Celebrating July 4 in Charleston

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OK, sure it’s a bit awkward to have a holiday smack dab in the middle of the work week, but we’re looking at the positive: make it a really short work week and a really long weekend.

Whether it’s backyard grilling, poolside relaxing or a day at the beach, the Fourth of July practically requires a day (or three) of summertime fun. So have a fun week and be sure to check out one of the many Independence Day celebrations and fireworks shows in the Charleston area.

  • Charleston Community Band Concert: Salute to Heroes concert on July 3 at Smythe Park on Daniel Island.  charlestoncommunityband.com
  • Charleston RiverDogs: The RiverDogs take on the Greenville Drive at 6:35 p.m. July 3 at The Joe. Stay afterward for a fireworks show. www.riverdogs.com
  • South Carolina Aquarium 4th of July Celebration: Barbecue, 4-D Theater movies, face painting, music and a front-row view of the Patriots Point fireworks show overlooking the Charleston Harbor. www.scaquarium.org
  • Fireworks in Summerville: July 4 at Gahagan Sports Complex, 515 W. Boundary Ave.
  • A Day Celebrating America: July 4 at Loggerhead Grill at The Sanctuary on Kiawiah Island. Activities, music and nighttime fireworks show. www.kiawahresort.com
  • Celebrate the Red, White & Blue: July 4 on The Sanctuary Terrace Lawn. Food, drink, children’s activities and music from the All American Band with nighttime fireworks on the beach.  www.kiawahresort.com
  • Isle of Palms: Fireworks begin at 8 p.m. on Front Beach.
  • Folly Beach 4th of July Celebration: Fireworks at dark from the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier.
  • City of North Charleston Fourth of July Festival: At Riverfront Park, an afternoon and evening of entertainment featuring Ruben Studdard, former “American Idol” winner. The event features the largest fireworks show in the state. www.northcharleston.org
  • Patriots Point Fourth of July Blast: Enjoy discounted admission to Patriots Point on July 4 and free admission to the fireworks event. Parking is $5 per vehicle. (Note flight deck tickets are sold out.) www.patriotspoint.org
  • Uncle Sam Jam: Dance to live beach music on the Mount Pleasant Pier with a view of the Patriots Point fireworks display over the Cooper River. www.ccprc.com
  • Fabulous Fourth in the Creek: Head to Goose Creek for at celebration beginning at 6 p.m. at the Marguerite H. Brown Municipal Center. Music, jump castle and food; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. www.goosecreekrecreation.com

Let us know how you celebrate July 4 and share some cool fireworks photos on our Facebook page!

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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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