By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Rain and cloudy weather may have plagued the annual Taste of Beaufort event last weekend in Beaufort, but that did not stop locals and visitors alike from coming to the waterfront festival to enjoy some good food and music.
The City of Beaufort hosted the Taste of Beaufort event on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
Admission to the festival was free and patrons could purchase tickets to buy food and beverages on site.
“The rain did put a dampness on the festival on Friday, but overall people still had a great time,” Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray said.
This year, most of the vendors were food truck vendors, some local and some based in surrounding areas such as Charleston.
“I think one of the challenges is that our brick-and-mortar restaurants, between being a bit short-staffed and being really busy after COVID-19, they’ve had a hard time putting people in the park,” Mayor Murray said.
Despite the lack of the local brick-and-mortar restaurants, there was a lot of variety for attendees to choose from.
Festival goers could choose from local seafood, Southern food, Polish food, Asian food, and a lot of sweets and snacks such as macarons, kettle corn, fudge and ice cream.
Bands played on Friday night and Saturday during the day, drawing people down toward the stage to eat their food samplings while enjoying live music.
Deaz Guys and Whiskey & Wine took to the stage on Friday night and on Saturday, it was Campfire Tyler, Parris Island Dirty Boots Brass Band, Irritating Julie, and The Brewer Band.
The festival had a Kid’s Corner with face painting and mini golf as well as a Craft Market that was open on both Friday and Saturday.
While exact numbers for this year’s festival are not available yet, Rob Wells, President and CEO of Visit Beaufort, Port Royal and Sea Islands, said that in past years this festival has drawn between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors to the downtown Beaufort area.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
