Annual lantern parade returns to Hilton Head for 2025. Here’s how to watch
Glowing egrets, stingrays and sea turtles will return to South Forest Beach this year for Hilton Head’s annual lantern parade.
The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22. Line-up for the parade begins at 4:45 p.m. with step-off at 5:30 p.m.
Paraders will start at Alder Lane Beach Access, march along South Forest beach towards the Tiki Hut and end at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
The event is open to the public, but a lantern is required to participate in the parade. Lanterns cannot fly untethered in the sky or be lit by a flame per South Carolina fire code.
Here’s everything you need to know to take part in this incandescent tradition.
Where to watch
Spectators can view the parade along the beach anywhere between Alder Lane Beach Access and the Beach House & Tiki Hut, or at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
The parade will also be livestreamed through the Beaufort County YouTube channel.
How to participate
To participate in the parade, you’ll need to have a lantern. Line up begins at 4:45 p.m. close to the Alder Lane Beach Access.
Lanterns will be available for purchase while supplies last at the Marriott Grande Ocean on the day of the parade from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Only card payments will be accepted; prices will range between $5 and $20.
You can also make your own lantern at one of many community workshops held on Hilton Head leading up to the event.
Free workshops:
- Carolina Coffee & Crumbs, Nov. 18 and 19, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Hilton Head Library, Nov. 18, Ages 8+
- The Sandbox Children’s Museum, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.
Paid workshops:
- Coastal Discovery Museum: Family Workshop Nov. 15, 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m., $20 per lantern, $5 per adult, all ages welcome; Discovery Night Nov. 20 from 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m., $40 per adult, ages 13+
- Full Spectrum Studio: Nov. 19, 4 p.m.–6 p.m., $25
Food & live music schedule
Food trucks and beverages will be available at Lowcountry Celebration Park beginning at 3 p.m.
At Marriott Grande Ocean, near the parade starting point, there will be food from Lowcountry Fresh Market and Kitchen and Palmetto Kettle Corn & Lowcountry Boil starting at 4 p.m.
For live music:
- Groove Town Assault @ Lowcountry Celebration park, 5:45 p.m.
- Pretty Darn @ Marriott Grand Ocean from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- OCD @ Beach House & Tiki Hut from 3p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where to park?
Parking will be available at the following locations:
- Coligny Beach Parking Lot
- Former Wild Wings lot, 72 Pope Ave.
- Former Aunt Chilada’s lot, 69 Pope Ave.
- First Baptist Church,100 S. Forest Beach Drive
- St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 50 Pope Ave.
- USCB’s Hilton Head Island campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive. A shuttle will run from the USCB campus between 4:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., transporting spectators to and from the parade. People using this lot are encouraged to drop off group members at the parade starting point or viewing area, with only one person per group riding the shuttle. Return shuttles from Lowcountry Celebration Park to USCB will operate until approximately 9:15 p.m.
