traveler of charleston logo

August | Things to Do in Charleston, SC

Table of Contents

Don’t blink because summer is flying by! It’s time for back-to-school shopping, and fall fun is just around the corner. You can beat the heat this August by enjoying some indoor activities or cooling off at one of Charleston’s many beautiful beaches. Or grab a cold one at one of this month’s beer-themed events. No matter how you spend your summer months, Charleston welcomes you with open arms. Happy August, Charleston Travelers!

Summer Fun in Charleston

Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series: Aug. 2
The Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival is the official celebration of the Gullah/Geechee nation. This three-day celebration highlights the connection from the Sea Islands to Barbados through music, dance, drama, film, books and crafts.

cheers to beerBeer From Here at the SC Aquarium: Aug. 16
Hops and habitats are part of this Carolina-led craft beer experience. Enjoy local brews and local wildlife in one setting. Sip on select beers and enjoy bar refreshments – all part of the all-inclusive ticket purchase.

Moonlight Mixer: Aug. 16
Nothing says summer like listening to live music and dancing the night away at the Folly Beach Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier, where DJ Jim Bowers will be spinning the hottest oldies and beach music all night long.

Second Sunday on King Street: Aug. 11
Enjoy your Sunday afternoon shopping and socializing on King Street. This monthly event features new product launches, sales, great food, activities and more.

Gay Bingo
photo/Jack Durnin

Gay Bingo: Mad Hatter’s Ball Aug. 15
This marquee fundraising event for Palmetto Community Care is Thursday, August 15 at the Charleston Convention Center in North Charleston featuring hostess Patti O’Furniture. This evening of fun and frivolity will pair with an important message to our community – the HIV/AIDS epidemic is still affecting many in our community, LGBT and straight alike. 

Ballpark Festival of Beers: Aug. 17
Sample more than 100 American and international ales, stouts, lagers, pilsners and specialty brews at Joe Riley Park.

Lowcountry Jazz Festival: Aug. 30 – Sept. 1
Award winning jazz, soul, R&B and pop artists take the stage at the Gaillard Center.

 

New Must-Try Dining Hot Spots

Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails

735 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant
Manhattan-based restaurant Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails moved into Mount Pleasant with American classics, like burgers, chicken wings, hanger steaks, as well as cocktail classics.

Wild Common
103 Spring Street, Charleston
Step into the exquisite space at Wild Common to sample the four-course tasting menu at $65. Look for dishes like a stuffed quail with Carolina Gold rice bread and foie gras from chef Orlando Pagán.

 

Visiting Charleston Just Got Way Easier!

TourPass includes all the top tours and attractions & historic sites. Save up to 40% or more on admissions + skip the lines

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/

Additional Places to Explore

Traveler Mag Icon
Receive Charleston Updates

Get the First Timers Guide...it's free

We’ll email our online magazine, map, helpful articles. Unsubscribe at anytime.