Parades, tree-lightings, and Christmas fun: A 2019 guide to lowcountry holiday events
Whether you set up a Christmas tree the day after Halloween or play holiday music only one week of the year, you can find just the right celebration among the many in Beaufort and Jasper counties to bring out your holiday spirit.
Festivities in Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Port Royal, Hardeeville and Ridgeland begin as soon as Nov. 22; some run through New Year’s.
Know of an event you don’t see listed here? Send the information to lferguson@islandpacket.com. We will update the list as the season continues.
Beaufort
Holiday Market of Beaufort (Nov. 22-23)
Interested in holiday shopping ahead of Black Friday? The Holiday Market of Beaufort, featuring more than 40 vendors, opens Friday.
The market is from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Beaufort Academy gym. Admission is free. Drink wristbands are $20 in advance online or $30 at the door, good for bottomless beer and wine on Friday and bottomless mimosas on Saturday.
Beaufort Homes for the Holidays tours (Nov. 22-24)
For $30 in advance or $35 at the door, folks can tour homes in the historic Bay Street area of downtown Beaufort that have been decorated for Christmas.
Tours start at 11 a.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday, lasting until 3 p.m. both days. The Friday night gala, which costs $100 per ticket, is from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online and at some local businesses.
Beaufort Holiday Weekend (Dec. 6-8)
The city’s weekend begins Friday night with the monthly Downtown Beaufort Merchants Association’s First Friday event, themed “Night on the Town.”
Festivities continue at 6 Saturday night with the Light Up the Night boat parade on the Beaufort River. Boats with holiday decorations and lights will make laps by the seawall in downtown for spectators.
The weekend’s celebrations conclude at 3 p.m. Sunday with the annual parade that winds along Boundary, Carteret and Bay streets.
“Gullah Kinfolk Christmas Wish... Freedom Comin’ Musical“ (Dec. 6)
Award-winning master storyteller Aunt Pearlie Sue & Gullah Kinfolk make Gullah Geechee pre-Reconstruction history come to life in this annual holiday tradition performance at 7 p.m. at the USCB Performing Arts Center. The event includes a “gullahlicious” dessert buffet and Gullah artist showcase marketplace. Tickets can be bought online or at the door.
Other happenings:
- 40th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner and Community Worship Service on Nov. 28 at The Parish Church of St. Helena. Service will be held at the church at 11 a.m. with dinner to follow across the street in Parish Hall from noon to 2 p.m.
Bluffton
Bluffton Christmas tree lighting ceremony and parade (Dec. 6-7)
Festivities in Bluffton kick off with the lighting of the Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m. Friday in DuBois Park. Mayor Lisa Sulka will announce the parade’s grand marshal. The Michael C. Riley Elementary School chorus will sing. And Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there.
On Saturday, the annual parade starts at 10 a.m. at Bridge and Pritchard streets, ending in Bluffton Park at Pin Oak Street and 8th Avenue. All streets along the parade route will close at 8 a.m., and cars must be moved an hour prior.
Society of Bluffton Artists’ Holiday Boutique (Dec. 7-21)
The seventh annual holiday boutique, which features handmade items from local artists for sale, begins Dec. 7 and will be open every day through New Year’s Eve.
The boutique is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. The boutique is next door to the gallery at its Center for Creative Arts building on Church Street.
Other happenings:
- Bluffton Community Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Saint Gregory the Great Parish Life Center
- St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church’s Christmas Eve under the Stars at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 at Bluffton Oyster Factory Park
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” (Nov. 15-24)
The classic holiday performance, The Nutcracker, returns to Hilton Head for its 35th year. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 15, 16, 22, and 23 and at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 and 24. All shows are at the Seahawk Cultural Center. Tickets can be purchased online.
Harbour Town Lights (begins Nov. 29)
Bright lights will shine throughout The Sea Pines Resort, including on a Christmas tree and on the iconic lighthouse, throughout the holiday season. The official tree lighting is at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29.
Santa at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina (November-December)
Santa will make appearances at Shelter Cove multiple times throughout the holiday season.
The first time Santa will visit this year will be as part of Shelter Coves’ day-after-Thanksgiving “Santa and Shopping Day.” Old Saint Nick will be at the Neptune statue, arriving on a fire truck, from noon until 2:30 p.m for photos. Additional activities for kids will take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
There will also be specials and sales at shops and restaurants.
Historic Holidays on Hilton Head Island (Dec. 6-9)
The 4-day line-up of events celebrates Sea Island traditions. Events range from a dinner at Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks, trolley and bike tours, an artisan market, historic church experiences, the lighting of the big oak tree in Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park and more. Some events are free while others are ticketed.
Shelter Cove Marina Holiday Boat Light Display (December)
Throughout December, boats in the Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina will be decorated and full of lights.
Hilton Head Choral Society’s The Sounds of Christmas concert (Dec. 13)
The concert will offer a seasonal variation of the choral society’s 2019-2020 theme, “The Music In Us All.” The 90-minute concert begins at 7 p.m. and will be at the First Presbyterian Church on William Hilton Parkway. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
New Year’s Eve Celebration in Harbour Town (Dec. 31)
There will be food, fun, and entertainment throughout Harbour Town on New Year’s Eve with two ball drops, one at 7 p.m. and one at midnight. The event is from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Other happenings:
- Advent Oyster Roast and Christmas Story Walk from 3-6 p.m. on Dec. 8 at Providence Church on Cordillo Parkway
Port Royal
Port Royal Christmas Golf Cart Parade (Dec. 14)
The annual parade of festively decorated golf carts will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday in the downtown area.
Hardeeville
Hardeeville Tree Lighting (Dec. 2)
Hardeeville begins the season by lighting the town Christmas tree and singing Christmas carols from 6-7 p.m. Monday at City Hall. Santa will also be making an appearance.
Ridgeland
Brendlen’s Lowcountry Christmas Light Display (Nov. 30 and December)
Visitors can drive through a local family’s yard, 1570 Driggers Lane, and see more than 80,000 lights on 100+ displays. The lights will be on from 6-10 p.m. nightly starting the weekend of Thanksgiving, and longer during Christmas week. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to the Anna Grace Dennis Horizon Scholarship at Beaufort Academy in memory of a student who died earlier this year.
Santa typically appears at the lights show at least one night, and maybe more, during the season.
Ridgeland Christmas Parade (Dec. 5)
The annual Christmas parade in downtown Ridgeland will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Holiday Festival of Music & Lights (Dec. 5-23)
About 15,000 lights will illuminate almost 60 Christmas displays in 11 scenes along the Blue Heron Nature Trail just off I-95. Santa will be there, too. The exhibit begins the same night as the town’s parade and will last until Dec. 23, opening at 6 and closing at 10 each night.
Yemassee
Town of Yemassee’s Third Annual Christmas Festival (Dec. 21)
The family-oriented event, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Yemassee Municipal Complex, will include a screening of the Polar Express, burger and hot dog dinner cooked by the police department, prize drawings, and hot chocolate. Entrance to the event is free.
This story was originally published November 15, 2019 at 4:45 AM.
