Kickoff Dinner
2026-04-22 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Hendrix
The festival begins with a showstopping seated dinner that sets the standard for the week ahead, bringing together some of the region’s most celebrated chefs for one unforgettable night. Guests will journey through four distinct levels of the historic 1649 Main St. building. Hendrix, the new Black Dog Pizza and Dorsia Pasta Co — experiencing a progressive menu designed to delight at every turn. Hendrix executive chef Frank Bradley will join forces with an all-star lineup of local talent, including Alex Strickland (Dragon Room), Anthea Douglas (Hendrix), Harold Pendleton (War Mouth), Joe Lytle (Black Dog Pizza), and Pierce Bowers (Dorsia Pasta Co).

The Collections Served: A Curated Dinner
2026-04-23 17:30 - 21:30 | Hampton Street Vineyard
The Collections Served invites guests to savor the intersection of art, wine, and cuisine through an immersive evening inspired by the Columbia Museum of Art’s newly reimagined collection galleries. The night begins with a cocktail hour and brief guided tour through the newly reopened CMA galleries, where guests will view select works from the museum’s four collecting areas — European, Asian, American, and modern and contemporary art — each serving as creative inspiration for the menu to come. Guests then stroll across the street to Hampton Street Vineyard for a seated four-course dinner, with each course thoughtfully crafted to reflect a piece from the collection. Executive Chef Wes Fulmer of Hampton Street Vineyard will collaborate with Chef Kevin Minnick (Quincy Country Club) to bring this artistic dialogue to the table, pairing thoughtful cuisine and wine in a relaxed yet refined setting.

Cocktail Games
2026-04-23 18:00 - 21:00 | Gather COLA
A fan favorite returns with the Cocktail Games, an energetic cocktail competition hosted this year at the newly opened Gather COLA in the BullStreet District. Watch top mixologists from near and far go head-to-head as they showcase creativity, technique, and showmanship in pursuit of the coveted title “CFWF Mixologist of the Year.” With a panel of judges calling the shots and expertly crafted bites from Bessie’s Burgers and Big Easy Seafood Co, this spirited evening delivers high-stakes competition and plenty of reasons to sip, savor, and cheer.

Bites Around the Block
2026-04-23 18:00 - 21:00 | Multiple locations between Elmwood and River Drive
Bites Around the Block is a food crawl in Uptown Columbia — the eclectic little neighborhood north of Elmwood. With bites and sips from A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen, Curiosity Coffee Bar, Indah Coffee, Noma Bistro, Peak Drift Brewing Company, Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits, Something Small Catering, The Vino Garage, and The War Mouth. Plus stops at The Dens by Hotel Trundle and Gardener’s Outpost with tunes from Prettier Than Matt.

High Tea & Tutus
2026-04-24 15:00 - 18:00 | Mansion on Blanding
A ballet-inspired high tea experience that reimagines traditional afternoon tea through immersive design, theatrical performance, and elevated culinary presentation from restaurants like Abundant Graze, Ally & Eloise, B.MAC Bakeshop, COA, Nibl Dessert & Cafe, Our Daily Bread. Blending classic elegance with playful excess, guests will enjoy a refined tea service set amid Rococo-inspired details, as South Carolina Ballet transforms the space with a special performance. Historic surroundings become a living stage where food, movement, and art converge — indulgent, whimsical, and unmistakably theatrical.

A Reconstruction Dinner
2026-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | The Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home
Hosted at Historic Columbia’s Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, this intimate dinner invites guests to experience how place, history, and food intersect. In partnership with Discover South Carolina, the evening begins with a welcome cocktail from Bublee Mixologist Eboni Page followed by a seated, three-course dinner with wine pairings, prepared by SC Chef Ambassadors Chris Williams (Roy’s Grille), Darren Smith (Rivertown Bistro; Bonfire A Smokin’ Taqueria), Javier Uriarte (Woodcreek Club), Jessica Shillato (Spotted Salamander), and Sarah McClure (Southside Smokehouse & Grille). Drawing inspiration from the site itself, each chef brings their own perspective to a shared table—using food as a lens to reflect on resilience, tradition, and the evolving story of Southern cuisine.

Viva Las Bourbon!
2026-04-24 18:30 - 21:30 | Bourbon
When whiskey meets wagyu and the King takes the mic, it can only be Viva Las Bourbon! Set in the Courtyard at Bourbon, this intimate evening kicks off with a cocktail reception and passed bites, then rolls into a three-course meal by Chef/Owner Kristian Niemi (Black Rooster, Bourbon, Dragon Room) and Chef de Cuisine Cody Cable (Bourbon) and Guest Chef Shawn “Radar” Burnette (“Chateau de Merveilles”/ #knowyourfarmer movement), featuring Mishima Reserve American Wagyu. Guests will sip and savor a guided tasting of Heaven Hill whiskeys — including Bourbon’s latest Larceny barrel pick — alongside thoughtfully crafted whiskey cocktails throughout the night. Live music by the Capital City Playboys, featuring Patrick Baxley as Elvis, brings full Las Vegas energy — stylish, soulful, and a hunka hunka burnin’ love!

Cheese Rave: A Curd Collective
2026-04-24 21:00 - 2026-04-25 00:00 | Undisclosed location, to be shared with ticket buyers just before the event
Where dopamine-inducing cheese meets banging beats, The Cheese Rave: A Curd Collective promises a melty mashup pairing electronic music genres with complementary cheese families to create a multi-sensory journey through sound, flavor, and atmosphere. The event unfolds progressively over the evening, with multiple DJs, lighting, and cheese selections evolving in sync together through six curated chapters. Stay energized through tastings from favorites like Clemson Blue, Enzos, Market on Main, Rosewood Market, Scott Hall Catering, Village Idiot Pizza and cocktail pairings from acclaimed mixologists like 929 Kitchen & Bar and MOA Korean BBQ & Bar. From house music paired with soft-ripened cheeses to a techno room with hard cheeses and beyond, this will be a deliciously weird night out.

Taste The Rainbow
2026-04-25 11:00 - 14:00 | The Big Apple
Taste the Rainbow: Drag Brunch is a fierce feast featuring big energy, bold colors, and delicious bites for one over-the-top experience. A colorful lineup of dishes and drinks—each inspired by a different hue of the spectrum—showcases beloved brunch spots like Café Strudel, Market on Main, Motor Supply Co. Bistro, Our Daily Bread, Sakhar Jams and Za’s on Devine. Slaying the stage is a multi-queen drag performance, hosted by Paris Lefaris, set to the beats of DJ Lonzo. Expect big personalities, dazzling visuals, and an inclusive, unapologetically fun atmosphere that invites guests to celebrate community, creativity, and color.

Bunaroo
2026-04-25 13:00 - 16:00 | 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.
