Many groups who gather on Hilton Head Island want the Lowcountry, Old South experience, says Siobhan Stolarcyk, director of sales for local event company Meeting Dynamics Inc.
"We have quite a lot of options for people who want the Southern theme," Stolarcyk says. "One example is a Twelve Oaks-style barbecue and ball at one our private country clubs that represent that style of architecture. We can also bring paddlewheel boats with three levels up from Savannah. As many as 600 people can have dinner and entertainment onboard."
People are often interested in the Gullah culture, she adds, and demonstrations by sweetgrass basket weavers or a performance by The Hallelujah Singers from nearby Beaufort add even more local color to a meeting or an event.
Their appearances include high-energy singing combined with storytelling and song that has been a part of the Sea Islands heritage for centuries.
"Honey Horn is also a venue we love for the Lowcountry theme," Stolarcyk says. "The former 63-acre plantation property is a great place to do oyster roasts in their pavilion, which holds up to 200 people. People enjoy touring some of the small historic buildings that have been restored on the site and maybe visit the Coastal Discovery Museum, which also is on the property. It exhibits the history, wildlife and heritage of the sea coastal islands."
Because water is everywhere around Hilton Head, many incorporate an aqua experience in their programs, she says.
Waterfront restaurants, and restored schooner and excursion boat cruises for cocktails and dinner are some of the choices. And, there are small boat floats into the natural world.
If the group prefers to remain on-site at their island hotel, Meeting Dynamics can mount a beach Olympics event.
"This can be just for fun or it can be tied to objectives, like having two parts of an organization come together and learn how to depend on each other," Stolarcyk says. "We’ve even used retired Marines to host such occasions, because you know the Parris Island Marine base is nearby."
There are also beach pirate treasure hunts, a reminder that notorious characters like Blackbeard used to ply the waters around the area.
"We bury treasure on the beach the night before so people won’t know where to snoop," Stolarcyk adds.
