Hilton Head Island is well known for its beaches, resorts and family-friendly environment, but it also hosts a variety of popular festivals that attract thousands of visitors each year.
The cuisine and seafood of the lowcountry are the mainstays of the Hilton Head festival calendar, with events devoted to shrimp, oysters, wings, and to generally southern foods and drinks spread throughout the year.
The annual Gullah celebration offers a month-long exploration of local African-American music, food, history and culture. Spring brings the RBC Heritage golf tournament, and in fall is Hilton Head’s motoring festival, bringing tens of thousands of people to the island and to nearby Savannah.
For a full list of festivals and events in Hilton Head, see events by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
See also:
– Seafood festivals in and near Savannah
– Airports near Hilton Head, SC
– How to get to Hilton Head from Savannah
– Beaufort, SC Festival Calendar
!Event dates, venue and other details may change at short notice. Please check all information at the official website before planning your travel.
– Mayfest, May 9 2026
Annual community festival in downtown Bluffton, with 130+ local and regional artists and food vendors, music, ugly dog contest and more. More details
– Hilton Head Art Festival, May 22-24 2026
Annual art festival at Shelter Cove Harbour, with US-made art, food, music and more. More details
→ See more Hilton Head events in May
Festivals this month to be confirmed.
→ See more Hilton Head events in June
– Gullah Heritage Festival, July 11 2026
Annual festival in celebration of Gullah culture at the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, with music and other performances, traditional foods, storytelling, art and more. More details
→ See more Hilton Head events in July
Festivals this month to be confirmed.
→ See more Hilton Head events in August
– Harbour Town Fall Fest, September 13 2026
Annual fall festival at Harbour Town, Sea Pines with sidewalk sale, live music, watersports activities, children’s activities, classic cars and more. More details
– Hilton Head Island Jam Songwriter Festival, September 17-20 2026
Annual music festival and golf tournament with events at various Hilton Head Island venues. More details
→ See more Hilton Head events in September
– Fish and Grits Music Festival, October 3 2026
Annual family-friendly Gullah Geechee food and music festival in Hilton Head, with musical and other performances, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, clothes vendors, and more. More details
– Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival, October 9-18 2026
Popular annual festival in downtown Bluffton, with local seafood and other Lowcountry cuisine, street festival, juried fine art show, boat tours, children’s activities and more. More details
– Italian Heritage Festival, October 17 2026
Annual festival of Italian food and culture at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, with grape stomping and pizza eating contests, traditional Italian foods, silent auction, live entertainment and more. More details
– Gullah Food Festival, October 17 2026
Annual food festival at the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, featuring local Gullah cuisine and other entertainment. More details
– Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, October 29 - November 1 2026
Annual motoring festival with big vintage car show and other vehicles plus other events. More details
→ See more Hilton Head events in October
– Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, October 29 - November 1 2026
Annual motoring festival with big vintage car show and other vehicles plus other events. More details
→ See more Hilton Head events in November
Festivals this month to be confirmed.
→ See more Hilton Head events in December
Festivals this month to be confirmed.
→ See more Hilton Head events in January
– Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration, February 1-28 2027
Annual celebration of Gullah heritage, with a wide range of events across Hilton Head including art, food, storytelling, music and other performances, and more. More details
→ See more Hilton Head events in February
Festivals this month to be confirmed.
→ See more Hilton Head events in March
Festivals this month to be confirmed.
→ See more Hilton Head events in April
See Also: Things To Do In Hilton Head & Nearby
– Dolphin tours
– Boat charters and rentals
– Kayaking
– Paddle boarding
– Creek Cat tours
– Sunset cruises
– Daufuskie Island tours
– Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
– Ebenezer Creek blackwater swamp
– Savannah events