Festivals and Events

Late February and early March brings the Hilton Head [1] WineFest (www.hiltonheadhospitality.org [2]), which culminates in what they call “The East Coast’s Largest Outdoor Public Tasting and Auction” in Shelter Cove Community Park. Some events charge admission.

A small but delightful event is the Hilton Head Quilt Festival (www.palmettoquiltguild.org [3]), sponsored each March by the Palmetto Quilt Guild and held at the St. Andrew by the Sea Methodist Church. A nominal fee gets you in to see a display of over 100 handcrafted quilts.

Hilton Head’s premier event is the Verizon Heritage Classic Golf Tournament (843/671-2248, www.verizonheritage.com [4]), held each April at the Harbour Town Golf Links [5] on Sea Pines Plantation. Formerly known as the MCI Heritage Classic, the event is South Carolina’s only PGA Tour event and brings thousands of visitors to town yearly.

September brings one of Hilton Head’s most beloved events, the Food Fest (www.hiltonheadhospitality.org [2]). Activity centers on the Shelter Cove shopping district [6] and features diverse culinary entertainment such as a Drink Making Contest, a Tailgate Gourmet Challenge, and a Hospitable Waiters Race. Some events charge admission.

A fun and fondly anticipated yearly event is the Kiwanis Club Chili Cookoff (www.hiltonheadkiwanis.org [7]), held each October at Honey Horn [8] on the island’s south end. A low admission price gets you all the chili you can eat plus free antacids. All funds go to charity, and all excess chili goes to a local food bank.

Every November brings Hilton Head’s second-largest event, the world-famous Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival (www.hhiconcours.com [9]), a multi-day event bringing together vintage car clubs from throughout the nation and culminating in a prestigious “Best of Show” competition.