This South Carolina festival ranks as nation’s best new event. What makes it special?
A South Carolina festival is brimming with food — and fans can’t get enough of the celebration.
So much so, the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston now ranks as the nation’s No. 1 new festival, according to results published Jan. 2.
The rankings come from USA Today’s 10Best, which publishes lists of most beloved destinations. This time around, travel experts identified must-visit new events from across the country and then allowed readers to spend a month voting on their favorites.
“For the past year and a half, we were treated to a lineup of fantastic festivals that launched for the first time, providing more new options to explore and enjoy,” 10Best wrote in its report. “From music extravaganzas to cultural immersions and foodie adventures, an expert panel nominated their top picks for best new festivals.”
What makes the SC festival special?
On the resulting list of readers’ choice award winners, the Food & Wine Classic was the only South Carolina festival to receive recognition. The event, which debuted last fall, said it plans to return in mid-November.
“This three-day Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, featured over 50 chef demos, wine seminars, and panels with celebrity chefs like Andrew Zimmern and Maneet Chauhan,” 10Best wrote. “Guests enjoyed more than 100 foods, spirits, and wines in the Grand Tasting Pavilion.”
The latest honor adds to a list of accolades for Charleston, which has been named the nation’s No. 1 travel spot and a top place for food lovers to visit. When launching the festival, Food & Wine magazine and its sister brands gave nods to the city’s dining options — but the praise didn’t stop there.
“The cultural attractions, the boutique shopping, the ever-evolving restaurant scene: combine all that with the warmth and hospitality of the local community, and you have a home run of a destination,” Jacqui Gifford, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, wrote in a Sept. 18 online post. “With the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, I am thrilled that we can bring this dynamism to life.”
While the Food & Wine Classic topped the list of best new festivals, South Carolina destinations didn’t fare as well in other 10Best categories. The only other attraction to earn recognition was the Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, which ranked No. 9 among newly-launched museums.
For new festivals, here are the others rounding out the top five:
- Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival in California at No. 2
- No Values in California at No. 3
- Maui Music & Food Experience in Hawaii at No. 4
- All Things Go NYC in New York at No. 5
In the past, 10Best has told McClatchy News it doesn’t reveal the number of people who vote in its contests.
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM.
