Ah yes, the holidays. That special time of year when no matter how much or how little you have done in preparation, someone will always be unhappy.
Someone’s complaining about the commercialization of the holiday, tension is high, alcohol sales are higher, and how on earth are there no more ornament hooks or rolls of Scotch tape in this house? Why is the Christmas card picture blurry? How are we out of stamps again? And, oh my word, why is it 85 degrees and dark at 5 p.m.?
Hilton Head Island’s Tree Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Concert will also happen on Saturday, December 7 this year at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
Living in the Lowcountry my whole life, I take a completely different approach to the holiday season. I don’t know how to shovel snow, I’ve have never had a “White Christmas,” and have no idea how people fly with presents in their luggage.
It went from watching A Charlie Brown Christmas while drinking hot cocoa on that half day of school before break, to having a very unfortunately timed high school reunion at Callahan’s on “Blackout Wednesday,” wondering how those midterm papers went. (Note to Mom: “Blackout Wednesday” means the day before Thanksgiving.)
Jevon Daly and John Cranford break out into song under the lights at Coligny Plaza.
Did we all just take a collective deep breath? Those sticky floors and house vodka sours don’t lie, y’all. Neither do dressing room mirrors when you’re in a rush and somehow nothing fits but everything fits just enough to easily slide onto your body – and then you’re sweating in T.J. Maxx, trying to figure out if you will die back there in a very unfortunate sequin dress. I have been deathly close to calling the fire department for help there before. Actual nightmare.
I may be 22 years old and described as a joyful cynic, but I did the unthinkable. I grew up, graduated college, and moved right back to the little island where I spent my prime eye-rolling, door-slamming years saying I’d never come back to. But you heard it here first: Hilton Head is still fun!
It’s so easy to take this place for granted and not find joy in the mundane. However, it’s hard to not find joy when the Triangle has about a million lights on it and the elves at the Pope Avenue Starbucks somehow make your drink right every single time in that little red cup.
Scenes from the Bluffton Christmas parade, which will occur on Saturday, December 7 this year.
I plan on spending my holiday season extremely overdressed, anxious for no reason, and watching Hallmark movies wondering how they haven’t called me to portray a city girl who came back home to participate in a snowman-building competition to somehow save the entire town and stimulate its economy.
Here’s the secret to entertaining literally anyone between the ages of 2 and 25: Get out of the house. Everywhere you look will be lit up and decorated. Stroll through Shelter Cove Towne Centre’s light display, visit the South Beach Christmas Village, attend the Town of Bluffton Christmas Parade – just simply get out of your house before you drive each other all insane.
Mom and daughter roast marshmallows while Christmas movies play on a large screen under the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town.
You know that bike path you drive past three times a day that you have absolutely no idea where it goes? Go down it! There might be some Christmas lights or fellow islanders to spread cheer with.
The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is producing 42nd Street December 4-29, and that is another place you will see people you have not seen in years. Seeing old friends really draws in the holiday spirit and ghosts of Christmases past. That’s showbiz, baby!
A family from Europe rings in the New Year at the Harbour Town ball drop in Sea Pines.
The best part of this community is the community itself. Everywhere you turn is someone who – no matter the challenges they’re facing – will go the extra mile to make the holiday season that much more special for each and every one of us.
I admire and appreciate the Pinterest moms, dads, and other loved ones; however, I find it increasingly difficult for us to make our own fun, other than eating too many cookies and watching (or quoting every line of) Christmas Vacation for the 97th time. I will say though, if you get very close to my family’s Christmas tree, you will see an alarming amount of poorly made “kid ornaments.” Some of them even have pictures of my brother and me in Santa hats that literally look like mugshots. Bonus points if you bring those back. It could make for a fun-filled family afternoon! Dust off those Polaroid cameras everyone begged for circa 2014. I know there’s some film in my junk drawer.
The holiday light display at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina illuminates the night for the entire month of December.
If anyone is going caroling, please do not ask me to come, but please send me a detailed video. You know where to find me. As for decor, I really do not enjoy yard inflatables. At all. Please.
All in all, yes, Hilton Head Island can still be fun! But you know what else is fun? Being surrounded by the people who will love you no matter what’s in the (not so) perfectly wrapped boxes, whether or not the ham is dry, whether or not there’s more booze than eggnog in your cup, and whether or not you actually tested those Christmas lights before stringing them around your home for four hours on a balmy afternoon.
Here’s to the holidays, my friends – we made it. Best wishes, happy everything, and please send me any leftover dessert.
