Palmetto Peanut Boil - Columbia, SC
All photos made on Devine St. in Columbia, SC on Sept. 26, 2026 by Sean Rayford
Photos and words by Sean Rayford
Three and six dollar bags of ginger soy, teriyaki, Old Bay, dill pickle, and cajun flavored boiled peanuts flanked the 2900 hundred block of Devine St on Saturday in Columbia, SC.
And with more than a dozen flavors, a purist movement found traction at the annual Palmetto Peanut Boil.
“Classic, boiled peanuts,” said David Baker as a crowd gathered around his tent adorned with American flags.
David Baker
“That's what we want!” Shouted a lady in the back.
“No gimmicks, no spices. Nothing's gonna hurt your stomach. Nothing's gonna burn you up,” said Baker as folks laughed at his commentary, spiced with his accent from Lancaster, South Carolina.
“I mean, it's a boiled peanut. The only thing my dad used to do — which is no secret — is he would put dark beer in it. Dos Equis, Shiner Bock, just whatever. And it just gives it a little bit of a unique, sweet flavor. And it's just salt, water.”
Cajun Persuasion, 2×4, smiley face flavored boiled peanuts.
In it’s 19th year for 2026, the first rendition of the Palmetto Peanut Boil required five pounds of boiled peanuts from each competing team.
“Now we're up to 150 pounds. We have 17 teams this year. This is amazing. The community has come together,” said founder Jim Mishoe, who continues the event in honor of Nathan Miller and Brent Davis.
Jim Mishoe
One of those teams, led by nine year-old Trevor Gnatiuk of Gaston, served zombie chicken flavored boiled peanuts.
“Carrots, jalapenos, habaneros,” he said about his secret recipe.
The nine year started boiling peanuts about six months ago, a result of time spent with mom, Courtney Gnatiuk, who operates a home bakery and mobile lemonade business.
Nine year old Trevor Gnatiuk of Zombie Nutz boiled peanuts
Trevor was bored. And didn’t want to do drinks.
As thousands streamed past on Saturday, there was little time to be bored. “Help me take down the Adults,” he pitched to potential customers.
Back across Devine St., David Baker continued boiling peanuts alongside his brother, mother and nephews. And like the Gnatiuks, it’s always been a family affair.
“My memory just tracks back to my dad and I cooking them. And this is his cooker over here. It's a beer keg that they had his buddy plasma cut the top off. Because the stainless steel held heat better than aluminum.” says Baker about his 90’s era college keg from USC.
“After he passed away, that was the only thing I wanted. And it's still cooking peanuts.”
The annual Palmetto Peanut Boil partners with the South Carolina based 501(c)3, Animal Mission, who promote animal welfare and offer vouchers for discounted spay/neuter services for Richland and Lexington Counties.
Susto String Band
David Baker
About the author: Sean Rayford is a photojournalist in South Carolina who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2001. In 1997, Rayford and David Baker lived on the same first floor wing of Preston Residential College. Rayford also teaches photography workshops.