Spring Festivals for Foodies in Columbia, South Carolina

By: TLP's Partners

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As winter moves into the rearview and warmer weather approaches, the anticipation for the best of Columbia SC’s festival scene grows. And if you’re major foodies like us, you’ll appreciate the many events that are dedicated to culinary craft. Mark your calendars and start planning your trip to experience one or more of these mouth-watering festivities.

Drink Pink Festival, Columbia, South Carolina

If enjoying a delicious meal with lakeside views speaks to you, you won’t want to miss Dining on the Dam on March 29. This annual event invites guests to sip and savor locally crafted cocktails and food atop the Lake Murray Dam while listening to live music as you watch the sunset over the water.

Each year, April brings the well-loved Columbia International Festival. Not only does this event boast cultural exhibits, a bazaar, and performances, it’s the perfect opportunity to taste cuisines from around the world. Don’t miss your opportunity to expand your palate sampling a variety of far-flung flavors and immerse yourself in cultures represented by nearly 100 countries on April 18 and 19.

Notably the region’s largest celebration of all things delicious, the Columbia Food & Wine Festival is a can’t-miss. The five-day award-winning festival, happening April 22-26, showcases local chefs, mixologists, and artisans with the finest plates and pours Columbia has to offer. While it’s worth grabbing tickets to all the events sprinkled throughout the week, if you can only swing one, let it be the Grand Tasting on Sunday. This finale features a sampling of dishes, cocktails, live music, interactive chef demos, and of course, a souvenir wine glass to take home.

It may come as a surprise, but crawfish are kind of a big deal around here – at least during the Rosewood Crawfish Festival. With 10,000 pounds of crawfish brought in directly from Louisiana, plus a healthy dose of other Cajun and Southern specialties, and a full day of live music, you can see why hundreds of people flock to the festival each year. Be sure to save the date for May 2 to get in on the action.

Rosé lovers rejoice! There’s a festival just for you. The Drink Pink Festival on May 16 showcases over 100 different rosés to sample, paired with exquisitely prepared food by local chefs, and a wine store onsite. Sport your best pink and white outfit and be ready to sip the day away at this festival that became an instant hit when it debuted in 2015.

All of this and more are waiting for you to dine on and discover in the heart of SC. Experience it for yourself and start planning your trip at ExperienceColumbiaSC.com.