What's happening
Hilton Head punches above its weight for events. A PGA Tour stop, a nationally recognized wine festival, and a summer concert series that draws serious talent — here's the full picture.
The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is a PGA Tour event held every April at Harbour Town Golf Links. The week transforms the island — parties, pro-am events, and the chance to walk the same fairways as the tour's best players. Buy tickets early; the practice rounds are the best value.
Held each March, the Wine & Food Festival is one of the Southeast's most respected culinary events. Grand tastings, chef dinners, and seminars draw serious food and wine enthusiasts. The Grand Tasting on the final Saturday is the centerpiece.
February's Gullah Celebration is the island's most culturally significant annual event. Two weeks of performances, storytelling, art exhibitions, and food celebrating the Gullah Geechee heritage that is the foundation of Lowcountry culture.
The Shelter Cove Harbour summer concert series runs Thursday evenings from June through August. Free admission, waterfront setting, and a mix of regional and national acts make it the island's most reliably good summer evening.
The October Seafood Festival at Shelter Cove celebrates the Lowcountry's most important ingredient. Local restaurants, live music, and the kind of shrimp and oyster consumption that justifies the trip on its own.
The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina runs productions year-round. The Coastal Discovery Museum hosts rotating exhibitions and educational programs. And the island's farmers markets, from April through October, are a weekly event worth building a morning around.
The biggest annual events on Hilton Head Island are the RBC Heritage PGA Tour golf tournament (April, Harbour Town Golf Links), the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival (March), the Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration (February), the Shelter Cove Harbour summer concert series (Thursday evenings, June–August), and the Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival (October).
The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is held each April at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort, the week after the Masters. It is one of the most beloved events on the PGA Tour calendar, known for its intimate atmosphere and the iconic lighthouse backdrop. Tickets are available through the tournament website. Practice rounds offer the best value for spectators.
The Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration is a two-week cultural festival held each February celebrating the Gullah Geechee heritage that is the foundation of Lowcountry culture. Events include performances, storytelling, art exhibitions, food, and educational programs. It is the island's most culturally significant annual event and one of the most important Gullah Geechee cultural celebrations in the Southeast.
Yes — several of Hilton Head Island's best events are free. The Shelter Cove Harbour summer concert series runs Thursday evenings from June through August with free admission. The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn hosts free educational programs and events throughout the year. The farmers market at Honey Horn is free to attend. Many beach access points host free seasonal events.
Summer events on Hilton Head Island include the Shelter Cove Harbour Thursday evening concert series (June–August, free), the Hilton Head Island Farmers Market (Tuesday mornings through October), sea turtle nesting season walks with the Sea Turtle Patrol (May–October), and various resort community events and activities. The island is busiest from late June through mid-August.
Yes — the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival, held each March, is one of the Southeast's most respected culinary events. It features grand tastings, chef dinners, wine seminars, and cooking demonstrations. The Grand Tasting on the final Saturday is the centerpiece event. It draws serious food and wine enthusiasts from across the region and is worth planning a trip around.
See what's coming up
Our verified events calendar lists upcoming island happenings with dates, venues, and official source links.
