Imagine a five-day epicurean celebration that transforms the historic streets of Charleston and the charming coastal sea islands into a culinary wonderland! The annual Charleston Wine + Food Festival is a vibrant showcase of the Lowcountry’s diverse culinary flavors, vibrant wine scene, and warm southern hospitality all rolled into one epic event!

WHEN: March 5th – 9th, 2025

Founded in 2005 by a group of visionary community leaders, the festival’s mission is “to celebrate, educate, enrich, and promote the Lowcountry’s diverse culinary + hospitality community through world-class experiences.” The Charleston Wine + Food Festival has placed the greater Charleston area on the map as a top culinary destination. This highly-anticipated event features over 100 unique experiences in a destination where food, culture, and fun converge.

The events and experiences at the Charleston Wine + Food Festival aren’t just about food and beverages, they’re an invitation to experience the culinary and cultural heritage and traditions of the Lowcountry in some of Charleston’s most celebrated bars and eating establishments.

Local’s Tip: Please check the Charleston Wine + Food Festive Schedule of Events for current availability.

KIAWAH & SEABROOK ISLAND: WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL EVENTS

What we love most about the Charleston Wine + Food Festival is the world-class events and experiences it brings to our guests on Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island. While the festival itself is a culinary treat, there’s an added layer of luxury and relaxation when you retreat to your private vacation home on Kiawah-Seabrook Island. From lavish beachfront villas to marsh-view mansions and modern condos, you’ll find a soulful sanctuary to complement your Lowcountry soul food with Kiawah-Seabrook Exclusives.

Rioja Rumble @ FortyEight | FRIDAY 4:30 PM – 6 PM | $75

Venue: FortyEight Wine Bar & Kitchen, Freshfields Village

The bar takeover at FortyEight Wine Bar and Kitchen in Freshfields Village features wines from the Rioja and Cigales regions of Spain. Join wine importer, Rich Scelfo, and certified sommelier, Matt Williams, for an evening of fine wines, light bites, and good conversation only a short drive or scenic bike ride from your Kiawah Island – Seabrook Island vacation home.

A Five Star Lineup | FRIDAY 7 PM – 10 PM | $1,375

Venue: The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary, Kiawah Island

Be prepared for an unforgettable evening as the Charleston Wine + Food Festival showcases the Five Star Lineup, the ultra-luxe dinner collaboration of the 2024 festival. This exclusive event at the award-winning Ocean Room at The Sanctuary features two Forbes Five-Star chefs, wines from the Sanctuary’s exclusive Wine Library, and delicacies from the Ocean Room’s Executive Pastry Chef. You can walk home to your ocean view villa in Kiawah Island’s East Beach Village!

CHARLESTON: WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL EVENTS

Why not experience the best of both worlds – the cultural and culinary festival experiences in Downtown Charleston, and the charm of a coastal home and beach walks before you start to explore the Charleston Wine + Food Festival?

Downtown Charleston is located roughly 23 miles from the crossroads to Kiawah and Seabrook Island. Sit back and relax with black car service to Charleston by local company, Island Transportation Services, or designate a driver! If you’re driving, we highly recommend carpooling as parking availability is limited in Charleston. There are several parking lots and garages near the Charleston Visitor Center & Bus Shed shuttle location, and metered parking is available on King, Calhoun, and Meeting Streets.

FREE STREET FEST

City of Charleston Wine + Food Street Fest | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8 PM | FREE

One of the highlights of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival is the free, family-friendly block party on King Street. King Street is one of the most iconic streets in Charleston! This historic street is lined with upscale shops, top-notch restaurants, bustling bars, and all the charm of Charleston! With Lowcountry specials, food trucks, live music, family activities, and a festive Beer + Wine Garden, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival is the best time of year to experience Charleston’s King Street.

* Please note that all other Charleston Wine + Food Festival events are 21+, and a valid ID is required.

CULINARY VILLAGE

Culinary Village | FRIDAY – SUNDAY 1 PM – 5 PM | $169-$295

The heart and soul of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival lies within the Culinary Village at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. With a fantastic line-up of Lowcountry cooking demos, wine, beer, and spirit sampling, meet and greets with culinary experts, immersive experiences, live music, and so much more, this weekend-long event is the ultimate sampling experience of wine + food + fun in Charleston. Tickets are available for individual days or enjoy the ultimate experience with the Weekender Pass starting at $750.

el of privacy few resort communities maintain. The Island offers peaceful surroundings for beach-goers all with the amenities of a luxury resort, but away from the hustle and bustle.

Culinary Village Shuttle: The Culinary Village Shuttle operates daily from 11 AM – 6 PM between the Charleston Visitor Center in downtown Charleston to Riverfront Park in North Charleston. Shuttles to Riverfront Park depart every 30 minutes starting at the top of the hour. Return shuttles are scheduled every 30 minutes following the event start time. A daily round-trip ticket costs $35 and tickets must be purchased in advance. Book soon – early bird pricing ends January 31st!

SIGNATURE EVENTS

Opening Night | WEDNESDAY 7 PM – 9:30 PM | $185-$275
Downtown Venue: Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston

Catch of the Day | THURSDAY 2 PM – 4:30 PM | $155
Folly Island Venue: Bowens Island Restaurant

The Lowcountry High Life | THURSDAY 4 PM – 6:30 PM | $145
West Ashley Venue: Founders Hall at Charles Towne Landing

iSabor: A Taste of Spain! | SATURDAY 2 PM – 4:30 PM | $155
Mount Pleasant Venue: The Lawn at Embassy Suites

The Day Party | SUNDAY 11 AM – 1:30 PM | $145
Mount Pleasant Venue: The Lawn at Embassy Suites

The Finale | SUNDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $145-$225
Downtown Venue: Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston

BRUNCHES + LUNCHES

Baguette Magic(al) Pastry Brunch | THURSDAY 10 AM – 12 PM | $145
James Island Venue: Baguette Magic

Welton’s + Raf’s Spring Brunch | THURSDAY 10 AM – 12 PM | $145
Downtown Venue: Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop

Basic Kitchen Wellness Brunch | THURSDAY 11 AM – 1 PM | $145
Downtown Venue: Basic Kitchen

Beautiful South Baijiu Lunch | THURSDAY 11 AM – 1 PM | $145
Downtown Venue: Beautiful South

The Darling Oyster Bar Beer Lunch | THURSDAY 11 AM – 1 PM | $145
Downtown Venue: The Darling Oyster Bar

Mex 1 Tacos + Tequila | THURSDAY 2 PM – 4 PM | $145
West Ashley Venue: Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Burwell’s Wine Lunch | FRIDAY 11 AM – 1 PM | $145
Downtown Venue: Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill

Cleats, Cocktail Lunch | FRIDAY 11 AM – 1 PM | $145
Downtown Venue: Cleats at The Refinery

The Longboard Cocktail Brunch | FRIDAY 11 AM – 1 PM | $145
Sullivan’s Island Venue: The Longboard

Rappahannock Oyster Bar Wine Lunch FRIDAY 12 AM – 2 PM | $145
Downtown Venue: Rappahannock Oyster Bar

Post House Ham + Eggs Bubbly Brunch | SUNDAY 11 AM – 1 PM | $175
Mount Pleasant Venue: The Post House

SIGNATURE DINNERS & UNIQUE MEALS

Vern’s + Friends Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 5:30 PM – 9 PM | $350
Downtown Venue: Vern’s

Gabrielle Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $225
Downtown Venue: Gabrielle

HERD Provisions Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $195
Downtown Venue: HERD Provisions

Kultura Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $225
North Charleston Venue: Paradiso

Maya Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $195
Downtown Venue: Maya

Millers All Day Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $195
Downtown Venue: Millers All Day

Pink Bellies Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $195
Downtown Venue: Pink Bellies

Palmira Barbeque Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 7 PM – 9:30 PM | $195
West Ashley Venue: Palmira Barbeque

The Grocery Signature Dinner | THURSDAY 6 PM – 8:30 PM | $195
Downtown Venue: The Grocery

Unique Meal: The Root of it All | THURSDAY 6 PM – 9 PM | $275
Secret Venue: Address privately announced to guest

A Five Star Lineup | FRIDAY 7 PM – 10 PM | $1,375
Kiawah Island Venue: The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary

BEVERAGE WORKSHOPS & BAR TAKEOVERS

The Vinyl Party Bar Takeovers | WEDNESDAY 9 PM – 12 AM | $85
Downtown Venue: Coterie

Chemical Attractions | THURSDAY 11 AM – 12:15 PM | $115
Downtown Venue: Iron Rose at The Mills House

Soak in Sonoma | THURSDAY 11 AM – 12:15 PM | $125
Downtown Venue: Iron Rose at The Mills House

Basque In It | THURSDAY 4 PM – 5:15 PM | $115
Downtown Venue: Iron Rose at The Mills House

The Next Wave of Craft Whiskey | THURSDAY 4 PM – 5:15 PM | $125
Downtown Venue: Iron Rose at The Mills House

The Vermouth Hour with Eric Asimov | THURSDAY 5 PM – 6:30 PM | $75
North Charleston Venue: Stems & Skins

Spanish Wine Vanguard | FRIDAY 11 AM – 12:15 PM | $175
Downtown Venue: Iron Rose at The Mills House

Rioja Rumble @ FortyEight | FRIDAY 4:30 PM – 6 PM | $75
Kiawah Island Venue: FortyEight Wine Bar & Kitchen, Freshfields Village

Discover the Art of Blending | SATURDAY 11 AM – 12:15 PM | $125
Downtown Venue: Iron Rose at The Mills House

The New Face of American Wine | SATURDAY 11 AM – 12:15 PM | $125
Downtown Venue: Iron Rose at The Mills House

Oysters + Champagne | SUNDAY 2 PM – 3:15 PM | $250
Downtown Venue: Rappahannock Oyster Bar

CHARLESTON WINE + FOOD EXCURSIONS

Rooted: Indigenous Foodways Excursion | THURSDAY 9 AM – 3 PM | $425

Back to the Dock with Backman Seafood | FRIDAY 2 PM – 8 PM | $575

A “Mess of Fish” | SATURDAY 9 AM – 3 PM | $575 Field to Fork | SUNDAY 9 AM – 3 PM | $425

Close Proximity to More Fun & Adventure

Seabrook Island is conveniently located just 25 miles from the historic charm of Charleston, South Carolina and is adjacent from neighboring Kiawah Island. Wherever you stay on Seabrook Island, endless adventure awaits whether you explore Seabrook, take a quick bike ride over to Kiawah, or take a scenic 40-minute drive to Charleston, SC.

Seabrook Exclusives Rentals

Whether you’re a seasoned foodie, a wine aficionado, or just eager to explore the dynamic culinary and cultural scene of the Lowcountry, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival promises a week of unforgettable experiences. The big bonus! With easy transportation from the coastal beaches of Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island, you can seamlessly balance relaxation on the South Carolina coastline with indulgence in Charleston’s culinary excellence.

Browse our collection of luxury vacation rentals on Kiawah-Seabrook Island or call our team at (843) 768-0808 – we’re always happy to assist in the vacation planning process!

Seabrook Exclusives offers a collection of 70+ of the finest vacation rentals on Seabrook Island, SC. Choose from oceanfront rentals, pet-friendly rentals, beach cottages, and more. Each property offers unique amenities and exclusive features that you won’t find anywhere else.

Sea Turtle Season has arrived in the South Carolina Lowcountry!

Seabrook Island is a private gated resort community with world-class luxury amenities, Audubon-certified championship golf courses, award-winning tennis facilities, and exclusive vacation rentals immersed in tropical landscapes and nestled along the secluded Atlantic coastline.

Seabrook Island is also a preserved wildlife sanctuary and critical habitat for sea turtles that migrate back to our coastline year after year, make their nests in the dunes, and wait patiently for their baby hatchlings to emerge and join them back in their journey through the ocean.

Seabrook Island celebrated the first turtle nest of the season on May 10^th and a second nest was found only 4 days later, with the mamma turtle still busy laying her eggs and building her nest on the beach. The excitement is real, and with the 2021 season breaking previous nesting records, we’re hoping to see lots of tiny hatchlings on Seabrook Island this season.

Sea Turtle Season

Sea turtle nesting begins in May. Loggerheads are world travelers – they mate in coastal regions and make long migrations swimming thousands of miles during breeding season to lay their eggs back home, where they first hatched. They navigate their way back home by sensing the invisible lines of the Earth’s magnetic field.

The males remain in the ocean and the female swims to shore laying an average of 4 to 5 nests with over 100 eggs at a time. After an incubation period of approximately 55-65 days, the tiny hatchlings begin to emerge, making their first tracks from the sand dunes down to the Atlantic Ocean. The peak time to view sea turtle hatchlings on Seabrook Island usually falls around July and August.

Where to See Loggerhead Sea Turtles on Seabrook Island

Seabrook Island boasts 3.5 miles of wild, tropical and uncrowded beaches, open only to visiting guests and residents of the island. Sea turtle nests are found above the high tide line from Pelican Beach near the mouth of the North Edisto River (top spot for a sunset!) to North Beach and Captain Sam’s Inlet at the Kiawah River. It’s highly likely time spent on the Seabrook Island beaches will result in a rewarding turtle experience.

The beaches of Seabrook Island are pet-friendly, but your pet is a predator to nesting sea turtles! Please follow the color coded system and beach rules for pets to protect the sea turtles, otherwise your pooch has plenty to look forward to on pet-friendly Seabrook Island!

Bohicket Marina is only a short drive (or bike ride!) from Seabrook Island with a wide variety of kayak and paddleboard tours, shrimping and fishing charters, dolphin excursions, and eco-adventures in the serene salt water marshes. With a local guide leading the way, getting on the waterways is one of the best ways to experience personal encounters with the wildlife of Seabrook Island.

Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol

The Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol is a volunteer organization that protects and preserves the South Carolina loggerheads sea turtles that visit our beaches. The volunteers patrol the beaches daily during nesting and hatching season identifying, protecting, and taking regular inventory of our local Seabrook Island turtle nests and hatchlings.

In 1978, the loggerhead sea turtle was listed as threatened under the US Federal Endangered Species Act, and these magnificent gentle giants of the ocean are in danger of extinction. During your vacation on Seabrook Island, please help us maintain and preserve Seabrook Island’s wildlife habitat and natural resources and respect the rules.

If you’re interested in learning more about our local sea turtles, the Sea Turtle Care Center at the South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor offers a unique and interactive experience of the rescue, rehab and release of South Carolina’s sea turtles. If you’re keen to get involved locally during your stay on Seabrook, the Turtle Patrol always welcomes enthusiastic volunteers.

Turtle Nesting Rules

If you find a sea turtle or eggs, please observe only from a distance. It is against the law to walk on the sand dunes, remove any vegetation, and touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings or nests. Identified nests are marked with a white pole and orange DNR sign.

Avoid digging holes on the beach as you may uncover a nesting site. If the kiddies (or pooch), start digging, please fill ALL holes, unfilled holes can trap the hatchlings. Knock down your creative sandcastles after your beach day too, creating a clear path for the hatchlings to make their way to the ocean.

Artificial lighting disturbs and disorientates the nesting turtles and hatchlings – do not use flashlights, lanterns, or flash photography on the beaches. If you’re staying at the oceanfront, all lights visible from the beach must be turned off between 9pm and 8am from May and October.

Report any unmarked nests, emerging hatchlings, or injured, stranded or sick sea turtles to Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol at 1-843-310-4280.

Leave only footprints behind on our beaches!

Fun & Fascinating Facts about Sea Turtles

Loggerheads are the most common of four turtle species in South Carolina, rare green sea turtles, Kemp’s Ridleys and Leatherbacks also nest on the South Carolina coastline.

From 2010 through 2021, 359 unique female turtles have laid nests on Seabrook Island.

The name Loggerhead comes from the turtle’s massive head and powerful jaw.

Loggerhead sea turtles are the most abundant of all sea turtle species in the US, and the most widespread sea turtle species in the world.

Loggerheads are the largest of the hard-shell turtles, full size adults reach about 3-4 feet long and weigh approximately 250 pounds.

Loggerheads have a long life span of over 50 years.

Weather conditions determine the gender of a loggerhead. Warm summer temperatures result in more female hatchlings, cool summers produce more males.

Loggerheads confuse plastic bags in the ocean with their favorite food source, a jellyfish! As little as half a gram of ingested plastic can kill a baby sea turtle. Skip the single-use plastic on Seabrook!

Calling all turtle lovers! Stay oceanfront on Seabrook Island and experience the beauty of these majestic creatures making their way to and from the Atlantic Ocean from your private beach boardwalk. Seabrook Exclusives offers a hand-picked collection of 70+ vacation homes and villas with access to the Seabrook Island Club amenities and miles of secluded shoreline for memorable wildlife experiences on the South Carolina coastline.

Tag: wildlife

Charleston Wine + Food Festival 2024