The Cornbread Festival in Columbia SC is back! Here’s your guide to the event
South Carolina cornbread fans are in luck.
Following a three-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina Cornbread Festival is set to return Sunday on Main Street in Columbia. The organizers already held a kickoff event last week to jump start excitement for the festival’s return.
According to a press release from the North Columbia Business Association (NCBA)/North Main (NOMA) District, which is hosting the events, the festival attracts about 8,000 attendees annually to Columbia and Richland County. The festival proceeds enable the district to market the corridor throughout the Midlands, host events and showcase merchants.
The kickoff last Friday, also held on Main Street, featured a variety of family activities and was hosted by comedian Timmy Tim, with music from DJ Steele of TruBlu Entertainment.
Meanwhile on Saturday prior to the main festival, organizers will host a cornbread cook-off. The winners will be announced at the main festival.
SC Cornbread Festival
Where: 2847 N. Main Street in downtown Columbia
When: Sunday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate
This year’s Cornbread Festival will take place in the grassy area in front of the NOMA Community Garden, bordered by Anthony Avenue, Drayton and Newman Streets and River Drive. Festivities will include live music, cornhole and bingo games, the cornbread alley, the cornbread cook-off, the cornbread eating competition, the corn muffin playland, the Little Miss Muffin pageant, craft vendors, food trucks and exhibitors.
To buy tickets in advance, click here.
Cornbread cook-off contest
When: Judging starts at 2 p.m.
Where: 801 Wildwood Avenue, Columbia
If you make cornbread pudding, cornbread hush puppies, cornbread side dishes, casseroles or anything and everything in between that’s cornbread related — and you think you’re pretty good at it — consider enrolling in the festival’s cook-off contest. The top three winners will get trophies and money: $150 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place.
Cook-off rules
All participants must be legal residents of South Carolina.
Participants must be at least 18 years old.
Only one entry per family household is allowed.
Participants must not be professional chefs or cooks.
All entries must be created from scratch and recipe must accompany application.
Entries that require refrigeration will not be accepted.
Entries must be brought to the Ensor Keenan House at 801 Wildwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 29. Judging will begin at 2 p.m. and finalists will be announced on that day.
For a cook-off application click here.
