Does your pimento cheese have what it takes to win "South Carolina's Best Pimento Cheese" title?

 

Contest Information

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What: South Carolina Pimento Cheese Festival Pimento Cheese Contest 

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Where: Bring sample to the entrance of the soccer fields at Saluda Shoals located at 6071 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212 (enter between Aldi & Wendy’s) 

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When: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 5:00pm-6:30pm  

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Online pre-registration for this contest is REQUIRED.  Contestants must register and turn in their pimento cheese sample on March 10, 2026.

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Who: All levels of amateur Home cooks  

 

Registration: 

$25 per entry

• This fee includes entry into the competition and ONE tasting ticket to the SC Pimento Cheese Festival on March 14, 2026

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE PIMENTO CHEESE COMPETITION 

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Prizes:

1st Place $100
2nd Place $50
3rd Place $25

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Judges will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize money and ribbons to winning participants based on total points received out of 110 Points. Pimento cheese samples will be judged on:

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Taste (50)

Creativity (25)

Appearance & Texture (10)

Use of ingredients (25)

 

Winners will be announced at the SC Pimento Cheese Festival on March 14, 2026 at 3pm

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Contest Rules 

• Contestants will bring their best homemade pimento cheese to be presented to a panel of judges for evaluation 

• Entries will be judged on taste, appearance, and texture 

• All skill levels of home cooks can enter the Pimento Cheese Contest. Professionals in the culinary field are not eligible for participation in the Pimento Cheese Contest.  A Culinary Professional is an individual who is a chef or cooks professional as a source of income, an individual who has edited, produced, printed, and/or published a cookbook for professional gain, or an individual who owns a food company that distributed pre-packaged food items on a personal website, global marketing platform, social media site, or in a physical store. If you’re a culinary professional, you can enter the Pimento Cheese contest for the day of the SC Pimento Cheese Festival (March 14, 2026). You will need to email RMeventsSC@gmail.com if you are interested in entering the professional competition. 

• Contestants are required to clearly write or type on the form below and bring with their pimento cheese sample. 

• 4oz to 8oz sample should be chilled and brought in a disposable container and be assembled with toppings (if needed) when delivered. Can be paired with dipper of choice.  

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