Concours: What to Wear, What to Bring, Where to Park

For the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance, dress for a garden party on a working airfield. That means polished, relaxed resort wear. Wear flat or wedge shoes, because heels sink into grass. Bring a real hat or sunglasses for the midday sun and a light layer for the cool morning gate. Aim for smart-casual. Black tie would be out of place, and so would beachwear.

Last updated: September 2026

Quick Facts

• Event: Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival
• Dates: Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, 2026
• Venue: Hilton Head Island Airport
• Honored Marque: Jaguar
• Dress code in one line: polished resort casual, flat shoes, sun cover, a morning layer
• Ground surface: grass and oyster shell, so leave the stilettos at home
• Documented: event dates, venue and Honored Marque checked on July 23, 2026
• Validation: confirmed against the official event site; recheck parking, gate times and tickets there the week of the event
• Verified: July 23, 2026 — sourced from hhiconcours.com

What to Wear to the Concours

The Concours has the island's best-dressed crowd of the fall. It also happens outdoors, on an airfield, for hours. Dress for both.

Start with your shoes. You'll be walking on grass and oyster shell. On the lawns, a stiletto sinks with every step. On the shell paths, a thin sole feels every crunch. Good choices are loafers, driving moccasins, leather sneakers, espadrille wedges and block-heel boots. If you want height, a wedge is the answer. I've watched plenty of beautiful heels come home carried in someone's hand by noon.

Plan around the sun. Late October here can start cool and finish warm. By early afternoon the field is bright and open, and there isn't much natural shade on a runway apron. A wide-brim hat, a proper panama or a structured cap does more for you than any accessory. Sunglasses are part of the outfit.

Layer for the morning. The gate crowd arrives while the air is still crisp. A light cashmere crewneck over the shoulders, a linen blazer, a quilted vest or a trench works well. You'll want it at 9 and carry it by 1, so pick something that looks good folded over your arm.

For women: a midi dress or skirt with a knit layer, wide-leg trousers with a crisp shirt, or a shirtdress in a heavier cotton. Flowing, full-length hems pick up grass and shell. Mid-calf is the practical length.

For men: chinos or lightweight wool trousers, a button-down or polo, and an unlined sport coat if you like one. A tie is optional. You'll see bow ties on the field, and they suit the crowd.

If you've read our girl's guide to what to wear to the Heritage, the thinking is the same, with one difference. The Heritage is a golf crowd walking a course. The Concours crowd is standing around cars, leaning in and talking. Aim a little dressier and just as comfortable.

What the Regulars Bring

You can pick out the first-timers by about 11. They're in beautiful shoes and looking for somewhere to sit. The regulars came prepared.

A folding stool or compact seat. The lawn is huge and seating is limited. Regulars carry a light stool or a walking seat and settle in near the cars they came to see.

Binoculars. They sound odd for a car show until you're trying to follow the action across an airfield or read detail on a car behind a rope line. The people who bring them tend to know exactly which cars they're there for.

Sunscreen, water and a small towel. Put sunscreen on before you arrive and bring some along for the afternoon. A small towel is handy after you've leaned on a hot fender, which you shouldn't do, or wiped a wet chair, which you will do.

A cross-body bag. You'll want both hands free for your phone, a drink and the program. Leave the clutch at home.

A plan for shade. The honest answer on shade is that tents, hospitality areas and your own hat are about all there is. Regulars scout the tented spots early and treat them as a base. They wander out from there and come back to cool off. First-timers tend to spend the whole afternoon in full sun and then wonder why they're tired by 2.

One more resident habit: pace yourself. The motoring festival runs across several days. People who try to see everything in one push usually enjoy it the least. Pick the day and the field that matter most to you and take your time.

Where to Park, and When to Arrive

The Concours is held at Hilton Head Island Airport, which is on the north end of the island near the main traffic corridor. That location makes the gate easy to find. It also means event traffic mixes with ordinary island traffic, the same as during any big weekend here.

Check the official parking plan the week of the event. The event site posts the current parking areas, shuttle arrangements and gate times. Those details can change from one year to the next, so look them up close to the date rather than relying on what worked last time.

Arrive early. The best part of the morning is the first stretch after the gates open. It's cooler, quieter, and you can actually get close to the cars. The field fills as the day warms up.

Leave a little early or a little late. Exit traffic bunches up when the awards wrap and everyone heads for their cars together. Residents either leave just before that or stay a while longer and let the lots empty out.

Consider a drop-off. If someone can drop you at the gate, you skip the parking entirely and your shoes stay cleaner.

For more on how the island moves through its busy fall weekends, see our shoulder season guide and the rundown of Hilton Head's fall festivals.

The Jaguar Year

Jaguar is the Honored Marque, and that gives this year's wardrobe a clear theme. Think heritage British. Tweed looks right here, and so do waxed cotton jackets, houndstooth, tattersall shirts, a silk scarf knotted at the neck and anything in racing green. A driving glove worn as an accessory works too. You don't need a costume. One British note in an otherwise easy outfit does the job.

The Honored Marque also shapes the mood of the weekend. It gives people something to talk about on the field and a reason to linger at certain rows. If you're coming for the cars, the Jaguar displays are likely to be where the conversation is.

When the weather cooperates, the Concours is one of the loveliest days on the island's calendar. It's easy to dress for once you know the ground is grass, the sun is strong and the morning is cool. Plan for those three things and you'll be comfortable all day.

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The Concours kit — outfit first, then the grounds

The outfit: unstructured blazer, driving loafers, panama hat, classic sunglasses

A day on the grounds: compact folding stool, compact binoculars, sunscreen that behaves

For the enthusiast: automotive design books

Shop the full kit on my Amazon storefront →

For more from inside the island — guides written for the people who actually live here, not just visit — the blog archive is the place to start.

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Donna Gilmore · Licensed REALTOR® · COAST brokered by eXp Realty · SC License #SC119301

Donna Gilmore is Director of Operations at COAST brokered by eXp Realty and a Hilton Head Island resident. She writes about Lowcountry life, local events and the island's seasons. More local guides: Hilton Head fall festivals | Shoulder season guide | What to wear to the Heritage.