When you live on an island, it’s a must to celebrate all of the fresh seafood available at your fingertips. Since the beginning of the Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest in 2008 has grown into a weeklong celebration of the variety of seafood available on Hilton Head with all kinds of events, including cooking classes, restaurant specials, dinner cruises out on the water, excursions with local fisherman and a family-friendly event that ends the week with everyone outdoors enjoying fish from all over.
From Monday through Friday, restaurants all across the Island participate in the Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest by offering their customers seafood specials and signature seven-course meals crafted by local masters and guest chefs invited to Hilton Head for this special occasion. Most nights, restaurants will host a cocktail and appetizer reception with live music to kick off the evening before serving dinner.
In addition to the chef collaborations and live music at restaurants, there are a variety of classes and chances to better your own seafood creations. In the past, there has been everything from classes to learn about the healthiest, cheapest and most pleasing plates, to two-hour expeditions on a boat to show guests how the food makes it to the table.
The Island Recreation Association always ends the week with their daylong festival at the Shelter Cove Community Park on Saturday. Local restaurants all bring their best out to booths at the park to serve guests delicious treats. Fish tacos, shrimp sliders, crab cakes, oyster platters, hushpuppies, and all kinds of fried fish are served at this outdoor event, which also has a designated “Kid Zone” with bounce houses and craft booths, as well as a silent auction, live entertainment and activities like beer pong, corn hole, bocce ball and crab races.
