Festival season is officially here, marking the start of a series of delicious events across the Carolinas. From celebrity-chef-studded soirees to local shindigs celebrating beloved ingredients, you could easily fill your calendar with a new food festival every month. While by no means comprehensive, the following list highlights some of the most exciting culinary events happening in North Carolina and South Carolina. Buy a ticket, pack your appetite, and get ready to party.
Charleston Wine + Food, March 5-9
For the past 20 years, the Charleston Wine + Food festival has continued to grow and evolve. This year the festival is stacked with star chefs and a new location for the Culinary Village — the Johnson Hagood Stadium. This means the outdoor event is back downtown since it moved to North Charleston in 2022. Highlights from the schedule include a dinner with Gullah Geechee chef B.J. Dennis, a tribute to Jacques Pépin, a fast food and wine pairing, a Kamayan feast with Kultura, and Lowcountry legend Hominy Grill will return for one night of service.
Feast Wilmington, March 24-30
Launched in 2024, Feast Wilmington is one of the newer festivals in the Carolinas. The weekend kicks off with a Craft + Cuisine event, highlighting local breweries and chefs. The activities continue with a Pier Party and Brunch Elevated. There are also intimate dinners at local restaurants this year. It’s a good chance to try coastal Southern cuisine and explore the charming downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, scene.
Florence Wine & Food Festival, March 27-29
The famed Lee Brothers, Matt and Ted, help bring the spotlight to Florence, South Carolina, with the town’s annual food festival. Nestled in the quaint downtown, the main tasting tent event is an intimate gathering of chefs from across the South, celebrating products from the Pee Dee region. This year, James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott will lead the finale dinner.
Columbia Food & Wine Festival, April 22-27
The Columbia, South Carolina, festival celebrates the growing culinary scene of the Midlands. There are over a dozen events throughout the weekend to explore, from a kickoff dinner at Black Rooster with Denver chef Paul Reilly to a Gullah dinner with SC Chef Ambassador Chris Williams, foodways expert Amethyst Ganaway, and chef instructor Kevin Mitchell. Always stick around for the Grand Tasting on Sunday to explore over 100 of Columbia’s top restaurants, breweries, and mixologists.
Black Food Truck Festival, April 25-27
Black Food Truck Festival founder Marcus Hammond gathers over 25 Black-owned food trucks to participate in the culinary celebration held at the Exchange Park Fairgrounds in Ladson. The family friendly festival celebrates the Black American experience through food, music, and camaraderie.
Euphoria, September 18-21
The schedule isn’t out for Euphoria 2025 yet, but this Greenville, South Carolina, festival always brings in a long roster of famous chefs, including many with Michelin-starred restaurants. Look for educational cooking classes, wine tastings, and a grand tasting at the Fluor Field stadium. We’ve seen everyone from Emiril Lagasse to Keanu Reeves to Jim Cantore at this festival.
Highlands Food & Wine, November 13-16
Grab your Barbour jackets and head to the mountains of Highlands, North Carolina, to experience bourbon, fine wines, and bites from chefs across the Carolinas. Music is a big component of this festival, and tickets usually sell out fast. Most of the events are outside, so dress warm.
Food & Wine Classic, November 14-16
Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Travel + Leisure teamed up with Explore Charleston to bring the Food & Wine Classic to Charleston, South Carolina, last year, and they are back in 2025. Think of Food & Wine Classic as a conference for food nerds with some wine thrown in. Attendees go to a morning seminar (red wine at 10 a.m. is acceptable if you’re learning about pinot noir) and then hit the tasting pavilion at the Visitor’s Center to sample generous helpings of shrimp, scallops, breakfast burritos, more shrimp, lobster arepas, and more. After you’re full, you go to another hour-long seminar (usually with a celebrity chef), and then it’s back to the pavilion for more bites. Past superstar chefs included Sean Brock, Stephanie Izard, Tyler Florence, and Andrew Zimmern.
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