Beaufort is a friendly town known for charming atmosphere and its many festivals. We just had an incredible time at the the 65th Annual Water Festival, and we are already looking forward to the next event! Mark your calendars…the 27th annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival will officially be held this October 1-2, 2021. Held at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the Beaufort Shrimp Festival is the best place to try unique fresh, wild-caught shrimp dishes from chefs all over the Lowcountry. For over 20 years, Beaufort’s annual Shrimp Festival has celebrated our beloved regional tradition and history of shrimping the Atlantic Ocean.
Why We Love Shrimp Fest
- The Weather! October is a beautiful time to be outside in the Lowcountry. Historically the temperature rarely falls below 63°F or exceeds 87°F. Lovely!
- The Food: It’s called Shrimp Fest for a reason! We love tasting dishes from local favorites and trying out new restaurants from our community. This is a perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge of Beaufort area chefs and restaurants
- The Price: Admission is free! The concerts and market are free to enter. Each restaurant sets its own prices for individual dishes, so you can try as much or as little as you want.
Don’t Miss These Events
- Free Concerts: The festival will kick off at 5 p.m. on Friday, October. 1. Atlanta vocal group The Tams will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. as participants enjoy the selection of food and beverages.
- Run Forrest Run 5k: The Beaufort Digital Corridor presents the 2021 Beaufort Shrimp Festival Run Forrest Run 5K Run/Walk, October 2, 2021, at 8:00 AM on Bay at Newcastle Street. Run the course where the movie Forrest Gump was filmed! This Forrest Gump-themed 5K will take you through historic downtown Beaufort and over the famous Woods Memorial Bridge. Take your picture with Forrest Gump at the start/finish line.The ‘Run Forrest Run’ 5K run/walk will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the intersection of Bay and Newcastle streets. The course will take participants to the various places in Beaufort where the movie Forrest Gump was filmed, including across the Woods Memorial Bridge (or should we say the Mississippi Bridge?) Participants can sign up here.
- Adopt a Shrimp Race: 5,000 rubber shrimp wearing inner tubes are released from the nets of an authentic shrimp trawler into the Beaufort River. The shrimp float along in tidal current to the finish line. Each shrimp wears a unique number corresponding to one of the numbers on a purchased adoption ticket. In the past there have been some seriously cool prizes valuing thousands of dollars.
- Craft Market: Enjoy the weather and browse tents filled with wildlife photography, handmade jewelry, clothing, furniture, soaps, and home decor. Some talented vendors have included The Salty Mermaid, Charleston Ecojewelry, Gullah Artist Cassandra Gillens, and Well Designed Wood.
Make Sure You Try…
- Shrimp Boil (Also called Frogmore Stew): A Lowcountry favorite with many variations, but always containing Seafood of choice, corn, andouille sausage, and potatoes. Traditionally, sea water was/is used to boil all the ingredients to achieve a salty, briny taste.
- Fresh Seafood: In years past, vendors such as Sea Eagle Market offered fresh SC wild-caught shrimp straight off of the back of their shrimp boat during the Beaufort Shrimp Festival. Be on the lookout for experiences like this one!
- Shrimp and Grits from Saltus River Grill
- Wonton Shrimp Wraps from Southern Graces Events
- Lemon Shrimp Kabobs from Madisons in Port Royal
- Shrimp Po Boys from Breakwater Beaufort
- Do you have a favorite we didn’t mention? We would love to hear about it!
Stay Downtown
Come make some memories of your own! Beaufort SC is a town full of fun community festivals. There are so many of them! In a town with so much history and tradition, we celebrate everything from the water, to food, and to culture that all contribute to making up the wonderful area that we call home. The Cuthbert House Inn is the perfect place to stay during your time in Beaufort. This waterfront, historic mansion is just minutes from downtown Beaufort’s Waterfront Park. Innkeepers Ed & Connie would love to point you in the direction of all of their favorite activities and share more local tips with you. Call the Cuthbert House Inn at (843) 521-1315 to make a reservation.
