The South Carolina shrimping industry dates back to the 1920s, with about 4.6 million pounds of shrimp coming from the ACE basin, the coastline between Charleston and Beaufort. A nice benefit of residing in or visiting our coastal areas is enjoying cuisine featuring fresh, local shrimp. The fall shrimp season is celebrated in our state through a delicious small-town South Carolina shrimp festival, called the Beaufort Shrimp Festival.

Beaufort has been chosen by Southern Living as the Best Small Town in the South, noting its history, attractions, and beauty found at the Waterfront Park and other areas.

The Beaufort Shrimp Festival is held each fall at this scenic park. This year's event is happening on October 6 and 7, 2023.

For two days, attendees gather here to enjoy tasty food, special activities, and entertainment.

The region’s top restaurants and chefs present unique shrimp dishes for attendees to enjoy.

Calling all movie buffs, athletes, or anyone who enjoys a good 5K … participate in the Run Forrest Run 5K Run/Walk, a one-of-a-kind opportunity to run the exact course from the movie “Forrest Gump.”

The course takes runners through historic downtown Beaufort and over the famous Woods Memorial Bridge, with a Forrest Gump photo op at the start/finish line.

Alternatively, or in addition, sponsor a shrimp for the Annual Charity Shrimp Race. Highly trained and motivated rubber shrimp mount their inner tubes and take to the water to help raise money for the community. The grand prize winner receives $30,000!

You will enjoy fabulous entertainment from a variety of artists, such as Slippery When Wet, performing all of your favorite Bon Jovi tunes...

… and South Carolina's own Jason Lee Cook who has won multiple awards and always reaches deep into your soul with his heartfelt country music vibe.

Check the Beaufort Shrimp Festival website or Beaufort Shrimp Festival Facebook page for a complete list of this year’s performers and other helpful information.

This festival is full of fun all day and admission is free!

Let's check out the Beaufort Shrimp Festival in this video from Andy Larson:

The Beaufort Shrimp Festival is one of those fall events you really don't want to miss. It combines all of our favorite activities - eating great food, listening to live music, and enjoying a beautiful location. Have you ever been to this epic South Carolina shrimp festival? Please tell us about your experience in the comments section!

To take full advantage of Beaufort’s opportunities in the fall season, be sure to take a drive down the most haunted street in South Carolina after dark for spooky fun. If you are in town for the shrimp festival, you'll need a place to stay - this beautifully renovated historic cottage in Beaufort's historic district is the perfect choice.