The Hilton Head Holiday Bucket List: Events, Lights & Traditions You Can't Miss This December

If you’re spending December in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort, or Savannah — or you simply want to soak up the magic of Lowcountry holiday traditions — this is your episode.

David & Dale sit down with Erika Hayes from Island Events Magazine to break down every can’t-miss event this holiday season. From twinkling lights on palm trees to Santa sightings, artisan markets, volunteering, sandy sledding, and New Year’s celebrations, this episode gives you the complete roadmap to December in the Lowcountry.

Whether you’re a local, a seasonal resident, or planning a holiday getaway, you’ll walk away with a full bucket list of festive things to do.

In This Episode:

• 🎄 Best Holiday Light Displays — Shelter Cove’s 125,000+ lights, Harbour Town’s iconic tree, Historic Mitchelville drive-thru lights, Dove Street traditions, and Savannah’s Coastal Botanical Garden.
• 🎅 Santa Sightings & Family Traditions — Brunch at Alexander’s, Greg Russell’s Christmas concert under the oak tree, pet-friendly Santa photos, and the Paws & Claws Parade.
• 🛍️ Why Shopping Small Matters — How local spending keeps 6x more dollars in our community, and creative gift ideas from experiences to events to local artisans.
• 🖼️ Where to Find Handmade Gifts — Gallery of Gifts at Art League, SOBA’s holiday market in Bluffton, the Hilton Head Community Market, and pop-up artisan events.
• 🐾 Ways to Give Back — Volunteer ideas with Hilton Head Humane, Deep Well, local churches, senior communities, and more.
• 🏖️ Outdoor Fun — Sandy sledding at the Sea Pines Beach Club, the Polar Plunge, beach days, kayaking, and warm-weather holiday traditions.
• 🎆 New Year’s Eve on Hilton Head — Harbour Town’s two ball drops (7 PM & midnight), Alexander’s NYE dinner, Comedy Magic Cabaret’s celebration, and Savannah event ideas.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Summit Services — heating, cooling, electrical, and pool systems done right.
Call (843) 836-2653 or visit www.CallSummitServices.com

Links + Resources

• Island Events Magazine: Find the latest issue all around Hilton Head or visit HiltonHead.com
• The David Dale Team: www.DavidDale.com
  
  
• Real Talk Hilton Head on YouTube: Subscribe for weekly local lifestyle & real estate episodes

If you enjoyed this episode:

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 📲 Share this episode with someone visiting Hilton Head this holiday season!

Transcript

Welcome to Real Talk Hilton Head, the podcast of Coastal Carolina. I'm super excited about this episode. If you want

0:05

to know what's happening in the Hilton Head area for the holidays, this is the episode you want to listen to. We're

0:11

here with uh Erikica Hayes from Island Events Magazine. She's going to give us the lowdown on all the things to do, all

0:17

the events, and we're going to dive right in. This episode brought to you by Summit Services. Heating, cooling,

0:23

electrical, and pool systems done right. Visit callsummitservices.com.

0:30

Welcome to the show. Well, thank you for having me as always. I'm so excited to be here in our very warm

0:35

holiday season. I know. Gosh, for those who are not here, we're literally 72 75°.

0:42

It's winter time. I actually had a long sleeve shirt on and I came outside. I was like, "Oh, I

0:48

can't do this." I was trying to be all festive. Yeah. Not happening. I had a Christmas sweater, but I had to go with sheer

0:54

because as we're we're very fortunate to have a very very warm holiday season.

1:00

Yeah. Yep. Well, Erica, December in Hilton Head's all about so many fun things.

1:05

We've got Christmas lights. We've got Santa visiting the little ones, fun family festivals, drinks, dining, and

1:12

low country traditions. So, I'm really excited to chat to you about that. So, why don't we dive in? Well, December is

1:19

very much um the holiday season depending on your whether you're having religious beliefs, just cultural

1:24

beliefs, like it's very holiday friendly for everyone and that's of all ages, but

1:30

um I think Hilton Head as a whole really appreciates the slower season cuz summer

1:36

for us is very very overwhelming. So, everyone's just kind of getting to spend time with family and whether it's your

1:41

work family, your your actual family. It's just it's a great time to just see some magical lights, whether it be on a

1:48

a palm tree or on a house. It's just it's the true holiday spirit. And I think that that's there's so many events

1:54

beyond just Santa sightings or worship. There's just a lot going on in between.

2:00

But you're pretty much throughout the entire month of December, it's holiday. It is. And there's a ton to do. I think

2:07

my favorite thing is the the scene over palm trees and the lights. I love that. It kind of feels like Australia where

2:13

like Santa's on the beach like on the like a surfboard sometimes. Sometimes it can be very

2:18

chilly on Christmas or like just throughout the month of December, but sometimes we have like 75 degrees,

2:24

beautiful weather like this until very end. So I think we're looking at a warmer one this year, but it's um

2:31

Hallelujah. I've facetimed family from the beach on Christmas day and they're

2:36

like in snow and they're like, "What are you what are you doing?" You're like, "Don't you want to be down here right now?"

2:43

I just got a a text from a client today. She moved back to Virginia and she's like, "It's freezing up here." Like,

2:50

"Sorry, sorry. I say they know some realators."

2:55

We can help. So this month we really wanted to feature shopping small

3:00

business on the island. Yes. I think and shopping small on Hilton Head looks different than

3:07

necessarily shopping small somewhere else because um I cannot stress enough to shop local during the holiday season.

3:15

Yeah. They say if you're using your dollar spend for the holidays, um, and

3:21

it extends beyond the holidays, is that for every dollar you spend, if you're shopping at a big retailer,

3:26

Yeah. maybe 11 cents stays in the community if you're lucky. Yeah. Um, when you shop small, 67 cents.

3:33

Wow. That's that's a big impact. Six times. Yeah. So, I was going to say it's six times.

3:38

And like the small businesses here are who are donating to little leagues and

3:44

to animal shelters and to just the community in general. So it's just if you can shop smaller. So take a browse

3:50

around Kiggney, the shops at Cine Center, Main Street, like there are so many places that even if sometimes you

3:56

feel like it's a little bit more expensive in the store, you just have to kind of remind yourself that like it's six times the amount is staying within

4:03

your community. And that can be just a good habit to take back with even if you're just vacationing on Hilton Head.

4:09

Just kind of getting in the mindset to shop smaller, especially right now. And it doesn't even have to be you're buying

4:16

physical gifts or stocking stuffers. You can buy experiences. So that's what I always think is very interesting because

4:22

you wouldn't think to buy horseback like like a ride for for the holidays, but

4:28

that's just it's a really cool gift that you could give for someone who doesn't necessarily want stuff.

4:33

Yeah. Or you can buy it's an experience. Buy an experience for somebody. Buy them the jet ski day, but they don't

4:38

have to use it now because I mean even though it is warm enough sometimes for us, but that's something that you could

4:43

use in the spring or if you know someone who's vacationing to Hilton Head like go ahead and book a tour for them for

4:49

whenever they're coming here. So that's what and that 67 cents like that applies to because all of those businesses are

4:56

small businesses as well. like we don't have a major activity that's this big

5:01

big national like even our golf courses like the money stays local in the community. So I think that that's

5:07

just really I could not hit it harder enough is to shop as small as you can

5:12

because it can get overwhelming when you start to see like the big Black Friday sales and everything. It can be kind of

5:18

an you're just like oh wow spending spending spending. Yeah. But kind of just reducing as much as you can and

5:24

keeping Hilton Head and Bluffton businesses thriving because they do need it this time of year to get through

5:30

until Well, we have a bunch of friends. I I I really want to park on that point because we actually have friends I was

5:35

talking to Terry about that. Yeah. You know, and his business is he's a captain and he's like this time of year

5:40

is so hard. And I'm like that's a great idea. Buy a fishing charter. Buy a uh one of those um parasailings. do

5:47

something like that because especially if you got family coming in town in the summer, you're always looking for stuff to do. Buy it now and save it for them.

5:53

I was going to say and also it kind of like shifts your spending like between Q one, two, three. Like if if you already

5:58

buy the gift now, then a pair of sailing doesn't it doesn't come up later. You get a two for one. There you go.

6:04

So many of the businesses are offering such great deals this time of year. So sometimes you can get like a restaurant

6:10

gift card where you like you spend 100 and it only costs 80. Like and that's

6:16

just stuff that you can stock up throughout the whole year. But it's just so helpful for them this

6:21

time just to like I mean because most people to keep their employees staffed, they still need them this time

6:28

of year. So they they do need the revenue. So it's just um but I love gifting and experience instead of things

6:35

this time of year. Yeah. And it's just a great idea. And it's things too that you may not necessarily you would never try on your

6:43

own. Yes. But you're like, "Oh, I was gifted it." Like that's why I brought up horseback riding because it's like that's not necessarily something

6:49

everyone tries. Yeah. But it's just like a fun little and that can be for whether you're vacationing or

6:54

you live in Bluffton and you just want to come in. No, I agree. Are there um any local stores or or you said shop

7:02

local shops more like what would you recommend because you said the shops at Sea Pines?

7:07

Oh, just any most businesses within all of our shopping centers. So whether it

7:12

be Shelter Cove Town Center, the harbor, Harbortown, Kney Plaza, Main Street, all

7:18

of them um have local owners. Pretty much 90 plus% of those businesses are owned by like a more mom and pop

7:25

shop style. Yeah. Um it's very rare that even some of the chains, they're more of a franchise

7:31

chain that you're going to find. So like an ice cream shop that you may be seeing like like Killwins for example, that has

7:36

a local owner. It's not like a national owner. So that's like if you're shopping

7:42

in those shopping centers, really it's just kind of staying away from like big box retailers or um online.

7:48

Y and let's not forget too this goes out to Savannah, Bluton, Buford. Same thing.

7:54

You know, you got a ton of artisans down in Savannah, right? And you got a lot of small businesses out there. Bluffton the

8:00

same thing. We have a lot of friends um you know, like the Compass Rose. Yeah. You know, local business owner, health

8:05

and wellness, a lot of smaller. So it's everywhere. So, you know, wherever you're at, get out, explore,

8:11

get into the whole country. And I was saying like just keeping those habits, whether it be you're back in

8:17

Ohio, like just kind of encouraging to kind of get into that mindset of shopping smaller when you can. Yeah. Um,

8:23

but you mentioning Savannah and Bufort, that's another really great one is doing like a station of sorts

8:30

is like buying a hotel in downtown Savannah or like a really cool um like an Airbnb or

8:37

something over in um Bufort because sometimes people live in Bluton and they never really go to that area except for

8:44

maybe a day trip. Yeah. So, it'd be so nice to just be able to gift someone like a night stay. Yep.

8:49

We did that last We did. the Savannah with the boys.

8:54

Did the whole overnight thing. Walked around downtown, shopped on Broton Street. Yeah, it was great. So nice to be able to spend the night

9:01

cuz it can be like it's I mean everywhere here is so walkable that by the time that you've been walking for six hours, you're like

9:08

I don't want to drive an hour. I don't want to drive the hour back. But it's just really nice to be able to Well, and it just adds a different

9:14

ambiance to the trip as well, you know? It's just a different feel, especially for for the the boys. They like to walk

9:20

around Savannah at night. which is our closest big city, right? There's a lot more lights and a lot more action that's

9:25

happening. So, it's a great way to kind of experience like the and especially if you're doing it around the holiday season, just

9:30

something a little different too because even though we have a lot going on on Hilton Head and Bluton, it's um there's

9:36

other things happening there that you get to experience. There's a lot. I mean, I've seen um candle light concerts that are happening

9:42

in Savannah. I mean, all these cities have tree lightings, too, right? Yeah. Oh, and there's so many like um they're

9:49

really big right now into popup bars, but they're completely holiday themed.

9:54

So, like the entire like hotels bar will have an entire overhaul where it's entirely decorated

10:01

for the holidays. That's neat. And it's like some of them are really cool like the Christmas story themed where like they have the leg lamp and

10:07

the whole thing. There's even like Santa on a motorcycle hanging down from the ceiling in some of them. Oh, and that's in Savannah. All right.

10:14

Well, definitely check that out. The Christmas Story. It's my favorite. I grew up right down the uh right

10:20

just south of where that was filmed. We would love the pop-up bar then. It's called Frosties. The Thompson Hotel.

10:26

It's a brand new one over in Eastern Warf. Okay. Um that one has a very like

10:33

it's kind of a 1960sish themed um and they have records on the

10:38

wall, the leg lamps and the whole thing. Oh, cool. Oh, we're going to have to check that out. Leg lamp. No. No. I was going to say

10:43

we'll sell someone. No, that's that's the kind of stuff I'm saying. That would be a phenomenal gift to bring or something.

10:50

That would so he can look at the lamps and it doesn't have to come home with me. It's a phenomenal gift. We can maybe put

10:57

it in this next studio. No, not having it. Are you thinking about making a move to

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11:17

Well, we're talking um Holiday Lights, right? So, let's talk about them. They're all over the island

11:23

all month long. I mean, they're starting to go up now. So, let's talk about that. On Hilton Head. Um we mentioned it in

11:28

November um with the firehouse um kind of being the one of the biggest

11:34

unexpected um displays. Yeah. Um my original memories of Hilton Head

11:39

was u I think it was before your time was Dub Street lights. Yes. Well, we we've been down Dub Street

11:45

down there every year with the boys. Okay. Um they used to it used to be a little bit bigger because I think some of the um I think some of the residents

11:51

kind of scaled it back. You used to wait like an hour just to get in line to go see it.

11:58

It was and they used to take donations for I'm not sure if they still do. Well, let's explain to everybody what Dub Street is. Yeah. So Dub Street um on

12:06

South Forest Beach and on Hilton Head. So the Forest Beach, there's North Forest and South Forest. South Forest,

12:12

you might notice that all of the streets are named after birds and they're all in alphabetical order.

12:17

Oh, I do think that's something new to me right there. Heard it here first. Like I think it's Albatross or I can't

12:24

remember the names of the birds, but they all go in birds in alphabetical order. So fourth one down deep

12:30

is Dove Street. So, Dove Street, um, it started as early as I can remember. I don't remember when it officially

12:36

started, but just residents started, um, kind of they have some hanging trees over the street. So, they started just

12:44

decorating collectively as like a whole little community. Yeah. And it became just such a huge, huge

12:52

deal. So, I could say like residentially, they still are probably the the number one street to go down,

12:57

but I don't want to encourage too many people in case they don't want that many driving through our official ones.

13:03

Sneak past. But yeah, pay attention to the different um especially you guys the different

13:09

bird names. Just little things that you like, oh eg right there. Okay, cool.

13:15

Well, what I love is when we did go dub, we went to Dub Street maybe two, three years ago. Yeah. And they had done a

13:22

great job. It was the there were two streets that were um that were lit up, but each each of the yards were lit up.

13:29

And it's just it's nice because you can just go slowly and they have bubbles blowing out and well obviously it

13:34

changes each year but really it was a it was a great attraction and it's like it it's so sweet from the

13:41

kindness of their hearts to do it as the res but there are more official kind of um

13:46

places that people can do go to. So let's talk about those. One of the first ones um in the beginning of the month I believe it is

13:53

on um December 6th and 8th okay is Historic Mitchellville. Oh yes. So

13:59

that is um if people have not been over there, it is a phenomenal little section

14:04

that is kind of in a lesser known area of Hilton Head because it's on the heel of sorts if you're looking at

14:10

the north north end of the heel. The north end of the heel. So it's um it's not in the south end where

14:15

predominantly especially visitors if they come for the first time have been to. Yeah. But it's um it's an area celebrating um

14:22

it's called the official name is the historic Mitchville Freedom Park. Um, but it's celebrating the Golagichi

14:27

heritage and just um that rich history of the island. But their light display is um it is free to go through. Um but

14:35

they encourage donations. No, it's a driving, right? You drive you drive through it. Yep. So, and we went

14:42

last year or was it the year before? We almost go everywhere. We almost Yeah, that's one we always do

14:47

at night. It's one of our traditions. We get the boys in the hot coco and we go hit all the spots on the island,

14:55

put our t-shirts on, get our hot now. Now you're messing with people, but I think donations for that one go to

15:01

Deep Well. That's kind of a common find um throughout Hilton Head um donations

15:06

um during this time of year. And it runs really smoothly. So if you're worried about sitting in the car

15:12

for a while, it it doesn't. You you you go through really smoothly. And it's beautiful cuz they have everything lit

15:18

up. Yes, it's extremely organized and it's um just that little stint of the official going through, but there's

15:25

throughout the entire month displays. Um the other What else do you have for us? We have the Harbortown lights running

15:32

from December 1st through the through January 1st. Okay. So, that's the whole month. The whole month of Harbortown's lights

15:38

and they have their the tree, the strolls, they have um they have drop off centers for toys and things for

15:44

everybody. Yeah. Um, but it's just seeing Harbortown with all the lights is really sweet

15:49

and the reflecting off the water. It's gorgeous. Oh, especially in the yacht basin. Yeah, in the yacht basin. So, so nice. And the same thing with um

15:56

Harbortown lights. That's the same thing as December 1st through January. January 1st. Okay. So, that's

16:02

And that one um I do have it's 125,000 lights. Wow.

16:08

In Harbor Town. In Harbor Town. Wow. That is no wonder it glows off the water. Well, what's really neat about that,

16:14

just to expound on it with with the walks, that's a lovely evening thing to do with the family. I mean, you just

16:20

stroll next to the water the um and shop small at all the businesses right there. There we go. Back to the shop small.

16:27

It's going to be a common thread desert. Um a lot of those um and that is just a

16:33

double reason to go to those displays both in Harbortown and in Shelter Cove is you can hit some shops and

16:38

restaurants while you're there. Absolutely. And they're both different feels. So if you want different experiences,

16:44

there's two different places, but still gorgeous with lights and restaurants. Did we mention Shelter Cove, too?

16:49

Oh, we're I think you did. That was Shelter Cove. Shelter Cove. Yes. Oh, Shelter Cove is 125.

16:55

125,000. Sorry, you were talking Harbortown. My bad. So, I was confused. So, yeah, we were talking about both. I don't know exactly how many lights are

17:01

in Harbortown. It's probably comparable because it's weird to think about when you start thinking about it per light.

17:08

That's a lot. That's a lot of lights. But at um let's go back to Harbortown.

17:13

Greg Russell does uh kick kicks it off, right? Yes. Greg Russell, if you're not

17:18

familiar, you haven't seen some of the episodes, he is a Hilton Head staple. Um he's a family-friendly musical performer

17:24

that's been performing since Hilton Head really has been a thing. Yeah. Um he is just

17:30

he's like the oak trees. I was going to say he is and he's under the oak tree. He's under

17:36

um the oak tree and he kicks off the um the tree lighting. Okay. Over there.

17:41

That's what it's is it a kids show or is it an adult show? I think it's a family show, but I don't

17:47

think it's exclusively for just kids. I think that's um usually those are advertised more as like just for kids,

17:53

but this one is for everybody to enjoy, but it's definitely not like adult only performance like you it's for the whole

18:00

entire group. That's awesome. And that again is for the whole month. Yes. So, both Shelter Cove and Harbor Town is

18:07

December 1st to January 1st. And um the Greg Russell concerts though are only from December 23rd.

18:12

Okay. Um is that's when he um he will be doing the Christmas concert. Okay. On the 23rd.

18:18

On the 23rd. So, um but C Pines has a their schedule printed. Yeah. Um so, there's going to be sometimes

18:23

some live music and performers throughout the month of December, but his concert specifically is December 23rd.

18:29

23rd. Does he does he do anything for New Year's? Um he He does. I think he's part of the

18:36

ball drop, but I don't want to promise that he's there. We'll get to that in a minute. I just cuz I could have swore he was there

18:42

twice. Twice in a month. Yeah. So, okay. All right. Well, I think that's it for light. So, we've got the station, we've

18:49

got Mitchville, we got Harbortown, we got Seapines, and then private residences are all lit up as well.

18:55

Well, and and let's not forget our mainland friends. Is there anything do you know going on? Does Oldtown do any

19:03

lighting? Blton is not as organized in terms of official events, but you're find lights

19:08

on Calhoun Street. You're going to find a lot of now um even some of the newer centers down in Buckwalter kind of more

19:15

collective like holiday um displays. Um even as far as um the new like

19:20

Washington Square down in Buck Walter. Yeah. Um they're having um really great like

19:25

shop and strolls kind of things and they have Santa sightings and picture opportunities. Um, but they're

19:32

everyone's I mean everyone is decorating this year. Yes. And Savannah, doesn't Savannah have a big festival or not festival, but

19:39

isn't there a big like drive-thru in Savannah? I thought I saw last year. There is. Um, it is at um there it's a

19:46

little bit further out of town. Um, but you could take 95, particularly if you're coming from Bluton. Okay.

19:51

Um, it is at the I think it's called the Coastal Botanical Garden. That's it. That's it. Um, that one is a

19:57

paid entrance, but it's stunning. I saw pictures. It's like a bigger display. Um, so it's worth the entry point, but

20:04

it it again, if you're doing these like day trips over, start checking off all of the Well, and if you if you spend the night

20:11

at the hotel, right, and we can go see the Christmas lights. All right, we got our calendar. I mean, listen, this is what people want

20:17

to do. This is the time that's the quality time together with the family, enjoying it, seeing the you're getting

20:23

everything that the whole area has. It's a different season. One of my favorite um since I I my

20:30

family is us and a dog. Yes. Um I love seeing um pets react to the lights. For

20:36

whatever reason, they really love drive-thru light displays. Oh my gosh. We haven't taken our dog.

20:41

So, what does your dog do? I don't know about that. She's just mesmerized. Like, we took her last year and she was just mesmerized by

20:48

the whole thing. Normally, she's scared of her own shadow, but she was it put her in the holiday spirit. Oh, good.

20:54

All right. They take it for a reference. Flash would just bark. Flash would yell at everybody.

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learn more. Awesome. All right, so that's lights.

21:29

Let's talk about Santa sightings and family traditions. So, there's obviously

21:34

lots of little ones. So, Santa's coming to town, I say. And it kind of um kind of what I was just talking about, Santa has even

21:40

extended to pet opportunities. And Hilton Head Humane does like pictures with um Santa um

21:47

with with your Santa and your dog. Oh, wow. Not every uh Santa display is pet

21:53

friendly, but um one that is is um Santa at Top Dog in Shelter Cove. That one is for

22:00

kids and pets. Top Dog is unbelievably pet friendly. Um they even have like just separate dog

22:06

like stuff for the menu. It's like Oh, wow. So, they have animal food, not animal, dog food on

22:12

um they might not have a full menu, but I do know a place that does have a full dog menu is Skillets and Kignney.

22:18

They're another one that they're just unbelievably pet friendly. That's awesome. I had no idea.

22:24

I learned about it from just our articles in the magazine. It was like pet dining for You mean this magazine?

22:29

Yes. In Island Events. It may not run every single issue, but we do have

22:35

pet dining. Um there's a lot of pet friendly opportunities. So, especially if you're coming into town for the

22:40

holidays and you're bringing the pet. Yeah. They don't have to be excluded or stay back at the rental like

22:46

or you can bring them to a lot of opportunities and it's really fun too to get your picture with that's a really

22:51

cherish memories like kids with pets with their pets. Absolutely. But there's um and the other one is for

22:58

pets. I'll kind of just theme it more on that way is um there's one called Paws and Claws Parade.

23:03

Oh. In Sepines that's on December 28th. You dress your pet up to be in like a

23:09

holiday parade. Oh, that would be fun. Do you know where the parade route is

23:14

out of curiosity? I'd be curious. I think it might be in harbor town. Uh, check our calendar. It's just so It's so

23:20

cute. Oh my gosh. I want to see that. I would take my dog, but I'd love to like dress Bailey up as like

23:26

a reindeer or something. Santa leads the parade. It's really cute. I was like, that is so nice. Um,

23:32

and I think they might have like some like pup cups and stuff for the pets. It's just I always really love them like whenever

23:38

they can be included. And it is really seeing animals in costumes all dressed up

23:44

and all of the different like beautiful bandanas and stuff and I'm like what a great photo opportunity for everyone and

23:51

I think especially for kids too like being able to take your pet that's just another cherished memory.

23:57

But for um for kids there's uh there's a lot for saying opportunities. There's

24:02

brunch with Santa at Alexander. Okay. If people are not familiar where Alexander is, it's um when you enter Palmetto

24:09

Dunes, not the Shelter Cove side, but actually Palmetto side, but you don't have to enter all the way in. So, you

24:15

can just turn in the gate because some people I think get a little confused. They think of it more of like Sea Pines where you have to cross the gate.

24:21

Um but for Palmetto Dunes, it's on the other side. And that one is brunch on

24:27

December 21st. Okay. Um it's photos are included and um any

24:33

and portions of the the meal and the inclusion price is um going to deep well.

24:38

Oh, wonderful. So kind of that's like a thread of um throughout the season is a lot of um local businesses. Again, another reason

24:44

to support local businesses. They're they're donating to these incredible charities that we do have.

24:50

Wow. And um Santa will be at the Greg Russell Christmas concert. Okay. So that is again on December 23rd. Yeah.

24:58

So, that is um kind of marking Santa's arrival. So, he'll be there with Greg. Yep. And there's the

25:05

Harbortown Holiday Fun December 27th through 28th. That one will have holiday

25:10

movies, marshmallow roasting, train rides, and there will be some Santa opportunities there. Oh, that's fantastic. So, after

25:16

Christmas, if you've got family in town and you're looking for things to do, but that's great. some marshmallows, trains,

25:22

Santa. It's um it's just a good way to just kind of continue because I think that

25:28

week of like between Christmas and New Year's, it's kind of it's it's all a wash. It's

25:37

you just want to keep it going. You just want to keep it going and transition. Just keep those like family traditions. And even if Santa's not there, it's just

25:43

it's like you're just keeping it going and kind of still staying in that cozy spirit even if you might be in a tank

25:49

top. So, we we've talked about the deep well quite a lot. Um are there any other

25:56

volunteer opportunities because I know there's a lot going on on the island. Do you have any There are Hilton Head Humane earlier.

26:03

They're always looking for help. Um especially this time of year. If you have um beyond uh donations, they have a

26:11

thrift store that supports um Hilton Head Humane. It's called the litter box. Okay. They're always looking for donations.

26:16

So, as you're clearing out or maybe replacing things this holiday season, always consider donating to them. Okay.

26:21

And they um this time of year they especially they're looking for towels and blankets.

26:27

All right. Towels. We have plenty of those we can donate for sure. We have them. And another thing is

26:32

always cleaning supplies. Oh, like bleach, laundry detergent. For the for the shelter.

26:38

For the shelter. Okay. Um and there's volunteer opportunities, too. So, as um if kids are off for the holidays, um even just taking a dog out

26:47

for the afternoon, especially like teenagers. Yeah. Um it does a world of difference for

26:53

those animals just to get them kind of away from shelter settings are not great.

26:59

Not the best. Um, and you can even just go sit with the cats and pet them for hours. So, it's just a a really kind of

27:06

I think that's a fantastic opportunity. I mean, I hadn't even thought usually you think about going to a church to

27:11

serve food or doing a box for for children for Christmas, but furry friends. But your furry friends, if so, if you've

27:18

got a heart for furry friends, I think this is a fantastic way to give back to the community. I think kind of what

27:24

you're saying, there's um there's so many opportunities even if you're not affiliated with um a so many different

27:29

church groups are so welcoming this time of year for volunteers. Yeah. So whether you're helping at soup kitchens or organizing boxes for people,

27:36

it's there's there's a lot of opportunity to give back this time of year. It's really

27:43

if if you feel that you're just at home doom scrolling and you want to get out there,

27:48

even just a quick search, you you'll be able to find multiple opportunities. And also just um we do have an older

27:55

population on Hilton Head. Um even just spending time at some of our local um

28:00

retirement centers and stuff just spending time because it's can be a little bit lonely time of year.

28:06

So just go play some board games or something. It it makes a world of difference for those residents because

28:12

it can be it can be a little bit lonely. Well, that's got to be hard if your family is not coming in town over this

28:18

this this season, you know. Yeah. And sometimes it's just not an option. But I think that so many so much

28:23

of Hilton Head and Bluffton and the whole surrounding area. Yeah. There's it's you really again you never can be

28:29

bored. There's always some place your fault if you're bored, right? We've said this before. You almost have to work hard to stay

28:36

bored. It's um so I think that and it's I think that kind of um it's

28:41

become a common thread for a lot of people, the digital fatigue of kind of just Well, it's a good time to put it down.

28:47

We've we've talked about this year doing service projects with the boys, you know. I just I think it's very important

28:53

to create a good rounded human being, right? And just like lead by example because

28:59

it's sometimes hard to say like asking someone to do something if you're not participating in it yourself.

29:04

Correct. But there's Yeah, there's so many places to go during the holidays and some just

29:10

volunteer opportunities of even going to shops, helping them out. There's just it

29:16

can be in so many different ways, different avenues. Yeah. You may not think um like you love to

29:22

clean. You can go help someone clean. Like there's so Oh, you're welcome to come to my house. Please, please volunteer for my house.

29:28

I'd love to see that volunteer list and meet those people. Really, you could come organize my garage.

29:35

I want dogs. I was going to say sometimes too like people just want to be away from their family. They need to get out from it.

29:40

So, you can go shopping for someone or something. I agree. There's a lot of ways to come get out and be helpful.

29:47

Awesome. So, um, so we've talked about volunteering, we've talked about the

29:52

kiddo center. What about some outdoor holiday adventures? Yes. So, um, kind of what I was saying,

30:00

depending on this time of year, you can spend a lot of time outside, even in ways that you may not think, like

30:05

you could be doing slightly water sport activities outside. But one that is a very unique thing for this area is it's

30:13

called sandy sledding. I know. I'm so excited for you to tell me about this. I had no idea about this. So, it's on December 27th at the Sea

30:20

Pines Beach Club. Okay. And um I believe it starts at 1. You'd have to confirm on the time. December

30:26

27th. It is a competition where you build a sled as a team.

30:32

Wow. And you're sledding on the sand. On the sand. They're so swimming. Okay. I need like an actual

30:39

sled. Like the They give you the supplies. They give you the material. But I'm saying though, like it's a real sled, like a snow sled.

30:46

It's a wooden sled. It's a wooden sled which you get to decorate and you slide it in the sand essentially. Yes.

30:53

It's um I'm not the sandy sledding expert. I would have to check our website.com.

30:59

I think they even have I think Seines has videos of this, but it's just I mean

31:05

we don't have snow. That's as close as you're going to get. It's a great family activity after

31:10

Christmas because you go as a team and you compete against other people. I mean that's But I'm just I'm well I have to see the

31:17

video because in my head I'm you know me I'm a visual guy like I'm trying to picture like it's more on the flat because again um

31:23

and I always say this to everyone whether you're visiting or live here don't disrupt the dunes. The dunes. Yep. um that is they're very

31:30

important for the ecosystem of Hilton Head and all of the above. Um so I don't want people to think that that is where

31:37

you're sledding down and I don't want people to grab their boogie boards and disrupt those tunes.

31:42

So that's why I think they have these kind of little competitions and fun is to kind

31:48

of get people away from I think they just like pulling him. It's probably like a race where you're

31:53

pulling somebody on the sled is what it kind of reminds me of those like um like a box car race. Yeah. Yeah.

31:58

But it's just um it's just a place to go take a sled. I've never Have they done that every year? I've never even heard of that

32:05

either. I don't know how many years they've done it. Um it's Well, I know for sure it's this year. Our calendar.

32:12

So December 27th, I think that's going to be um and then again, if you're already in Sea Pines, you could pop over

32:17

to the stuff in Harbortown and you can really um so if you don't live in Seines, you can kind of make that gate

32:23

fee like a whole Yeah, you can do a whole day there with all these events. Um, the one thing I did want to say with that sledding, I

32:29

saw you do have to register. You do have to register on their website. You can get to it through hiltonhead.com. Um, we have it already

32:36

on our calendar and that'll lead you to the places. Perfect. Um, but if not, it's on the se um

32:41

website as well. Okay. Awesome. So, I know that there's another event you want to ask about that.

32:47

Well, this is my favorite one of the year. That's why I asked you. Tell me about getting right. I'm

32:52

shivering. Yeah, I know, right? Tell me about this polar plunge. polar. What is it? The polar bear,

32:58

which you would never do. David is cold as it's not 80 degrees. I'm not getting in

33:03

it. No, I am I to anyone who does polar plunge. So,

33:10

we do not our water never gets that cold. I mean, it's like bath water in the summer, but even in the middle of

33:17

December, January, our ocean water stays pretty warm. It does. What's pretty warm to you?

33:23

That is debatable. It's definitely like over 50. Like we don't have freezing water. It's like over 50.

33:29

Yeah, 50. We'll die in that. No, you wrote. I don't want to say maybe 60. But I mean, it's the reason why we

33:36

have Atlantic bottl-nose dolphin year round. Like we our our waters are warm. We have fish. We have things. There's I don't

33:43

think one time I've maybe seen a little bit of ice on some water on Hilton Head, but that's like a cold pond.

33:48

Yeah. So, our polar plunges do not look like other places. Arctic plunges. Arctic one where it's a

33:54

low country where they're having to cut the hole in the ice to jump in there. Ours are a pool. That's a real man doing that.

34:01

All right. So, we're going to do the polar punch. No, there's no way. Let's just do it this year. Yeah. I want to You need

34:06

If we get a bunch of people out there smashing the like button and saying, "Hey, do the polar plunge."

34:12

Then we'll go comment plunge, plunge, plunge. If we If we can get 20 plunges, we'll do

34:18

it. We'll do it. That's a deal. If you put 20 people, put plunge. We'll do it. Are you willing?

34:23

All right, I'll do it. We'll never get and then we'll video. Well, I never say that. Never. So, that one happens on December 30th.

34:30

And since we don't have cold water, it is in a pool. Yes. Oh, it's in a pool. It's not in the ocean.

34:36

I thought you would. So, this is at the Harbortown pool. Oh, I'm glad you clarified that. I was

34:41

imagining the ocean. Now, I bet that's going to be colder than the ocean. It is colder. And I think So, maybe we take back that plunge

34:48

comment. It's got to be 200 plunge. and thousand. Yeah. 200 then we'll do it. The 20's off

34:55

the table. I think some people do um more going into the ocean for cold, but this one is

35:01

or for the pool. Okay. Okay. So, could you tell me where that is again? Hoba time pool. Okay. Good.

35:07

Sorry. I was hop right there. I was still freaking out about this.

35:13

Man, what if we're at like 199 like and all of a sudden then you go Yeah.

35:20

Ash will put in plunge to make it 200. I would. Thank you, Simon.

35:26

Awesome. Sorry to interrupt you. No, but um and again most looking these things up always in in doubt if you're

35:34

looking for locations for everything. refer to Island Events or Hiltonhead.com um for locations because it's a lot to

35:42

take in to kind of save um but that is um yeah the dece this is the

35:48

November issue but the December one will be out um shortly shortly and um our calendar you can

35:54

always just kind of highlight things or bookmark it I still haven't seen the Nutcracker I know every time

36:01

I had planned after the episode there's so many things but then our calendar is just insane packed

36:07

and you're just like so anyway that's okay I just saw it by the way I was like mention so let's talk holiday markets and

36:13

seasonal shopping so obviously we've talked in the past about local artisans we have a ton of them

36:19

so the holidays very important for that time of the year for them as we've said

36:25

um are there specific areas people can go to find the handmade gifts yes so if you're looking for more

36:30

handmade gifts we talked about it um in the November issue but there's the gallery of gifts Yes.

36:36

So, that one is um within the uh art

36:41

center art center. Yep. Um so, that one is running from December 1st through January 3rd. And so, that's

36:47

an opportunity to get smaller gifts, but it's beyond just the gallery of gifts. It is not

36:52

just the one and done. Um every Saturday there's the Hilton Head Community Market. Okay. Yeah.

36:58

That is over in the park behind Shelter Cove Town Center. Okay. I think Shelter Cove Community Park is the

37:03

name. Yeah. Um and um they do they have market every single Saturday and um they're another

37:09

that's another opportunity to shop small that they also donate a portion of their proceeds to various charities throughout

37:14

the island. Wow. So you're kind of it's just a double encouragement. But um some of the uh

37:20

it's it's a mix of so many different things, but most of the items there you're going to find it's not markets

37:26

where it's just drop ship material. It's like handmade materials. like whether it be handmade soaps, handmade like it's

37:33

and there's also um produce and it's like it's it's a full market and that one's every Saturday rain or shine.

37:38

Okay, great. So, they're always running. And then but specific dates um there's an artisan

37:44

alley over at the shops at sepine center. Okay. And that one is on December 4th.

37:50

What is that? What is it just or just local? So the shops at Cine Center um

37:55

has recently started this artisan's alley where they have in the space kind of in the stretch um of the shopping

38:01

center like a little popup like artisan alley. So it's kind of it's another opportunity

38:07

for smaller um artisans and vendors and stuff to kind of have like a little pop-up shop.

38:13

That's great. Yeah. In there. And it just um and it it also helps the shops um as people are walking through and you can grab a lunch or

38:19

something while you're there. Yeah. Um but that one specifically for December is on December 4th.

38:25

December 4th. Okay. So that's coming up. And then the other one um if you're over in Bluffton kind of very in lie of what

38:32

you're going to find um like gallery of gifts is the holiday market at SOA.

38:37

Okay. I love the SOA that SOA gallery is gorgeous. I know we've talked about that before. It's cute. When I say gorgeous,

38:43

it's cute. I know. I was going to say like it's not grand enough to be gorgeous. Yeah. To change those. What I mean is

38:48

it's cute and it's very quaint and they're for people who are not

38:54

familiar have not seen we've mentioned them before it's the society of bluff artists so if you ever hear SOBA it's um

39:02

and it is all memberun so everyone um they're not necessarily have to be from Bluton but they live in in the area

39:10

um so then they have rotating gallery of um who's on display but they have um specifically I believe it's through the

39:16

28th yes so December 1st through the 28th is their holiday market.

39:22

Okay. So, is that every day or is every day they have um every day they have the stuff that's um

39:28

kind of more for gifts. Nice. Um beyond just their normal gallery displays. So, it's just a little extra

39:35

encouragement. And I know they um usually they'll kind of beef up displays um typically like on

39:42

Thursdays because that's the farmers market day. Got you. So, anytime there's something going on in a concentration in Bluffton, you

39:48

usually see a bigger push. Okay. So, Thursday. So, if you're looking for a bigger Bluffton day, I always

39:54

recommend going on a Thursday because that's the farmers market day. That's great. That's awesome. I just wanted to go back to the art league for

40:02

people that didn't see the episode last month. Basically, the art league is a gallery within the art center of of

40:09

Hilton Head and within that we're having the gifts. Yes. Yes. So, um the art center is um

40:16

the whole building, but on the back side, um if you're coming from 278, um in the back is a beautiful gallery. And

40:23

that one um very similar. It's um it's a collective of art like artists are all

40:28

members. They have rotating galleries, but um for the month of December, they started in November um into December is

40:35

their different handmade gifts and just beautiful art. And um you're typically going to get a little bit more of a

40:42

lower price point. Yeah. Um versus some of their art is can be real investment pieces. So, this is a

40:47

great way to support the art league and a little bit more manageable budget for

40:53

for most. That's great. And I just wanted to make sure we clarified that. Yeah. I want to talk about too like what's it?

41:00

Okay, perfect. Um ornaments. What What was that ornament place we went to last year? I want to go back there again this

41:06

year. Ornament right above Rockfish where we all went. Well, it's not Rockfish anymore. It's

41:11

the art cafe where you can go and actually paint your ornaments. Yeah. So that's kind of a tradition that we do.

41:18

So we go and you you can paint anything. All kind of pottery really. That's what it is. It's pottery. So we all choose an

41:24

ornament and paint it and then with then they fire it and you come back in a in a couple days once they've fired it and

41:30

varnished it and we have that piece. So that's a little cross tradition that

41:35

we do. All the ornaments on there. Okay. I something else to do if you're visiting.

41:41

That's always that's become my keepsake for travels or anything is ornaments and it's just always nice to pull it out

41:46

this time of year. Um because you're like, "Oh man, that was my time. I remember when I did this."

41:52

That's what we do every year with the boys is since they were born. Well, her mom, my mom started

41:57

that and then we would go every year we would get them something about that year of their life and then collect it and then we're going to give it to them when

42:03

they're off and they can go put it on their tree. every year of their life will be a certain ornament that's

42:08

memorable to what they were into that year. That's so nice. It's really And then they have their own tree. So, we have a

42:14

tree in downstairs and a tree upstairs and the boys get to take out their ornaments and put it on their tree and

42:20

every year they they look through them and there's a reminiscing and it's just a sweet time.

42:26

I had more space and more trees. I always um essentially want kind of the festival of trees and people have not

42:31

been to the hot one. Um that is Have you ever been to the festival of trees? No. No. Tell us about it.

42:37

Oh, I I need to find the exact location because it's changed in my lifetime, but it's something that I've been going to

42:42

since I was young. Yeah. Um I think it's at the Sinesta. I'll have to double check this one. Um

42:48

and I'll I can put it over there. I'm going to say that it's affiliated with Hilton Head Prep in a way. Um, but it's uh local businesses will decorate

42:56

different trees to a theme. Okay, I got it. So, it'll be like the salty dog tree, the surge tree, the like

43:03

we need to do the real talk tree. We should do the real talk tree. But, I mean, what another great thing to

43:09

go and see. I had no clue that was so um if it's in our calendar uh

43:14

festival of trees. I I just I did not mention it for this outline, but it's um and there's another festival of trees as

43:21

you mentioned kind of like going over to Savannah and people can always pick up a Savannah scene magazine as well, our

43:27

partner one. Yeah. Um but it's uh there's a festival of trees at the JW Marriott.

43:33

Oh, that would be great. I we used to do that back home in Akran at the big Hilton downtown and it was

43:39

the same thing. Businesses would donate it and then people could actually bid on it. I think they would auction them off. Do they auction them off here?

43:45

That's the same thing for Hill. So, you can bid on the tree and it's a um it's a fundraiser. Okay, we got to do talk. I I already see a

43:52

real talk because all the guests it can be themed for the year with all the guests that have been on. So, it'll be

43:57

something with little island event like ornaments. There you go. That would be a great idea

44:03

this time next year. Put it on the goals. Goals. 2026. 2026 real talk tree.

44:09

All right. So, I will be talking about the real talk next year. Exactly. Oh, I'm so glad that you mentioned that.

44:15

Yeah. Yeah, that's really cool. Um, any other traditions you have with your family? With my family, um, it's I mean I'm

44:23

spoiled that since I'm from the area like they're we usually always go to the

44:29

beach that time of year just because it's always so quiet and nice just to kind of soak in a little bit of sunshine

44:35

in an unexpected way. Yeah. But I really just love seeing the

44:41

big displays and I really just love seeing the shopping centers decorated. There's something about taking pictures.

44:46

I don't know why, but seeing garland and a bow on something just makes me immediately feel in the mood.

44:52

Yeah. Great. And there's and there's ways too is um some of the even kind of

44:57

not outdoor activities but um places like um Northridge and the um the cinema

45:05

over in uh on the south end the plaza. Yes. Park Plaza. Park Plaza.

45:12

Um they will show sometimes older holiday movies and stuff this time of year. And then if you pop over to

45:17

Savannah, they show them in like their historic theaters there. I think Buford even does the same. So, it's kind of like you can really kind of go around

45:23

there. I think the drive-in in Bufort is is it operating at this time of year?

45:28

I don't know if it's operating, but I know they've done holiday movies. Oh, yeah. During So, because if anyone's never

45:34

been to a drive-in, it's very cool that Well, so it's Highway 170.

45:39

So, sorry. Highway 21 drive-in. So, look that up. It's a great idea. We have a

45:45

lot of fun going out. So, that's an old school drive-in. They have three or four screens playing different movies and you

45:52

pull up with your car and the old school concessions. Yes, the old school concessions. It's really a throwback.

45:57

Say my husband's never been to one. I should take him this year. He's okay. He's never done it. He's never done it

46:04

before. I'm surprised. He's never done it before and he's like I He just It just sounds so He's like,

46:10

"What are you talking about?" Well, they don't have the speakers. You know how you used to take the speakers

46:15

and put them on your window and roll the window up. Did you guys do that and the speakers you had to get a speaker that

46:22

worked? Now you like tune into the FM. Yeah. So that you don't put it on your mirror

46:27

anymore or your window anymore. There's just so many ways to just be close to your family this time of year.

46:32

And it's just it's nice to kind of be absorbing the slow pace of little things, the slow country.

46:38

Yes. Because nothing's moving quickly this year. Do you watch this in every year? Do you watch the same Christmas movies year in

46:45

and year out? I do. I'm a creature of habit. I um kind of non-traditional ones. Um my favorite

46:52

Christmas movie is Gremlins. Okay. Oh, I love I haven't seen that in a minute, though.

46:58

Wow. Not for everyone, but it's I love it. It's kind of it tings on like my 80s

47:03

nostalgia movies. But um a fun story was actually um the the Grinch the 2000 or

47:11

the Yeah. the year 2000. Yeah. Um at Park Plaza Cinema was where I saw it as when I was young and um Ron Howard

47:18

was there to live on Hilton Head. Oh wow. Really cool. He was like signing

47:25

people's stuff. So it was I got to see got to see the Grinch with Ron Howard. It was very

47:30

very cool. That's awesome. So the Gremlins. Okay. That's one for the book. I was not expecting that. So

47:36

you surprised me there. And the reason why he asked that and why I looked at him little inside story. Every year he tries to make us watch

47:42

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Rudolph the the cartoon.

47:48

No, it's the Claian. Is that what a claimation? Okay, come on. That's like Oh my gosh. Frosty Frosty. I'm like

47:54

Frosty is heartbreaking. What's the one? I can't do Frosty. The little elf wants to be a dentist. I can't remember that

48:01

one. Yeah, that's the um um Is it a year without It's another Yeah. No, it's I know what

48:07

these traditions giving you homework now. Okay. I'll go Google it. You know it out there. Put it in the comments. But uh

48:14

well we've been in the Christmas story. Got to watch and it's a wonderful life. You got to watch it. It's a wonderful life.

48:19

He he pounds us to watch these and the boys and I like again it's about real estate. It is

48:26

like it's a real estate Christmas story. But um I a little trivia fact for you

48:31

was that was filmed in the dead of summer. So you notice they're sweating profusely.

48:37

Oh my gosh. Now I have to see it. That's awesome. He's running at the end. He's really

48:42

sweating in the summer time. All right, let's talk seasonal shows,

48:48

concerts, and entertainment. So, it's packed with shows. December is packed with shows.

48:53

So, what's on the calendar? The art center earlier. Frozen is still going on. So, that is um definitely a

48:59

big um kind of winter theme show this year. And that's extremely family

49:04

friendly. Yes. Because um so if your littles are not used to going to see a

49:09

live performance, that's a really great way to like an introduction to going to see a live performance because it's

49:15

something that so many know. They know the songs, they know the whole thing, but to see it sung live is really

49:21

special and you're supporting the art center. Y see a show. And um

49:27

there are holiday pop concerts. There's one um it's coming up so so soon. So you might not you may miss it um by the time

49:34

this is out is December 1st. Okay. And that's through the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Okay. So that one um

49:40

if you go if you go to our calendar you can see the schedule of um Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra does quite a few

49:47

um shows this time of year in different locations. Um but I do know there's one on December 1st called Holiday Pop.

49:54

Okay. That's good to know. Where where is that? Um I can't remember. I think it's at

50:00

I think it's at First Presbyterian, but I can't I I'd have to I didn't write it down. Um but there's um it's kind of

50:07

like a popup, but it's um different performers. Um so it's not always going to be the same show. Okay.

50:13

Um but it's it's outside of their normal concert series. Okay. Great. Great. And there's um one

50:20

that's really great on December 5th. So that's kind of um earlier in the month is the Hilton Head Coral Holidays or

50:27

Society holiday I think it's called. Okay. And that one is um

50:32

it's a really nice mix of commercial Christmas with um like worship.

50:38

Okay. So it's a mix of songs. So it's not just holiday worship. It's kind of a mix for everyone.

50:43

Um and they're very welcoming to everyone. So, it's in a church setting, but it's not it's very inclusive, and it's very, very comfortable for everyone

50:50

to get involved. And it's nice to have that kind of healthy mix between the two for for everyone this time this time of

50:56

year. And it's just a be I mean, for people who haven't seen coral performances, they're so it's stunning

51:02

live. Where where is it? That one is at First Presbyterian. At First Presbyterian. Okay, that's

51:08

great. And that one is on December 5th. 5th. Okay. Okay. So, it's kind of like an early early getting

51:14

to believe it's next week. I know. It's right around the corner. Just so you know, we're filming a couple days before Christmas. I mean,

51:21

Thanksgiving peeking behind the curtain. Little peek. And um on December 5th, 12th, and 19,

51:28

we've mentioned them in the past. There are um magic shows at Comedy Magic.

51:34

Yes. And they do performances um throughout the entire year, but they kind of do a little bit more holiday themed this time

51:40

of year. um for people who have never been um or have seen us talk about them before

51:46

um it's just a great small venue um a very intimate performance but seeing

51:51

magic done in a holiday style kind of a fun little play and honestly some of the best comedy it

51:57

really that's the thing it's clean it's family it's family friendly comedy the full

52:02

name of the venue is the comedy Magic cabaret and it really is a mix of those three it's like it's um

52:09

it's there's always going to Yeah. elements of comedy and magic in all the performances, whether it's um the owner

52:16

and headline performer, Carrie Pollock, or his guest performers. Um there's always going to be

52:21

even every everybody's got a mix of they might not be a professional comedian, but they're gonna it's going to be a fun

52:27

show no matter what. And they they have food there as well. Food and not large meals, but it's

52:33

definitely um they do have table service. That's awesome. Um, that was something I wanted to say about Carrie.

52:40

Sorry, went out my head. No, something I wanted to to tell you. Oh, yeah. We're at 52 minutes.

52:46

Okay. Thank you. Sorry, that went, as you were saying, the holiday magic magic show. We had

52:52

mentioned it last time. Anyway, I'll think about it and come back to it. Um, and it kind of is segueing out of

52:57

it, but there's um, we'll talk about them as we wrap up for another performance, but

53:02

can I say what I was thinking? So, so sorry. gifts, gift cards. That would be a great small business. That was a good

53:10

idea. That's what my That's what my sister got her in-laws last year for Christmas was um to go see

53:16

Comedy Magic. Um they live in the area and they just um had never been and they were like, "Oh, what a fun like night to go out

53:23

experience, right? Date night." So, sorry came back in my funnel. You can give them a um because uh some

53:29

Hilton Head businesses are small, they don't have traditional like online gift cards. Yeah. But you can always call and

53:35

like reserve tickets or kind of do a gift card that way. So if you don't be discouraged if you don't see gift cards

53:40

online there's always ways um and it's we're still an area that people pick up their

53:45

phones and kind of nice you get to talk to the human behind it and sometimes you just like you meet a

53:51

new friend new person that you may never know if had you not called. That is an excellent idea for just an

53:57

alternative gift for an experience. I think it's great a good a show. Okay. You could use that anytime throughout the year, which is like you don't have

54:04

to just go during the holiday shows. That's great. So, sorry for interrupting you on that.

54:09

Awesome. So, I know we're Yeah. So, obviously, you know, part of the festivities is dining, dining out.

54:16

What do you have on We just got a little general thing here about u you got some things to talk about seasonal foods,

54:23

different things going on. Anything you want to bring up and highlight? So, um, kind of what I mentioned before was, um,

54:29

one of the big things this time of year is holiday gift cards. So, a lot of restaurant groups or restaurants will be

54:35

offering, um, if you buy X amount of dollars, you're going to get like a more

54:41

or you get your gift card to keep for yourself or anything. Yeah. So, um, that's always a really great way to kind of stock up for out the year.

54:50

You could buy you could just if you know you love slow country barbecue or something like just buy a bunch of gift

54:55

cards this time of year. So then you're set for the whole season. Um but a lot of places are offering um

55:03

just holiday menus. Um one of the ones I wanted to mention was uh it's Greek to me. They're um they

55:10

offer kind of like traditional Greek. Okay. Um Christmas meals. So it's kind of it's

55:16

they have like a little bit of a spin. Yeah. Um it's uh and some and always be weary uh this time of year is make sure

55:22

you always check a restaurant's hours. Yes, good point. Because it can change very quickly of

55:29

their normal traditional hours. Um but it's just this time of year and you'd be surprised a lot of people stay

55:36

open throughout the holiday season. You would think there'd be a lot more closures. Um but there's even places to

55:43

eat on Christmas Day. Yeah. Um you can find the lists. Um, we do an article on I believe it's Hilton Head or

55:49

Hilton Head Island.com of places open on Christmas Day. Okay. Um, do you have a list for Thanksgiving

55:55

too, just for the future? Yeah. Okay. We always do. Um, the big three of

56:00

closure dates is usually um Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. But we have usually articles for all of those of

56:07

places that are open for those days because um it is surprising how many people are in town.

56:13

Yes. um during that time of year. Um so it's because a lot of people think like, oh,

56:20

everybody's home, but some people are on vacation, so they do need to go out to eat those nights.

56:26

Um and if you're out on those nights, I always just say tip your server a little extra if you

56:32

can because it's um they are working on a holiday. So good point. But it's just it's very nice that a lot of places do

56:39

accommodate especially for our Hilton Head visitors that are coming in. That's a great point. That's great.

56:45

Now I had someone here about Hilton Head Distillery. Do we want to mention them? Highlight Distillery. Um so they have if

56:51

people have never been to Hilton Head Distillery. It's um it's a whole destination point beyond um not just

56:58

buying the you can do the whole tour. Yeah. Um if you look in their um aden

57:03

island events, I believe there's a coupon code as well to because it is it does cost to go through, but it comes with um like sips and tastings. Okay.

57:11

But they um and they always have a recipe in island events. Some of them so good.

57:17

All right. Well, we'll have to definitely look them up. That's where Bull Rush Jen uh does theirs out of there.

57:22

Hilton Hill. Yep. Yeah. Um and it's uh they have various seasonal um alcohols this time

57:30

of year. Um so that's another opportunity of just that's a good gift is getting you know

57:36

get someone. That's a great gift. That's a really good gift. Sorry. And the tourists are nice too um to go

57:42

and do the sampling and do the flights because then you can decide which one you really like versus buying a whole bottle. You can

57:48

kind of just get your little your little your little nibs of each one. Um, and they usually have live music and

57:54

stuff like that. Yeah, that's why I said it's kind of it's a whole destination point. Um, and if um, people are not familiar, it's um,

58:00

it's on the north end of Hilton Head. Okay. Um, so it's a little bit not it's not right on 278, so you do have to kind of

58:07

know where you're going a little bit. Is it over on Cardinal? Cardinal. Yeah, Cardinal. Okay. So, over by the

58:12

airport. Yeah. I can't remember if that's their actual address, but it is. It's around

58:18

there. Yeah. If they Google it, they'll they'll find it. Or go to hiltonhead.com.

58:23

There you go. Awesome. Well, so we're going to switch gears and before we wrap up here, let's

58:29

talk New Year's because that is all really, really close. It takes you up through Christmas,

58:35

New Year's, what do you got? Are there hotels, events, parties? So, one that I mentioned earlier was

58:40

Alexander, and they do a prefixed dinner in champagne toast on New Year's Eve.

58:46

Okay. So that one um you do have to make reservations and they do fill up pretty quickly, but that is a very organized

58:52

like full dinner and it's nice that you get your champagne. Yes. As well. So they are for sure open on

58:57

New Year's Eve. Yeah. Um cuz some a lot of places close a little bit early.

59:02

Yeah. Um but the official uh our I guess downtown of sorts is the

59:09

Harbortown New Year's Eve ball drop. Yes. Okay. And something that a lot of people don't realize is there there are two. Yes,

59:16

there is two. There's 700 p.m. which is the familyfriendly ball drop. That's when I kind of like to participate in myself.

59:22

Not going to lie, we do too. And then there's of course midnight. So you have two ball drops which is just

59:30

the fact that they do that is so nice. Um because not everybody wants to stay

59:35

up until midnight and um and even if you're traveling to it, you don't want to drive home that late

59:41

at 1:00 in the morning. Um, and it's just you don't want to be out and about. Um, but I do always encourage if people

59:48

can go out um to go see an actual ball drop versus seeing like the Times Square one on TV.

59:55

Well, it's similar to Time Square. Not as big. I mean, we got our own ball right above the Hobbit Town

1:00:01

music and it's just a whole thing. It is. It's just part of it. And like you said, like seeing the light

1:00:06

the lights are still going to be on display. So, seeing that still like reflecting in the basin, it's just it's really beautiful. Yeah,

1:00:12

but the I just I cannot get over the fact that they do two drops and I don't think it takes

1:00:17

I can I mean you know we had a lot of retire I mean I remember we're not retirees we don't do the same

1:00:23

like nobody's out past 9 you know it's like you know you come from Charlotte it's

1:00:29

247 yeah I get it at 7 o'clock it's already pitch black

1:00:34

it is and it's been dark for an hour and a half already it's funny because we're usually like even now we're like you ready to watch

1:00:40

movie and we always have a cup of tea at night. It's like 7:30. She's like, "You ready for tea?" I'm like, "It's only

1:00:45

7:30." 7:30. I know. That's when we have no sport. It feels like 10 p.m. It does. It does. It gets That's why I

1:00:53

always It's really nice though. I find that people kind of are and you can even check the events. Like I think

1:00:58

a lot of things happen more in the morning. Yes. You can tell people are kind of filling that daytime. Yeah.

1:01:04

So, that's why if you're able to spend as much daytime hours outside, um you

1:01:10

can go kaying, you can go do things to to absorb your vitamin D. Exactly. It does get dark. Um no matter

1:01:17

where you are a little bit. Is it 5:30 or 5? It's 5:30. It's like 5ish. Yeah. I mean, because we

1:01:22

tried to go to the baseball field to practice and I It's getting like five o'clock. I can't, you know, unless Yeah.

1:01:30

So, I want to circle back real quick just to make sure. So, like we used to always go to these events where hotels, do you

1:01:36

know if any hotels do any sort of New Year's Eve events where you can like book a room, they have a meal in the,

1:01:43

you know, there's some organized um stuff over in Savannah. Okay. Okay. Okay. For more of that kind

1:01:48

of um organized um overnight kind of package deal, package deal with um and a lot oftent

1:01:55

times um there'll be like a 20% off or something kind of just to encourage and um and always

1:02:01

check um you should check savannah.com. There's a lot of times discounts for um sometimes some of the hotels in Savannah

1:02:08

will offer a discount if you're from the neighboring counties. Okay.

1:02:13

Okay. Okay. And that applies to some of the museums. Like there are free museum days um as long as you have a um Bufort

1:02:19

County ID. It still applies. Oh wow. They're just encouraging people to go back and forth.

1:02:25

Um Hilton Head doesn't have as much organized like hotel kind of celebrations, but there is one the one

1:02:30

we were just talking about is Comedy Magic. Yep. They have a New Year's Eve party. Okay. All right. Um it sells out every

1:02:37

year. So if you're watching this right now, get your tickets now. They do a really great performance, but

1:02:44

it's like it would be one of the most organized like it feels like an actual New Year's Eve party.

1:02:50

Okay, that's great. So, they have and champagne and all of that. Okay. And it's But that one is not a 7 p.m.

1:02:56

That is a true midnight celebration. Okay. So, that goes all the way. That goes all the way. Yeah.

1:03:03

Awesome. So, real quick, I got to ask this to end on a personal note. What's the one event that you personally, you and your

1:03:10

husband, you think you're you're most excited to do? Uh, for December? Yeah.

1:03:15

And if I put you on the spot, we'll cut it right here. Um, I think I I kind of want to do the

1:03:23

Sandy sledding this year. Really? I don't know if I can convince my husband to participate with me. So, it

1:03:29

might just be maybe we'll do a Real Talk one. How about that? Real talk island event. Let's see if he needs someone on the

1:03:35

Real Talk team. possibly might be available. Yeah. Um but it's and I really want to go see

1:03:42

um the coral performance this year. I've missed it the last couple of years and I think that it is um especially being

1:03:48

earlier Yes. into the month. It's kind of like kicking off. But I just want to go around and there's so many of the

1:03:55

different kind of like I was talking about all the different shops. There's so many different popup events like people you mentioned um making

1:04:00

ornaments. There's so many places where you can make cookies or make charm bracelets and all these different things

1:04:06

of all these small businesses that do so many little popup shops. And it's um it's

1:04:11

great that you can like just support the businesses while getting your own little keepsake and have your own little

1:04:17

experience because I think that's what everywhere the small businesses do so much better is they provide the

1:04:23

experience beyond just the keepsake. Yeah. Um we've mentioned them before like Sea

1:04:29

Love. I was going to say sea love. That would be a good do um like they even did a wicked themed

1:04:34

one for the movie that just came out. They had like the pink and green vote of things like the different and it was like a discounted price for those

1:04:41

colors. But um even some coffee shops like the if they're they'll do different

1:04:46

like promotions. It's just nice to be able to support the small places. Well, and it really helps you get into

1:04:52

the the swing of things, you know, get into the spirit. It's great. People are

1:04:58

all dressed up and doing the whole thing. But it's again, you can never be bored in the low country. There's

1:05:04

always, even when you think it's as slow as can be, there's still so much going on.

1:05:09

Well, literally, I was like, well, there's a quick hour of uh things to do in December. I mean, here we are in

1:05:16

December, which is a slow month, and we have so much that we just covered there. Well, and thank you guys for like

1:05:21

amplifying that there is more stuff to do this time of year because even as we um

1:05:26

our next one will be or January and February. January and February truly are the slowest time of the year. Okay.

1:05:32

Um but there still is a lot going on. So that will be next month, but it's um yeah, this time it always seems so

1:05:39

quiet. Yeah. Um maybe and it's also dark at 5:30, right? It seems more quiet.

1:05:44

But watch those movies we were talking about. Watch the old movies. Yeah. Well, Erica, thank you so much again for

1:05:51

bringing us to the January, February. But for now, all you folks out there, thank you for watching and make sure you

1:05:56

hit hiltonhead.com. Uh, look for the Island Events magazine all throughout the island. You can find it all in the

1:06:02

stores. You can find it pretty much everywhere, right? Yeah. Our December issue, you can't miss it. It'll be Santa and Elf on a Bike.

1:06:09

Santa and Elf on a Bike. Perfect for Hilton Head. But thank you again. Please make sure you hit that like button,

1:06:14

subscribe, share, and make sure you come back for more. and have a happy holidays. And have a very happy holiday.

1:06:22

Don't forget to follow, like, share, and subscribe to Real Talk Hilton Head, and leave us a review to help others

1:06:28

discover the Low Country lifestyle. out.