🌱 Upcoming Fall Festivals + Expansion To VA Benefits

Hello all. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Hilton Head Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 85 Low: 72.
• Sunday: A shower and t-storm; humid. High: 83 Low: 70.

From our partner:

Apple announced some big news at Tuesday's "Wonderlust" event! Click here for all the details.

Here are the top three stories today in Hilton Head:

1. This season, there will be several exciting fall festivals across the island, celebrating the best of local food, crafts, film, and more — many of which are free and open to the public. Kicking off September, the Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival will be in full swing on Sept. 23, the Harbour Town Fall Fest will take place on Sept. 24, and the Foodees Food and Culture Festival will hit HHI on Sept. 29. October will see the Fish and Grits Music Festival on Oct. 7, Hilton Head Island Octoberfest on Oct. 14, Rock ‘N Ribs festival on Oct. 19, and Historic Mitchelville Film Festival on Oct. 25. Click the respective links to learn more about each event. (Hilton Head Island Packet)
2. Beaufort Memorial—the third-largest employer in Beaufort County— will be hosting career fair and hiring event on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal. The hospital system has nearly 300 openings across its three-county system, from facilities maintenance to security, hospitality services to business office operations, clinical operations to customer service and beyond. Prospective employees will meet with hiring managers during the event, which requires pre-registration to attend. (The Island News)
3. Beaufort County Veterans Affairs announced an expansion to direct enrollment in VA programs, allowing Post 9/11 Combat Zone Veterans to take advantage of VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. The expansion comes following the PACT Act, which will allow veterans who deployed to a combat zone between Sept. 11, 2001 and Oct. 1, 2013 to qualify for this special enrollment period. The expanded registration period closes on Saturday, Sept. 30. (The Island News)

Business owners and marketers in Hilton Head: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Today and tomorrow in Hilton Head:

Saturday, September 16

• Steve Dorf Concert At Coligny Theater (3:30 PM)

Sunday, September 17

• Hilton Head Hustle Scavenger Hunt At Sweet Al's Cafe (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• As part of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, stop by the Latinos Unidos of the Lowcountry Food Festival at Lowcountry Celebration Park on Sunday, Sept. 24 . The festival includes delectable cuisine, live music, performances, family-friendly activities, and more. Festival tickets are $8 at the gate (cash only), with all proceeds benefitting the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of HHI. (Town of Hilton Head Island Government via Facebook)
• Dog lovers, mark your calendars: Wagfest returns this weekend on Sept. 16 and 17 at Guy Minick Park down the road in Savannah. The event will have a variety of canine sports, demonstrations, and contests, as well as local food and merchandise vendors. (WSAV-TV)
• Foodies, take note: Brochu’s Family Tradition, a local restaurant, made Bon Appetit Magazine’s 24 Best New Restaurants of 2023. The restaurant is located in Savannah's Starland District, and is best known for its fried chicken and fancy seafood — stop by next time you are in the area. (WSAV-TV)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (September 19)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you soon for another update.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.