An insider’s guide to the Arts & Seafood Festival’s Street Fest
In Bluffton art and seafood have always made a pretty good pair. The Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival returns Oct. 9-18 for 10 days of coastal flavors, creativity, live music and unmistakable Bluffton character. It all builds to Street Fest on Oct. 17-18, when Old Town transforms into an open-air gallery and food crawl with more than 100 juried artists, restaurants, food vendors and musicians filling the streets. With so much to see, taste and discover, consider this your cheat sheet to the grand finale: five festival foods worth seeking out and five standout artists to find along the way.
Food Worth Finding
Palmetto Kettle Corn
Sweet, salty and just a little fiery, Palmetto Kettle Corn’s signature Sweet Heat puts a spicy spin on a festival classic. Each batch is handmade in small quantities for that fresh-from-the-kettle crunch. Traditionalists can stick with the classic while caramel, cheddar and other sweet and savory varieties make it easy to snack your way through the lineup. Samples are encouraged, so taste before choosing your bag.
The Sugaree
A little taste of Maine has become a Bluffton festival tradition. The Sugaree, a Bluffton bakery and cafe, serves a true Maine-style lobster roll generously packed with tender lobster meat, lightly dressed and tucked into a buttery, toasted New England-style split-top bun. The local favorite returns for its 15th festival appearance. Find the booth, say hello, and grab the lobster roll that keeps festival-goers coming back.
Bluffton Oyster Co.
October is prime time for local white shrimp, and few names are more closely tied to Bluffton seafood than Bluffton Oyster Co. The family-run waterfront operation has been part of the town’s seafood story since 1899, serving up a taste of the Lowcountry that’s about as local as it gets. Seek out the fresh local shrimp, then make room for the company’s famous local oysters, another festival favorite worth getting a little messy for.
Southern Spice Deli & Catered Events
Whether it’s a shrimp burger slider or a steaming bowl of seafood chowder, this popular Hardeeville deli and catering company knows how to make fresh local seafood shine. Don’t overlook the sides either. Tomato-cucumber salad and fried garlic cheese curds make this a booth where ordering more than one thing is highly encouraged.
Mother Smokin’ Good BBQ
Smoke is the star at Mother Smokin’ Good BBQ, where pitmaster Marquith “Roscoe” Green serves up a hearty lineup of slow-cooked Southern favorites. His signature Roscoe ribs helped earn him the title of Rib Champion on Discovery+’s “Moonshiners: Smoke Ring,” but they’re just the beginning. From smoky meats and barbecue classics to satisfying sides, the menu is built for festival appetites. Come hungry, grab a plate, and taste the barbecue that put Roscoe on the map.
Artists Worth Admiring
Stephanie Lavender
Stephanie Lavender brings color, texture and a touch of coastal glamour to her distinctive mixed-media art. Inspired by the landscapes and lifestyle of South Florida, her work combines unexpected materials, intricate craftsmanship and bold design to create pieces that are as tactile as they are eye-catching.
Michael Allen
Greenville artist Michael Allen brings the natural world into vivid focus through richly colored oil paintings. Birds, wildlife and underwater scenes come alive in saturated color and striking realism, capturing the beauty and detail of the natural world.
Shelby Dillon
Bluffton artist Shelby Dillon channels a life of travel into colorful, expressive works filled with bold brushwork and patterns. Her paintings and mixed-media pieces draw inspiration from water, tropical landscapes and the simple pleasure of slowing down and taking it all in.
Rachael Newman
Water, sky and solitude define Bluffton artist Rachael Newman’s atmospheric seascapes. Soft horizons, distant boats and shifting light create a sense of stillness, giving her coastal scenes a peaceful, almost dreamlike quality.
Winthrope Hiers
Guyton photographer Winthrope Hiers finds extraordinary moments in wildlife, landscapes and familiar Southern scenes. His careful use of light, timing and composition transforms recognizable subjects into fine-art images that invite a second look.
Listen to the Music
Saturday, Oct. 17
Main Stage (Martin Family Park)
The Close, 10 a.m.-12:20 p.m.Spike Ivory, 12:45-2:30 p.m.Bottles and Cans, 3-5 p.m…