When and What's Happening in February, 2017 on Hilton Head Island and the LowCountry

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WHEN & WHAT'S HAPPENING in February on Hilton Head Island and the LOWCOUNTRY​

Feb 1: The Coastal Discovery Museum will host Sally Krebs on Feb. 1, 2017 at 3 p.m. for Urban Trees vs. Urban Forests: Why Biodiversity Matters. Krebs, the Sustainable Practices Coordinator for the Town of Hilton Head Island will help us to learn why urban trees and forest matter. One of the most sustainable actions we can take is to help preserve earth's biodiversity, the many different forms of life with which we share our planet. The presentation hopes to get you thinking in a whole new way about our urban forests and the organisms that live there! The cost is $7 per person and reservations are required by calling the Coastal Discovery Museum at (843) 689-6767 ext. 223 or online at coastaldiscovery.org.

Feb. 2 - Feb. 28 A month-long celebration showcasing the rich, cultural heritage of the Gullah people and their history on Hilton Head Island with art exhibitions, gospel concerts, festivals, tours, lectures and more. For complete schedule, call (843) 255-7304 or visit www.gullahcelebration.com.

Feb. 2,7,9,14: The Coastal Discovery Museum will lead tours at Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge starting January 2017 on Tuesdays at 2 p.m., continuing through February. You will experience history and nature from an experienced guide on a walking tour of this National Wildlife Refuge, including its salt marsh and maritime forest. Wildlife may include a variety of birds, alligators and other marsh inhabitants. The cost is $12 for adults, $7 for children (ages 4-12) and reservations are required by calling the Coastal Discovery Museum at (843) 689-6767 ext. 223. The tour meets at Pinckney Island and is a 1.5-mile round trip tour. For more information about thesePinckney Island Wildlife Refuge Tours, go to coastaldiscovery.org.

Feb 2: Forsythe Jewelers, in the Shops at Sea Pines Center, is hosting a benefit for the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. On view will be the latest collections from the world's top designers, including David Yurman, Roberto Coin, LAGOS, Marco Bicego, John Hardy and more, just in time for Valentine's Day. The event, Sparkling Notes of Love, will offer live music, light fare and spirits, a goody bag and complimentary cleaning of your jewelry. A portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the orchestra. For those attending the benefit who plan to dine at Truffles Café, Sea Pines, Truffles will also offer a portion of their proceeds for the benefit of the orchestra. For more information, email sbergin@hhso.org, call (843) 842-2055 or go to forsythejewelers.

Feb 3: Enjoy Free Family Fun Night at The Sandbox the First Friday of the month (excluding summer months), on Jan. 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3. and Dec. 1, 2017. With fun games and activities, special arts and crafts plus light refreshments for dinner, this fun night designed to bring families together isn't to be missed! From 5:30-7:30 p.m., the museum is open with free admission to all visitors Depending on the weather let the kids take a bounce in the Bounce House, build big with the Big Blue Blocks or get creative and crafty. An engaging easy evening! Come meet us, see what The Sandbox is about. For more information about the Free Family Fun Nights at The Sandbox, call (843) 842-7645 or go to thesandbox.org.

Feb 4 & 5: A two-day tournament featuring some of the country's finest junior golf players will take place on Atlantic Dunes (by Davis Love III course) on Saturday, and Harbour Town Golf Links on Sunday. For details, call (843)363-8385 or visit www.seapines.com.

Feb 4, 11, 18, 25: Head over to Caretta Coffee Co. in Coligny Plaza for Art on the Corner from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday to discover artwork by local artists. Each week Caretta Coffee Co. will feature a different artist, who will showcase their work out on the patio. Guests can enjoy a beer in their beer garden, wine on the terrace or stop by for some coffee or lunch and buy amazing artwork. Proceeds will go to the Coastal Discovery Museum and support the Savannah Veterans Center. Caretta Coffee Co. is located inside Coligny Plaza off North Forest Beach Drive and Pope Avenue in suite Suite 101-C. For more information, call Caretta Coffee Co. at (843) 342-6400 or go to carettacoffee.com

Feb 4: Some of the finest young instrumentalists from the Southeastern United States will perform at the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra's Youth Concerto Competition on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Church on Pope Avenue in Hilton Head. These 10 instrumentalists have been selected from a field of 50 applicants. The performers were screened by a panel of professional musicians who selected these 10 finalists to compete for $3800 in cash prizes, $4000 in scholarships and a chance to perform as a soloist with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. They will perform works written by Korngold, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Rossini, Shostakovich, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky and Vieuxtemps. They will perform on violin, cello and clarinet. The Youth Concerto Competition makes a difference in the lives of these young musicians. Many of the finalists have gone on to study performance at major conservatories including Curtis, Juilliard, Cleveland, Peabody, Cincinnati, NEC, Eastman and Oberlin. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door the day of the event, by calling the orchestra at (843) 842-2055 or online at hhso.org.

Feb 4: Please join us for the Miss Bluffton/Miss Hilton Head Island Scholarship Pageant on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 from 7-10 p.m. at Hilton Head High School. This is a preliminary to the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Pageant. Contestants are judged in the following phases of competition: Evening Gown, Physical Fitness/Swimsuit, Talent, Private Interview and On-Stage Question. Tickets will be available on the day of the pageant and can be purchased at the door. For more information about the Miss Bluffton / Miss Hilton Head Island Scholarship Pageant, go to missblufftonhiltonheadisland.org.

Feb. 7-26, 2017, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina will present "Leading Ladies," at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays-Saturdays, with special matinee showings on select Sundays. Set in the 1950s, "Leading Ladies" focuses on two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, who find their careers in a serious rut. They are currently performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear an old lady in York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to two long lost English nephews, the actors resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. Hilarity ensues when it turns out the relatives are actually nieces and not nephews. Jack and Leo are not above passing themselves off as two English women to cash in on the would-be inheritance. Things get even more complicated when Leo falls madly in love with the old lady's vivacious niece, Meg, who's engaged to the local minister. Disastrous decisions make this upended comedy completely hilarious. Single tickets are not yet on sale. Tickets for preview performances February 7-9, 2017 are $38 for adults and $27 for children 5-15; Full priced tickets February 10-26, 2017 are $48 for adults and $33 for children. Performance dates subject to change. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina's box office at (843) 842-2787.

Feb 10: The Coastal Discovery Museum will host Nicholas Wallover at on Feb. 10, 2017 at 3 p.m. to present Shore Bird Migration, a program about the tens of thousands of shorebirds that descend on South Carolina's coast as part of migrations. Attendees will learn about these incredible birds and the role of communities in South Carolina in protecting this important part of our coastal heritage. Wallover is the Regional Biologist for the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve and Manager of the McKenzie Field Station at Bennett's Point. The program is $7 (for ages 12 and older) and reservations are required. For more information about Shore Bird Migration, call the Coastal Discovery Museum at (843) 689-6767 ext 223 or go to coastaldiscovery.org.

Feb 11: Join us on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 at Jarvis Creek Park for the Hilton Head Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K at 8 a.m. This marathon features a scenic certified course that takes participants through two parks and over the Broad Creek. Publix Marathon Race Day will also feature a new 8K Run and Children's Fun Run. Over 400 are expected to compete in the full marathon, 650 in the half, and 300 in the 8K. Participants receive a colorful long sleeve tech T-shirt plus all Marathon & Half Marathon and 8K finishers receive a unique finishers medal. The Sonesta Resort & Spa will host a Race Expo and Packet Pick-Up on Friday. A percentage of proceeds will benefit several Hilton Head Island area Charities including Hilton Head Rotary Club, HHI High School Athletic Department, Bluffton ROTC, Hilton Head Christian Academy and others. Registration ranges from $30-$110.For more information about the Hilton Head Island Marathon, go to bearfootsports.com.

Feb 11: Join us for the beginning of Salty Dog Hunting Season with the Salty Dog Heart Hunt on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Kids 12 and under search for hearts hidden around South Beach Marina that are redeemable for free Salty Dog T-shirts, prizes and treats. After the hunt, Jake the Salty Dog will be giving away free hugs and Beth Green, The Music Lady, will charm kids of all ages with her whimsical music style. Come out and fall in love with The Salty Dog! For more information about the Salty Dog Heart Hunt, call (843) 671-2233, email or go to saltydog.com/heart.

Feb. 15: Melanie Benjamin will be at the Sea Pines Country Club at noon as a part of USCB's Lunch with Author Series.
New York Times bestselling author Melanie Benjamin, has won the critical acclaim and love of readers, reviewers and booksellers alike with her beautifully drawn fictional portraits of some of history's most fascinating women. Benjamin's newest novel, "The Swans of Fifth Avenue," centers one of the most fashionable and scandalous duos in Manhattan history: socialite Babe Paley and the infamous Truman Capote. Headline-making, heartfelt and ultimately heart- wrenching: these are all ways to describe the intimate relationship between Babe and Truman, and beyond them, the tight-knit circle of society women-dubbed the 'swans' by Truman. "The Swans of Fifth Avenue" captures the essence of a sumptuous era and the unexpected pair at the heart of it all. Tickets are $42 and includes lunch. For more information or to get tickets, go to uscbcenterforthearts.com.

Feb. 19, 2017 at 4 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 20, 2017 at 8 p.m., the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra presents "Lowcountry Pops: A Gullah Celebration" at First Presbyterian Church. This evening will feature music, stories and dance celebrating the rich cultural heritage of our Lowcountry. For more information about Lowcountry Pops: A Gullah Celebration, call Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra at (843) 842-2055 or go to hhso.org.

Feb 20- 26: The 10th annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest, Feb. 20-26, 2017, features a week full of celebrating the Island's seafood heritage, culinary revival and the bounty of its local waters. This week-long culinary and cultural event, showcases talented chefs, local seafood, special events, live music and more at restaurants all across Hilton Head Island with special dinners and other exciting evening events. Held at Shelter Cove Community Park, the family friendly headlining event features area restaurants/chefs serving up seafood specialties and other tasty cuisine, a Kids Zone, a silent auction, famous crab races, carefully curated arts and crafts booths from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Event times, location and ticket prices vary. For more information, call (843) 681-7273 or go to islandreccenter.org or hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com.

Feb 25: Don't miss the Salty Dog Annual Oyster Roast on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Roasted over an open flame from 4-8 p.m. or until they're gone. Enjoy live music with Trevor Harden and children's entertainment with special appearances from Jake the Salty Dog. Free Salty Dog T-Shirt to the first oyster customers, plus special prices on cookout favorites.
For more information about the Salty Dog Oyster Roast, call (843) 671-2233, email or go to saltydog.com/heart.


As always, many thanks to friends Jane and Glenn Handley for sharing this list.