Lowcountry Events in October: Your Guide to What’s Happening in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort, and Savannah this month

October is one of the best months to experience the Lowcountry. Cooler temperatures arrive, oyster season is underway, and the calendar fills with food festivals, live music, art, historic home tours, fall celebrations, and community traditions. Whether you are searching for things to do on Hilton Head Island, planning a weekend in Old Town Bluffton, exploring Beaufort, South Carolina, or making the short trip to Savannah, October 2026 offers plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the Lowcountry lifestyle.

Hilton Head Island Events in October

Lowcountry Fish & Grits Music Festival

When: October 3, 12PM - 6PM

Where: Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island

Celebrate Gullah Geechee culture through music, food, art, and community at the annual Lowcountry Fish & Grits Music Festival. This family-friendly event brings an eclectic mix of R&B, jazz, funk, folk, and spoken word to Lowcountry Celebration Park, along with food vendors, artists, and local makers. Its location near Coligny and Forest Beach also makes it an easy addition to a day spent exploring Hilton Head Island's south end.

Hounds on the Harbour

When: October 3, 10AM - 12PM

Where: Harbour Town, 149 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island

Dogs get their own day in Harbour Town during Hounds on the Harbour, a morning event dedicated to four-legged Lowcountry residents and their people. Set beneath the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse, the event offers another reason to enjoy the marina, shops, restaurants, and unmistakable Sea Pines setting during one of Hilton Head Island's loveliest times of year.

Hilton Head Island Italian Heritage Festival

When: October 17, 11AM - 4PM

Where: Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island

The 16th Annual Italian Heritage Festival brings the flavors and traditions of Italy to Hilton Head Island for an afternoon of food, music, and family fun. Hosted by the Italian American Club of Hilton Head Island, the popular festival features traditional Italian dishes, activities, and entertainment throughout the beautiful grounds of the Coastal Discovery Museum.

Island Recreation Pumpkin Patch

When: October 23, 4PM - 7PM

Where: Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island

Fall gets a coastal twist at Island Recreation's Pumpkin Patch. This free family event at Shelter Cove Community Park offers seasonal activities and plenty of Halloween spirit in the heart of Hilton Head Island. It is a particularly fun outing for families with younger children looking for an easygoing way to celebrate fall outdoors.

Mac and Cheese Festival

When: October 24, 5PM - 8PM

Where: Lincoln & South Brewing Company, 138 Island Drive, Hilton Head Island

Comfort food takes center stage at Hilton Head Island's Mac and Cheese Festival. Local restaurants and cooks serve up their versions of everyone's favorite cheesy classic while guests enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and community. October may technically be oyster season in the Lowcountry, but macaroni apparently did not get the memo.

Halloween on the Harbour

When: October 25, 1:30PM - 3:30PM

Where: Harbour Town, 149 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island

Harbour Town gets into the Halloween spirit with an afternoon of games, activities, trick-or-treating, and costumes for all ages. A Halloween fashion show on the Liberty Oak stage adds to the fun, while the marina setting makes this one of Hilton Head Island's most picturesque family Halloween traditions.

Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival

When: October 29 - November 1; Car Club Showcase October 31, 9AM - 4PM

Where: Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club, 10 Clubhouse Drive, Hilton Head Island

One of Hilton Head Island's signature fall events returns at the end of October. The Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival brings collectors, enthusiasts, families, and extraordinary automobiles together for several days of automotive events. The October 31 Car Club Showcase at Port Royal Golf Club offers visitors the opportunity to see an impressive collection of automobiles before the Concours d'Elegance concludes the festival on November 1.

Bluffton Events in October

Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival

When: October 9 - 18, times vary by event

Where: Multiple locations throughout Old Town Bluffton

Few events capture the character of Bluffton quite like the Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival. Now in its 22nd year, the ten-day celebration combines locally harvested seafood, Lowcountry cuisine, fine art, live music, history, river excursions, dinners, and community events throughout Old Town Bluffton. The festival is one of the most anticipated Bluffton events in October and a terrific way to experience the May River, historic district, parks, galleries, and local restaurants.

Bluffton State of Mind Supper Soirée

When: October 10, 6PM - 9PM

Where: Calhoun Street, Old Town Bluffton

Calhoun Street transforms into an outdoor dining room for one of the Arts & Seafood Festival's most distinctive evenings. The Bluffton State of Mind Supper Soirée features a four-course dinner, wine, and music under the stars in the heart of the historic district. Attendance is limited, making this one of the festival's more intimate and sought-after events.

Symphony Under the Stars

When: October 15, 7:30PM - 9:30PM

Where: Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary Street, Bluffton

Bring a chair or blanket to Martin Family Park for an evening of live music with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Part of the Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival, Symphony Under the Stars brings professional music into the heart of Old Town for a free outdoor performance.

Old Town Oyster Run 5K

When: October 17, 8AM

Where: Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton

Start Street Fest weekend with a run through one of Bluffton's most scenic areas. The Old Town Oyster Run 5K begins at Oyster Factory Park, winds through Historic Old Town and along the May River, then wraps up with an after-party and awards. Runners, walkers, families, strollers, and dogs are welcome.

Historic Bluffton Street Fest

When: October 17, 10AM - 5PM; October 18, 10AM - 4PM

Where: Calhoun Street and the Historic District, Old Town Bluffton

The grand finale of the Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival fills Old Town with more than 100 local and regional artists, food vendors, live entertainment, and family activities. The juried fine art show stretches through the historic district and gives visitors an excellent excuse to spend a fall weekend walking Calhoun Street, exploring the galleries, and sampling Bluffton's local restaurants.

Beaufort Events in October

32nd Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival

When: October 2 - 3; Friday festivities begin at 5PM, Saturday festivities begin at 11AM

Where: Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Downtown Beaufort

The Beaufort Shrimp Festival serves up one of the Lowcountry's most celebrated ingredients in one of its prettiest settings. Local restaurants and chefs prepare fresh shrimp dishes while live music, an arts and crafts market, children's activities, and the annual Rotary Shrimp Race keep the waterfront busy throughout the weekend. Admission is free, making it an easy addition to a fall weekend in Downtown Beaufort.

First Friday in Downtown Beaufort

When: October 2, evening

Where: Downtown Beaufort and Bay Street

Downtown Beaufort's monthly First Friday celebration returns in October with local shops, galleries, restaurants, and businesses welcoming visitors for an evening in the historic district. Stroll Bay Street, browse local art and boutiques, enjoy dinner downtown, and experience the community atmosphere that makes Beaufort's walkable downtown such a popular gathering place.

Into the Woods

When: October 2 - 4, performance times vary

Where: USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort

The Beaufort Theatre Company brings the beloved musical Into the Woods to the USCB Center for the Arts in early October. The production combines familiar fairy-tale characters with Stephen Sondheim's celebrated music and a story that becomes considerably more complicated once everyone gets what they wished for. It is a fitting reminder that fairy tales, much like real estate transactions, rarely end at the first happily ever after.

Habersham Harvest Festival

When: October 9 - 11; Friday begins at 4PM, Saturday and Sunday 10AM - 6PM

Where: Habersham Marketplace, 13 Market, Beaufort

The Habersham Harvest Festival has become one of Beaufort's favorite fall traditions. The three-day festival features a Friday evening carnival followed by a weekend filled with artisans, food vendors, live entertainment, rides, and family activities. Set directly within Habersham Marketplace, the event offers visitors a chance to experience the walkable town-center atmosphere of this distinctive Beaufort community.

Marlena Smalls & The Hallelujah Singers: Roots, Rhythm & Soul

When: October 10 - 11, performance times vary

Where: USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort

Experience an important part of Lowcountry culture through the music and storytelling of Marlena Smalls & The Hallelujah Singers. Their Roots, Rhythm & Soul performances celebrate the region's Gullah heritage while adding another cultural highlight to an already busy October weekend in Beaufort.

52nd Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens

When: October 16 - 18, times vary by event

Where: Historic Beaufort and St. Helena Island

For anyone who appreciates historic architecture and preservation, Beaufort's Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens is a standout event. Now in its 52nd year, the festival opens the doors to private historic homes and properties that are rarely available to the public. The 2026 program includes tours exploring Beaufort's Civil War and Reconstruction history along with a Lowcountry brunch and tour at historic Frogmore Manor on St. Helena Island.

11th Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival

When: October 22 - 25, times vary by program

Where: Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, and locations throughout Beaufort

The Pat Conroy Literary Festival celebrates Beaufort's deep literary roots with several days of author conversations, readings, book signings, workshops, performances, tours, and special events. The annual festival honors the legacy of beloved Lowcountry author Pat Conroy while bringing writers and readers together from throughout the region and beyond.

Savannah Events in October

75th Savannah Greek Festival

When: October 8 - 10, 11AM - 9PM

Where: St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church Hellenic Center, 14 West Anderson Street, Savannah

Celebrating its 75th year in 2026, the Savannah Greek Festival has become one of the city's favorite fall traditions. Visitors can enjoy homemade Greek dishes and desserts, Greek music and dancing, church tours, a marketplace, and three full days celebrating Greek heritage. The festival attracts thousands of guests each year and makes an easy October day trip from the South Carolina Lowcountry.

SCAD Savannah Film Festival

When: October 24 - 31, screening and event times vary

Where: Multiple historic Savannah venues, including Trustees Theater, Lucas Theatre for the Arts, SCAD Museum of Art, and other downtown locations

Savannah takes the spotlight during the 29th SCAD Savannah Film Festival, one of the country's most recognized film events and the largest university-run film festival in the world. The week features major studio releases, independent films, documentaries, shorts, panels, workshops, and appearances by filmmakers and industry professionals at venues throughout historic Savannah. The festival runs October 24 through October 31, with individual event tickets scheduled to go on sale October 2.

October showcases exactly why so many people fall in love with living in the Lowcountry. Here, weekends are built around waterfront parks, historic streets, seafood pulled from local waters, live music, neighborhood festivals, art, culture, and traditions that bring entire communities together. Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort, and nearby Savannah each offer a different version of coastal living, yet all share that unmistakable sense of place.

For 40 years, Charter One Realty has helped buyers and sellers navigate the Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort, and greater Lowcountry real estate markets. As a market leader with deep local roots, our agents understand that choosing a home here is about far more than bedrooms, square footage, or a view. It is about finding the community and lifestyle that feel like home. Whether you are exploring Hilton Head Island real estate, Bluffton homes for sale, Beaufort real estate, or simply getting to know the area, October is a particularly good month to discover what makes the Lowcountry such an exceptional place to live.