Kiawah Island is a stunning barrier island nestled on the South Carolina coastline that offers visitors the opportunity to engage in endless adventures and activities, or simply do nothing at all! Summer is a season of fun on Kiawah Island and each day brings new adventures, unique recreational experiences, and exciting summer events focused on the Lowcountry lifestyle and old-fashioned fun for the whole family!
Spend your days soaking up the sun at Beachwalker Park, exploring Night Heron Park’s trails and activities, kayaking the serene waterways, shopping our quaint summer farmers markets, honing your skills on Kiawah’s famous golf courses, and celebrating summer at Kiawah Island’s festive summer events & festivals.
Summer is the perfect season to stroll the farmers’ markets, pick up fresh produce and preserves for tasty homemade feasts, delicious desserts (go ahead – you’re on vacation!), and unique gifts and souvenirs of your Kiawah Island vacation. Our local farmer’s markets are traditionally Lowcountry and worth a visit during your summer stay on Kiawah.
KIAWAH ISLAND SUMMER EVENTS
NIGHT HERON PARK ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
LOCATION: Kiawah Island Parkway, Kiawah Island
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES: View all events and activities HERE
RESERVATIONS: Call (843) 768-6001 for event and activity reservations
Night Heron Park abounds in natural beauty and is the epicenter of fun on Kiawah Island. The Night Heron Park Nature Center offers an exciting selection of eco-tours & adventures, cruises and charters, unique Kiawah Island experiences, and endless activities every day of the year, with an extra dose of fun in the summer season! If you need a little summer inspiration, here’s our top pick of Night Heron Park nature activities to add to your summer bucket-list adventures on Kiawah Island!
- Kayaking & SUP Excursions
- Coastal, Reef, Creek & Shark Fishing Charters
- Eco Tours & Shelling Expeditions along the Kiawah River
- Sunrise Yoga & Fitness Classes on Sanctuary Beach
- Sunset Cruises & Dolphin Encounters
- Unique Kiawah Wildlife & Alligator Adventures
- Birdwatching Walks with a Naturalist
- Learn to Surf Camps & Lessons
- Turtles’ Nest Art Studio Creative Programs
- Charleston Harbor Cruises & Sightseeing Tours
Cars & Coffee
Freshfields Village Cars & Coffee is a popular Kiawah Island event that runs throughout the year on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Classics, collectibles, and super cool cars and motorcycles line the Village Green, car enthusiasts network and share stories of their classics, and delicious coffee, pastries & breakfasts are served at Java Java in Freshfields Village.
LOCATION: Freshfields Village Green
DATE: 3rd Saturday of each month year-round
TIME: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
ADMISSION: FREE!
Music on the Green
Freshfields Village Music on the Green kicks off with a special two-night series on Memorial Day weekend and ends with a grand finale on Labor Day weekend. Throughout the summer locals, families, and visitors to Kiawah Island gather on the Village Green with blankets, chairs, and picnics to enjoy a night of local music on the stage. Freshfields Village Music on the Green is free, family-friendly, and a not to be missed Kiawah Island summer tradition with good, laid-back island vibes!
LOCATION: Freshfields Village Green
DATE: Friday – Memorial Day to Labor Day
TIME: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
ADMISSION: FREE!
Local’s Tip: Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
2024 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
May 24: Shem Creek Boogie Band
Saturday, May 25*: Silverton
May 31: Moon Dance
June 7: Dave & The Sol Beats
June 14: The Rising Tide
June 21: Loose Chain
June 28: Fantasy
July 5: Continental Divide
July 12: Color The Night
July 19: Me and Mr Jones
July 26: Silverton
August 2: Travis Allison Band
August 9: Julio & The Saltines
August 16: Blackwater Band
August 23: The Yacht Club
August 30: The Vistas
Saturday, August 31*: The Rising Tide
Summer Oyster Roast
You can’t visit Kiawah Island without attending an oyster roast on the banks of the Kiawah River – the beautiful setting alone is enough to make your mouth water! It’s the best way to sample the flavors of the Lowcountry and, while it’s a celebration of our fresh local oysters, you’ll find everything from BBQ ribs and pulled pork, traditional southern side dishes and delicious desserts, coupled with live music, exquisite sunsets, and loads of family fun.
LOCATION: Mingo Point, 876 Kiawah Island Parkway
DATES:
May 25th
June 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
August 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, 31st
NEW for 2024:
Each Mingo Point date includes two seatings for guests to choose from when purchasing tickets: 5:00pm – 7:00pm and 7:30pm – 9:30pm.
- No walk up ticket purchases will be allowed or honored
- Limited capacity is available for each seating – once a seating is sold out, that date or time will no longer be available to book online
- Tickets must be purchased by 9am the day of the event
- All attendees must have a ticket regardless of age
- There are no physical tickets, you will be emailed a receipt as your confirmation
- All purchases are final – no refunds will be issued in the event of inclement weather
Reserve your Mingo Point tickets HERE!
Salute from the Shore
Salute from the Shore is a 4th of July flyover of F16s, Military C17s, and vintage planes that stretches the entire length of the South Carolina coastline! Beachgoers head down to the 10 miles of coastline on Kiawah Island adorned in red, white, and blue to salute and honor America’s armed forces from the shore. Support the cause by purchasing your Salute from the Shore swag, record and share your salute (#salutefromtheshore) and be part of a 13-year Independence Day tradition on Kiawah Island.
LOCATION: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island
DATE: July 4, 2024
TIME: Fly-Over Schedule
Fourth of July on Kiawah
DATE: July 4, 2024
The Fourth of July is a weeklong celebration on Kiawah Island! It’s our favorite time of year and Kiawah Island goes all out to celebrate the birth of our nation. Independence Day celebrations on Kiawah Island include a traditional Mingo Point Oyster Roast & BBQ on the Kiawah River, a patriotic bike parade led by local firemen down Sea Forest Drive, followed by family festivities at Night Heron Park with pool parties, jumping castles, carnival games, and loads of summertime fun! The evening ends with Independence Day fireworks at Sanctuary Beach.
Weekend Wine Down
Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island is the Charleston area’s only vineyard, producing some of the best home-grown wine in South Carolina. Nestled amidst the marshlands and historic oaks on Wadmalaw Island, Deep Water Vineyard offers daily self-guided tours and tastings, private tastings and special events by reservation, and an annual Weekend Wine Down all summer long! The weekend wine downs happen rain or shine every Saturday from 10AM-5PM.
LOCATION: 6775 Bears Bluff Rd, Wadmalaw Island
DATE: All summer long!
TIME: 10 AM to 5 PM
TASTINGS: Offered every hour on the hour, $15 gets you a tasting of 6 samples of wine and a souvenir stemless glass.
DRINKS: The outdoor patio bar offers lots of fun libations, wine by the glass/bottle/flight, wine slushies, an ever-rotating draft meads, samples of our still meads, bloody marys made with our jalapeño wine, and mimosas!
Local’s Tip: Ocassionally they’ll throw a curveball in there just to keep it interesting too!
FOOD TRUCKS / LIVE MUSIC: They offer a food truck and live music every wine down, check out the info below for who is on today.
DOGS / KIDS: Go ahead, have a glass of wine with your 4-legged pal! Kids are also welcome, they may be asked to sit away from the bar if we are full of adult tasters (but they’ll still be within eyeshot). Also offered for the whole family: swurfer/swing, cornhole, and other lawn games.
MORE INFO: Well behaved owners with their leashed dogs are permitted everywhere on property, including our tasting room. Please note that they do have a number of animals (rabbits, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, and a miniature brahma cow).
Connect to their Facebook page for events schedule and tickets!
Spoleto Festival USA
Kiawah Island is only 25 miles from historic Charleston, a city of endless celebrations, festivals, and events. There are many Charleston sightseeing tours and cruises from Kiawah Island and most of our guests choose to set a day aside on their Kiawah vacation to explore the historic sites, old-world charm, and top attractions of Charleston.
If you’re visiting Kiawah Island in the late spring – early summer season, the Spoleto Festival USA is not to be missed and Kiawah Island makes an idyllic basecamp! The Spoleto Festival USA is the American version of the Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds) in Spoleto Italy and features hundreds of events centered around the arts in several venues including Charleston’s historic theaters, churches, and open spaces.
LOCATION: Various locations in Charleston, SC
DATE: May 22 – June 9, 2024
ADMISSION: Buy Tickets HERE!
View the Full Schedule of 2024 Performances HERE!
KIAWAH ISLAND SUMMER FARMERS MARKETS
Summer is the perfect season to stroll the farmers markets, pick up fresh produce and preserves for tasty home-made feasts, delicious desserts (go ahead – you’re on vacation!), and unique gifts and souvenirs of your Kiawah Island vacation. Our local farmers markets are traditionally Lowcountry and worth a visit during your summer stay on Kiawah.
Freshfields Village Farmers Market
LOCATION: Freshfields Village Green
DATE: Mondays – June, July & August
TIME: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Freshfields Village offers an upscale shopping experience on Kiawah Island with over 30 high-end stores, eateries for Lowcountry dining, fun events and a fantastic weekly summer farmers market. There are several unique vendors with organic produce, sweet & savory foods, fresh caught seafood, and Lowcountry arts and crafts. Pick up a southern style BBQ dinner to share from the comfort of your vacation home – or stop by one of the many restaurants at Freshfields Village for a night out on the town.
Sea Island Farmers Market
LOCATION: Charleston Collegiate Campus, St Johns Island
DATE: Every Saturday
TIME: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
The Sea Island Farmers Market is on the Charleston Collegiate Campus grounds, a short drive from Kiawah on the scenic road to Charleston. It’s a true community market with local vendors selling their farm produce, local food stands, and unique arts and craft creations. It’s the perfect place to pick up tasty supplies for a picnic under the ancient Angel Oak Tree in nearby Angel Oak Park.
KIAWAH ISLAND SUMMER KIDS CAMPS
Kiawah Island is geared for family vacationers! Your kids won’t be clinging to the door handle feeling betrayed by mom and dad – they’ll be begging to go to Kiawah Island’s unique summer kids camps. Fun and dedicated counselors are assigned to engage your kids in island adventures (land and water!) that will send them home with lots of epic back-to-school stories.
Kamp Kiawah is designed for kids ages 3-7 with themed adventures, games, beach treasure hunts, arts & crafts, and interactive and educational nature activities in Night Heron Park. Camp Xtreme, Adventure Camp, and Kids Night Out (seasonal) are geared for older kids ages 8-15 with Xtreme fun, competitive sports games, team building activities, ninja warrior courses, adventures on the water, and nighttime fun twice a week at Kiawah’s seasonal Kids Night Out.
STAY NEAR KIAWAH ISLAND’S TOP SUMMER EVENTS
Kiawah Exclusives offers an exclusive collection of Kiawah Island condos, villas, cottages, and private vacation homes in West Beach, East Beach, and the luxury Vanderhorst gated community.
Each of Kiawah Island’s luxury villa communities is unique! Choose classic Lowcountry views on the Kiawah River, lagoon & wooded views in the maritime forests, golf course views on Kiawah’s famous fairways, or panoramic Atlantic Ocean views from the oceanfront dunes.
You can customize your stay to suit your style even further with a choice of cozy condos, luxury villas, and private free-standing cottages – all with easy access to Kiawah Island’s 10 miles of beautiful beaches. Our exclusive selection of Kiawah Island vacation rentals also includes spacious and private Kiawah family homes with swimming pools & spas, indoor & outdoor entertainment areas, private beach boardwalks, and all the essentials (and life’s little luxuries!) for a quintessential summer vacation on Kiawah Island.
With 30 miles of interconnected trails and bike riding allowed on Kiawah Island’s beaches, wherever you choose to stay on Kiawah Island you’re in close proximity to the top summer events & festivals, and the best places to play on Kiawah Island.
