October in Bluffton: the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival through Oct. 18, Street Fest on Calhoun Street, the town's Spooktacular Oct. 23 and markets.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Rebuilt each month. Events come from the Town of Bluffton’s calendar and the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival. Prices are as the organizer lists them; free means the organizer says free.

October is festival month in Old Town Bluffton. The 22nd Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival runs Oct. 9-18 with oyster roasts, boat tours, a juried art show on Calhoun Street and fireworks over the May River, and the town’s Spooktacular follows on Oct. 23.

Who to call

Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival, through Oct. 18

The festival’s events calendar lists the rest of the week. Parking, the shuttle and the full Street Fest schedule are on our Arts and Seafood Festival page. Highlights still ahead:

  • May River boat tours, daily through Sunday, Oct. 18. One-hour skiff cruises on the hour from the Calhoun Street public dock, 110 Calhoun St., $35 a person, subject to availability.
  • May River oyster farm tours, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 13, and Thursday, Oct. 15, from the same dock, with May River Oyster Company.
  • Palette and Plate live art dinner, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Okàn, 71 Calhoun St., $140.
  • Author Night, “History Alive,” 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Rotary Community Center, 11 Recreation Court, $15.
  • Symphony Under the Stars, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary St. The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra plays, rain or shine. Free.
  • Sips and Seafood Party for Bluffton Self Help, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Palmetto Bluff Farm, 228 Old Moreland Road.
  • Russo’s Wild Caught Lowcountry Boil, 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Russo’s Fresh Seafood, 246 Red Cedar St., $70.
  • Old Town Oyster Run 5K, 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, from Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St.
  • Street Fest, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, along Calhoun Street. A juried show of more than 100 artists from 10 states, with seafood and music. Free admission.
  • Take a Kid Fishing Tournament, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Wright Family Park, 111 Calhoun St.
  • Children’s Art in the Park, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday under the DuBois Park pavilion, 67 Lawrence St.
  • Rockin’ on the Dock, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Oyster Factory Park: live music by the J. Edwards Band, roasted local oysters at $20 a bucket and fireworks at dusk.

Calhoun Street and the streets around it are busy all weekend. See our getting around guide for town parking.

Markets

  • Bluffton Farmers Market, Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. at Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary St., on Oct. 15 and 22, according to the town calendar. More on our farmers markets page.
  • The Bridge Collective Market runs alongside it at the same hours and place.
  • Beaufort County Bookmobile, 2:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the New Riverside Barn Park playground, 44 Red Barn Drive.

Halloween

  • Spooktacular, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Rotary Community Center and Field of Dreams, 7 Recreation Court. It is the town’s Safety Spooktacular, on its list of town-sponsored events.
  • Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31. Hours and trunk-or-treat events are on our trick-or-treat page, and pumpkin patches on our fall festivals page.

Nearby

  • Ford’s Shell Ring Park grand opening, 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at 273 Squire Pope Road on Hilton Head Island, about 11 miles east. Beaufort County says there is no parking at the site; park at 133 Squire Pope Road for the shuttle, which starts at 9 a.m. A docent-led tour follows.

Coming in November

The town’s free Bluffton Music Series ends its season with Groove Town Assault, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at the Buckwalter Place Park amphitheater, 2 Venture Drive. Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, with the Veterans Day parade in Old Town; Bluffton schools are closed.

What this means for you

  • Go early to Street Fest on Oct. 17-18; Old Town parking fills fast.
  • Book festival dinners and tours ahead; several are ticketed and limited.
  • Mark Oct. 23 for the Spooktacular and Oct. 31 for Halloween.

Our weekend guide has this weekend’s events in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival 2026?

The 22nd Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival runs Oct. 9-18, 2026. The free Street Fest on Calhoun Street is Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Are there fireworks at the Bluffton Seafood Festival?

Yes. Rockin’ on the Dock at Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St., runs from 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, with live music and fireworks at dusk, according to the festival.

When is the Bluffton Spooktacular?

Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Rotary Community Center and Field of Dreams, 7 Recreation Court, according to the Town of Bluffton calendar.

Is the Bluffton Farmers Market open in October?

Yes. The town calendar lists the market on Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. at Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary St., including Oct. 15 and 22.