Don’t look now but the Hilton Head Seafood Festival is only about a week away. Long regarded as one of the largest and most popular events on the island every year, the Seafood Festival is responsible for generating tens of thousands of dollars for island non-profits for well over a decade.
The David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation was established by the Carmines family, owners of Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, in memory of their son, and the seafood festival is the organization’s main fundraiser. The 15th annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival, hosted by the David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization helps raise money for other non-profit organizations including the Coastal Discovery Museum, Island Recreation Scholarship Fund, Waddell Mariculture Center, Port Royal Sound Foundation, Gullah Heritage Museum and Medical University of South Carolina.
I think it is important to mention that off the top of this piece because it is with ALL of that in mind that decisions have been made on how to evolve the festival from a parking lot oyster roast once upon a time, to the island’s premiere seafood event.
It returns February 21-27th this year with the main event on Saturday, February 26th.
If you’ve attended the Seafood Festival Saturday event in the last few years, then you’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a large party at the islands central locale Honey Horn. The headline this year is the fact that while the rest of the week-long schedule of festivities largely remains the same, Saturday’s “Hilton Head Seafood Festival” is moving to Shelter Cove Marina.
“We didn’t want to try to cram 10 or 12 thousand people into Honey Horn again this year.” says Andrew Carmines, co-founder of the event.
“But” he adds “We wanted to provide a family friendly experience that everyone could still enjoy.”
Andrew tells me that ‘family friendly’ aspect of this event remains the most important. It was the ability to have a fireworks show at the end of the evening that made Shelter Cove most attractive.
“There are really only three locations on the island for a fireworks show.” Andrew says. “This one was the most convenient for everyone.”
What you will likely notice most is the price. Tickets for the Saturday main event will run you $85.00. What do you get for that price? A souvenier glass with which you can sample all of the beer, wine and spirits being poured at the Festival from 1:00pm until 4:30pm. Yes, that means drinks are included.
You will also receive a $10 credit toward the purchase of food from any participating vendor.
There will be cooking and beverage demos and much more surrounding the marina at Shelter Cove.
Then, at 6:30pm, the day will wrap up with a fireworks show.
It’s hard for Andrew to contain his excitement about the return of this event. Not only has it become a nice shot in the arm for visitors to the island, but it also goes back to the non-profits that benefit from the money raised.
“A lot of non-profits depend on the money we are able to give them every year.” he says. “Last year, they were protected by some savings we had put aside, but that needs to be replaced.”
And it will be.
The fun gets going February 21st. Tickets and more information can be found by clicking here.
