Cooks calendar

Food events in the weeks ahead

• The Sandhill Farmers Market, 900 Clemson Road, at Clemson’s Sandhill Research and Education Center across from the Village at Sandhill, has reopened for spring — Tuesdays through Nov. 25 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Fresh local vegetables, meats, cheeses, plants and a master gardener booth for gardening questions.

• PalmettoPlace Children’s Emergency Shelter will host its annual dessert competition Saturday, May 3, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia. Cost, $65 per person; $110 per couple. Call (803) 786-6819 for tickets.

• The 32nd annual Lowcountry Shrimp Festival takes place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Robert E. Ashley Landing in McClellanville. For more information, go to lowcountryshrimpfestival.com.

• Taste sweet-potato ice cream and participate in a sweet-potato baking contest May 10 at the Lower Richland Sweet Potato Festival. Activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hopkins Adult Activity Center, 150 Hopkins Park Road.

• CarolinaChildren’s Home is hosting its 21st annual BBQ Cook-Off Festival May 16-17 at the State Fairgrounds. The anything-but-pork event is 7 to 10 p.m. May 16. Tickets, $8 or two for $15. Judging and the sale of barbecue plates takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 17. Plates are $8 at the door or $7 if purchased in advance. Tickets for kids 11 and younger, $3. Call (803) 782-1421 to purchase tickets. For more information, go to www.carolinachildrenshome.org.

• The Cayce Farmers Market, 2329 Charleston Hwy., is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Cookingclasses available at Let’s Cook Culinary Studio, 1305 Assembly St., letscookculinary.com, and Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute, 3001 Millwood Ave., www.fleur-de-lys.us. Visit both Web sites for schedules and prices.

• Learn about healthy eating habits through classes at USC’s “Columbia’s Cooking!” Healthy Cooking program. Go to http://cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking.

• The Young Chefs Academy, 7320 Broad River Road, is offering a series of summer cooking classes for children. Go to youngchefsacademy.com or call (803) 749-0670 for information.

• The University of South Carolina’s McKissick Museum, located on the historic Horseshoe, is hosting the exhibition “Barbecue Joints & The Good Folks Who Own Them” May 10 through July 19. For more information, call (803) 777-7251. McKissick is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost, free.

Compiled by Allison Askins. Reach Askins at (803) 771-8614.