January 2022 happenings in Hilton Head and Bluffton

Art shows, plays & performances

Photo credit: HHSO

Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra performances

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra’s concert series continues with Tchaikovsky’s Fifth (Jan. 9-10) and Piazzolla, Ravel and More (Jan. 23-24) at First Presbyterian Church. Performing at 4 p.m., January 9, and 7:30 p.m., January 10, enjoy Tchaikovsky’s Fifth with conductor John Morris Russell and pianist Kevin Chen. Enjoy Piazolla, Ravel, and More at 4 p.m., January 23, and 7:30 p.m., January 24. The performances will feature conductor José-Luis Novo and Hector Del Curto on the bandoneón. For tickets and additional information, visit hhso.org.

Rooftop at PoseidonPoseidon Restaurant / SERG

The Rooftop at Poseidon

Coastal Country Night: January 5, 12, 19, 26
Dueling Pianos: January 6, 13, 20, 27
Island’s Biggest DJ Dance Party: January 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Other Desert CitiesLean Ensemble Theatre

Other Desert Cities

This production at Lean Ensemble Theater is about Brooke Wyeth, who returns home to Palm Springs after a six-year absence to celebrate Christmas with her parents, her brother and her aunt. Brooke announces that she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history—a wound they don’t want reopened. In effect, she draws a line in the sand and dares them all to cross it. The production will be showing January 20-30. For tickets and more information, visit leanensemble.org.

Events at theRoasting Room

The Roasting Room

Enjoy live music from 8-10 p.m. with these artists and bands. For a full list of performers and tickets, visit roastingroomlounge.com.

Jan 15: Pretty Darn
Jan 21: Kenny George Band
Jan 22: Jeff Coffey (formerly of Chicago)
Jan 28: Shannon Clark and the Sugar

OTHER HAPPENINGS - Complete list here

USCB Center for the Arts performances

See Jim Witter — The Long and Winding Road, Music of the Beatles, and enjoy the recreation of classics like “Hard Day’s Night” and “Hey Jude,” as well as learning how these songs came to be. Shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., January 15. At 7:30 p.m., January 26, see Smokey & Me – A Celebration of Smokey Robinson and celebrate some of his biggest hits. For tickets and more information, visit

Artist Spotlight: Kristin Griffis

This month La Petite Gallerie is featuring the fun-loving painter Kristin Griffis. Kristin experiences synesthesia, which, in the arts, is a concept defined as the simultaneous perception of two or more stimuli as one unified whole experience. That is, the music she hears translates to color and movement of brushstrokes on her canvas. The result is an energetic, colorful, music-filled and almost primitive style of painting that her customers love. A reception featuring music by Jared Templeton will be from 4-6 p.m. on January 7. lapetitegallerie.com.

La Petite Gallery

Bluffton Farmers Market

Every Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., the Bluffton Farmers Market will be open at 71 Green St. Vendors include 7th Heaven Spices, Clark & Sons Farm, Palmetto Pops, Myers Family Farms, Sprout Momma and Tuten Farms, just to name a few. Check out the market’s Facebook page the morning of the market for a complete list of vendors. Farmersmarketbluffton.org

Page Island Oyster RoastOutside Hilton Head Foundation

Page Island Oyster Roast

Enjoy an afternoon outside while supporting The Outside Foundation. This fun, all-inclusive event features a roundtrip boat cruise aboard the Vagabond from Harbour Town

Yacht basin to the pristine, natural Page Island in the Lowcountry backwaters. While on the Island, guests will enjoy an oyster roast and other food from The Bluffton Oyster Co., live music, silent and live auctions of quality products and experiences, drinks, fun and games for the whole family. Only a limited number of spots are available. outsidefoundation.org.

The Alliance Roofing Hilton Head Half & Quarter Marathon takes place January 30. Attendees have the option to choose a half marathon or quarter marathon. Both courses showcase Hilton Head’s beauty. For more information and registration, visit gotrievents.com.

Hilton Head Snow DayLocal Life

Taking place at 9 a.m. January 15, the 5k will start and finish at the Oyster Factory Park, taking runners through Old Towne Bluffton. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit a local charity. For more information and registration, visit bearfootsports.com.

MLK Celebration WeekLOCAL Life

MLK 2022 Celebration Week

The Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice goes into high gear to plan its annual events that are held each January in honor of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The theme for 2022 is “Only love can drive out hate.” The 2022 keynote speaker will be Senator Mia McLeod. Follow Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice on Facebook for updated information.

EVENTS

January 8: “Celebrate MLK” Concert
January 13: Ecumenical Community Worship Service
January 14: Shabbat at Congregation Beth Yam
January 15: Breakfast for Cemetery Volunteers & MLK Community Service – Cemetery Cleanup
January 17: MLK Memorial March, MLK Memorial Program, & Fellowship Luncheon

More eventsEnlightening conversations

Friday Speaker Series: A Year of Turmoil

The World Affairs Council of Hilton Head’s Friday Speaker Series “A Year of Turmoil” continues with a strong roster of upcoming speakers. Purchase tickets at wachh.org.

January 7: Farah Pandith, “How We Win: Countering Extremism Together Here & Abroad” Pandith is a world-leading expert and pioneer in countering violent extremism. She has served as a political appointee in the George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. She was appointed the first-ever special representative to Muslim Communities in June 2009 by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, serving under both Secretaries Clinton and John Kerry.

January 21: Mona Yacoubian: “The Arc of Crises in the Levant: Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq Post-ISIS” Yacoubian is the United States Institute of Peace Senior Advisor on Middle East and Africa. Her work centers on conflict analysis and prevention in the Middle East, with a specific focus on Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. In 2019, she served as executive director of the Congressionally-appointed Syria Study Group. Additional research interests include violent extremism, fragility and resilience.

SAVE THE DATES

January 21: Mona Yacoubian: “The Arc of Crises in the Levant: Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq Post-ISIS”
February 4: Daniel Ziblatt: “How Democracies Die”
February 18: Trita Parsi: “Can We Lose the Enemy?”

Evening Speaker Series

The WACHH Evening Speaker Series takes place at 6 p.m. at SoundWaves.

Tickets can be purchased online at wachh.com and include light appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages.

Jan. 11: J. Michael Williamson, “Right Whale: Our Coastal Visitors” Williamson has been active in education and research for over 40 years. He founded WhaleNet in 1993 to excite students about math, science, the environment, and technology (STEM). He served as vice president of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, which has conducted the longest continuous research program on blue whales in the world.

SAVE THE DATES

February 8: Margaret Coker, “Spies and Allies”
March 8: Dr. William Patterson, “The Role of Foreign Assistance in US Foreign Policy”

More news and events

Reluctant Radical: Rufus Saxton, The Real Champion of Reconstruction Learn about Rufus Saxton and his role as a chief architect in the early years of freedom for the formerly enslaved. This event takes place at USCB Hilton Head Campus from 1-2:30 p.m., January 13. For additional information, visit heritagelib.org.

Lighthouses of the Lowcountry Learn how lighthouses have allowed Port Royal, among others, to become a major center of shipping. This event takes place at USCB Hilton Head Campus from 1:30-3 p.m., January 19. For additional information, visit heritagelib.org.

Ambush at Parker’s Ferry: Learn about the Trail and how the Swamp Fox orchestrated an embarrassing and costly defeat for the British forces in Colleton County. This event takes place at USCB Hilton Head Campus from 3-4:30 p.m., January 25. For additional information, visit heritagelib.org.