Mount Pleasant's Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival is the last Sunday in April, April 25, 2027, at Memorial Waterfront Park. Admission is free.

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Updated each year. Facts on this page come from the Town of Mount Pleasant’s festival page and shuttle and parking page on its Experience Mount Pleasant site, and the town’s special events page. Special Events Office: events@tompsc.com, town main line 843-884-8517.

The Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival is held on the last Sunday in April at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, the town’s special events page says. In 2027 that is Sunday, April 25. The town calls it the most popular event of the year in Mount Pleasant. Working shrimp boats get a blessing for a safe season and parade in Charleston Harbor, with the Ravenel Bridge behind them. Admission and activities are free.

The town has not yet posted the 2027 schedule, shuttles or food vendors. The details below are from the 2026 festival on April 26, and this page will be updated when the 2027 plans are out.

Blessing of the Fleet at a glance

  • When: last Sunday in April; Sunday, April 25, 2027. 2026 hours were 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Where: Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and the Mount Pleasant Pier
  • Cost: free admission; food sold by local restaurants and caterers
  • Parking: limited at the park; free shuttles from Town Hall and other lots
  • Art of the Creek special exhibit: Wednesday, April 21, 2027, the town’s listing says
  • Organizer: Town of Mount Pleasant, events@tompsc.com

The day, from the 2026 schedule

Time What happened
11 a.m. National anthem with the Mount Pleasant Fire Department Honor Guard; mayor’s welcome
11:20 a.m. Procession from the pier entrance gate: honor guard, ministers, mayor and guests
11:30 a.m. Blessing at the end of the pier and boat parade in Charleston Harbor, broadcast live in the park and on 92.5 Kickin’ Country
12:30 p.m. The Smythes
2 p.m. East Coast Party Band
3 p.m. Shrimp Eating Contest
3:30 p.m. Bowers Beach Boogie Contest with East Coast Party Band
5 p.m. Festival ends

Through the day there is local seafood from Mount Pleasant chefs, live music, a craft show, free activities for children and a juried art exhibit by the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild. The town bills the shrimp-eating contest and a shag dance contest, for South Carolina’s state dance, as crowd favorites.

Food

The town lists the restaurants and caterers that served at the 2025 festival: Graze, Mazyck’s Grill, Charleston Festival Foods, Zeus Grill & Seafood, Charleston Bay Gourmet, The Caterer of Charleston and Top Shelf Catering. Vendors also sell kettle corn, funnel cakes, shaved ice, ice cream and baked goods. The town asks festivalgoers to ask where their seafood came from and to buy wild-caught, local shrimp.

Parking and free shuttles

Parking at Memorial Waterfront Park is limited, with some accessible spaces. In 2026 the town’s shuttle page listed:

  • Park and walk: Patriots Point Soccer Complex, 85 Patriots Point Road
  • Buses 1 to 4: the Mullis Building at East Cooper Medical Center, 851 Leonard Fulghum Blvd. Wheelchair-accessible bus.
  • Buses 5 to 7: Town Hall, 100 Ann Edwards Lane, stopping near the CARTA Route 40 stop. Wheelchair-accessible bus.
  • Buses 8 and 9: Omar Shrine Center, 176 Patriots Point Road. No accessible bus here.

Shuttles ran continuously from 10:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., and the last buses left the park at 5 p.m. Chairs and festival gear are welcome on board; only service animals may ride.

Who the festival helps

The festival began in 1988, and in a tradition started by the Magwood family, its net proceeds go each year to local nonprofits that recruit and manage the volunteers. The 2026 beneficiaries were the East Cooper Mount Pleasant Kiwanis and the Lonon Foundation. Buying official festival souvenirs adds to the gift.

Artisans, sponsors and vendors can email events@tompsc.com; the artisan application for 2026 has closed.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Blessing of the Fleet in Mount Pleasant?

The town holds the Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival on the last Sunday in April, which in 2027 is April 25, at Memorial Waterfront Park. The 2026 festival ran 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Is the Blessing of the Fleet free?

Yes. The town says admission and activities are free. Seafood and festival food from local restaurants and caterers are sold on site.

Where do you park for the Blessing of the Fleet?

Parking at Memorial Waterfront Park is limited. In 2026 free shuttles ran from the Mullis Building at East Cooper Medical Center, Town Hall and the Omar Shrine Center, and you could park and walk from the Patriots Point Soccer Complex.

What time is the blessing of the boats?

In 2026 the procession left the pier gate at 11:20 a.m., and the blessing at the end of the Mount Pleasant Pier and the boat parade in Charleston Harbor began at 11:30 a.m.

Who benefits from the Blessing of the Fleet?

The festival’s net proceeds go to local nonprofits that run its volunteers. The 2026 beneficiaries were the East Cooper Mount Pleasant Kiwanis and the Lonon Foundation.