Beaufort, SC

Local Events

Reenactments, heritage festivals, and living history programs — experience the Revolution where it happened.

List Calendar

Upcoming This Year

Date

TBD

ExhibitionFeatured

Beaufort History Museum Exhibits and Programs at the Arsenal

Beaufort Arsenal / Beaufort History Museum, 713 Craven Street, Beaufort, SC

The Beaufort History Museum, housed in the historic Beaufort Arsenal on Craven Street, presents ongoing and rotating exhibits covering Beaufort's history from its colonial and Revolutionary War era through the Civil War and beyond. Programs include lectures and educational events that touch on the town's role during the British occupation of Port Royal Island and the disruption of the Sea Island plantation economy during the Revolution.

Small admission feeThe museum operates year-round with periodic special programs; contact the Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal for current schedule and any special Revolutionary War-themed events.More info →

Jul

Festival

Independence Day Celebration on Bay Street and the Waterfront

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and Bay Street, Beaufort, SC

Beaufort's annual Fourth of July celebration along the historic Bay Street waterfront and Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park features patriotic ceremonies, live music, and fireworks over the Beaufort River. The festivities honor the spirit of American independence in a town that played a direct role in the Revolutionary War, with the Bay Street Historic District and its antebellum homes serving as a backdrop connecting the colonial and plantation-era heritage of the Sea Islands.

FreeJuly 4th; some activities may shift to the nearest weekend. Check with the City of Beaufort for exact schedule.More info →

Nov

Festival

Heritage Days at Penn Center on St. Helena Island

Penn Center, 16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, SC

Penn Center's annual Heritage Days festival on nearby St. Helena Island celebrates Gullah Geechee culture and the deep African American heritage of the Sea Islands, including the legacy of enslaved people whose labor built the plantation economy disrupted during the Revolution. The multi-day event features storytelling, traditional crafts, music, historical lectures, and discussions of the long freedom struggle that began when thousands of enslaved people fled to British lines during the Revolutionary War.

Varies; some events free, others ticketedTypically held the second weekend in November; exact dates vary by year. Check Penn Center's website for current schedule.More info →

Date

TBD

Guided Tour

Historic Beaufort Walking Tours — Colonial and Revolutionary War Heritage

Beaufort Historic District, including St. Helena's Episcopal Church and Bay Street, Beaufort, SC

Guided walking tours through Beaufort's historic district offered by local tour companies and the Beaufort History Museum explore the town's colonial origins, its role during the Revolutionary War including the British occupation of Port Royal Island, and the stories of enslaved people who sought freedom behind British lines. Tours pass landmarks including St. Helena's Episcopal Church (founded 1712) and historic homes along Bay Street.

Varies; typically $15–$25 per personTours operate year-round, typically daily or several times per week. Contact the Beaufort History Museum or Spirit of Old Beaufort tours for schedules.More info →

Date

TBD

Lecture

Revolutionary War Lecture Series at Beaufort History Museum

Beaufort Arsenal / Beaufort History Museum, 713 Craven Street, Beaufort, SC

The Beaufort History Museum and local historical organizations periodically host lectures and speaker programs focused on the Revolutionary War in the Lowcountry, covering topics such as the British expedition that staged at Port Royal, the Philipsburg Proclamation's impact on Sea Island enslaved communities, and the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery's origins. These programs often feature regional historians and authors.

Free or small donationScheduled intermittently throughout the year; contact the Beaufort History Museum or Beaufort County Library to confirm upcoming lectures.