Taste of Folly proves the island’s food scene is a year-round attraction, not just a summer fling
by Lorne Chambers | Editor
The return of the annual Taste of Folly means it’s time for food and cocktails paired with live music and salty December air. Every January, Center Street closes to car traffic and opens to roaming crowds hungry for oyster shooters, shrimp tacos, donuts, and more.
This year, the Folly Association of Business (FAB) will once again orchestrate the off-season festival that has become a pilgrimage for locals and tourists alike. The event, scheduled for January 16-17, aims to highlight Folly’s eccentric culinary scene at a time of year when many beach towns fall quiet.
“Taste of Folly is designed to focus on Folly’s eclectic cocktail and food scene,” says Kelly Travers, event organizer for FAB. “We mix in a few art, craft and clothing vendors as well and of course strive to create a great experience for our residents and visitors with live music and lots of family fun.”
The Taste of Folly has evolved into more than a street fair—it is a showcase, competition, economic booster, and celebration rolled into one long weekend. Pulling off an event of this size on a narrow barrier island requires serious choreography on the part of Travers and the City of Folly Beach.
“There is only one way on the island and one way off the island,” says Travers. “So the set-up and take-down of the event must move quickly and efficiently! We also need to keep traffic moving because it can get hectic quick! But we have some good years of practice under our belts!”
That “practice” will be put to the test this year as the stormwater infrastructure improvements march toward the heart of downtown. Construction has inched steadily toward Center Street, forcing FAB to plan the festival with contingency maps, backup logistics, and what Travers jokingly called a little “stormwater drama.”
Despite the uncertainty, FAB anticipates nearly 75 to 80 vendors lining Center Street on Saturday, Jan. 17. It’s one of the largest turnouts in the festival’s history. Most of Folly’s restaurants will participate in some form, whether by operating street booths, hosting indoor experiences, or entering the cocktail competition on Friday, Jan. 16 at Tides, located at 1 Center St.
Among the street food highlights: Donut Daddy, Shaka Shrimp, Biscuit Shed, The Head Baker, Natural Blonde, Cane Mixers, Meet Your Cremator, Levity, Crab Shack, and Savvy Rose.
The cocktail competition remains one of the festival’s marquee events, and this year, it brings an exciting new collaboration with The Striped Pig Distillery, a female-owned, family-run distillery based in Charleston.
“One of our most exciting new partnerships is with The Striped Pig distillery,” Travers says. “They invited some of Folly’s best mixologists to the distillery for a tasting, and from there they selected their favorite three spirits that will be represented in the cocktail competition! The cocktails this year are certainly not to be missed.”
The competition is shaping up to be a highlight not only for judges but for ticket-holders lucky enough to sip their way through Folly’s creative mixology scene. FAB has also teased a surprise pop-up guest at the competition serving “the best boozy oyster shooters in town,” along with the possibility of additional oysters on Center Street.
Beyond the festival’s plates and drinks lies a broader mission: strengthening Folly’s economy during its quieter months.
“We love welcoming guests out to the island in the off-season to help boost the economy for our local businesses,” Travers says. “Once they realize all that Folly has to offer, we are confident we will see return visits throughout the year!”
Travers’ optimism is grounded in past success. Many festival-goers discover Folly during Taste weekend, then return months later for dinners, drinks, or a casual stroll through our little beach town.
The music lineup will feature five bands across two stages, including headliner Big Stoner Creek, performing on the Huron Stage. Festival competitions will include oyster shucking, hot-dog eating, the one-pot showdown, and cocktail crafting, while two dedicated kids’ areas keep families fed and entertained. And yes, there will even be a beagle bounce house, courtesy of FAB’s continued partnership with Pet Helpers.
The Taste of Folly will be held the weekend of Jan. 16-17. For tickets or more information on the cocktail competition and street festival, visit www.visitfolly.com/festival/taste-of-folly
