[UPDATED, 4 p.m.] Charleston Wine + Food (CW+F) canceled Saturday’s Culinary Village, which expected to entertain thousands of guests, due to severe weather that turned the North Charleston location in a messy, wet quagmire. By mid-afternoon Saturday, officials canceled Sunday’s Culinary Village, too.
“In consultation with the city of North Charleston, we have jointly concluded that it is unsafe to re-open the Culinary Village at Riverfront Park on Sunday, March 10,” according to a Saturday afternoon email by CW+F officials to Sunday Culinary Village ticket holders.
It then goes on to detail how much rain Riverfront Park has seen since March 1 — nine inches — and notes that flooding will take a day or more to clear.
Festival officials now are asking ticket holders to either turn their ticket into credit for a future CW+F event or consider their investment to be a charitable contribution.
Earlier Saturday, festival officials cited “heavy rains and lightning near the set-up site” as the reason for canceling today’s Culinary Village, which is set up at North Charleston’s Riverfront Park.
In pictures supplied by the festival, it’s clear that extreme morning flooding would have made Saturday’s event impossible.
Guests may also be able to exchange their tickets to another Wine + Food event later today or tomorrow, pending availability. Ticket holders are encouraged to email CW+F with questions and requests.
Both of the festival’s other outdoor Saturday events were moved indoors. Sabor will take place at Festival Hall in downtown Charleston and The Smokeshow will move to the Bus Shed on John Street. Ticket holders should check their spam email folders if they did not receive emails with information about the change
Check Wine + Food’s Instagram account for updates.
Plan for more rain, maybe some fun?
The city of Charleston warned in a Saturday press release of additional strong and severe thunderstorms headed into the area later this afternoon and evening. According to the release, more than 30 roads were closed in the city due to Saturday morning flooding and that number could increase.
The city urged residents to stay up-to-date about road closures by checking the city of Charleston Road Closures website and to continue to consult local news outlets with up-to-date weather information.
Park Circle’s St. Patrick’s Day still on
The Culinary Village wasn’t the only show in town today — Park Circle’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are still on, with a number of local bars and restaurants participating with live music and food and drink specials. In addition to Park Circle fun, plenty of downtown bars and restaurants are still open and ready for guests, including Cleats, which is hosting a “cancellation party” starting at 2 p.m.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.