A whopping 16 fall festivals are set for Beaufort County SC and some will be soon. Here’s the list

With Labor Day weekend earlier this month and the autumn equinox having marked the beginning of fall on Thursday, the start of the fall season brings more than just pumpkin spice and hope for cooler weather. It also signals the start of festivals and celebrations here in the Lowcountry.

There are plenty of festivals set to occur this fall in Beaufort County. Whether you are a seafood-enthusiast, local-flavors gourmand, someone who enjoys music, a lover of historic homes, avid socializer, new to town or someone who wants to experience one of these festivals for the very first time, there seems to be something coming up for everyone.

Here are some of the local festivals taking place this month and throughout the month of October.

Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival- Sept. 24

The Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival will be in full swing on the island Saturday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. The festival is set to take place on the lawn beside the Liberty Oak at the Sea Pines Resort 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 14 breweries, and of course, shrimp. The featured savory, shrimp dishes are to be prepared by 18 Hilton Head-area chefs.

For those who have not yet bought their tickets, pricing is $75 for those aged 21 years and older. Tickets for guests younger than 21, or anyone who does not plan to consume an alcoholic beverage, are $50. Children aged 8 and under are permitted free admittance. Tickets may be purchased at https://www.hiltonheadislandshrimpfest.com/. A shuttle is also available for all attendees.

12th Annual Boiled Peanut Festival - Sept. 24

The 12th Annual Boiled Peanut Festival is set to take place this Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. It will be located on the common ground at the Heyward House in Bluffton. The festival offers all-you-can-eat boiled peanuts to attendees throughout the entire day. In addition, there is set to be a boiled peanut cookoff featuring flavors such as traditional, spicy and creative. The festival will host a boiled peanut eating contest, live music, select food vendors, chicken wings and adult beverages. Admission to the festival is $20. All proceeds go to the Historic Bluffton Foundation.

BlufftemberFest Sunset Party - Sept. 24

The BlufftemberFest Sunset Party takes place this Saturday from 3-8 p.m. at Oyster Factory Park. This festival is a Bluffton-style music festival & Oktoberfest celebration featuring an Oktoberfest beer garden, 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. Tickets may be purchased at https://bearfootsports.com/blufftember-fest.

OktoPRfest - Sept. 24

OktoPRfest will be underway this Saturday and will take place from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Paris Avenue in Port Royal. The festival will have live music in addition to numerous food trucks, local chefs and restaurants as well as a variety of craft, imported and domestic beer options.

The festival is free to attend and will feature a Lowcountry artisan and craft market, a “family fun zone,” Bikers Against Bullies and will feature the Beaufort Classic Car and Truck Show from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Pets are asked not to attend the event.

Harbour Town Fall Fest - Sept. 25

Harbour Town Fall Fest on Hilton Head Island takes place this Sunday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. This event is located in Harbour Town, which may be found in the Sea Pines community on the south end of the island. The Fall Fest will feature deals to be found at a sidewalk sale, live music, nautical activities, harbourside dining and 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 - Sept. 25

Latinos Unidos Food Festival is a scheduled event taking place this Sunday on Hilton Head Island. The food festival may be found at Shelter Cove Community Park from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. The event celebrates the community with food and music providing fun for the whole family. At this event, 24 Latin American cultures are set to be represented.

Tickets are required for entry and will be available at the gate entrance on the day of the Festival. Tickets will be $5 per person with free entry for children aged under 12-years-old. Purchase of tickets is “cash-only”.

62nd Saint Peter’s Catholic Church Fall Bazaar - Oct. 1

The 62nd Annual Saint Peter’s Catholic Church Fall Bazaar is set to occur in Beaufort on Oct. 1. The event will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will be located in the center of the Saint Peter’s campus at Lady’s Island Drive near Sea Island Parkway. The Fall Bazaar is family-friendly and will feature food, fun for the whole family, ‘fabulous finds’ and fellowship.

The event will feature new activities this year as well as the return of the International Food Court. In addition, attendees may ‘take-out’ any of the food available at the bazaar. Also returning to the bazaar will be the Sweet Shoppe, Craft Beer Garden and Silent Auction. An area for children will offer inflatables, games and a petting zoo. Proceeds from the 62nd Annual Fall Bazaar will support the Lowcountry Outreach Center. Admission is free for attendees.

Food Truck Festival - Oct. 1

The Lowcountry Jaycees are having their 5th Annual Food Truck Festival on Oct. 1. The festival will take place on Paris Avenue in Port Royal from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. This festival offers free admission and is open to the public. An array of food truck options as well as beer tents will be present at the event. Live music will be playing all day. A family-friendly “Kid Zone” is also being provided that will feature games and a petting zoo. The festival is scheduled as a fundraiser to benefit Jaycee Camp Hope.

Lowcountry Fish & Grits Music Festival - Oct. 1

The Lowcountry Fish and Grits Music Festival is a family-friendly event set to occur this year on Oct. 1 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Located at the Lowcountry Celebration Park on Hilton Head Island across from Coligny Plaza, the festival is set to highlight the Gullah Geechee Culture in the area and will showcase local as well as international musical talent, crafts and indigenous cuisine.

Lowcountry Gullah Geechee vendors will be present showcasing the vibrant culture through food, art, clothing and more, which will be available at the event. A variety of local artisans, food trucks and craft beer vendors will be featured throughout the park during the festival. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice. Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased on the festival’s website at https://fishandgritsmusicfest.com/.

Beaufort Shrimp Festival - Oct. 7-8

The 28th annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival will take place on Oct. 7-8. The festival can be found at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park from 5-10 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday. Several restaurants will be in attendance to help serve a variety of food options for attendees at this event. Live music will be at the festival on both days, including the Elton John tribute band at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

In addition to the multitude of shrimp dishes that will be available, event T-shirts and a keepsake shrimp necklace will also be available for purchase. The Run Forrest Run 5k will take place on Oct. 8. Sign-ups for the themed race and more information on the festival can be found at the event’s website at https://beaufortshrimpfestival.com/. Admission to the Beaufort Shrimp Festival is free to attend.

Rock N’ Ribs festival - Oct. 14-16

The first ever Rock N’ Ribs Music & BBQ Fest will take place this year from Oct. 14-15. This inaugural event has already sold out its 2-day VIP passes, but the Pit Master 1-day VIP pass and the connoisseur- general admission passes for Oct. 15 are still available for purchase on their website at https://rocknribshhi.com/the-experience/.

The festival is described as a “classic Rock ‘n Roll weekend celebrating BBQ, the people who make it, and the people who eat it.” The all-you-can-eat festival will be located in Coligny Plaza and will feature BBQ from world-renowned pitmasters, local chefs, and restaurants. Different styles of barbeque will be present at the event for everyone with a variety of barbeque favorites and flavor profiles.

To cap off the event, there will be an additional “Beach House’s Bloody’s, Brunch & Blues” event taking place on October 16. This will be a finale to the inaugural Rock N’ Ribs festival with a celebratory pig roast. The roast will be accompanied by live music and drink specials. Tickets for this special event are separate from festival tickets and will cost $50 per person. They are available to purchase at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bloodys-brunch-and-blues-at-the-beach-house-tickets-408135061957.

2022 Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival - Oct. 15-23

The 2022 Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival is scheduled to take place Oct. 15-23. Timing for the event runs from Oct. 15 at 8 a.m. until the festival’s end on Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. The event includes “Oyster Fest”, which is set to occur Oct. 15 from 5-8 p.m. featuring the first oyster roast of the Season in addition to a shrimp boil, barbeque, and live music.

Scheduling, individual pricing per event and more information regarding the festival can be found at https://www.blufftonsc.com/events/2022-historic-bluffton-arts-seafood-festival/.

Innova Latin Music Festival 2022 - Oct. 16

The 10th Innova Latin Music Festival 2022 is set for Oct. 16 from noon until 9 p.m. The community’s Hispanic Heritage will be displayed at this event, brought by La Isla Magazine, to entertain Latin flavor and atmosphere. For those planning to attend, entry tickets will be $10 with children 12 and under given free admittance.

Annual Beaufort Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens Oct. 22-23

Annual Beaufort Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens will occur from Oct. 22nd to the 23rd. This event features Beaufort’s Downtown Historic District and is made to highlight the city’s architectural history. The festival is an opportunity where local property owners open their homes and gardens for public viewing. Some locations scheduled as part of the showcase date back to the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. The event features tours of the historic locations as well as a Sunday brunch on Oct. 23.

Tours for the festival take place rain or shine, so attendees should plan accordingly. Advanced reservations are recommended. Tickets available to attendees for the Saturday tour are $60 for Historic Beaufort Foundation members and $75 for non-members. Tickets for the Sunday Brunch and the tour of the Edgar Fripp House 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 online at https://historicbeaufort.org/event/fall-festival-of-houses-gardens-in-the-beaufort-style/. Online Ticket sales close October 20 at midnight. Tickets for the event will also be available for purchase on October 22 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the fall tour station in the Arsenal Courtyard located at 713 Craven Street.

12th Annual Italian Heritage Festival - Oct. 22

The 12th Annual Italian Heritage Festival is scheduled to return this year on Oct. 22. The festival will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Coastal Discovery Museum 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 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 Plantation Big Band will also be present 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. Pets are not permitted. Tickets may be purchased at https://www.iachh.org/italian-heritage-festival.

6th Annual Gullah Food Festival - Oct. 29

The 6th Annual Gullah Food Festival is set to take place on Hilton Head Island on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event is being hosted by The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head and is set to include Gullah storytellers, Gullah music, Gullah songs, community speakers, face painting, food vendors and Gullah games & story books for children.

The purpose of the festival is to help maintain the local Gullah customs, traditions, language, stories, songs and structures on Hilton Head Island. The event will take place regardless if rain is present. Admission for attendees is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-16. Tickets are required and may be purchased at https://www.gullahmuseumhhi.org/event-details/6th-annual-gullah-food-festival.