Winter Events, Festivals, and Things to Do on Hilton Head Island

With average highs of 60°F in December and January, winter weather on Hilton Head Island is a dream. This time of year is perfect for scenic outdoor activities, water cruises, and holiday-themed nature walks, all with fewer crowds and sunny skies.

Golfers love winter on Hilton Head Island for its breezy weather and open tee times. With 23 championship golf courses and plenty of time to work on your form at the Toptracer Range at the Robert Trent Jones Course in Palmetto Dunes, it’s a great season to improve your swing.

If you’re more into birding than making a birdie on the golf course, you’ll want to mark the Audubon Christmas Bird Count on your calendar for December 15, 2025. In partnership with The Sea Pines Resort and their incredible Forest Preserve, you can help the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society conduct the annual Christmas Bird Count.

Join a team or go solo and count and ID every bird you see or hear as part of this worldwide citizen science project. Want to learn more? Attend the Christmas Bird Count preview lecture by local naturalist Bob Speare on December 4, 2025, and hear about this initiative at the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society. Then, get the new year off to a nature-loving start with the New Year’s Birds and Nature Walk with Ken Adams, professor of Ecology, starting from the Coastal Discovery Museum on January 3rd, 2026.

Join as an avid competitor or enthusiastic observer at the Sandy Sledding event, taking place at The Sea Pines Beach Club on December 27, 2025. Watch teams race homemade, holiday-themed sleds down  Hilton Head Island’s sandy slopes in a one-of-a-kind winter competition for the ages!

You can also warm up at The Sea Pines Beach Club Oyster Roasts every Saturday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. These family-friendly gatherings celebrate community and delicious locally-sourced seafood from St. Helena Island. The oysters are fresh and roasted on-site for your dining pleasure, and you can also catch live music and enjoy weekly drink specials.

And if you’re missing the snow, you can even have a Snow Day on Hilton Head Island The Island Recreation Association brings the snowy side of winter to life at Shelter Cove Park on January 31, 2026. From 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, kids can play in a snowfield,  enjoy rides, and check out live entertainment.

The Arts and Culture scene is thriving throughout the winter season in the Lowcountry, with theater productions, choir performances, and festivals that will be sure to captivate and dazzle your senses. Cultural celebrations and holiday festivities abound from December through March, so make sure to mark these on your winter calendars!

Get into the holiday spirit with Hilton Head Choral Society’s Celebrate the Holidays Concert at First Presbyterian Church on December 5, 2025. This is their 50th anniversary season, and they are pulling out all the stops, complete with guest performers and blends of traditional songs with modern and lighter seasonal selections.

Catch three show runs at the Lean Ensemble Theater this winter in celebration of their 10th anniversary season:

• The Roommate (October 31 - November 9) by Jen Silverman tells a story of a middle-aged woman finding a life-changing and hilarious friendship through her new roommate.
• Pictures from Home (December 12 – 21) by Sharr White is an intimate and comedic story of a photographer in the 1980s.
• Every Brilliant Thing (January 22 – February 1, 2026) by Duncan MacMillan and Johnny Donahoe is a joyful celebration of life and the brilliant beauty of the world.
   

In February, we have two phenomenal annual festivals to look forward to:

• The Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration (February 1 - 28) honors the Gullah people's rich cultural heritage and history on Hilton Head Island. Stay tuned for the full lineup of events, performances, and activities.
• The Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival (February 23 – March 1) is a week-long celebration of exquisite seafood and Southern food and drink to make your mouth water. 

Hilton Head Island glows with Southern charm during the holidays. Cozy twinkling lights, coastal-themed decorations everywhere, and charming festive traditions create a cheerful and laid-back winter wonderland.

The Town of Hilton Head Island’s Official Holiday Kickoff Event starts on November 15, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, complete with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, arts and crafts for the kids, and a performance from cast members of the Art Center’s Frozen.

Then, the celebrations get into full swing on November 28, 2025, with Harbour Town and Shelter Cove hosting light displays and family-friendly holiday activities.

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina’s A Coastal Holiday event features themed holiday light displays along the marina, as well as shopping and dining events throughout the season. Starting on November 28, 2025, with Santa and Shopping Day, you can get your picture with Santa and get your holiday shopping done all at once! There will be bouncy houses and train rides, and they will even give away free gingerbread cookie kits from Hilton Head Social Bakery.

Harbour Town Lights also begins Friday, November 28, 2025, with illuminated seasonal figures, a towering Christmas tree, activities for the whole family, and live entertainment. The official tree lighting ceremony takes place at 7:30 PM, and the lights will be illuminated through until the end of the year, so make sure you visit Harbour Town to see the beautiful holiday decorations and light show before the end of year.

And, if you’re into elaborate, towering light displays and holiday decorations, you’ll definitely want to stroll down Dove Street this holiday season. The Lights on Dove Street are back for another year, full of twinkling lights, massive holiday decorations, and the true spirit of the season for all to enjoy. Whether it’s your first or twentieth Hilton Head Island holiday, this exhibit of cheer should definitely be on your bucket list.

Celebrate the end of 2025 and the start of a new chapter with New Year’s Eve events, dining experiences, and, of course, some incredible fireworks over the Harbour.

Many local restaurants feature holiday and New Year’s Eve specialty dinners with set menus, themed cocktails, and pre-booked group tables. Wondering where you should spend the big night? Try Alexander’s Restaurant and Wine Bar for their New Year’s Eve Dinner. They’re serving a scrumptious three-course dinner to end 2025 on a delicious note.

Don’t miss the ball drop to ring in the new year! Head over to The Sea Pines Resort for their New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Celebration from the top of the Harbour Town Lighthouse, featuring food, music, and entertainment throughout the entire evening’s festivities. If you’ve got young kids, you can even opt for the earlier, 7:00 PM ball drop and then call it an early night without missing a minute of the fun.

And if you want to start the new year off with a splash, take the Polar Bear Plunge at Coligny Beach on January 1st, 2026. Each year, the local community and visitors head into the ocean in a show of bravery and in support of a chosen local non-profit organization.

Whether you're planning a festive getaway or a quiet retreat, winter is a magical time to experience Hilton Head Island. Request your free Vacation Planner today and find places to stay, things to do, and local flavors to savor during your Lowcountry winter escape.