Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival
An all-you-can-eat shrimp afternoon on the Liberty Oak lawn in Harbour Town, with local chefs, craft beer and live music.
- When: A Saturday afternoon in September each year; the date for the next festival is announced by The Sea Pines Resort
- Tickets: At the most recent festival, general admission for ages 21 and over was $79 ($65 early-bird), and no-alcohol admission was $59 ($45 early-bird). VIP was $150, with entry at 12:30 p.m. Children 8 and under were free
- Hosted by: The Sea Pines Resort
- Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
- Good to know: Held on the lawn beside the Liberty Oak. Harbour Town is inside the gated Sea Pines community
The Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival, which islanders also call the HHI Shrimp Festival, is a September afternoon of shrimp dishes from more than a dozen local chefs, at The Sea Pines Resort. It is held on the lawn next to the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town, and the ticket is all-you-can-eat.
It is a different event from the winter Seafood Festival and the November Oyster Festival. If you are choosing between them, this is the only one that is a single afternoon in the harbor.
What happens at the Shrimp Festival
Everything is on the one lawn, from 1 to 4 p.m. on a Saturday.
Shrimp from local chefs
More than a dozen Hilton Head-area chefs each serve a shrimp dish, and your ticket covers a sample from every one of them while supplies last.
Craft beer
Breweries pour beer from a distributor's lineup alongside the food. A no-alcohol ticket costs less and still includes all the food.
Live music and kids' activities
There is live music through the afternoon, a kids' area, and booths from specialty vendors. Children 8 and under get in free.
Early entry
VIP tickets let you in at 12:30 p.m., half an hour before the gates open to everyone else.
Where it is held
The festival is in Harbour Town, which is part of the gated Sea Pines community on the south end of the island, so allow time at the gate. The lawn is beside the Liberty Oak, a few steps from the harbor and the lighthouse.
Sea Pines posts the parking and shuttle plan with the tickets. For the rest of the resort's calendar, see events in Sea Pines, and for lunch or dinner before or after, the Harbour Town restaurants.
The lawn beside the island's most famous oak, in Harbour Town at The Sea Pines Resort.
Tips for the Shrimp Festival
Buy early
Early-bird tickets were about $14 cheaper than the price after Aug. 1, so buying ahead saves money.
It is outdoors
It is a September afternoon on a lawn, so bring a hat and sunscreen.
More Hilton Head food festivals
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival?
It is held on a Saturday afternoon in September, from 1 to 4 p.m. The most recent one was Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, and the next date is announced by The Sea Pines Resort.
Where is the Shrimp Festival held?
On the lawn beside the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town at The Sea Pines Resort.
How much are Shrimp Festival tickets?
At the most recent festival, general admission for guests 21 and over was $79 ($65 early-bird), no-alcohol admission was $59 ($45 early-bird), and VIP was $150. Children 8 and under were free.
Is the shrimp all you can eat?
Yes. The ticket includes shrimp samples from every chef and beer samples from every brewery while supplies last.
Is the Shrimp Festival the same as the Seafood Festival?
No. The Seafood Festival is a week of events in February, and the Shrimp Festival is a single September afternoon at Harbour Town.
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