Memorial Day Weekend on Hilton Head Island
An art festival and HarbourFest's opening weekend at Shelter Cove, plus the beaches and what to expect from traffic and parking.
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 31, 2027, the last Monday in May, so the weekend is May 29 to 31
- HarbourFest opens: Memorial Day weekend, running to Labor Day (May 23-24 was opening weekend in 2026)
- Where: Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, and the island's beaches
Memorial Day weekend is the start of Hilton Head Island's summer. HarbourFest opens its season at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, a free art festival has set up along the harbour on the weekend, and the beaches have their first busy weekend. Plan for traffic and book dinner ahead.
Both Shelter Cove events publish the next year's dates on their own sites. The 2027 dates were not posted when this guide was written, so check them before you plan around a specific day.
What's on Memorial Day weekend
Hilton Head Island Art Festival
Memorial Day weekend each year
Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, 1 Shelter Cove Lane
A free outdoor art festival along the harbour, with live music and a view of the marina.
HarbourFest opening weekend
Memorial Day weekend. In 2026: Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24
Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina
HarbourFest's summer season opens on the holiday weekend and runs to Labor Day weekend, with the Shannon Tanner family show and Cappy the Clown. The weekly Tuesday fireworks start in June.
Traffic and parking over the holiday
Memorial Day weekend is the first big arrival weekend of the summer. The bridge onto the island and William Hilton Parkway are busiest on the Friday afternoon, and Monday's departures are slow. Beach parking at the public beach parks fills early on a sunny day, so arrive in the morning or choose a beach with more spaces.
Parking at Shelter Cove Harbour is free but busy when the art festival is on, so give yourself time or park at the nearby Towne Centre.
Hilton Head Island parking: the overnight rules, how many cars a vacation rental allows, where parking is free, and beach lot rates at a glance.
Every named beach on Hilton Head Island — Coligny, Driessen, Folly Field, Burke's, and more — with parking, amenities, and which one is right for your trip.
More holiday guides
Hilton Head fireworks: Tuesday shows at Shelter Cove in summer, the Fourth of July displays, New Year's Eve and fireworks cruises, with 2026 dates.
Hilton Head Halloween 2026: the Island Rec Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 23, Trunk-O-Ween at Shelter Cove, the Sea Pines wagon ride on Oct. 24, and church events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do on Hilton Head over Memorial Day weekend?
The Hilton Head Island Art Festival is held along Shelter Cove Harbour on the holiday weekend, HarbourFest opens its summer season at the same harbour, and the beaches have their first busy weekend of the summer.
When is Memorial Day weekend on Hilton Head in 2027?
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027, so the weekend is Saturday, May 29 through Monday, May 31. Check the Art Festival's and HarbourFest's own sites for their 2027 days.
Is the Hilton Head Island Art Festival free?
Yes, admission to the festival along Shelter Cove Harbour is free.
When does HarbourFest start for the summer?
On Memorial Day weekend. In 2026 the season ran from Memorial Day weekend, May 23 and 24, through Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5 and 6.
Is Hilton Head crowded on Memorial Day weekend?
It is one of the busier weekends of the year. Expect heavier traffic on arrival day and Monday, early parking at popular beaches and busy restaurants, so reserve dinner.
Are there fireworks on Memorial Day weekend?
HarbourFest's weekly fireworks start in June on Tuesdays (June 9 in 2026), not on the opening weekend.
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