Fresh food, drinks, entertainment and fun were not in short supply Thursday evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Bush River Road, as Capital City Lake Murray Country held its 21st annual Taste of Lake Murray fundraiser. The event is the sole fundraising opportunity for Lake Murray’s Independence Day celebration, and this year featured offerings from 17 different restaurants.
Capital City Lake Murray Country covers Lexington, Richland, Newberry and Saluda counties. Any restaurant located across those counties can participate, whether they’re located on the lake or not. The newest addition to this year’s festivities was the Liberty Lounge: a covered, outdoor expansion that housed restaurants that are part of the Fresh on the Menu program, with a percentage of all ingredients used in their dishes being South Carolina-grown produce. Liberty Lounge restaurants included Cola’s, Roy’s Grille, Blue Marlin, Savage Craft Ale Works and Mother’s Oysters + Pies. DJ Stingray 803 was keeping the party upbeat outside with his DJ booth set up on a boat in the parking lot provided by Tidewater.
In addition to the 12 other restaurants inside the venue, there was a silent auction, a raffle and a dance floor with guests singing along to hits by Right to Party…