Experience Crescendo
The Office of Cultural Affairs for the Town of Hilton Head Island and the Arts Council of Hilton Head will hold its ninth Annual Crescendo Celebration of Arts & Culture this year.
This regional event, organized in honor of October’s National Arts and Humanities month, highlights, and showcases the vast array of arts, culture and history organizations, individual artists, performers, and authors residing and working on Hilton Head Island.
Previous Crescendo celebrations have featured more than 100 unique arts and cultural programs, concerts, theatrical productions, museum and gallery exhibits, lectures, poetry readings, dance performances, historical tours, hands-on arts experiences, and educational offerings which are estimated to attract more than 10,000 people from all over the United States, Canada and parts of Europe.
Marquee Events
Annual Crescendo Community Celebration
Tuesday, October 14th: Annual Crescendo Community Celebration featuring live music, storytelling, and exhibitions by artists and cultural organizations at Shelter Cove Community Park.
Bob Masteller’s Jazz For All Ages
Oct. 12 - Celebrate 125 Years of The Duke with the electrifying ULYSSES OWENS JR. BIG BAND featuring the incomparable MS. LISA FISCHER – a soul-stirring tribute to Ellington: The Music • The Legacy • The Legend
Oct. 13 Jump in the Line! — Join GRAMMY-nominated vocalist RENÉ MARIE and her powerhouse band Experiment in Truth for a joyful and poignant salute to Harry Belafonte, the legendary King of Calypso!
Each Day Begins with a Swingin’ Jazz Brunch! Witness the stunning vocals of BRITTANY TURNIPSEED, where gospel roots meet jazz brilliance – and the winner of Amateur Night at the Apollo brings the house down! Drift into timeless elegance as EDWIN G. HAMILTON presents "Unforgettable: A Tribute to Nat King Cole” – a heartfelt, intimate performance honoring one of the greatest voices in jazz history.
Don’t Miss the Jazz Event of the Year.
Symphony Under the Stars
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra presents Symphony Under the Stars on October 17th at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
Come From Away – Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
Through Oct. 26
Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in London and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway, this smash hit show shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts.
Studio Tour
Sponsored by the Art League of Hilton Head
Nov. 8 - 10 AM - 4 PM
Experience an inside look at Hilton Head’s creative heart. Step inside the working studios of some of Hilton Head Island’s most talented artists during the Art League of Hilton Head’s Studio Tour—a special one-day event celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and community. This self-guided tour features 21 artists across 9 unique locations, offering a behind-the-scenes look at where paintings are created, jewelry is forged, clay is shaped, and baskets, quilts, glass, and leather are transformed into one-of-a-kind works of art.
From private home studios nestled throughout the island to exciting live demonstrations from eight artists at the Art League Gallery and Academy, each stop invites you to meet the artists, explore their process, and experience their work in the environment where it’s made.
This cherished event traces its roots back to 1977, when the Art League’s first Studio Tour featured legendary Lowcountry artists like Ray Ellis, Walter Greer, Joe Bowler, and Coby Whitmore. Now nearly five decades later, we’re proud to revive the tradition—welcoming the community to connect more deeply with the island’s vibrant arts scene.
More Info @ StudioTour.ArtLeagueHHI.org
It's Thursday! Artists of the Round Table
Nov. 12 through March 23, 2026
Opening Reception - Nov. 13 - 5-7 PM - Free and open to the public.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour - Oct. 28 - 1-2 PM - Reservations required.
Coastal Discovery Museum
From the early 1970s through 1994, a group of legendary Hilton Head artists met weekly at the Red Piano Art Gallery to exchange ideas about art and foster creativity. This exhibition highlights the 15 artists who represent a remarkable moment in the arts on the island. Bringing together work from numerous private collections, as well as new museum acquisitions, over 60 pieces from Aldwyth, Ralph Ballantine, Joe Bowler, Danielle DeMers, Joe DeMers, Ray Ellis, Elizabeth Grant, Walter Greer, Tua Hayes, Katy Hodgman, Louanne LaRoche, Allen Palmer, Marge Parker, George Plante, and Coby Whitmore will be featured in this signature exhibition.
Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade
Saturday, November 22nd: Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade along South Forest Beach and ending at Lowcountry Celebration Park.