It’s that time again, y'all.
If you live or work anywhere near downtown, you’ve probably already felt the shift. The parking meters are fuller, the line at the daily coffee spot is three people longer, and you can practically smell the truffles in the air. Yes, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival is here, and this year is a big one: the 20th Anniversary.
Look, I get it. I’ve worked on the peninsula for years. We all know the drill: traffic gets brutal, and trying to get a reservations for a 7 p.m. dinner anywhere south of Line Street is impossible.
But as someone who has lived through 20 of these festivals, I can’t help but love the energy. Yes, it’s a marathon for the hospitality industry (major respect to everyone working doubles this week!), but it’s also when our city truly shines on the world stage.
This year, the energy feels a little different. A little bigger. The 20th anniversary is a major milestone for CHSWF, and you can see them leaning into how the city itself has evolved in that time.
While I haven't snagged my tickets for the main Culinary Village (I prefer to graze the peripheral events), there are a few things I’m genuinely excited about this week:
- Opening Night at the Cistern Yard (Tuesday): There is simply no better venue in the city. If you ever get the chance to go to an event here, take it. The acoustics, the mossy oaks... it’s magic. I hear this year they are emphasizing traditional Gullah recipes, which I love.
- The Rise of the Upper Peninsula: When this festival started, almost everything was concentrated around Marion Square. Now, it’s exciting to see so many satellite events happening in the new spaces further uptown. It spreads the love (and the traffic!) and shows off the newer "local" spots.
- The "Shucked" Oyster Event: It’s a classic for a reason. There’s something so visceral and Charleston about grabbing an oyster knife in the spring air.
My local survival tip for the week?
Embrace the walk. The weather is starting to turn beautiful, so park further uptown, walk to your events, and truly soak it in. Forget about your usual favorite spot for lunch; it’s going to be slammed. Use this week as an excuse to try one of the newer openings.
Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, parking stinks. But for five days, the entire world is looking at our beautiful, messy, delicious little city. Happy 20th, CHSWF. Here’s to trying not to eat our weight in pimento cheese.
What are you most excited about for CHSWF26? Drop a comment or tag me in your food photos!
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