Food festivals in Charleston worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Charleston worth planning a trip around, by month.
Charleston Wine + Food runs five days of dinners, talks and tastings across the city, anchored at Marion Square. 2026 is the festival's 20th edition.
Focus: Lowcountry, wine, chef events
Tip: Book single-event tickets on chswf.org. The Marion Square grand tasting sells out earliest.
Lowcountry Oyster Festival at Boone Hall Plantation runs the first Sunday of February. The world's largest oyster festival, 80,000 pounds of steamed Lowcountry oysters.
Focus: Steamed oysters, Lowcountry food
Tip: Buy tickets before they sell out in early January. Bring your own oyster knife and gloves.
Spoleto Festival USA runs 17 days of opera, theatre and music across Charleston's historic venues from late May into early June. 2026 marks the festival's 50th season.
Focus: Performing arts plus food programming
Tip: Book accommodation 6 months ahead; restaurants book up. Free Piccolo Spoleto runs in parallel.
Charleston Restaurant Week runs 10 days each January with prix-fixe menus at over 100 participating restaurants. Two- or three-course menus, no special ticket.
Focus: Prix-fixe Lowcountry menus citywide
Tip: Book your top picks on the operator's site weeks ahead. Menus run alongside the regular menu.
Second Sunday on King closes King Street to traffic from Queen to Calhoun on the second Sunday of every month. Restaurants spill onto the street, the city walks.
Focus: Street fair, restaurant patios open up
Tip: Free to attend, no ticket. Most King Street restaurants run special outdoor service from 12:00 to 17:00.
Peak food season in Charleston is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Charleston rewards trust.