Bring Your Brand to the 2nd SC Pimento Cheese Festival at Saluda Shoals Park

COLUMBIA EVENTS FIELD GUIDE

Bring Your Brand to the 2nd SC Pimento Cheese Festival at Saluda Shoals Park

A one-day, vendor-focused festival on March 14, 2026 (11am–7pm) at Saluda Shoals Park where businesses can reach a family audience drawn to pimento-cheese foods, live music, a craft fair, and kids’ activities.

Bring Your Brand to the 2nd SC Pimento Cheese Festival at Saluda Shoals Park.

Duration
8 hours
Location
Columbia
Operator
Red Maple Event
Category
Events
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

Join the second SC Pimento Cheese Festival for a full day in the park: a family-friendly, vendor-forward celebration of pimento-cheese–inspired foods, live music, a craft fair and children’s activities at Saluda Shoals Park on March 14, 2026 — an event that builds on last year’s crowd and expects even larger attendance this time.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

THE FOOD

Pimento-cheese tasting and vendor stalls

Vendors will offer pimento cheese–inspired foods for sale across the grounds, a central draw that attracted more than 2,500 attendees at the inaugural festival and aims to reach even larger crowds this year.

THE STAGE

Live music through the day

A program of live music will provide the festival’s soundtrack, creating repeated performance windows that keep attendees moving through the vendor and craft areas.

THE MARKET

Craft fair and family activities

Alongside food vendors there will be a craft fair and activities aimed at children, making the event explicitly family-friendly and offering varied foot traffic for businesses and artisans.

What the day feels like

A full afternoon of tasting, shopping, and live music

The festival unfolds across an eight-hour window in Saluda Shoals Park: attendees pass through the park entrance, sample pimento cheese creations and other vendor fare, browse craft booths, and gather at the music stage while families use the dedicated kids’ activities — a compact, continuous flow that keeps vendors in front of steady crowds.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who benefits most — and who should think twice.

1
Families with childrenThis is explicitly a family-friendly event with kids’ activities and programming, well suited to parents seeking a day outing.
2
Local food vendors & artisansVendors and small businesses are encouraged to promote their products in front of a sizeable public audience drawn to food and craft offerings.
3
Community-minded shoppersShoppers interested in local foods, pimento-cheese variations, and handmade crafts will find concentrated offerings across vendor rows.
4
Visitors who avoid large crowdsNot ideal for those seeking a quiet experience — the event expects substantial attendance and a busy park atmosphere.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Season

Saturday, March 14, 2026 — festival hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; total scheduled duration is eight hours.

What to Bring

The festival is free to attend; there is a parking fee collected at the park gate.

Logistics & Location

The festival takes place at Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

When is the SC Pimento Cheese Festival?

The festival is scheduled for March 14, 2026, running from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Where is the festival held?

At Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212.

Is there an admission fee?

The event is free to attend; attendees should expect to pay a parking fee at the park gate.

Who is organizing the event?

The festival is operated by Red Maple Event.

Is this event family-friendly?

Yes — the festival is described as family-friendly and includes activities for children in addition to food, music, and crafts.

How large is the expected attendance?

The first festival drew over 2,500 attendees; organizers expect the second festival to be larger, with thousands anticipated.