Hilton Head Food and Wine Festival
Eleven days of wine tastings, dinners and a beer day, with the Grand Tasting and Public Tasting at the heart of it.
- Next dates: Thursday, March 25, to Sunday, April 4, 2027
- Thursday, March 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Uncorked
- Wednesday, March 31, 4 to 7 p.m.: Sip & Stroll at Shops at Sea Pines Center
- Thursday, April 1, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Stay Gold
- Friday, April 2, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Grand Tasting at Country Club of Hilton Head
- Saturday, April 3, noon to 3 p.m.: Public Tasting at Lowcountry Celebration Park
- Sunday, April 4, 2 to 5 p.m.: Craft Beers at the Beach
- Tickets: Each event is ticketed on its own through the official site; all tickets are non-refundable
- Hosted by: Hilton Head Wine & Food, Inc.
- Age: Guests must be 21 or older; all events are pet free
The Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival, run as a nonprofit for more than 40 years, began as a three-hour tasting in a parking lot and is now more than a week of events. The festival's own name puts wine first, the Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, though many people call it the food and wine festival, or the HHI Wine and Food Festival for short. The 2027 festival is its 42nd.
Two other food festivals share the island calendar: the November Hilton Head Oyster Festival and the late-February Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival.
The wine and food festival week, event by event
Each event is its own ticket, so you can build a week or pick one night. The Grand Tasting and the Public Tasting are the two the rest of the festival revolves around.
Uncorked
Thursday, March 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The opening night, inspired by Open That Bottle Night: bring a wine with a story, a vintage, a trip or an occasion, and share it with friends over sips and snacks.
Sip & Stroll
Wednesday, March 31, 4 to 7 p.m., Shops at Sea Pines Center
Walk the Sea Pines Center with a glass in hand: a pop-up art market, restaurant doors open for dining and all-inclusive drink tastings.
Stay Gold: a Lowcountry wine, food and music experience
Thursday, April 1, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
A golden-hour evening of local live music, double-gold wines from the festival's competition and regional cuisine.
Grand Tasting
Friday, April 2, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Country Club of Hilton Head
The festival's centerpiece: competition-winning wines and top picks from the festival's wine partners in a country club setting, with a wine auction. Cocktail attire is suggested.
Public Tasting
Saturday, April 3, noon to 3 p.m., Lowcountry Celebration Park
More than 250 wines from around the world, a craft beer garden, the Sysco Outdoor Gourmet Challenge with chefs cooking, and a silent auction. A VIP Lounge is offered at the Public Tasting.
Craft Beers at the Beach
Sunday, April 4, 2 to 5 p.m.
More than 50 beers from local craft breweries, live entertainment and food to buy; cocktails and wine are sold too. The festival says it sells out quickly every year.
Tickets, age rules and what to wear
Everyone at every event must be 21 or older, and all events are pet free. All tickets are non-refundable. Tickets are sold on the festival's site. They can be bought at the door only if any remain, and most events sell out in advance.
The festival suggests smart casual dress generally, cocktail attire for the Grand Tasting and comfortable shoes for Sip & Stroll and other outdoor events. Anything outdoors goes ahead rain or shine.
Where the festival events are held
The Grand Tasting is at the Country Club of Hilton Head on Skull Creek Drive, the Public Tasting is at Lowcountry Celebration Park on Pope Avenue, across from Coligny Beach, and Sip & Stroll walks through the Shops at Sea Pines Center. The festival has not posted a parking or shuttle plan, so check your ticket and the official FAQ before you go.
The wine competition and the scholarship fund
A couple of months before the festival, certified wine educators and advanced sommeliers judge more than 250 wines in the International Wine Competition. The gold and silver medalists are poured at the festival's events.
The wine auctions at the Grand Tasting and the Public Tasting fund an educational scholarship for college students studying hospitality and tourism at USC Beaufort and Technical College of the Lowcountry, which has awarded $155,000 in scholarships.
More Hilton Head food festivals
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival?
The next festival runs from Thursday, March 25, to Sunday, April 4, 2027. The Grand Tasting is Friday, April 2, and the Public Tasting is Saturday, April 3.
Where is the Grand Tasting held?
At the Country Club of Hilton Head, 70 Skull Creek Drive, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 2, 2027.
Where is the Public Tasting held?
At Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, across from Coligny Beach, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2027.
Do you have to be 21 to attend the Hilton Head Island Wine and Food Festival?
Yes. Every guest at every event must be 21 or older, and all events are pet free.
Can I get a refund on festival tickets?
No. All tickets are non-refundable. Events that are held outdoors go ahead rain or shine.
What is the dress code for the Grand Tasting?
The festival suggests smart casual for its events and cocktail attire for the Grand Tasting. Wear comfortable shoes for outdoor events and Sip & Stroll.
Where do the proceeds go?
The wine auctions at the Grand Tasting and Public Tasting fund an educational scholarship for hospitality and tourism students at USC Beaufort and Technical College of the Lowcountry.
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