If you’re in the Lowcountry this weekend, you have plenty of seasonal AND fun ideas for lunch/dinner, not the least of which is enjoying Charleston food trucks. Charleston Restaurant Week may be over, but there are three solid options over the next two days to both entertain and feed your friends and family. One happens Saturday, one Sunday, and one stretches over both days for your dining pleasure.
A Mega Festival all about Charleston Food Trucks
First up, it’s one of the best local incarnations of a very hot trend in the foodie world. Food trucks are all the rage. In a city like Charleston with its rockin’ culinary scene, it’s no surprise that there’s a huge number of fantastic, fun food trucks near here. You can sample some of the best this weekend at the eighth annual Charleston Food Trucks Festival. This thing has experienced such massive growth in numbers and popularity that this year, they are stretching it over two days instead of just one. It’s going on this Saturday and Sunday, January 26th-27th, from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. each day. Organizers describe it as “Two glorious days of Epic Eats… Tipsy Treats… and Bangin’ Beats…” In its first year, there were 5 food trucks and 500 hungry customers. Last year, there were 25 trucks and 8,000 people.
All the Deets on the Charleston Food Trucks Fest:
- Epic Eats: Three dozen (!) different popular local Charleston food trucks all gathered together in one convenient place;
- Admission is free, and it’s pay as you go (and eat), with cash payments encouraged and appreciated to help the lines move faster;
- Tipsy Treats: Handcrafted beer, wine & cocktails;
- Bangin’ Beats: Plenty of great live local music;
- Cool retail and craft vendors onsite for your shopping pleasure - a great place to pick up a local souvenir;
- Kids’ activities;
- Location: Park Circle in North Charleston, 4854 O’Hear Avenue;
- Dogs are welcome as long as they’re leashed;
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chsfoodtruckfest/
Oyster Options Abound
If you’re here on the Isle of Palms, you don’t even have to leave the island to experience the second option, happening this Saturday. As I’ve mentioned countless times before, oyster roasts are a beloved tradition in the Lowcountry. They’ve been going on around these parts for more than two centuries. Delicious and historic! Hop on the golf cart and check out the Bud and Cecily Stack Memorial Oyster Roast, happening this Saturday at the Exchange Club on the IOP. It’s at 201 Palm Boulevard. They’ll have single select oysters, southern style chili, hot dogs, plenty of live music, silent auction items and a great raffle. There are a ton of terrific sponsors this year, so no doubt they’ll have wonderful items available. The roast, which benefits local charities and scholarships, is limited to the first 425 participants and often sells out. Tickets are $35 advance and $40 at the door if any are left. It’ll be going on from 4:00 till 7:00 pm. At last check, they still did have some tickets left, but hurry to snag yours.
Did You Know - the World’s Largest Oyster Festival is Right Near the Isle of Palms?
Then, last but not least, this Sunday is the world’s largest oyster roast - the Lowcountry Oyster Festival, now in it’s 36th year. It’s happening at Boone Hall Plantation, just over the Connector from our Isle of Palms luxury rentals. The Southeastern Tourism Society named it one of the top 20 events in the Southeastern United States. It’s a fun must-do while in one of our SC vacation rentals at the end of January. Here’s what you can expect:
- 80,000 pounds of oysters;
- Lots of live music, and tons of kids activities;
- Abundant food options, with a large food court;
- Plenty of beverages, including of the adult kind;
- The ever-popular oyster shucking and oyster eating contests;
- The festival will take place from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.
Proceeds go to several good causes - like Shriners Hospitals for Children, local schools, the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston and Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC. Here’s a link to the festival webpage. Tickets are $17.50 advance, or $25 the day of; ages 10 and under are FREE. VIP tickets have already sold out. So get your oyster on - both Saturday AND Sunday if you like, and check out some seriously good Charleston food trucks either day. And when you are in the market for a great place to stay, be sure to call EP. We’ll pair you with the perfect oceanfront luxury house on Isle of Palms. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger