Friday afternoon saw crowds descend upon Newberry Street in Aiken for a Food festival featuring tacos, pizza and funnel cakes from various local vendors and food trucks. Event organizers described it as an exciting spectacle of tasty delights!

This five-day event boasts tastings, culinary village booths featuring celebrity chefs and educational seminars.

South Carolina’s Best Food Festivals

South Carolina food festivals showcase our state’s diverse culture and cuisine – from Lowcountry dishes like Lowcountry seafood boils, soul food dishes and country cooking to unique Lowcountry fare such as crab cakes. You won’t want to miss these exciting events!

These events showcase the best of Southern cuisine. As an amalgamation of African, European, and Native American traditions, South Carolina’s culinary scene is truly unparalleled.

Since 2005, this festival has established Charleston as a culinary mecca. Bringing together chefs, cookbook authors and other food celebrities for tastings, dinners and cooking demonstrations.

Boiled peanuts are a staple snack food of Southern culture and no soul food experience is complete without one! This two-day event promises an irresistibly tasty feast both visually and appetizingly delicious for visitors of both genders!

Aiken’s Newberry Street transforms into a culinary mecca during this family-friendly festival that brings people together through food and culture. Organized by Foodees – an organization which strives to increase cultural understanding through food – the festival features live music performances, arts & crafts vendors, as well as kids activities.

Pee Dee Seafood Festival

Aiken, South Carolina, is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of thoroughbred racing and offers historic sites and outdoor activities to visitors. The bustling downtown district features boutiques, galleries and restaurants; Hitchcock Woods (one of the nation’s largest urban forests) offers hiking and horseback riding trails for exploration.

Lowcountry heritage festival features a weekend full of shrimp, oysters and barbecue. Sample steamed, fried or stewed mollusks along with local beer at a craft brew fest and watch a shrimp race! Children’s activities such as marshmallow roasting or sports lounges provide additional activities.

Pecans, that versatile brown nut found in everything from pies and stuffing to bourbon iced coffee, will be celebrated at this annual event in Florence. Enjoy sampling recipes using pecans while also watching a small-town parade complete with high school marching bands, beauty queens, floats, food vendors and live entertainment throughout the day.

Greenville Wine & Food Festival

Euphoria, Greenville’s award-winning food, wine and music festival, kicked off Thursday and will run through Sunday. Euphoria seeks to celebrate culinary excellence and charm found throughout the Upstate, while using proceeds as grants for local charities.

This year’s line up includes chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants teaming up for guest chef dinners. Furthermore, organizers emphasize their focus on smaller, locally owned eateries.

One of the festival’s highlights is Fluor Field’s Culinary Village, where attendees can sample over 50 wines along with mimosas, seltzer and beer samples – and ticket holders even receive a souvenir acrylic glass. Live music will be provided by Soulution and DJ Chill Will to add an enjoyable musical backdrop as they sip.

Notable events during Greenville Beer Week include tasting tents at local breweries, where visitors can sample an impressive array of craft beers; sweeter treats can be found at Poppington’s in downtown Greenville for its famous Greenville Mint Chocolate Caramel popcorn; workshops are being hosted at Greenville County Museum of Art by post-impressionist artist Alice Williams for three days only!

Aiken’s Makin’

Since 1976, Aiken’s downtown Aiken Arts and Crafts Show has become a longstanding tradition, hosting over 200 artisans and 22 food vendors from Aiken County and beyond. Tens of thousands attend over its two days. Attendees can browse colorful paintings and handcrafted crafts; indulge in funnel cakes and kettle corn smells; or simply look forward to an enjoyable two-day event experience.

Application processes for this event typically open early every year, so interested crafters should reach out to the Aiken Chamber of Commerce for details. I was there Thursday evening and noticed 150 vendors lined up quickly to receive credentials, maps, parking passes, and show publications – an exemplary display! All Southeastern craft shows should follow suit!

Visitors to this free festival can sample a wide variety of Mexican, Jamaican, Caribbean and American foods while taking part in live entertainment such as clogging and gospel performances. Admission is free; proceeds help support exhibits and educational programs at Aiken County Historical Museum; for more information visit their website or attend this event from 1-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday respectively.

Master Automotive

Master Automotive serves the Augusta, Aiken and North Augusta areas by offering quality used car dealers for purchase or lease in all makes and models of new and pre-owned vehicles. Their friendly sales staff can assist in selecting a car best suited to their customers needs.

This weekend marks the Foodees South Carolina Food and Culture Festival’s return to Historic Downtown Aiken as it takes over Newberry Street from April 14-16. Running from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday through Saturday and 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Sunday, this free-to-attend festival features world-class cuisine from various cultures as well as local artists. Although entry to this event is free of charge, guests must purchase tickets for rides before attending.