Date: Saturday, February 22nd, 2021 – February 28th, 2021
Time: Schedule Below is from 2020 (2021 schedule coming soon)
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC (see schedule below)
Cost: See Below
CELEBRATING SOUTHERN HERITAGE AND CULTURE WITH FOOD & DRINK
The Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival is a family-friendly, week-long culinary and cultural tourism event with local seafood, special events, celebrity guest chefs and master culinary classes, live music and more.
The annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest hosted by the David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation and presented by Publix helps raise money for the Island Recreation Scholarship Fund, Gullah Institute, Port Royal Sound Foundation, Coastal Discovery Museum and the Medical University of South Carolina. 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.
Join us for the quintessential, Lowcountry family-style culinary celebration on Hilton Head Island. Explore artisan-made art, gifts and specialty items all while tasting the very best of our coastal cuisine and spirits. Over the course of seven days, guests take in celebrity guest chef dinners, the best of southern pitmasters, local wildlife, cooking demos, wine tastings, mixologist, scholars and more. The festival explores the South’s evolving food culture, which has been returning to its roots in recent years by honoring its rich native agriculture. Experience our coast’s rich fishing heritage during the weeklong festival. Here you can sample restaurants’ fresh catch specials, try fresh oysters, and maybe even learn how to fish yourself. From incredible seafood meals to rustic barbecue and bonfires, world-class talent and southern charm collide on one gorgeous Island setting.
Sponsors & Partnerships
We couldn’t be more honored to host some of the most interesting and innovative culinary brands in the country. Explore some of the businesses, small and large, that are partnering with the David M. Carmines Foundation to bring you the 2020 Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival! Click here to learn more and get involved!
Lowcountry Seafood Experience on the Water
Mon, Feb 24, 2020
10:00 AM
Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks
A two-hour excursion that includes instruction on shrimping, oystering, clamming, and crabbing with a couple of the Lowcountry’s foremost watermen, Captain Christopher and Matthew Shoemaker. Christopher and Matthew will demonstrate the skills required to “put food on the table.” After the work is done, guests will enjoy the fruits of their labor at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks. Times might vary based on tide and weather conditions.
Tours are running daily Monday, February 24 – 28, 2020. Three tours are available each day: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. $89 Per Person (Includes tour, beverage and culinary tastings at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks)
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL (843) 304-2878
Pitmaster 101
Thursday, February 27, 2020
4:30 PM 6:00 PM
Waddell Mariculture Center (map)
Learn from the Best of the Best! While our guest pitmaster Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ prepares for the upcoming Pig Pickin’ & Oyster Roast event, you will learn techniques and get to taste a preview of what’s to come. This is a limited class size event.
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Friends of James Beard Southern Supper
Thursday, February 27, 2020
6:00 PM 10:00 PM
The Shorehouse located at The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort (map)
Award-winning James Beard Foundation Chefs offer the ultimate culinary tour de force at Hilton Head Island’s Out of the Ocean Friends of James Beard Southern Supper, Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 6:00 PM hosted by the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort at The Shorehouse.
The James Beard Foundation’s dinner series brings a taste of what happens at the James Beard House in New York City to our Island home. One-night-only, multi-course, line-to-table dinner with wine pairings featuring a diverse group of James Beard Foundation Award winners and nominees. Truly an extraordinary evening for this premier seafood event!
Hotel Special for 2020 Seafood Festival at Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort.
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Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar
William Dissen, The Haymaker
Clayton Rollinson, Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar
Selena Delaney, Omni Oceanfront Resort
Andrew Carmines, Shell Ring Oyster Co.
Celebrity Chef Master Classes | Chef William Dissen of Haymaker
Friday, February 28, 2020
10:00 AM 11:00 AM
Alexander’s Restaurant (map)
Join visiting Chef William Dissen of Haymaker in Asheville for a special Master Class. From his upbringing in the hills and mountains of Appalachia, multi-award winning Chef William Dissenhas focus on fresh, healthy and sustainable food. At his restaurants across North Carolina — Haymaker, THE MARKET PLACE, and BILLY D’S FRIED CHICKEN — he works with a network of local farms, artisan producers, and sustainable fishermen to produce acclaimed food for his guests. When he’s not creating menus in his restaurant kitchens, you can find him enjoying the outdoors with his family or working with his community and with policymakers to help create positive change through good food.
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Pig Pickin’ + Oyster Roast
Friday, February 28, 2020
6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Waddell Mariculture Center (map)
Join us for the quintessential, Lowcountry family-style culinary celebration, as the Island’s best chefs, celebrity guest chefs, and Pitmasters prepare local shrimp, whole hogs, whole chickens, chopped BBQ and all the side dish trimmings at Waddell Mariculture Center. Wash it all down with brews, wines and signature cocktails and live music.
Guest Chefs and Pitmasters Include Elliott Moss, Pitmaster + Co-Owner Buxton Hall, Pitmaster Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ, Chef David Carrier of Certified Burgers & Beverage, Chef Benjamin Dennis, Gullah Geechee Culinary Artist, Chef Tim Nelson of One Hot Mama’s, Chef Brandon Carter of FARM Bluffton, Chef & Author Brian Noyes, Red Truck Bakery, Chef Clayton Rollison of Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, Andrew Carmines of Shell Ring Oyster Co. & Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks and many more! For a complete list of Talent click here.
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Saturday Seafood Festival
Saturday, February 29, 2020
11:00 AM 4:00 PM
Historic Honey Horn Plantation (map)
Held at Honey Horn Plantation, the family-friendly headlining event features area restaurants and chefs serving up seafood specialties and another tasty cuisine, celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, five-story Ferris wheel, expanded kids activities, David M. Carmines Foundation Silent Auction, Beer Garden, Artisan Market, Celebrity Chef and Mixology Demonstrations and more. Featured Restaurants include Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, The Crazy Crab, Red Fish, The Porch Southern Kitchen and Bar, Old Oyster Factory, FARM Bluffton, Fish Seafood & Raw Bar, Fishcamp on Broad Creek, Carolina Crab Company, SERG Restaurant Group, Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar, Local Pie, Hilton Head Ice Cream and more! Live music by Deas-Guyz from Noon to 4:00 pm. Free Admission to Children under 10 years of age. Tickets are $10.00 per person (age 10 and older). There is NO additional cost for parking at Honey Horn Plantation.
The VIP Lounge will offer a limited number of tickets for 2020. The lounge was the ultimate experience last year and completely sold out well in advance. The VIP Lounge ticket will include the following: access to the VIP Lounge area from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, catering by Hudson’s Seafood House on the Dock and complimentary beverages at the private bar including beer, wine, and spirits.
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No outside food or drink is permitted. Dogs are not allowed.
Seafood & Champagne Sunday Brunch
Sunday, March 1, 2020
10:00 AM 1:00 PM
Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks (map)
Music, bottomless Bloody Mary Bar, champagne and brunch collide for the perfect waterfront experience! The special menu is filled with southern classics as well as new dishes, along with a raw bar and modern takes on culinary classics – it’s a colorful, full-on flavor experience!
Select from one of three available seatings for brunch on Sunday. Tickets are available for 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM.