Join us as we review the 4th year of Southern Roots Reunion, held on April 12th, 2025, celebrating food and community! This blog features behind-the-scenes from the VIP area, barbeque & drinks nationwide, vendors, and a history of the festival and its founders. As always, we’re already looking forward to next year at one of our favorite foodie festivals of the year! 🙌
VIP Section 🥳
Trailblazer Park, Travelers Rest, SC
Welcome to the fourth year of Southern Roots Reunion! Getting VIP tickets means access to the festival an hour early. If you’re not just a carnivore but a seafood lover, basically, this is your jam. To start, there’s an exclusive oyster roast from now-three-timers Jones Oyster Co. We were also excited to see Sushi Yama from downtown Travelers Rest back for a second Live Tuna Cutting, which they smoked this year!
Our friends Heather and Ray from Foodie McFooderton hung out with us (along with some of our other favorite foodie friends) to enjoy the early festivities. Check out more scenes from the VIP area below (including drinks from Wine House and specialty cocktails from the City Club of Greenville)!
One of the bartenders from The City Club even made the “Strawberry Fields” drink into a mocktail for me, which I truly appreciated.
Swamp Rabbit Bluegrass Band from the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Sarah and team from Lewis Barbecue of Greenville in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Scoundrel’s booth from the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Scoundrel’s smoked pork belly slider with black truffle and watercress from the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
The Jones Oyster Co.’s booth, offering smoked Carolina fish dip and oysters from the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
The Jones Oyster Co.’s oysters from the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
The Jones Oyster Co.’s oyster shooters from the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Bubbles and wine from Wine House in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
The City Club of Greenville drink offerings in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Drink tent from The City Club of Greenville in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Garden grazing table with fire roasted root vegetables from Chef Tanner Marino and Avenue in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Garden grazing table with fire roasted root vegetables from Chef Tanner Marino and Avenue in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Garden grazing table with fire roasted root vegetables from Chef Tanner Marino and Avenue in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Whole tuna before the live cutting from Sushiyama in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Whole tuna before the live cutting from Sushiyama in the VIP area at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC.
Barbecue & Food Galore
🐷😋
Trailblazer Park, Travelers Rest, SC
The food, as always, was top-notch. This may have been one of the best years yet for bites!! Some of our favorite bites of the day were the Adobo Goat Tostada with Tomatillo Salsa Verde and Fresh Radish Pico from Adam Cooke (Topsoil Restaurant) & Adrian Davila (Davila’s BBQ); Pulled Pork Tostada with Pickled Okra, Poblano Salsa, and A Mango Habanero BBQ sauce from Justin Cobb (Rad Dad’s BBQ) and Malaki Craft & Ryan Smutzki (Juniper); and the Herbed Potato Salad from John Lewis and team (Lewis Barbecue of Greenville).
I went back for seconds on both of the tostadas mentioned and the herbed potato salad from Lewis BBQ (so bummed that’s not a part of their regular menu).
More of our favorites (and photos below) from their creative chef pairings include:
- Kochsalami Sandwich With Aged Provolone, Lusty Monk Mustard, House Pickles, and Chips
- Madison Ruckel – Mama Jean’s Barbecue
- Shawn Kelly – Fork and Plough
- Smoked Jackfruit with Pomegranate Slaw
- Bo Wilder – Henry’s Smokehouse
- Haydn Shaak- Restaurant 17
- Mediterranean Brisket with Grilled Pita, Tabbouleh, Shards of Feta, And Fermented Red Pepper Sauce
- Dylan Cooke – Fork Grove Barbecue
- Vince Bienish & Craig Kuhns – The Cook’s Station
- Smoked Swordfish Bologna Slider with Warm Potato Salad
- Jason Janson – Broadwater Shrimp Supply Co.
- Joshua Begley – Indaco Greenville
- Loukaniko Sausage Sandwich with Lemon Whipped Feta, Golden Raisin Mostarda, And Pistachio Gremolata
- Jonathan Banta, Beau Beckner & Bo Benedict – Home Team BBQ
- And Jake Shannon – Harry’s Hoagie Shoppe
Topsoil Restaurant and Davila’s BBQ at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Adobo Goat Tostada with Tomatillo Salsa Verde and Fresh Radish Pico from Topsoil Restaurant and Davila’s BBQ at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Mama Jean’s BBQ and Fork and Plough at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Kochsalami Sandwich With Aged Provolone, Lusty Monk Mustard, House Pickles, and chips from Mama Jean’s BBQ and Fork and Plough at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Rad Dad’s BBQ and Juniper at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Pulled Pork Tostada with Pickled Okra and Poblano Salsa and A Mango Habanero BBQ sauce from Rad Dad’s BBQ and Juniper at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Henry’s Smokehouse and Restaurant 17 at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Smoked Jackfruit with Pomegranate Slaw from Henry’s Smokehouse and Restaurant 17 at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
The Cook’s Station and Fork Grove BBQ at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Mediterranean Brisket with Grilled Pita, Tabbouleh, Shards of Feta, And Fermented Red Pepper Sauce from The Cook’s Station and Fork Grove BBQ at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Home Team BBQ and Harry’s Hoagie Shoppe at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Loukaniko Sausage Sandwich with Lemon Whipped Feta, Golden Raisin Mostarda, and Pistachio Gremolata from Home Team BBQ and Harry’s Hoagie Shoppe at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Broadwater Shrimp Supply Co. and Indaco Greenville at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC.
Like last year, the artisan vendors were set up outside the VIP section. Some of our faves we bought from this time included Paul Family Farms (restocked our maple syrup supply), Chosen Jewelry (I got the cutest pair of purple Easter earrings for next weekend), and MaraBette & Co Tea & Hospitality (snagged two bags of summery-fruit teas, we love our local tea friends!). Check out more of the vendors from this year below:
Windjammer Leathercraft and Amahle Designs at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Kindred Makery (potters) and Pure Tallow Co. at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Art by Saara and Montage Gourmet Salt at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Montage Gourmet Salt taste testers at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Wood Wix Candles at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Happy festival goer near the Artisan Market at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Chosen Jewelry and MaraBette & Co. Tea & Hospitality at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
MaraBette & Co. Tea & Hospitality at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Cast-A-Way Carbon at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Fire Pit Nights at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Travis from Paul Family Farms at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Paul Family Farms maple syrup and more at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Savannah Bee Company at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Products from Savannah Bee Company at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Fiddlesticks Woodwerx and Mama K’s Homemade at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Mama K’s Homemade at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Fiddlesticks Woodwerx at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
The Cigar Box at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Blue Arc Metals at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC.
The all-you-can-drink portion of the festival was strong this year (pun intended), with pours from 13 Stripes Brewery, Pangaea Brewing, and cocktails from Conniption Gin and O’Darby’s Liquor Barn, too! Jamie had to enjoy the drinks for me this year (especially the gin), as Baby Bean won’t let me drink. 😅🤰🏻
Conniption Gin booth at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Conniption Gin at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Tito’s Bloody Mary Bar from O’Darby’s Liquor Barn at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Bulleit Bourbon and Don Julio’s Tequila cocktails from O’Darby’s Liquor Barn at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Beers and hard seltzers from Pangea Brewing at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Beers and hard seltzers from Pangea Brewing at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC. 
Beers from 13 Stripes Brewery at Southern Roots Reunion in Travelers Rest, SC. Photo by Allspice Photography, LLC.
Background on IDefine & The Cause
Trailblazer Park, Travelers Rest, SC
The festival’s founders created this event to benefit the non-profit organization Geoff Rhyne of IDefine (and founder of Red Clay Hot Sauce), and Brenda Luginbill of CB Events Greenville started in support of his daughter, who has a rare genetic disorder called Kleefstra Syndrome.
Like most rare diseases, there is currently no FDA-approved treatment or cure. Rhyne is determined to drive research and drug development to help his daughter and as many other patients as possible. As the festival beneficiary, they have raised close to $200,000 since their inception.
This has helped fund a specialized clinic at the Boston Children’s Hospital and support the North American Family Conference that brings together over 75 families impacted by Kleefstra Syndrome. 🙌
What was your favorite bite or sip of the Reunion this year? Did our favorites line up with any of yours? Does this blog make you want to attend next year if you haven’t gone to one yet? 🙌
Let us know your thoughts, and if you missed the event this time, check out these volunteer opportunities for next year before ticket sales launch in January, and donate to iDefine here in the meantime! 💜
So, how was your weekend, Foodie Friends? Are you excited about more food festivals coming up this summer? Sound out in the comments below to let us know your suggestions of what dishes to make or places we should visit next. As always, feel free to like, comment, & share. 🤗