About the Festival

Charleston Wine + Food was founded in 2005 by a group of loyal community leaders with a vision of creating an event to promote + elevate Charleston’s culinary brand. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the goal was to put Charleston on the map as a culinary destination and bring national + international attention to the city. Since its inception, the festival has welcomed nearly 411,350 attendees and generated $170.48 million in economic impact for the Charleston area. 

For five soul-smackingly good days, Charleston Wine + Food infuses homegrown flavor talent from around the globe for a five-day festival that spans the first full weekend each March. Fueled by a contagious passion for the people + places that make Charleston the perfect backdrop for this community celebration, the annual festival features over 100 unique experiences that fill your belly + feed your soul. 

The festival celebrates a collective of artists, culinary visionaries, craftsmen, bartenders, brewers, purveyors, couriers, farmers, events staff, wine pros, sanitation assistants, security guards, writers, musicians, prep chefs, servers, restaurateurs, guests, and – of course – Charlestonians (500 talent and over 38,000 guests to be exact).. Community sets the stage to explore + celebrate the stories + flavors of the Lowcountry, from dinners that celebrate Matriarchs of the African American Community, to meals that showcase the art of Filipino dining, and ingredients that have shaped the way we eat and what we eat here in the Lowcountry. Charleston Wine + Food is the intersection of where food and culture meet, and each year our programming reflects the stories of our past, present and future.