With the notable influx of new residents that Hilton Head Island has welcomed this year, it could be that this year marks the first holiday season in the Lowcountry for many readers. As the calendar draws nearer to Christmas, you might be wondering how locals get into the spirit when there are no snow-covered rooftops, no roaring fires to stave off the winter cold, and no snowman to adorn with a corncob pipe and button nose.
The answer is simple. Here in the Lowcountry, it’s not the holiday season until the lights come on at Coligny Plaza. But once that switch has been pulled, turning this venerable island institution into a sparkling winter wonderland, you’ll understand what Christmas means on this island.
Jevon Daly’s Khaotic Kidz Show happens every Saturday afternoon in December, from 11:30 – 1 p.m., on the Coligny mainstage.
“Going back decades, we’ve really tried to provide the Lowcountry a way to get into the holiday spirit, and it has been wonderful to see how much the community has embraced what we’ve done,” said Coligny Plaza owner JR Richardson. “From the lights to the shows to the special events in between, it’s all our way of sharing the season with our neighbors.”
Every night through December, Coligny Plaza will burst into a festival of colors as the “Nightly Lights” illuminate the trees and rooflines of the plaza with holiday cheer. You’ll definitely want to explore the many courtyards and corridors around Coligny to take in all the sights while you shop, dine, and celebrate.
But the real highlight of the holiday season at Coligny comes every Saturday during December (plus December 22 and 23) when the plaza is flooded with fun activities, performances, and special deals for those seeking the perfect gift.
The first stop of the Saturday fun will be Jevon Daly’s Kids Show, a holiday-flavored version of Daly’s famed kid-centric entertainment. This side-splitting smorgasbord of interactive stories and singalong fun runs 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. with Hilton Head’s clown prince of music running the show.
CH2’s Jevon Daly and Maggie Washo pose for a photo with Santa at Coligny Plaza.
Daly is even offering a special contest to kids and parents who come out and enjoy the show. “Your kid should come sing a Christmas song with me,” Daly said. “If you can stump me with a song I can’t play, I’ll fly you and your family to the North Pole.” (Full disclosure, Daly is a bit of a jokester, so that offer is probably not valid. But you should try and stump him anyway.)
Following the show, kids will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa from 1-2 p.m., a magical memory they’ll treasure forever.
If you miss the Saturday fun, you can send Santa a letter every day of the week from Santa’s Post Office, giving you a direct line to St. Nick himself.
Just when you think Coligny is done spreading holiday cheer, think again. On top of the month-long holiday fun, you can be entered to win $1,000 in shopping and dining at Coligny every time you shop during the month of December. Just enter at ColignyPlaza.com/Christmas to enter the big prize, to be drawn on Christmas Day.
