Hilton Head Monthly Magazine

Ghostly delights & ghoulish treats

Trick or Treat!” rings out through the night, as little ghosts, ballerinas, pumpkins and power rangers make their way through our Lowcountry neighborhoods. From Sea Pines to Bluffton, it’s a fun week of revelry, with several spooky and family-friendly events to get you in the mood for the big Halloween night, Friday, October 31. Fun island events include Halloween at Coligny Plaza on Thursday, October 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with trick-or-treating at shops and restaurants, a costume contest, and even a pet contest at tail-waggers! Plus, a giant shark slide and obstacle course, ghost stories with Yostie, cookie decorating at the bakery, free kids movie at Coligny Theatre, and more.

Friday brings the annual Trick-or-Treat & Halloween Fun at The Mall at Shelter Cove. Ghosts and goblins twelve and under are invited to trick-or-treat with participating merchants, enjoy yummy treats and ghastly live music in Center Court from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, October 31.

Spend the evening with compelling and frighteningly funny storyteller, Joshua Kane, for “Tales of Terror” at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on October 27 and 28. Kane spins humorous and spine-tingling tales inspired by old radio dramas of Orson Welles, Vincent Price and other classic “creepsters.” Bring flashlights and stroll through downtown Bluffton for a historical ghost walk and learn about ghosts that lurk in Old Town on Friday, October 31. Babbie Guscio, long-time Blufftonian and proprietor of The Store, arranges the event, which is suggested for adults and children 12 and older.

Quaint riverfront Beaufort offers Trick-or-Treating in historic downtown on October 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Or, for more frightening excursions, take advantage of Beaufort’s ghost carriage and walking tours through the historic district on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning October 17.

Tanger Outlets in Bluffton offer another festive Halloween outing on Saturday, October 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy the promenade and have fun looking at costumes and store displays.

Halloween on Hilton Head is an island-wide event, with many flourishing traditions in island neighborhoods and gated communities. Old-fashioned fun can be found at Lowcountry pumpkin patches, haunted hayrides through Sea Pines and other fun events. Spanish Wells, Sea Pines and Long Cove get in the spirit also - don’t be surprised to see ghosts and goblins passing by on golf carts! Hilton Head Plantation has annual trick-or-treating at their Plantation House, as well as a pet contest. And there will be plenty of families taking to the streets on Friday, so get your candy or healthy snacks ready.

Halloween is always taken seriously in the Ashton Cove neighborhood on Hilton Head Island. It’s well worth the trip. With so many families, it’s a fun, safe way to stroll the streets and enjoy a night of trick-or-treating. Plus, it is sure to be fun for parents too!

Bluffton’s Westbury Park also has Halloween at heart with abundant Halloween decorations and pumpkins on porches. Neighborhood families really go all out, and lots of young families make for a spirited night of fun.

What makes Halloween so enjoyable? Maybe it’s all about fall traditions, pouring our creativity into costumes, enjoying our children and greeting our neighbors. Here in the Lowcountry, we’re good at that.