Cooler temps usher in favorite fall festivals. Button up your coziest flannel and enjoy these versatile events celebrating Southern staples and diverse offerings.
Whether you’re a beer aficionado craving crisp, autumnal brews to sip, a foodie with a sweet tooth or a barbecue connoisseur ready to dig into an array of smoked meats, Charleston has a fall festival for everyone. Here are some events on our radar between now and the beginning of the new year.
Charleston Beer Fest
Oct. 26, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Riverfront Park, North Charleston
Beer Fest returns to Riverfront Park with 68 participating breweries, 20 food trucks, 30 craft vendors, live music and all your favorite outdoor games, including pickleball, cornhole, slamball and giant Jenga. Live music performances by Dustbowl Revival, Empire Strikes Brass, Certainly So and Kanika Moore and the Brown Eyed Bois take place throughout the day.
“What’s not to love about October weather and beer outside on the river with good music?” said Richard Reams, Palmetto Community Care’s (PCC) director of marketing and development. The annual festival is a fundraising event for PCC with every dollar going towards the nonprofit’s mission to assist individuals living with AIDS and HIV, educate the public and run its North Charleston medical center, Reams said.
Tastings are included at this 21-and-older event featuring beers from breweries near and far, including local establishments Commonhouse Aleworks, Tideland Brewing, Westbrook Brewing Co. and more, as well as out-of-state brewers including Rupee Beer, Wild Leap Craft Beer and Wicked Weed. But the festival isn’t just about beer — hard kombuchas, ciders, nonalcoholic beverages and High Rise seltzers will also be available.
Indulge in snacks and treats from food trucks including Smash City Burgers, Ciao Bella, Donut Daddy, The Pita Stroller and more while perusing the many vendor booths. “There are vendors for everybody,” Reams said, “from products for your dog and custom glass work — we’ll have Angry Giant Forge on site — all the way to War Horn, which makes war horns that you can drink out of.”
Vegan Food Fest
Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Palmetto Islands County Park,
Mount Pleasant
Charleston Vegan Business Network founder Vanessa Formanek created the Vegan Food Fest after recognizing a need in the vegan community. Formanek began hosting vegan markets every few months to unite vegan vendors and individuals through food, baked goods and products. “We’re trying to create a hub,” Formanek said, “a place where everybody, anybody that comes in, knows … it’s just going to be vegan.”
Now in its second year, the Vegan Food Fest offers scrumptious food and other items from vendors like Bangin’ Vegan Eats, Lil Sprout Vegan Desserts, King of Pops, Charleston Mac Mama, Little Chic Bakery and more.
“Our commitment is to give vendors a place to sell and for vegans to find a place where they can eat without worrying,” Formanek said. “And not only vegans but people that have dietary restrictions. … I’m not trying to convert people to become vegan or pressure them, but I do advocate for the businesses and the people that are vegan.”
A Sweet Shindig
Nov. 2, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens,
West Ashley
Surround yourself with the rhythm of bluegrass at this third annual event featuring live music, whiskey and plenty of sweet treats. Tickets to the 21-and-older event include complimentary wine, beer, bourbon tastings and mocktails, and light bites and all-you-can-eat desserts from Southern Bear Catering and Charleston Chocolatiers. Tickets also grant access to the grounds, where guests can explore America’s oldest public garden, take a photo in the Live Oak Pavilion, visit the wildlife center and ride the Nature Train.
Johns Island Harvest Fest
Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Johns Island County Park, Johns Island
A perfect fall event for the whole family, the Harvest Fest features pumpkin decorating, kids’ crafts and hayrides. Live music starts at noon with a lineup of local bluegrass musicians including The Blue Plantation Band, YeeHaw Junction and New Ghost Town. Festivalgoers of all ages can snack on kettle corn, classic Carolina barbecue and other tasty festival treats while perusing the craft market.
Holy Smokes BBQ Festival
Nov. 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Riverfront Park, North Charleston
Barbecue aficionados will flock to this annual gathering of more than 50 pitmasters and chefs from across the country.
“We’re so thankful to have an amazing lineup of incredibly talented pitmasters and chefs that return each year to Holy Smokes and a few new ones that we’re so excited to have joining us,” said Allie Knight, event producer with cb events.
Guests will enjoy all-you-can-eat barbecue, including slow-smoked whole hog, beef ribs and Texas-style brisket, while celebrating barbecue’s history and culture. Local participants include Hector Garate of Palmira Barbecue, Rodney Scott, Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swine and more.
This event raises money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston and Hogs for a Cause, which support families battling pediatric brain cancer. “It’s pretty amazing to see the impact we’ve been able to make thanks to the support of our partners and attendees,” Knight said. “We’ve raised over $300,000 in just three short years.”
BarBrewGrass Festival
Nov. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Firefly Distillery, North Charleston
In the Lowcountry, fall months signal the beginning of oyster season. Get your fill of all-you-can-eat oysters, a barbecue spread and refreshments during this fundraiser for BarBrewGrass, a nonprofit that provides financial support to the families of children with cancer and blood disorders through the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Grab a beer or a bourbon and enjoy the music of Gritty Flyright, Admiral Radio and Sol Driven Train.
Nosh Jewish Food
and Heritage Festival
Nov. 10, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hasell St., Downtown
Celebrate Jewish culture and learn the history behind one of the five oldest congregations in the U.S., Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim’s (KKBE), during Nosh Jewish Food and Heritage Festival. KKBE’s congregation formed in 1749, and its synagogue was built downtown on Hasell St. in 1840, making it the oldest U.S. synagogue in continuous use. “This is our 10th Nosh, but it’s super special this year because it’s being held in conjunction with our [congregation’s] 275th anniversary,” said Jeff Weinman, former president of KKBE and chair of the Nosh Jewish Food and Heritage Festival. “As the chair, my goal is to see as many smiling faces as I can.”
Nosh shuts down Hasell Street and takes place simultaneously with Second Sunday, allowing attendees to wander the street, explore many delicious food options and enjoy a klezmer band playing Jewish folk music.
“They’ll be playing all day, and if you haven’t heard a klezmer band, it’s something to behold,” Weinman said.
Food stands will offer traditional corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, bagels (plain or with lox, tomato and onion), matzo ball soup, knishes and tons of baked goods. Some of the food is brought in from New York while other items are made by the congregation. “Perhaps my favorite is the stuffed cabbage, and that is made by our own people,” Weinman said. “We’ll make about 1,600 stuffed cabbage for the festival.”
The festival is an opportunity to enjoy food, music and a child-friendly kids’ zone, but Weinman said it’s also a unique chance to learn about KKBE, the birthplace of American Reform Judaism. “We open the synagogue and have docents in there to share our history,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn more about KKBE and its historic synagogue and its contribution both to Charleston and the greater Reform Jewish community. And who doesn’t like enjoying some food?”
Heritage Fire
Dec. 8, 3:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Refinery, Downtown
A culmination of live-fire cooking, local farms and local chefs, Heritage Fire is a feasting festival with a dash of friendly competition. Hosted in cities across the country, Heritage Fire celebrates its third year in Charleston. Head to The Refinery where participating chefs will prepare a signature dish with local ingredients over open flames to compete for the title of Heritage Hero. Guests can sample all the delicious creations and vote for their favorite.
Taste of Folly
Jan. 17, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Jan. 18,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Center Street, Folly Beach
Taste of Folly kicks off Friday night with a Cocktail Competition in the Pavilion Ballroom of The Tides hotel as bartenders battle to create the best craft cocktail. Then, the festivities heat up during “Savory Saturday” when Center Street is closed to traffic and Folly restaurants bring their goods to the street. Enjoy live music and more than 50 art and craft vendors throughout the festival. The event will include a hot dog eating contest, one-pot showdown, oyster shucking competitions and live demonstrations.
READY FOR AN OYSTER ROAST?
Charlestonians know it’s time to break out those oyster knives when the “R” months roll in. September through April has long been known as oyster season, and there are plenty of oyster roasts to attend this fall. Here are just a few events happening between now and the end of the year.
Hunley’s 16th Annual Oyster Roast
Oct. 25, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center Bus Shed, Downtown
Edisto Island Open Land Trust Annual Oyster Roast
Nov. 10, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sand Creek Farm, Edisto
2024 Drayton Hall Oyster Roast
Dec. 8, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Drayton Hall, West Ashley
The 12th Annual Royal American Biker Oyster Roast
Dec. 8, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Royal American, Downtown
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