Beaufort is one of South Carolina’s most charming historic cities, featuring a compact and walkable Historic District and riverside views, set within the serene and beautiful landscape of the lowcountry salt marsh.
It makes for an ideal day trip from Savannah or Hilton Head Island, offering a range of historic sites, tours, art galleries, and dining options. Nearby St Helena Island and Hunting Island are also popular spots, known for the Penn Center, which highlights local Black history, as well as Hunting Island State Park and its lighthouse.
Beaufort hosts a year-round calendar of festivals and special events, including several well-attended seafood festivals, the annual Water Festival in summer, Gullah heritage celebrations, a fall tour of homes, and more
See also:
– Beaufort tours
– Savannah-Beaufort transportation options
– Events in Savannah
– Bluffton, SC festivals and events
– Hilton Head events and festivals by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
!Events may be rescheduled or cancelled at short notice. Please check dates, venue and other details at the event’s official website before making plans to attend.
– Taste of Beaufort, May 1-2 2026
Popular annual food festival in Henry C Chambers Waterfront Park, with Lowcountry cuisine, craft market, live entertainment and more. More details
– Decoration Day, May 21 2026
Play at the USCB Center for the Arts. More details
– Original Gullah Festival of South Carolina, May 22-24 2026
Annual festival of Gullah heritage in Henry C Chambers Waterfront Park, with music and dance performances, storytelling, arts and crafts vendors, Gullah and other local cuisine, educational events and more. More details
→ See also: May events in Savannah or Hilton Head
– Black Moses Freedom Festival: Heritage, Health, & Wellness, June 5-7 2026
Annual heritage festival at the Penn Center, St Helena Island, with live music and performances, storytelling, education, art, food, community and wellness activities, and more. More details
– Garden-A-Day Tour, June 8-12 2026
Annual tour of The Beaufort Garden Club, featuring visits to selected private gardens in the Beaufort area. More details
→ See also: June events in Savannah or Hilton Head
– Salute From the Shore, July 4 2026
Annual Independence Day military flyover viewable from beaches and coastal areas of South Carolina between North Myrtle Beach and Beaufort. More details
– Beaufort Water Festival, July 17-26 2026
Big annual festival in downtown Beaufort, with a variety of events and activities including river races and sports tournaments, arts and crafts market, concert and other music, talent show, parade, parade of boats and more. More details
→ See also: July events in Savannah or Hilton Head
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See also: August events in Savannah or Hilton Head
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See also: September events in Savannah or Hilton Head
– Beaufort Shrimp Festival, October 2-3 2026
Annual seafood festival in Henry C Waterfront Park featuring shrimp dishes from regional restaurants and chefs, arts and crafts market, live entertainment and more. More details
→ See also: October events in Savannah or Hilton Head
– Penn Center Heritage Days, November 12-14 2026
Annual Gullah heritage festival at the Penn Center, St Helena Island, with Gullah arts and crafts, food, music, history, demonstrations, parade, vendors and more. More details
→ See also: November events in Savannah or Hilton Head
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See also: December events in Savannah or Hilton Head
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See also: January events in Savannah or Hilton Head
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See also: February events in Savannah or Hilton Head
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See also: March events in Savannah or Hilton Head
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See also: April events in Savannah or Hilton Head
More Things To Do Near Beaufort, SC
– Movie and history tours
– Savannah events
– Seafood festivals
– Hilton Head events
– Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
– Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
– Ebenezer Creek blackwater swamp
– Beaches
– Hilton Head boat charters
– Hilton Head dolphin tours