoversouthcarolina.com/products/887.aspx.

-Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival • Ware Shoals, May 24–25
More entertaining than your mother-in-law’s whiskers, catfish aficionados off the Atlantic gather for two days of catfish feasting at its best in the quaint town of Ware Shoals.  Delve into the catfish stew and spice it up with seasoned catfish before stepping to the bluegrass, oldies and country music entertainers. The fifth annual Catfish Feastival 5K Run and Fun Walk will commence Saturday morning. For more information, visit www.catfishfeastival.com.

-Yemassee Shrimp Festival • Yemassee, Sept. 18–21
A key community in the evolution of shrimp baiting, Yemasse invites visitors and locals alike to celebrate everything shrimp! With the Lighted Boat Parade, a Mud Run, a fireworks display and more, this year’s shrimp festivities are sure to impress.
For more information, visit www.yemassee.net/festival.html.

-Beaufort Shrimp Festival • Beaufort, Oct. 3–4
Patrons find a big taste of the Lowcountry at this festival, which is set against a backdrop of lighted shrimp boats. There is a “Popcorn Shrimp Race” for children and a best recipe contest for adults.
For more information, visit www.beaufortsc.org.

BBQ

 -Smoke at the Lodge • Summerville, April 4–5
This annual BBQ cook-off features a “No Pork Friday” event. For more information, visit www.smokeatthelodge.com.

-South Carolina Festival of Discovery’s BBQ and Hash Cookoff • Greenwood, July 10–12
The traditions of the South come alive during the weekend event featuring the annual BBQ & Black Kettle Hash Cookoff, a South Carolina State Championship event sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). While barbecue is relatively common, the culinary and historical origins of hash are lesser known. 
The recipe was devised by utilizing the less desirable parts of the hog such as the head, organs, feet and tail. The meat was seasoned with spices and hot pepper and cooked for hours in a pot until it could be chopped or hashed into a gravy-like, meaty mixture. Today, hash is considered a Southern delicacy. While feasting, patrons are encouraged to soothe with five venues featuring blues musicians. For more information, visit www.festivalofdiscovery.com.

-Beach, Boogie and BBQ at Sun Fun Festival • Myrtle Beach, Aug. 29–30
Offering new meaning to the term “stuffed like a pig,” the festival hosts the International federation of Competitive Eating BBQ Sandwich Eating Contest as well as the Official Barbecue Competition of South Carolina at the former Air Force Base in Myrtle Beach. A car show, kid’s play zone and boat rides and live music make this a gluttonous good time.
For more information, visit www.sunfunfestival.com.

-Squealin’ On The Square • Laurens, Oct. 3–4
The 8th annual KCBS State Championship BBQ Cookoff and Festival will be held again in historic Laurens. Known as Squealin’ on the Square, the competition and festival is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, or KCBS. Cook teams from across the Southeast gather to compete for cash and prizes. Besides great barbecue, the festival features arts and crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, a car show and cruise in, an antique tractor show, a kids area, and wraps up the weekend with a beautiful fireworks display on Saturday night.
For more information, visit www.mainstreetlaurens.org.

-Kershaw Hog Jam • Kershaw, Oct. 10–11
This third annual event is a barbecue cookoff that helps cookers earn points toward Master Barbecue Award championship. So while the cookers are doing their best, festival goers can sample their food and also partake in live music, arts and crafts, other food vendors and children’s activities. For more information, visit www.hogjam.org.

-Piedmont Blues and Hash Bash • Abbeville, Oct. 12–13
Blues, slow-smoked barbecue and hash are the headlines at this community festival in historic downtown Abbeville. This is a S.C. Barbeque Association “Master Barbeque Award” event.
For more information, visit www.bluesandhash.com.

-Kingstree Pig Pickin’ • Kingstree, Oct. 18
Highlights of this year’s event include the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Benefit Concert, BBQ cook-off, tennis and golf tournaments, a car show, arts & crafts, food vendors, live bands, lancing tournament and children’s activities. For more information, visit www.kingstreepigpickin.com.

-Pig on the Ridge • Ridgeway, Nov. 7–8
This is a barbecue showdown with more than 70 teams competing annually. Other attractions include a street party, a classic car show and, of course, food.
For more information, visit www.discoversouthcarolina.com.

Fruits / Vegetables

-Strawberry Festival at McLeod Farms
McBee, May 17
McLeod Farms celebrates its fresh crop of berries
with a line up of events that boasts a strawberry
recipe contest. For more information, visit www.macspride.com.

-Hampton County Watermelon Festival • Hampton, June 14–22 
What is summer without watermelon and what is Hampton County without its annual celebration of the seasonal fruit? Family fun, pet shows, the Watermelon Eating Contest and more will have the whole family spittin’ out seeds! For more information, visit www.melonfest.org.

-Lexington County Peach Festival • Gilbert, July 4
Most Americans don’t know that South Carolina is the second largest grower of peaches in the country, second behind California and ahead of Georgia. The Lexington County Peach Festival boasts a peach of a party for all ages. Events include a parade (9:30 a.m.), arts & crafts, free entertainment, a Lexington County Peach Queen Contest and a fireworks show at 10 p.m.  A variety of peach refreshments such as peach ice cream, peach slush, peach tea, peach parfaits and peach cobbler are available. For more information, visit www.midnet.sc.edu/peach.

-Pelion Peanut Party • Pelion, Aug. 7–9
Attendees go nuts for the three-day festival in Pelion, a mere 20 miles from Columbia, where farmers have been producing and harvesting peanuts for years. An autumn tradition: The townspeople gather annually for the boiling of the peanuts. Members of the Pelion Ruritan club continue the tradition at the 27th annual Pelion Peanut Party. The Ruritans will not share the secret recipe for boiling the peanuts, but they will let festival-goers feast on the little protein packers. This year’s festival features a craft show, parade, bingo, a car show, a home-grown Idol competition, and amusement rides for the children.
For more information, visit www.scpeanutparty.com.

-Great Southeast Balloonfest • Anderson, August 30
As part of the weekend celebration, The Anderson County Sports and Entertainment Center will host both a Beer Tasting and Wine Tasting. Both events will provide guests the opportunity to sample regional beers and wine while pairing them with the local fare.
For more information, please visit www.greatsoutheastballoonfest.com.

-Gaston Collard Festival • Gaston, Sept. 14–15
Go for the green in Gaston at this two-day family festival with a live auction, parade, beauty pageants, festival rides and games, live entertainment, crafters, vendors, a cake decorating contest, a cookie decorating contest and a photography contest. Don’t forget to try the town’s famous collards.

-St. John’s AppleFest • Aiken, Nov. 4
Patrons bite into something special at AppleFest. Attractions include a variety of apple desserts from the Apple Bake Shop, games, vendors and a silent auction. 
For more information, visit www.woodsideplantation.com.

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