Columbia Food & Wine Festival

Bunaroo
2026-04-25 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Finlay Park
Bunaroo brings together Columbia’s top chefs for a gourmet spin on the humble bun — from craft sliders and bao buns to brioche sandwiches and lobster rolls. This walk-around tasting highlights inventive takes from restaurants including Dragon Room, Guy’s Hotdogs, Hall’s Columbia, Side Car Sams, and The Yard. With live music, flowing drinks, and a dog-friendly setting, guests (and their pups) are invited to snack, sip, and soak up the good vibes at this feel-good celebration of flavor, community, and comfort food done right.

Chef Secrets: An Empanada and Salsa Workshop
2026-04-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Savage Craft
Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on culinary classroom led by Chef Javier Uriarte (Woodcreek Club) and Chef David Grillo (Boca Grande). In this interactive experience, guests will learn the art of crafting empanadas from scratch — from mixing and rolling the dough to filling and folding with confidence. Along the way, guests will enjoy small bites while the chefs share their approach to building vibrant salsas, exploring flavor, balance, and heat. Come ready to cook, taste, and learn as you unlock chef secrets you’ll want to take back to your own kitchen.

Smoke on the Water
2026-04-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Putnam Harbor
A one-of-a-kind lakeside celebration set against the scenic backdrop of Lake Murray at Putnam’s Harbor, this premium event brings together some of the South’s most respected names in barbecue for an afternoon rooted in fire, flavor, and fellowship. Guests will enjoy a custom protein collaboration from James Beard Award finalist Robbie Robinson (City Limits) andJames Beard Award winner Rodney Scott (Rodney Scott’s BBQ), alongside crave-worthy bites from beloved local BBQ joints. Adding to the experience, legendary pitmaster Myron Mixon (Myron Mixon’s BBQ) will take part in a live Q&A, sharing stories, techniques, and hard-earned wisdom from decades at the pit. Live music, a curated beer garden, and sweeping waterfront views round out the afternoon — creating a laid-back yet elevated gathering that celebrates the craft, culture, and community behind great barbecue.

Grand Tasting
2026-04-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Hampton-Preston Mansion and Robert Mills House
The festival’s finale, the Grand Tasting, will be hosted across two Historic Columbia properties — Robert Mills House and Gardens and Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens. Enjoy an afternoon of local flavors with over 100 top restaurants, breweries, mixologists and culinary artisans. Indulge in innovative dishes, craft brews and farm-to-table cocktails, all set to live music and chef demonstrations. VIP and Early Access ticket holders can enjoy an extra hour of culinary exploration with entry at noon.
