January

3rd week: Winter Roast Annual Oyster Roast with Lowcountry favorites, live entertainment and children games. Sponsored by Island Recreation Center, 4-8pm Palmetto Bay Marina 681-7273

February

De Arts Ob We People: A Gullah Celebration (through 3rd weekend in February) The Self Family Arts Center – 842-ARTS

March

SpringFest (Month of March) During Hilton Head's Springfest (Hilton Head Island, 843/686-4944 or 800/424-3387), throughout the month of March, you can enjoy concerts, plays, films, art shows, theater, sporting events, food fairs, and mini- tournaments.

Early March

Daily Sea Pines Forest Preserve Wagon Tour The preserve is home to numerous animals & was home to Native Americans hundreds of years ago. 3:30-5pm, 363-4530

Daily Sea Pines Historic Stoney Baynard Ruins Tour Explore this historic tabby ruin & archeological dig site, which was built around 1793. Learn how a cotton plantation was operated. 10-11:30am– 363-4530

Daily: The Spirit of Harbour Town Historic Savannah Cruise Cruise in heated or air-conditioned comfort to the heart of Savannah’s historic district. Spend over 4 hours shopping, sightseeing and dining. 9:30am – 4:30pm, 842-7179

Daily Vagabond Daufuskie Island Adventure includes land tour. call 842-4155 for times and reservations

Daily Beachwalks with the Coastal Discovery Museum This tour is a long time favorite of Island visitors and residents. call 689-6767 for times and reservations

Mid-March:

Annual Chocolate Fair sponsored by the Jr. Sailing Program. Coligny Plaza – 842-6050

2nd weekend: Annual Wine Fest largest outdoor tented wine tasting on the East Coast! includes souvenir tasting glass, 1-4pm, Shelter Cove Harbour – 800-424-3387

2nd weekend: Jazz Fest entertainment provided by the Hilton Head Jazz Society. Free, Hilton Head Factory Stores 1 & 2 – 837-4339

2nd weekend in March

St. Patrick’s Day Parade largest free spectator event on the Island. Free, 2pm, Pope Avenue – 842-4319

Last weekend in March

SpringFest Open House/International Food Tasting Free, 4-6pm, USCB at Hilton Head – 785-3995

Late March

Architects Selected Preview of Homes a 1-day tour of selected homes designed by local architects. 10am-5pm, 836-2929

St. Helena's Episcopal Church Spring Tours (Church St. and North St., St. Helena, 843/524-0363) offers festive tours of Beaufort's Colonial homes and lovely Lowcountry plantations in March and April.

April

Worldcom Classic-The Heritage Of Golf (11 Lighthouse La., Hilton Head Island, 800/234-1107), when more than 100 top golfers play at the Harbour Town Golf Links for a $3.5 million purse.

May

Beaufort's Gullah Festival in May highlights the fine arts, customs, language, and dress of Lowcountry African-Americans.

July

In July during the Beaufort County Water Festival (Beaufort, 843/524-0600), boats galore turn up for water sports and entertainment. It's held in the Waterfront Park on Bay Street.

September

Over Labor Day weekend, Hilton Head hosts the Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament (Hilton Head Island, 843/842-7711), during which celebrities and amateurs play for three days on three different courses to raise money for children's charities.

Annual FoodFest - Best of the Lowcountry

Mid-September: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The popular event now covers 2 days and is held at Shelter Cove Harbour, starting at 11:00 am. 32 Island Restaurants, (16 different ones each day), showcase samples of a few of their most popular menu items. Contests, prizes, family-style entertainment

For further information for day of event activities please contact the Hilton Head Hospitality Association at 843-686-4944 or 1-800-424-3387.

October

St. Luke's Tour Of Homes (Hilton Head Island, 843/785-4099), take self-guided tours through beautiful homes and plantations.

Beaufort Fall Festival Of Homes And Gardens (208 Scott St., Beaufort, 843/524-6334), private homes and gardens are open to the public, and you can tour historic sites and attend lectures and special events.

Plantation Tour (Edisto Island, 843/869-1954) of the 18th- and 19th-century former plantations and old churches on the island. Docents at every location give historical background on all the sites.

Call for tickets.

Daniel Island Park Day Saturday, last weekend in October

Daniel Island offers hundreds of acres of parkland. this event is an opportunity to showcase both these new and existing island parks. Each park will have a variety of different activities for all ages. There is no entry fee to attend this event, and most of the day’s activities will be free of charge. Bicycles will be available for rent to allow visitors to tour the island’s parks and neighborhoods and take part in all of the exciting activities. Visitors can also take old-fashioned hay rides around the island in traveling to each destination.

At Children’s Park:

great activities for children and adults alike including the following: “Gullah” story telling for children, local music, fly fishing demonstrations on the dock, sweetgrass basket weaving, and more.

November

1st weekend: Hilton Head Oyster Festival. Shelter Cove Community Commons, 11 AM to 4 PM. All you can eat oysters, plus chili, chowder, burgers and hot dogs. Games and live entertainment. 843-681-7273

2nd weekend: "Taste of the Seasons". Holiday season specialties from various restaurants. 6 PM to 8 PM, Port Royal Clubhouse. 843-785-2600 ext. 377, M. C. Strong.

2nd weekend: "14th Annual Merrie Christmas Shoppe Arts and Crafts Show". At the Boardwalk on Folly Field Road. Free admission. 11/8, 6 PM to 9 PM; 11/9, 10 AM to 7 PM; 11/10, 10 AM to 4 PM. 843-681-5092.

3rd week: Hayrides in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. 3PM to 4PM or 4PM to 5PM. 843-363-4530.

Thanksgiving weekend: Santa arrives at Coligny Plaza, with Yostie's puppets and Rick Hubbard's Kazoo band. Noon. 843-842-6050.

Thanksgiving weekend Christmas tree lighting, caroling, crafts, refreshments, Santa and other entertainment. Self Family Arts Center. 843-842-2787.