Hilton Head suspends fall event permits. What’s off and what’s (tentatively) on
Sorry, fall festival lovers, your weekend schedules will likely be empty for the next two months.
The Town of Hilton Head Island announced this week it is suspending special event permits on town property for festivals with over 500 people until Nov. 1. The suspension comes as a COVID-19 precaution, where social distancing and staying away from large groups is recommended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
That means Shelter Cove Community Park will be surprisingly quiet on Saturdays as the weather cools.
Signature Hilton Head events like Concours d’Elegance and Crescendo! have publicly announced their cancellation.
Also off this year’s social schedule:
- Harbour Town’s Hilton Head Shrimp Festival, usually held in late September
- Shelter Cove’s Latin Food Festival, typically held in late September
- The Gullah Museum’s Gullah Food Festival, usually in mid-October
- Honey Horn’s Hilton Head Italian Heritage Festival, typically in late October.
St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church’s Fall Festival, usually scheduled in early November
Some festivals are still planned for 2020. The Hilton Head Oyster Festival’s website still lists the outdoor event on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14.
And organizers of a few signature events in early 2021 are holding out hope that they won’t be canceled.
The Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival still lists its 2021 dates: Feb. 22 through Feb. 28.
And Hilton Head’s Wingfest also lists its 2021 event date online: March 20.
New event rules
Events on private property are limited by Gov. Henry McMaster to 50% of the location’s occupancy or 250 persons, whichever is less.
If you wish to have an event over 250 people on private property, you are required to request approval from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
Know of an event that’s going virtual? Email details to newsroom@islandpacket.com
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 10:22 AM.
