Overview The Beaufort Shrimp Festival celebrates fresh, locally caught shrimp and the food, music, arts and culture of the South Carolina Lowcountry. The City of Beaufort produces it over a Friday evening and a Saturday on the downtown waterfront, and admission is free. Area restaurants and chefs serve shrimp dishes for $1 food and beverage tickets, and every dollar the festival raises goes back into Beaufort's community events. On site Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park fills with food vendors, a beer and wine garden, an art and craft market and sponsor booths along the Beaufort River. A main stage runs live music both days, and a Kids Corner offers face painting and shows on Saturday. The Sea Island Rotary Charity Shrimp Race floats rubber shrimp down the river, and the Run Forrest Run 5K crosses the Woods Memorial Bridge on the course where Forrest Gump was filmed. Audience More than 12,000 people attend, a mix of Beaufort residents, families, retirees and visitors to the Lowcountry. Organizing partners promote the festival to more than 200,000 social profiles and 20,000 email subscribers, with radio and podcast spots across drive-market stations. Talent and Influencers The music lineup mixes regional acts with tribute bands. Recent bills have included singer Anna Barnes, The Reflex, a Duran Duran tribute, Peach Patrol, Willie Jackson and The Tybee Blues Band, and the Parris Island Marine Corps Band. The Island Packet, The Island News and regional outlets cover the festival before and after the weekend. Track record The festival has filled the Waterfront Park every fall for decades and has become one of Beaufort's most anticipated annual events, with organizers reporting record crowds. The Rotary shrimp race carries a large grand prize and raises money for local causes, and the 5K is presented by the Beaufort Digital Corridor. Brand presence Sponsors have included Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Xfinity, Ameris Bank, Southern Tide, LeafFilter, Renewal by Andersen, Capital Waste Services and HIS Radio. Six levels run from Friend of the Festival to a single Presenting Sponsor, with t-shirt logos, banners, emcee recognition, booth space, VIP tent passes with a private beer and wine bar, and food and beverage tickets.