15 Must-Do Holiday Events in Charleston

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Get ready to revel in the holiday spirit in the Holy City! Charleston is gearing up for a festive season filled with plays, concerts, and enchanting light displays.  To make your holiday planning even more delightful, we’ve curated a list of 15 standout events that capture the essence of the season. And for those seeking even more festive options, don’t forget to explore our online calendar for a comprehensive guide to additional holiday happenings. Let the merriment begin!

A Charleston Tradition, the 47th Annual Turkey Day Run is the longest running 5K in Charleston. The 5K run and Gobble Wobble “trot” will be held on Nov. 28th starting at 9 a.m.  The race starts and ends at Marion Square in historic downtown Charleston and winds down King Street and Meeting Street and loops around the historic Charleston Battery. There are a number of viewing spots along the route and many participants wear Thanksgiving-inspired costumes. www.turkeydayrun.com

2.) Holiday Festival of Lights

Journey through 3 miles of 2 million shimmering lights at James Island County Park. The annual Holiday Festival of Lights is a Lowcountry tradition as holiday scenes and local landmarks come to life in the hundreds of displays lining the park. The Holiday Festival of Lights is open every evening, rain or shine, from Nov. 15th  to Jan 5th. Drive through the light displays and then explore the grounds at Santa’s Village and Winter Wonderland with marshmallow roasting, train rides, old-fashioned carousel, gift shops and entertainment on select evenings. www.ccprc.com

Don’t have transportation? No problem,  tours can be arranged through Adventure Sightseeing Tours with hotel pickup available. www.adventuresightseeing.com

Holiday Festival of Lights_credit Charleston County Parks (2)

The Sound of Charleston Holiday Shows – Come hear the music of Charleston’s rich history interspersed with music of the Holiday Season. Gospel spirituals, music of George Gershwin, Civil War Camp Songs, jazz, and light classics are performed by Charleston’s finest professional artists in the festively decorated Circular Congregational Church. For more info and to purchase tickets visit: http://www.soundofcharleston.com/

Unwrap the joy with the Charleston Symphony this season for one of Charleston’s favorite winter traditions, Holiday Pops! on Dec 19th – 21st. A celebration for audiences of all ages and from all backgrounds. Enjoy your favorite new holiday tunes, traditional carols, audience sing-alongs, and more. Featuring special guests, including Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., who first burst onto the national conscience as the Sinatra-and-Soul singing season six winner of NBC TV’s “America’s Got Talent” with his incredible voice, undeniable charisma, and unparalleled showmanship.  https://charlestonsymphony.org/

Enjoy the holiday spirit and seasonal decorations on the two-hour Charleston Strolls Holiday Walking Tour of the historic district. Tour where carriages and motorcoaches are not allowed, while listening to stories and learning traditions that reveal Charleston’s rich history and colorful past. Visit the Four Corners of Law and The Battery while also seeing private neighborhoods dressed in their holiday finery. Throughout December, the Charleston Strolls Holiday Tour includes an abbreviated tour of the Edmondston-Alston House – the only Charleston house museum with a magnificent view of Charleston Harbor. https://bulldogtours.com

Charleston Strolls Holiday Walking Tour

If you love the sounds of the season mixed with dancing, comedy sketches and more talent than one stage can hold, the Charleston Christmas Special is for you. Seasoned producers Brad and Jennifer Moranz have created a brand-new show sure to delight all ages. Performances are Dec. 12-22 at the Charleston Music Hall in the heart of downtown Charleston. Info: bradandjennifermoranz.com

The Charleston Farmers Holiday Market is open during the first three weekends in December with extended hours.  Whether you are a local who frequents the Charleston Farmers Market or a tourist visiting for the weekend, the market has something for everyone to enjoy. Head to Marion Square in downtown Charleston for locally made arts and crafts while enjoying special entertainment, music and food. Info: charlestonfarmersmarket.com

Experience the enchantment of the holiday season with a dazzling original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol  on stage at the historic Dock Street Theatre in downtown Charleston.  Performing from Nov. 30 to Dec. 22, this show is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Celebrate with Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future in Charleston Stage’s original and imaginative take on Dickens’ immortal classic. Info: charlestonstage.com

A Christmas Carol

8.) Holiday Parades

City of Charleston

The annual Charleston Holiday Parade is a fun, energetic and very family friendly event. The parade is on Saturday December 7th at 3:00 p.m. and starts at the corner of Colonial Lake, where Broad and Rutledge meet.  It will travel along Broad Street, turn and head north up Meeting Street, then finish on the corner of Calhoun and Meeting at Marion Square.   Enjoy the holiday music, floats, special performers and marching bands. Head to Marion Square after the parade for Santa’s arrival and the lighting of the tree! https://www.charleston-sc.gov/1510/Holiday-Parade

Mount Pleasant 

Brilliantly lit floats and community groups will march up West Coleman Boulevard as the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade sets sail to the delight of thousands of residents and visitors. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a spectacular Pyrotecnico fireworks show, immediately followed by the start of the parade at Live Oak Dr. traveling south and ending at the intersection of W. Coleman Blvd. and Patriots Point Rd. https://experiencemountpleasant.com/events/christmas-light-parade/

North Charleston

The North Charleston Christmas parade and festival is 4-8 p.m. Dec. 2nd around Park Circle and includes children’s activities, craft and food vendors and live musical performances. https://www.northcharleston.org

Summerville 

More than 3,000 participate in the Summerville Christmas parade through the historic downtown at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8th in Hutchinson Square. The parade is designed to promote positivity throughout the Town of Summerville while capturing the “spirit of the Christmas holiday.” The parade is a family friendly, non-political event that aims to bring the community together to celebrate the season while representing the local traditions and Summerville hospitality.  https://summervilledream.org/events/christmas-parade/

 

9.) Holiday Parade of Boats

Get on board with a Lowcountry holiday tradition as this display of lighted and festive boats proceeds from the Cooper River, through the Charleston Harbor and into the Ashley River, culminating in a brilliant fireworks display over the harbor.. Thousands of spectators line the shores along the Charleston peninsula, Patriot’s Point and other great viewing locations.  The Parade of Boats begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14th on the Mount Pleasant side of the Cooper River and ends on the Ashley River about 8p.m. 

Charleston Parade of Boats

Plan a visit to King Street. It’s the perfect place to spend a day shopping and grab lunch or coffee while watching the holiday hustle and bustle. Don’t miss 2nd Sunday on King from 1-5 p.m. the second Sunday of each month. King Street is closed to vehicular traffic from Queen Street North to Calhoun Street.

The holidays will come to life at Boone Hall Farms Christmas Tree Festival with cheerful holiday tunes, a Ferris Wheel, holiday cookie decorating, crafts, letters to Saint Nick, bow and wreath-making demonstrations, marshmallow roasting and more. Kick off the Christmas season with this two day festival, held on Nov. 23rd and 24th and snag a one-of-a-kind handmade wreath. Additionally, tour the festively-decorated plantation home during the Christmas holidays. www.boonehallplantation.com.

boone hall

12.) Charleston Place Holiday Headquarters

From November 29th through the December 31st, The Charleston Place  will transform into a magical holiday wonderland. Guests and locals can enjoy experiences like a Nutcracker Tea featuring ballerinas from The Dance Conservatory of Charleston, as well as pop-up performances from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. The holiday train, one of the hotel’s most memorable traditions, will return this year with new enhancements, traversing the grand lobby along 300 feet of track.  Coupled with visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Festival of Trees, holiday storytime for kids, and the nightly snowfall in the hotel’s Market Street Circle, there’s “snow” place like The Charleston Place during the holiday season. https://charlestonplace.com

Experience the enchantment of the holiday season at this dazzling light extravaganza, complete with larger-than-life installations, festive photo ops and the most unique Santa encounter in Charleston! The spectacle of lights at Aquarium Aglow promises to immerse you in the joy and magic of the holidays. The event unfolds between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m., offering a heightened Aquarium experience for you, your friends, and loved ones. Your holiday cheer goes even further at Aquarium Aglow, with every ticket supporting animal care, education, conservation and sea turtle rehabilitation! Aquarium Aglow runs on select nights from November 21st to December 30th. Discover more at South Carolina Aquarium.

aquarium aglow

14.) Holiday "Sleigh" Ride with Old South Carriage Company

Harness some holiday fun with a Holiday “Sleigh” Ride!  Climb aboard a specially decorated carriage, driven by one of Santa’s caroling elves. After a festive 20-minute caroling ride, stop by Santa’s workshop for cookies and cocoa – and a photo op with jolly old Saint Nick. Available on select nights throughout December. Visit Old South Carriage for more information. 

Holiday Sleigh Ride - Old South Carriage Tours

15.) Polar Bear Plunge on Sullivan's Island & Folly Beach

Start the new year off in a way only a beach town can provide when hundreds of brave revelers “plunge” into the freezing Atlantic Ocean for the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge on Jan. 1 on Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach. Many afterparties at bars and restaurants follow the “plunge” event.

Polar Bear Plunge on Sullivan's Island

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

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