While April 15th has become a day to dread for many US taxpayers, this year could be different… at least for car buffs.

That’s because April 15th is the day the Kiawah Island Motoring Retreat will roll into Ocean Park on Kiawah’s eastern edge. Turning the date’s traditional dread on its head, the event will celebrate a different kind of heritage: that of fine vintage automobiles.

One of the most exclusive events on the Concours calendar, the event will let participants do good while feasting their eyes on the cars’ gleaming contours and painstakingly restored interiors: proceeds will benefit three Lowcountry charities.

The motoring retreat will benefit the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic, the Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Program at Brickhouse Equestrian Center, and the Kiawah Conservancy.

Collectors and automobile enthusiasts will enjoy viewing, close up, 200 classic and antique automobiles from across the globe, and attending automotive seminars. One hundred rare cars will compete for Best in Show, to be awarded on the closing day of the event: Sunday, April 17th.

Family members and friends of avid collectors need not despair; the weekend will also feature several thoroughly pleasant distractions, including a reception at The Ocean Course, a traditional Lowcountry oyster roast, a motoring tour through the coastal Lowcountry, an open house of stunning Kiawah homes, and a Taste of Charleston event with taste-bud-tantalizing delights from local celebrity chefs.

Click here to view a photo gallery of past motoring retreats, and click here to reserve your tickets. For local recommendations, too, feel free to contact a member of the Kiawah Island Real Estate team.