Beaufort Shrimp Festival

View on map
Food & DrinkBeaufort
DatesDates TBA · Usually OctoberCheck locally before booking
Duration2 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkThe festival's Shrimp Showdown, a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Beaufort Shrimp Festival in Beaufort

Beaufort Shrimp Festival is a two-day fall festival held each October at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort, South Carolina, organized by the City of Beaufort and the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association. Now in its fourth decade, the festival centers on a shrimp-dish cooking competition called the Shrimp Showdown, an arts and crafts market, live music, and a Forrest Gump-themed 5K road race.

Beaufort, South Carolina has a claim to Hollywood history that most small coastal towns cannot match: much of the 1994 film Forrest Gump was filmed in and around the city, and its downtown waterfront still carries that legacy into local events decades later.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's Shrimp Showdown, a people's-choice cooking competition where local chefs prepare original shrimp dishes for attendees to taste and vote on, gives the event a genuinely competitive culinary centerpiece rather than simple food-vendor sampling

02

The mystery stays covered

Its Saturday-morning Run Forrest Run 5K, the opening race of the local Beaufort Triple Crown, follows the course made famous by the movie Forrest Gump, which was filmed in Beaufort, tying the festival directly into the town's Hollywood history in a way few shrimp festivals could replicate

03

The city starts moving

A Coastal Education Fair adds an environmental and educational dimension alongside the more than 40 artisans selling jewelry, clothing, woodworking, and fine art across the two-day arts and crafts market

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Shrimp Showdown people's-choice cooking competition and the Run Forrest Run 5K

Water and renewal

Living ritual

which follows the course made famous by the Forrest Gump filming locations in Beaufort as the opening race of the local Triple Crown running series

The sacred route

Living ritual

are the festival's two signature

The local code

Living ritual

recurring traditions

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually October

Getting around

For Beaufort Shrimp Festival, plan transport around the exact Beaufort venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual fall waterfront festival wear works well: comfortable clothing for a day spent walking between vendor tents and the stage, with a light layer for cooler October evenings. Athletic...

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

For Beaufort Shrimp Festival, stay near the part of Beaufort you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map32.43 N, 80.67 WOpen in Google Maps

Beaufort, SC

Nearest airportSAV — Savannah Hilton Head
TransportFor Beaufort Shrimp Festival, plan transport around the exact Beaufort venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Beaufort Shrimp Festival, stay near the part of Beaufort you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Beaufort via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Beaufort, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearCasual fall waterfront festival wear works well: comfortable clothing for a day spent walking between vendor tents and the stage, with a light layer for cooler October evenings. Athletic wear is appropriate for participants in the Saturday morning 5K.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Beaufort Shrimp Festival?

Beaufort Shrimp Festival is listed for Past edition: 3–4 October 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Beaufort Shrimp Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Beaufort, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

2 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Beaufort, SC

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbeaufortshrimpfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually October
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Qingdao International Beer Festival

17 July–16 August 2026

Qingdao, China
Photo pending

National Cherry Festival

July · Summer

Traverse City, United States
Photo pending

National Cherry Festival

4–6 December 2026

Young, Australia
Photo pending

Oktoberfest

19 September–4 October 2026

Munich, Germany

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →