If you think spring in the Lowcountry is just a season, you couldn’t be more wrong. Spring in the Lowcountry is an entire mood.
The azaleas show off, the marsh turns neon green and suddenly everyone you meet is outdoors “just for a minute” (which somehow turns into three hours). For many visitors and plenty of future homeowners, this is the moment the Lowcountry stops feeling like a vacation and starts feeling like home.
In Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, spring events are woven into everyday life. They’re casual and community-driven, exactly the kind of experiences that help people picture themselves living here year-round.
Why Spring Events Matter (Especially to Buyers)
Spring hits the sweet spot:
- Comfortable temperatures (hello, porch season)
- Fewer crowds than summer
- A packed social calendar without the chaos
For buyers exploring Bluffton or Hilton Head, spring events offer a real glimpse into local life: how neighbors gather, how communities socialize and how active (or laid-back) daily life can be.
Common Spring Festivals & Events in the Lowcountry
These are the classic spring events that locals look forward to every year and newcomers quickly learn to put on their calendar.
Bluffton Events
Bluffton Mayfest
10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 9 in Old Town Bluffton
Each spring, Bluffton Mayfest brings Historic Old Town to life as one of the Lowcountry’s most beloved community celebrations. Organized by the Rotary Club of Bluffton, this free, family-friendly festival—held the Saturday before Mother’s Day—has been a staple of Bluffton culture for more than four decades. The streets fill with hundreds of local and regional artists, craftspeople, food vendors, and live music, creating a vibrant showcase of creativity and community spirit that reflects the heart of the Lowcountry. Classic Mayfest highlights like the pie-eating contest, the playful Ugly Dog competition, and delicious local bites make it a joyful spring tradition for residents and visitors alike.
May River Shrimp Festival (late spring)
The May River Shrimp Festival is a beloved Lowcountry celebration in Bluffton that brings the community together for an evening of fresh seafood, live music, local flavors, and laid-back waterfront fun. Held at Oyster Factory Park, the festival highlights Bluffton’s rich fishing village heritage with food trucks, craft beer and wine options, live entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to taste authentic shrimp dishes and coastal favorites alongside friends and neighbors. It’s a festive, family-friendly event that captures the spirit of the Lowcountry—where good food, great music, and beautiful river views make everyone feel right at home.
Sunset Palooza
Sunset Palooza is a seasonal Lowcountry favorite in May that brings live music, local food, and a festive waterfront atmosphere to Bluffton as the sun dips below the horizon. Part of a laid-back series of summer and fall gatherings, this event invites the community and visitors alike to enjoy great tunes, refreshing drinks, and scenic views along the May River. With its lively energy and iconic Lowcountry backdrop, Sunset Palooza is all about celebrating good times and good company in one of the region’s most picturesque settings.
Bluffton SC Farmers Market
The Bluffton Farmers Market is a beloved weekly tradition in Old Town Bluffton, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy fresh, locally grown produce, baked goods, artisan crafts, and prepared foods against the charming backdrop of historic Boundary Street and Martin Family Park. Open most Thursdays throughout the year, the market features seasonal produce, honey, flowers, plants, local meats, seafood, and tasty Lowcountry treats, with live music and community energy that make it a perfect way to spend a spring or summer afternoon. Whether you’re picking up farm-fresh veggies, enjoying a chef demo, or simply wandering from tent to tent chatting with growers and makers, the market captures the inviting, neighborly spirit of Bluffton’s community life
Spring Fling in Old Town Bluffton
Spring Fling in Old Town Bluffton is a cheerful seasonal celebration that ushers in warmer weather with a lively art walk, local vendors, music, and community energy throughout the heart of historic Bluffton. As the streets bloom with spring color, visitors and locals wander from gallery to gallery, browse artisan booths, and enjoy live entertainment and pops of creativity around every corner. It’s the kind of event that really captures the welcoming spirit of Bluffton—perfect for an afternoon stroll, discovering local art, and soaking up the fresh spring vibes that make the Lowcountry feel like home.
Port Royal Soft Shell Crab Festival
April 18 in Port Royal
The Port Royal Soft Shell Crab Festival is a much-loved springtime tradition in the Lowcountry that highlights the coastal culinary heritage and community spirit of the region. Held in the charming Old Village of Port Royal, this waterfront celebration draws locals and visitors alike with fresh local seafood (especially soft shell crab in all its delicious forms), live music, arts and crafts vendors, and family-friendly activities. It’s a festive day of great food, entertainment, and waterfront views that captures the coastal flavor and relaxed, neighborly energy that make the Lowcountry feel like home.
Hilton Head Island Events
Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival
March 22-28
The Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival is a signature springtime celebration on the island that brings together wine lovers, foodies, and culinary creatives against the beautiful backdrop of the Lowcountry. Held each spring when the weather is mild and inviting, the festival offers a week of tasting experiences, wine education sessions, chef demonstrations, live music, and special events that highlight both international vintages and local Lowcountry cuisine. From casual strolls with a glass in hand to larger grand tasting experiences and community-focused gatherings, this festival captures the vibrant flavors and relaxed coastal spirit that make Hilton Head a destination—and a home—for anyone who appreciates good food, good wine, and great company.
Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival
February 23-March 1
The Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival is a beloved coastal celebration that highlights the island’s rich maritime culture and fresh-from-the-dock flavors each spring. Drawing locals and visitors alike, this spirited festival features an array of seafood vendors serving up Lowcountry classics, live music, arts and craft booths, family-friendly activities, and plenty of opportunities to savor the best of Hilton Head’s coastal cuisine. With waterfront views and a festive atmosphere, the Seafood Festival captures the relaxed island vibe and makes spring on Hilton Head feel like one long, delicious welcome home.
Hilton Head Wingfest
Hilton Head Wingfest is a fun, flavor-packed celebration of one of America’s favorite comfort foods—chicken wings—set against the vibrant community backdrop of Hilton Head Island. Held each spring as the island warms up, this laid-back festival brings together a mouthwatering lineup of local restaurants, chefs, and wing lovers for a day of tasty wing creations, cold drinks, live music, and family-friendly entertainment. Whether you’re sampling classic recipes or daring new flavor twists, Wingfest captures the relaxed, social spirit of the Lowcountry while celebrating great food, good company, and the lively energy that makes spring on Hilton Head feel like a hometown party.
Gregg Russell Spring Concerts
March 30-April 10 in Sea Pines
The Gregg Russell Spring Concert Series at Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island is a beloved Lowcountry tradition that brings families and music lovers together under the oaks each spring. Known for its friendly, community-oriented atmosphere, this free concert series spotlights local favorite Gregg Russell—whose beachside performances draw generations of fans—with sing-alongs, classic tunes, and lively rhythms that perfectly capture the laid-back coastal vibe. Whether you’re picnicking on the lawn, dancing with the kids, or simply taking in the sunset soundtrack, these spring concerts are quintessential Hilton Head: relaxed, musical, and unmistakably local.
Music & Taste on the Harbour
March 26-May 14 at Shelter Cove Harbour
The Music & Taste at Shelter Cove series on Hilton Head Island is a quintessential Lowcountry spring and summer tradition that pairs live, local music with delicious bites from area restaurants—all set against the scenic backdrop of Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina. As the weather warms and evenings stretch longer, neighbors and visitors alike gather on the lawn to enjoy laid-back tunes, refreshing drinks, and the relaxed, community-oriented vibe that defines island living. Whether you’re craving coastal favorites or discovering new local flavors while the sun dips toward the marsh, Music & Taste delivers a perfect blend of good food, great music, and easygoing Lowcountry charm.
Hilton Head Island Art Festival
May 22-24 at Shelter Cove Harbour
The Hilton Head Island Art Festival is a celebrated springtime event that showcases the vibrant creative spirit of the Lowcountry. Held along the scenic avenues of Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, the festival brings together talented artists from across the region and beyond to display and sell a diverse array of original works—from paintings and sculptures to ceramics, jewelry, and mixed-media creations. With live music, food vendors, and a welcoming atmosphere, this art festival offers locals and visitors alike a chance to stroll, discover new artists, and enjoy the unique cultural flair that makes Hilton Head Island feel like home.
Hilton Head Farmers Market
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays year-round
The Coastal Discovery Museum Farmers Market on Hilton Head Island is a much-loved seasonal gathering that celebrates fresh, locally grown produce and handcrafted goods in a relaxed, community-oriented setting. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the museum’s gardens and nature trails, this weekly market invites residents and visitors alike to browse farm-fresh vegetables, artisan foods, baked treats, flowers, and handcrafted products while connecting with local growers and makers. With its friendly small-town vibe and focus on sustainable, Lowcountry living, the market offers a perfect way to enjoy island life, support regional producers, and soak up spring and summer sunshine.
The Bottom Line
When buyers explore Bluffton and Hilton Head in the spring, they often notice the little things first—how easy it is to strike up a conversation, how many events unfold outdoors, and how naturally family-friendly and welcoming everything feels. There’s a strong sense of connection here, whether it’s chatting with neighbors at a farmers market or lingering longer than planned at a waterfront event. What begins as a casual visit often feels familiar surprisingly quickly, answering the unspoken question many buyers carry with them: Could I actually live here?
That’s the quiet power of spring in the Lowcountry. The events aren’t flashy or overproduced, and they don’t need to be. They’re relaxed, community-driven, and deeply rooted in local tradition. From seafood festivals to art walks to impromptu gatherings by the water, these moments reveal what everyday life truly feels like here. For many buyers, spring isn’t just when they start looking—it’s when they realize they’ve found home.
