The Hilton Head Lantern Parade is a must attend event for the whole family. Thousands of people show up every year and walk the beach with home-made lantern.

2025 Parade Route:

If you are planning to march in the parade, please line up beginning at 4:45 PM. The parade’s starting point is near the Alder Lane beach access. The parade steps off at 5:30 PM heading north along the beach to the Coligny Beach Park, continuing along North Forest Beach Drive to Avocet and turning onto Lagoon Road. The parade’s ending point is at Lowcountry Celebration Park. Click the map below to see the route, parking areas, and shuttle location. Zoom in for more details.

Parade Rules – for Participants:

• All participants need to have a lantern to march in the parade.
• The pace of the parade is set by the marching bands. Please do not travel quicker than the band ahead of you.
• No passing or crowding the bands – please follow the directions of volunteers and marshals.
• All children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Yield space to the large lanterns.
• No bicycles.
• Please leave your pets at home.
• No flaming (these are outlawed in the state) or flying lanterns.
• If you need to stop, please step off to the side.
• HAVE FUN!

Parade Rules – for Spectators:

• Please keep the parade route clear.
• Follow the instructions of all Town of Hilton Head Island staff, Beaufort County Sheriff Office deputies, security officers, and volunteers.
• DO NOT walk through or stand on the sand dunes.
• Check the parade route map to identify viewing areas.

Activities at Lowcountry Celebration Park:

Join us ahead of the parade at Lowcountry Celebration Park. Food trucks (Melly Mel’s Lawyers BBQ, Taco Brown, and Palmetto Kettle Corn) and beverages will be available starting at 3 PM.

The parade is expected to begin arriving at the park around 6:30 PM. Groove Town Assault will provide live music ahead of the parade’s arrival and at its completion. Plan to be at the finish for the “giant lantern puppet band jam” with the large lanterns and the bands from the parade.