Crescendo returns for 10th year with six weeks of arts and culture

Dozens of arts and cultural events are planned across Hilton Head Island during the 10th annual Crescendo Celebration of Arts & Culture, which runs Oct. 9 through Nov. 22.

Organized by the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Arts Council of Hilton Head, Crescendo brings together concerts, theater, dance, visual arts, historical programs, cultural festivals and hands-on activities at venues across the island.

The celebration gets underway with a kickoff from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Shelter Cove Community Park. The event will feature local artists and cultural organizations, along with music by jazz artist Mark Rapp and the Soda City Band.

Two days later, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra will present “Symphony Under the Stars: Day-O: Harry Belafonte at 100” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Lowcountry Celebration Park. The free concert will feature trumpeter Etienne Charles and vocalist René Marie with the orchestra under conductor John Morris Russell.

Cultural festivals and community events are also part of the Crescendo calendar. The Gullah Food Festival is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island. The festival will include traditional foods, music, cultural demonstrations, vendors and storytelling.

The 16th annual Italian Heritage Festival will be held the same day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, with food, music, arts and crafts and activities.

Rock N Ribs follows from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Coligny Plaza. The fundraiser will feature music by Cowboy Mouth and Cranford Hollow along with barbecue from local and regional pitmasters. Proceeds will benefit Second Helpings.

The Children’s Center will host Concert for the Kids from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Rooftop at Poseidon. Pretty Darn, featuring Kyle Wareham and Nick Poulin, will perform. Tickets are $25, with proceeds supporting The Children’s Center.

Music returns to Lowcountry Celebration Park from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, for the free Crescendo Songwriter Show. Eric Reid & The Hebron Road Ramblers will perform original music with guests Matt Eckstine and Nick Poulin.

Theater also has a place on the Crescendo calendar. The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s production of “Dear Evan Hansen,” which opened Sept. 23, continues through Oct. 25, overlapping with Crescendo.

Lean Ensemble Theater will present Eboni Booth’s “Primary Trust” from Oct. 30 through Nov. 8 at Hilton Head Preparatory School’s Main Street Theatre. The play won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for drama.
The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, scheduled Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, is also included in the Crescendo celebration.

Dance takes center stage in November when Hilton Head Dance Theatre presents six performances of “The Nutcracker” over two weekends at the Seahawk Cultural Center at Hilton Head Island High School. Performances are scheduled Nov. 13-15 and Nov. 20-22.

The Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade is scheduled Saturday, Nov. 14. Participants will begin lining up at 5 p.m. near the Alder Lane beach access, with the parade stepping off at 5:45 p.m. The procession will travel north along the beach before exiting near the Beach House and continuing to Lowcountry Celebration Park.

Several lantern-making workshops are planned in the weeks leading up to the parade. Hilton Head Audubon will hold a free workshop from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Palmetto Electric, 111 Matthews Drive. Registration is required, and those who register are committing to walk with the Audubon group in the Nov. 14 parade.

The Coastal Discovery Museum will offer adult lantern-making workshops Nov. 3, 5, 9 and 12. The $40 fee includes one lantern kit and admission for one adult participant. Two family workshops are scheduled Nov. 7, with a fee of $20 per lantern plus $5 per participant age 4 and older. Supplies and lights are provided, and advance registration is required.

Four musical groups are scheduled to participate in the Lantern Parade: Black Sheep Ensemble, Soda City Band, the U.S. Marine Corps Dirty Boots Brass Band and the Atlanta Drum Academy. Food trucks and beverages will be available at Lowcountry Celebration Park beginning at 3 p.m., with Groove Town Assault performing before the parade arrives.

Crescendo also includes visual art exhibitions, poetry programs and historical tours and presentations. Participating organizations include the Coastal Discovery Museum, Art League of Hilton Head, Heritage Library, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park and Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island.

Event dates, times, admission prices and other details are subject to change. Attendees should confirm current information, including registration requirements, with individual event organizers before attending.

For the latest Crescendo schedule and links to participating organizations, visit CultureHHI.org.