Anyone looking at a map of Hilton Head can immediately see that the greater Hilton Head Island community is divided into a great number of smaller communities. Some of these are gated and are only open to residents and those staying at a hotel, timeshare, or short-term rental property within the community. Despite appearances, there are a number of things which unite the Hilton Head Island community. Almost all residents and guests share a love of the island itself, including the beaches, waterways, marshes, and stately southern trees. There is a great love for the slower-paced, classically southern lifestyle complete with great amenities such as world-class tennis, golf, fishing, and more. On top of all this, the Hilton Head Island community is brought together every year by a number of events enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Some of them are longstanding traditions, while others have only begun in the past few years.

One of the island’s longstanding traditions is the Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament, which is currently in its 29th straight year. It is a charity event which benefits many different children’s charities, including the Children’s Relief fund and the Child Abuse Prevention Association. Anyone who sponsors the event gets the opportunity to play golf with a different celebrity each day for three days, with a different golf course hosting the event each day. Both local residents and visitors are able to sponsor the event, allowing them to partake in the food provided as well as the opportunity to attend evening events alongside the celebrities.

Not all Hilton Head Island community events have been around this long, however. Now in its 8th year, the Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival is one of the island’s most popular events, so large that its four events in one do not all take place on the island itself. There are two competitive showcases of classic cars. The first one is the Car Club Jamboree, an event in which all invited car clubs get the opportunity to showcase their very best cars. The second is the Concours d’Elegance itself, which is widely considered to be one of the best vintage car showcases to be found anywhere in the United States. There is also a noncompetitive showcase known as the Motoring Midway, which includes motorcycles and cars from many different eras as well as some exhibits dealing with the history of motoring in the United States. Finally, the Savannah/Hilton Head Speed Classic consists of vintage racing and “hot lap rides,” giving passengers the opportunity to feel what it’s like to be in a race car by sitting in the passenger seat next to a race car driver. This event is held on Hutchinson Island, located just across the river from Savannah’s historic downtown area.

The single largest Hilton Head Island community event is the Verizon Heritage Classic, the only PGA Tour event in the entire state of South Carolina. It is held at the Harbour Town Golf Links course located in the Sea Pines Plantation community. Students from nearby Hilton Head Island High School work at the event alongside many other residents. The event attracts huge crowds of both residents and visitors every year, truly uniting the Hilton Head Island community in one major event.

There are many other Hilton Head Island community events each year, including several charity marathons, the Seafood Jazz & Brew, and the Native Islander Gullah Celebration. Despite the island’s many gates and subdivisions, Hilton Head Island’s community events truly bring the greater community together as one.

Although the Hilton Head community can seem very divided to an outsider, with numerous gated communities separating the island’s population, the truth is that all of them are very much a part of the greater Hilton Head community.  They all share a love of the island’s natural beauty and the slower-paced southern lifestyle encouraged by the many beaches, tennis courts, golf courses, restaurants, and more.  Every year there are many events that bring the Hilton Head community together, with residents and visitors alike invited to attend. Some of these events have taken place for many years, and others are newer additions. 

The Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament is one the longest-running Hilton Head community events, now in its 29th year.  It is a charity event in which individual or group sponsors play golf with a celebrity for three days on three different courses.  Sponsors will play with a different celebrity each day.  Event sponsors can be from Hilton Head or from out of town; either way, they can enjoy food and a number of evening events in addition to playing golf with a celebrity.  The event benefits a number of children’s charities, including prominent ones such as the Child Abuse Prevention Association and the Children’s Relief fund. 

A somewhat newer Hilton Head community event is the Councours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, now in its 8th year.  It has proven to be an extremely popular event, and is actually four events in one.  The Savannah/Hilton Head Speed Classic takes place on Hutchinson Island, across the river from downtown Savannah.  It includes vintage racing and “hot lap rides” in which participants sit in the passenger seat while a trained race car driver drives a stockcar at full racing speeds.  The Motoring Midway is essentially a noncompetitive showcase of cars and motorcycles from different eras, featuring other motoring exhibits as well.  The Car Club Jamboree is a competitive show in which invited car clubs showcase their best cars.  Finally, the actual Councours d’Elegance is a competitive showcase of vintage cars, considered by many to be one of the top vintage car shows in the United States. 

The most famous Hilton Head community event is without a doubt the Verizon Heritage Classic, held annually at the Harbour Town Golf Links course on Sea Pines Plantation.  It is the only PGA Tour event in the state of South Carolina.  It attracts visitors and residents alike, and when the event coincides with spring break, Hilton Head Island High School’s students can often be seen working at the event. 

These are only a few of the many annual Hilton Head community events.  Others include the Native Islander Gullah Celebration, which celebrates the rich heritage of the Gullah people in the region; the recent Seafood Jazz & Brew event, which combines jazz with pairings of first-rate beer and seafood; and several marathon charity events.  Despite the apparent division created by the island’s many gated communities, numerous events help bring together the entire Hilton Head community.