Again this year, the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival chose The Shops at Sea Pines Center as the setting for the Festival’s Sip & Stroll from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27. The atmosphere – the vibe, they say – that we spin here among The Shops at Sea Pines Center has proven to be the perfect backdrop for festivities.

The setting for this splendid array of wines, craft beers and spirits includes some of our absolute best local musicians – island jazz legend Martin Lesch with Junior Jazz Foundation superstar Kenneth Mason, and everyone favorite funk duo La Bodega – who cast a perfect spell for sipping and strolling.

And the influence of art adds to the feeling that you’ve arrived. More than a dozen local artists will display their work during Sip & Stroll and share the inspiration they found here in our lovely sea island setting. Harmonizing with the uniquely impactful art photography of Jeff Keefer at our resident VIVID Gallery, Sip & Stroll promises a perusal of visual arts just as tasty as the wines, beers, and spirits here for the sampling.

Local Attention and Care

And of course, The Shops at Sea Pines Center plays the perfect host, with our unique locally owned stores and restaurants offering whatever your mood calls for. From sapphires to sportswear, from dresses to décor, and from beautiful bites to delicious dining, The Shops at Sea Pines Center has proven again and again to offer the essence of relaxation and quality – Sea Pines living at its best.

Earning a Place in the Lineup

For 39 years, the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival has drawn a national audience of wine aficionados. Sip & Stroll joined the festival lineup in 2015.

“It has been a hit ever since,” said festival Executive Director Jeff Gerber, “and the move to The Shops at Sea Pines Center a few years ago helped us take the event to the next level. We look forward to building on the success of the past few years and in years to come.”

For the Benefit of Education

Presented by the non-profit Hilton Head Wine & Food, Inc., the proceeds from the wine auction at the festival’s Grand and Public Tastings go to the John & Valerie Curry Educational Scholarship Fund for college students pursuing degrees in hospitality and tourism.

The Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival has raised more than $144,000 for scholarships over the past 10 years. A few years ago, the festival made a $20,000 donation to TCL to help build a new kitchen for its culinary program.

Where Extraordinary Things Happen

With the return of Sip & Stroll, and the resumption of our seasonal Farmers & Makers Market, folks are reminded that The Shops at Sea Pines Center is a place where interesting things happen, and interesting people just naturally gather to enjoy. Please join us.