A whopping 20 fall festivals are set for Beaufort County SC and some are soon. Here’s a guide
Fall is unofficially underway as schools are back in session, Labor Day came and went and pumpkin spice coffees have already reentered the market.
However, if you prefer to mark the beginning of fall by its official, seasonal start date, the first day of fall this year will arrive with the fall equinox and will take place on Sept. 23. The day usually occurs on either Sept. 22 or 23.
To celebrate the changing of the seasons, here is a list of 20 local fall festivals to enjoy during September and October this year.
September
Island Jam 2023 Songwriter Festival
The Hilton Head Island Jam Songwriter Festival offers attendees an experience where songwriters can share their stories and perform original compositions. Festival goers will have the opportunity to enjoy performances by both established and up-and-coming songwriters, with differing styles and genres, at the event from Sept. 14-17. Festivities for the multi-day event will take place at a number of Hilton Head locations and venues, such as Liberty Oak, Poseidon Rooftop, Lowcountry Celebration Park, The Bank, and more.
General admission tickets cost $79 and can be purchased online at https://www.hiltonheadislandjam.com/tickets.
Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival
The Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival will be in full swing on the south end of the island on Sept. 23 from 1-4 p.m. The festival is set to take place on the lawn beside the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town. Located in the Sea Pines resort community on the south end of the island, this family friendly event offers a “Kid Zone” with entertainment for children, live music, craft beer from over 18 breweries and of course, shrimp. The featured savory, shrimp dishes will be prepared by 14 Hilton Head-area chefs.
Tickets are priced at $75 for those 21 years old and older. Tickets are $50 for guests younger than 21, or anyone who does not plan to consume an alcoholic beverage. Children 8 years old and under are permitted free admittance. Tickets may be purchased at https://www.hiltonheadislandshrimpfest.com/ or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hilton-head-island-shrimp-festival-tickets-672644165807.
Harbour Town Fall Fest
Harbour Town Fall Fest on Hilton Head Island is set to take place on Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. in Harbour Town, which is in the Sea Pines resort community on the south end of the island. The Harbour Town Fall Fest will feature a Harbour Town shops sidewalk sale, live music, a car display, harbourside dining as well as family-friendly activities for children. In addition to the festivities, The Carolina Dreamers Car Club will be in attendance with a selection of classic cars on display. The Fall Fest is free to attend and the sidewalk sale will be happening throughout the duration of the event. Other event times and event information can be found at https://www.seapines.com/events/Harbour-Town-Fall-Fest/September-2022/.
Latinos Unidos Food Festival
The 2023 Latinos Unidos Food Festival will be held on Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Lowcountry Celebration Park, which is adjacent to Coligny Plaza. Last year’s festival garnered over 2,500 attendees, raised over $100,000 and represented 24 different Latin American Cultures. The festival benefits the mission of Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of Hilton Head Island.
The event celebrates the community with food and music providing fun for the whole family.
Tickets are required for entry and will be available at the gate entrance on the day of the festival. This year, general admission tickets will be $8 per person with free entry for children under 12 years old.
The Foodees Food And Culture Festival
The Foodees Food and Culture Festival will take place from Sept. 29 until Oct. 1 this year at Hardeeville City Hall and Recreation Complex, which is located at 205 Main Street in Hardeeville. The family-friendly event will highlight over 25 food trucks as well as artisans and crafters, both local and international, who will feature their works such as paintings, handcrafted jewelry, pottery and other unique creations.
BlufftemberFest Sunset Party
The 2023 BlufftemberFest Sunset Party is set to take place on Sept. 30 from 3-8 p.m. at Oyster Factory Park. The Bluffton-style music festival & Oktoberfest celebration will feature an Oktoberfest beer garden, wine bar, hard cider, a food court with a variety of food and snack vendors, arts & crafts and live music from three different bands. Tickets are required for entry and are $15 when purchased in advance and $20 when purchased upon entrance. Group tickets of six in total can be purchased for $60. No refunds will be given and the event will occur rain or shine. Tickets may be purchased at https://bearfootsports.com/blufftember-fest or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blufftemberfest-23-tickets-689266573877.
Okto”PR”fest
The Port Royal Old Village Association is hosting this year’s Okto”PR”fest on Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Paris Avenue in Port Royal. The “Party Port Royal Style” event will feature local chefs, restaurants and food trucks serving German-inspired dishes as well as a variety of craft, imported and domestic beers on-site for attendees’ enjoyment.
October
Beaufort Shrimp Festival
The 29th annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival is back again this year to celebrate shrimp season on October 6-7 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and Downtown Beaufort. The free-to-attend shrimp festival will feature a wide array of activities throughout both days and the ability for guests to “savor the best fresh-caught shrimp in the world,” detailed the festival’s website. Food, drinks, live music and an art and craft fair awaits those who attend. A schedule of events for each day of the festival can be found on the event’s designated website.
Lowcountry Fish & Grits Music Festival
The 2023 Fish and Grits Music Festival is set to occur on Oct. 7 on Hilton Head Island at Lowcountry Celebration Park. The family-friendly event is set to highlight the Gullah Geechee Culture in the area and will showcase local and international musical talent, crafts and indigenous cuisine with numerous local artisans and food trucks also being featured throughout the park. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.freshtix.com/events/fish-and-grits-music-festival-2. Tickets purchased in advance for adults cost $15. “Day of”general admission tickets will cost $15 and children’s tickets, for ages 6-12, cost $5 regardless of the time of purchase.
Hardeeville Festival on Main
The 2023 Hardeeville Festival on Main will occur on Oct. 13-14 behind City Hall, which can be found at 205 Main Street in Hardeeville and will feature carnival rides, food, drinks and live entertainment. The free-to-attend event will also have a kid’s zone with games, inflatables and more. The festival will also host a variety of stalls and vendors offering crafts, artwork and local products where attendees will have the opportunity to support local businesses.
Hardeeville Festival on Main will take place on Oct. 13 from 5-10 p.m. and Oct. 14 from noon-10 p.m.. Live music will be from 6-9 p.m. both days.
Hilton Head Island Octoberfest
The first annual Hilton Head Island Octoberfest will take place this year at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina on Oct. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. The event is sponsored by Sam Adams and Rollers Wine & Spirits and will feature activities such as Samuel Adams beer trailers, 20 different breweries, authentic German cuisine, live music and a costume contest with prizes.
General Admission tickets are $10 and will include an entry free, a cup and one beer ticket, which will be valid for purchase of one full beer). VIP Passport tickets are $50 and will include the entry fee, a cup and a sample of all beers.
Additional beer tickets will be available for purchase at the event. Ticket scan be purchased online at https://events.humanitix.com/hilton-head-island-octoberfest/tickets.
Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival
The 19th annual Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival is set to take place on Oct. 14-22 this year and will showcase a variety of activities, such as the locally harvested seafood, Lowcountry cuisine, rich history, culture and art of the area and Southern hospitality found only in Bluffton, detailed the festival’s website. The highlight of the week-long event is said to be the Street Fest, which will be held on Oct. 21-22. A broken down schedule of events throughout the festival can be found online at https://blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.org/events/.
Rock N Ribs Music and BBQ Fest
The four-day Rock ‘N Ribs event in Coligny on the south end of Hilton Head Island is set to take place this year from Oct. 19-22. The barbecue and rock n’ roll festival will benefit Second Helpings and the Carl Ruiz Foundation and festival activities will include multiple events, both ticketed and free. Each day has a packed schedule for those who enjoy both the food and music offered at the event. Interested guests can on online and visit https://rocknribshhi.com/the-experience/ for a day-by-day breakdown of events and proceed to https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/rock-n-ribs-2023-2149649 to purchase tickets.
7th Annual Gullah Food Festival
Attend the 7th annual Gullah Food Festival on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island. The museum is hosting the event and can be found at 12 Georgianna Drive on the island. Online ticket sales end on the day of the festival at 6 a.m. and can be found on the event’s website at https://www.gullahmuseumhhi.org/event-details/7th-annual-gullah-food-festival-1. Adult admission tickets cost $10 and child tickets, for ages 5-16, cost $5.
Italian Heritage Festival
The 13th annual Italian Heritage Festival is set to take place on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, which can be found at 70 Honey Horn Drive on Hilton Head Island. The event celebrates Italian culture and cuisine in addition to supporting local charities and scholarships. This celebration of Italian Heritage is taking place in October, which is South Carolina’s official, designated “Italian American Heritage Month.”
The festival will feature the ever-popular event of grape-stomping, a pizza-eating contest and a raffle for attendees. An inflatable “kids’ zone” area, local arts and crafts vendors, a silent auction, and live entertainment by the Hilton Head Big Band will also be featured at the event. Tickets for the festival are $6 per person, and admittance is free for children under 10-years-old. The event will occur rain or shine and parking is free. Pets are not permitted. Tickets may be purchased at https://www.iachh.org/italian-heritage-festival.
Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens
Historic Beaufort Foundation’s 49th annual Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens is scheduled for Oct. 21-22 and will highlight different properties featuring the city’s architectural beauty and history. The festival is an opportunity where local property owners open their homes and gardens for public viewing. For more information regarding this year’s two-day event, visit previous Island Packet reporting.
Tours for the festival take place rain or shine, so attendees should plan accordingly. Tickets available to attendees for the Saturday tour are $65 for Historic Beaufort Foundation members and $75 for non-members. Tickets for the Sunday Brunch and former plantation and farmstead property tour are limited and priced at $130 for members and $150 for non-members.
Tickets may be purchased by calling 843-379-3331 or by visiting the festival’s website.
Pat Conroy Literary Festival
The 8th annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival will occur in Beaufort on Oct. 26-29 this year and will present a series of free and ticketed events including author discussions, writers workshops, a poetry reading, a screening of the film The Lords of Discipline and a musical performance.
A schedule of events for the festival can be found online at https://patconroyliteraryfestival.org/schedule/.
Registration for some of the events, including all workshops, is required. The event description page, listed above, provides attendance and registration instructions. Tickets for all paid events can be purchased at https://patconroyliteraryfestival2023.eventbrite.com.
If you do not wish to purchase tickets ahead of time, tickets will be available for all events, with the exception of workshops, at the door.
Historic Mitchelville Film Festival 2023
The 2023 Historic Mitchelville Film Festival will take place between Oct. 25-26 at Coligny Theater on the south end of Hilton Head Island. The two-day event aims to showcase a mix of short and long-form films that highlight the incredible stories of Black individuals and communities, detailed the event’s description. Ticket holders will have the chance to experience an opening ceremony, panel discussions, film showcases and an interactive Q&A session.
Tickets can be purchased as a single-day pass for $30 or a two-day pass for $60.
Night one tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/historic-mitchelville-film-festival-2023-night-one-tickets-686651963507.
Night two tickets can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/historic-mitchelville-film-festival-2023-night-two-tickets-698461375777.
Rhythm & Brews
The first ever Rhythm & Brews festival is scheduled for Oct. 28 at Lowcountry Celebration Park at the south end of Hilton Head Island and will feature live music and unlimited tasting of 40+ craft breweries. The festival is an adult-only event for guests aged 21+, with no exceptions, with no children or pets allowed to attend.
Ticket options are sold as either general admission for $75 or VIP fro $150.
According to the festival’s website, general admission tickets include:
Festival Entry from 2-5 p.m.
Unlimited tastings from 40+ breweries, distilleries and some wine
Live music from headliner Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts and openers Zach Stevens & Charlie Simpson
Keepsake tasting glass
Complimentary parking
Access to local food vendors selling plates at festival-friendly prices
VIP tickets will include:
Everything included in a general admission ticket
Early entry at 1 p.m. for an extra hour of tastings and music
Shaded VIP Pavilion
Light hors d’oeuvres
Bob Masteller’s Jazz For All Ages Jazz Fest
The 9th annual Bob Masteller’s Jazz For All Ages Jazz Festival will be hosted at Sonesta Resort in the Santee Ballroom Lobby on Hilton Head Island and will take place on Oct. 29-30. Tickets for each event can be purchased online at https://www.jazzforallages.com/tickets. Grammy nominated Clint Holmes and Niki Haris will be presenting the music of Al Jarreau and Roberta Flack with Musical Director Christian Tamburr featuring special guest Grammy nominated guitarist Keith Ganz on Oct. 29 for a 3 hour event where doors will be opening at 7 p.m. On Oct. 30, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, honoring Aretha Franklin, will provide a concert from 7-10 p.m.
This story was originally published September 15, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
