Tonight and tomorrow, check out the latest installment of Taste of Folly, out on Folly Beach. This weekend is also your last chance to experience Charleston Restaurant Week, which I covered in this blog. It runs through Sunday the 19th. This is eighth year of the ever-popular Taste of Folly, which gives the Edge of America a chance to showcase its cocktails and cuisine scene. Folly Beach has its own particular island vibe, as each of the barrier islands around Charleston does. Folly has a buzzing surfer scene, and over twenty restaurants and bars cater to the hungry and thirsty set. They will be out in force, offering libations and vittles in a festival atmosphere. Organizers expect 4,000 people to attend, so it’s no small event.
What to expect at Taste of Folly
First up, tonight - Friday, January 17th - is the cocktail portion of the festival. It’s the Taste of Folly Cocktail Competition, going on from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. at the Tides, on the beach at the base of Center Street. Folly’s finest bartenders will concoct their best drinks, and attendees get to vote for their favorite. Tickets are $20 advance or $25 at the door. You can buy advance tickets here. Then, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. is the big event. It’s the Taste of Folly Street Festival, taking over Center Street. (By the way, Center Street will be closed to traffic from 7:00 a.m. till 6:30 p.m. for setup and teardown.) They have a bunch of fun planned. Get set for:
- Over 55 vendors on Center Street, with plenty of local food to try;
- Cooking demonstrations from favorite Folly restaurants;
- Bert’s Market Hot Dog Eating Contest at 1:00 p.m., with prizes for the top three;
- Annual Chili Cook Off starting at 11:00 a.m., also with prizes for the top three;
- The Washout Oyster Shucking Contest at 2:30, with prizes for top three;
- The popular Server Olympics;
- Live music on Ashley and Huron Avenues, by Weigh Station, Bluegrass Buddies, Well Charged, and the Spazmatics;
- A massive Kids’ Area with Kids Kitchen by Good Clean Fun, Pots and Pans Percussion, Soapy Sudsy Kitchen, past making, jugglers, stilt walkers, and free inflatables.
Admission is $5, free for Folly residents and kids 12 and under. You can buy tickets and reserve spots for the competitions here. Find out all the details at the official Folly website, or from Live 5 News. FYI, no pets, outside coolers, skateboards or bikes allowed at the Street Festival. The weather looks to be really nice this weekend, so taste of folly should go on as planned. Check it out, along with the last weekend of Charleston Restaurant Week. And when you’re looking for the very best in beach house rentals Charleston SC, be sure to give Exclusive Properties a call. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger