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July | Things to Do in Charleston, SC

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Things are starting to heat up here in Charleston. We’ve got plenty of events coming up this month to keep your mind off the smoldering weather. Independence Day is right around the corner, and Charleston has been generous enough to give us countless ways to celebrate. See our list of Fourth of July events below to pick one that’s right for the whole family. Stay cool this month while exploring the Holy City and all it has to offer. Happy Fourth of July, Charleston Travelers!

Moonlight Mixer: July 7

Shag the night away under the stars at the Folly Beach Pier, where DJ John Dixon will be spinning the hottest oldies and beach music for you all night long. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Seating is limited; bring your own chairs and blankets. All ages welcome.

Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series: July 14

This annual event highlights the contributions of the Gullah people’s history, culture, traditions and their sweetgrass basket art form that originated in Mount Pleasant and continues today.

Sweetgrass Festival: July 22

This annual event highlights the contributions of the Gullah people’s history, culture, traditions and their sweetgrass basket art form that originated in Mount Pleasant and continues today.

Ladybug Release at Magnolia Plantation: July 29

Head to Magnolia Plantation & Gardens when 200,000 ladybugs will be released in the gardens to help control other small, more harmful insects, such as aphids and scale insects. Families and children are invited to help release the ladybugs.

To view all of Charleston July Events, check out our Calendar of Events. 

 

Fourth of July Events

Patriots Point Fireworks Blast: Celebrate the Fourth of July on board the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant. The museum will host a free celebration on land starting at 6 p.m. It will include food trucks, live music and the fireworks at sundown. Purchase a $25 ticket to watch the fireworks from the flight deck of the USS Yorktown. Parking will be a flat $20 fee for everyone on Independence Day.

 
fireworks - charleston, sc
4th of July Blast at Patriots Point.

City of North Charleston Celebration:  North Charleston’s Independence Day event is BACK, showcasing the Lowcountry’s largest 4th of July fireworks show on Monday, July 4, 5-10pm at Riverfront Park.  Fireworks at dark and music by the North Charleston Pops! and DJ Natty Heavy. Fireworks begin at 9:00pm. Free admission. Bring lawn chairs and blankets; food trucks will be on site. 

Fireworks at the Beach: Both Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island host fireworks displays at dusk.

July 4th Family Picnic Cruise: This fun-filled cruise on the Spirit of the Lowcountry is the perfect way for the entire family to celebrate the Fourth of July. Enjoy a menu of summer-time favorites, rockin’ patriotic music, and the best seats in the city for fireworks.

4th of July Dinner Cruise on the Harbor – Enjoy an elegant three-hour dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Carolina. It’s a magical evening when you can take in the views of one of the most enchanting cities in America. Add to that Fourth of July fireworks and you have the making of an unforgettable evening. Cruise leaves at 7pm. 

City of North Charleston Celebration:  North Charleston’s Independence Day event is BACK, showcasing the Lowcountry’s largest 4th of July fireworks show on Monday, July 4, 5-10pm at Riverfront Park.  Fireworks at dark and music by the North Charleston Pops! and DJ Natty Heavy. Fireworks begin at 9:00pm. Free admission. Bring lawn chairs and blankets; food trucks will be on site. 

Folly Beach 4th of July Fireworks will occur at sundown. These fireworks will be visible from anywhere on Folly beach and for miles around the area. This Independence Day show is perfect for the whole family. Admission is FREE

**To find the best things to do and see in Charleston, check out our Tour and Attractions 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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