Summer is packed with SC food festivals
South Carolina has more food festivals than we can count, with some showcasing the Palmetto state’s best foods happening in June and July.
We’ve pulled together a quick sampling. Check web sites for schedules, locations and other event details; more statewide festivals can be found at www.discoversouthcarolina.com
Hampton County Watermelon Festival: June 24-26, Varnville. Celebrate summer with free watermelon slices all weekend at the Courthouse Square Fountain. And throughout the weekend, there events like a carnival and street dance, parade, CWA Pro Wrestling, Mud run and more. Details: www.hcmelonfest.org.
Lexington County Peach Festival: July 4 at Gilbert Community Park, Gilbert. A parade kicks off festivities at 9:30 a.m. Peach ice cream, pies and other products, along with a barbecue lunch, live entertainment, vendors and fireworks are among the day’s highlights. Details: www.lexingtoncountypeachfestival.com.
South Carolina Peach Festival: July 8-23 in Gaffney. Among the main events throughout the festival run are a peach-eating contest, road race, carnival, barbecue cookoff, mud bog and much more. Details: www.scpeachfestival.net
Pageland Watermelon Festival: July 15-16, downtown Pageland. It’s the South at its best, with a beauty pageant for the Watermelon World Queen crown, a seed-spitting contest, a watermelon-eating contest, parade, rode and more. Details: www.pagelandwatermelonfestival.com
Tasty Tomato Festival: July 16 at City Roots in Columbia. Join in on the fun, including tomato bobbing, an heirloom tomato taste test, homegrown tomato contest and photo contest. Enjoy the bloody marys and signature cocktails and all types of foods highlighting the tomato. Details: www.tastytomatofestival.com
May River Shrimp Festival: July 14-15 in Bluffton. Feast on local shrimp and other seafood during the annual May River Shrimp Festival. The event will feature local shrimp, food from many area food trucks and restaurants, live music, a craft beer garden, an arts and crafts village, shrimp boat tours, a shrimp heading contest and more. Details: www.blufftonsunsetparty.com