Come on out to the International Cowpea Festival & Cook-off for a day filled with food, music and fun. The second Saturday in September marks the date for the festival with the funny name. Listen to live music throughout the day, taste the professional chef’s culinary creations and vote for your favorite and stroll through the marketplace where you will find handmade arts and crafts and locally grown produce. There will also be food vendors and a heritage area to share other parts of Charleston’s story such as Cherokee, Civil War and Wild River history. A photo contest prior will be held prior to the festival and the winners will be announced on stage the day of the festival. Check out the website for information on entering the photo competition. The daylong event also features a family fun field with inflatables, games and a petting zoo. A detailed schedule of events will be available soon. Admission is free but you need to purchase a souvenir spatula in order to participate in the cook-off tasting/voting. Spatulas can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce and at the event (while supplies last).