March | Things to Do in Charleston, SC

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Already three months into 2018 – time in Charleston just flies by. Surrounded by beauty and culture can make you lose track of time. Luckily, here at Traveler of Charleston we like to make it easy for you by compiling a list of some of the most anticipated Charleston events in March. Pick your favorites or try everything, either way Charleston won’t let you down. Be sure to check out some of the new restaurants and activities springing up around town – supporting local business is extremely fulfilling and will continue benefiting the greater Charleston community. Happy March, Charleston Travelers!

 

Get Outside at These Spring Events

Art Walk: March 2
Experience the Charleston Gallery Association Artwalk with more than 40 participating art galleries. This event is free. Visit the website for a map of all participating galleries.

2018 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship: March 3-6
It’s high stakes in the Lowcountry! For the second year, the Colonial Athletic Association will play its premier men’s championship event in the Charleston area. Enjoy four days of action-packed basketball among 10 member schools.

Teddy Bear Picnic: March 4

Teddy Bear Picnic
Photo/Sea Star Arts Photography

Teddy bears will take over Hampton Park as the Charleston Parks Conservancy hosts the ninth Teddy Bear Picnic. Families are invited to enjoy musical entertainment, face painting, seed planting, crafts, a scavenger hunt and more. Admission and all activities are free. Dress your bear in his finest for the bear fashion show called Project Runway: Bear Style. Plus the popular Teddy Bear ER is back for “injured” bears needing treatment and well bear checkups. This year, MUSC Children’s Health is the official partner of the Teddy Bear ER.

ArtFest: March 10
Local music, dance and visual arts studios offer stunning performances by some of the area’s most talented individuals and groups. Creative aspirations are ignited in children who are given opportunities to explore many art forms and create their own masterpieces, such as beaded jewelry, sand art and a variety of artistic crafts. The Mount Pleasant Artists Guild presents a juried art show. All activities and performances are free of charge.

Celebrate L’Italia: March 10
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra celebrates everything Italian. In an evening celebrating both old and new Italian music, the CSO Chorus and guest soloists perform the greatest Italian opera choruses, such as the “Triumphal March” from Aida and opera arias like “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot. They may even let loose with fun classics like “That’s Amore,” “Mambo Italiano,” and “The Godfather theme.”

Oysters on the Point: March 10
Dine on locally steamed oysters while enjoying live music, local vendors, Bloody Mary Bar, s’mores and fun on the harbor.

2nd Sunday on King: March 11
Come enjoy your Sunday afternoon shopping and socializing on King Street. This month features new product launches, lots of sales, great food and more.

Garden Strolls and Wine Tasting: March 14 to May 30
Sip and stroll in a different Middleton Place Garden location each week while sampling old and new world wines. Extend the evening with dinner at the Middleton Place Restaurant.

Charleston Antique Show: March 16-18

Charleston Antiques Show, Credit Historic Charleston Foundation
Photo/Historic Charleston Foundation

Inspired by the rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage of Charleston, the annual Charleston Antiques Show is a premier destination for collectors and enthusiasts who enjoy seeing and learning about incorporating antiques into modern-day decor. The Antiques Show is a showcase of English, European, and American period furnishings, decorative arts and fine art, architectural elements, garden furniture, vintage jewelry, and silver — all late 17th to 20th centuries.

Old Towne’s Wine Down Wednesday: March 21
Wine Down Wednesday returns to Old Towne Creek County Park this fall! The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission invites the Lowcountry to enjoy special access to this West Ashley property during a wine social. Old Towne Creek County Park is not yet open daily to the public, but on select Wednesdays, Lowcountry residents are invited to experience the beauty of this property during Wine Down Wednesday. Guests will enjoy wine, live music and a food truck while exploring this hidden gem located in West Ashley. Each date features new musical guests and food trucks on site from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Migratory Bird Walk on the Atlantic Flyway: March 24
Recreational bird watching has become one of America’s favorite and fastest growing outdoor activities. Birds reveal much to us about the natural world. With more than 10,000 species dispersed throughout the world, they can teach us about diversity, geography, food web dynamics, all of which fosters a greater understanding and respect for healthy ecosystems. And, they inspire us with flight and their amazing adaptations that allow them to succeed in an ever challenging world. Join experienced birding guides for a Migratory Bird Walk along the Atlantic Flyway. After the walk, guests are invited to join the regular morning bird of prey tour and flight demonstrations at no additional cost.

Pet Fest: March 25
Bring your furry friend to Palmetto Islands County Park for K9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs, pet contests, dog show, lure chasing, vendors and more.

The Hat Ladies 17th Annual Easter Promenade: March 31
The Hat Ladies 17th annual Easter Promenade returns to Broad Street. Grab your camera as The Hat Ladies and their families exit the park next to Charleston City Hall, stroll down Broad Street to East Bay Street then back again to Meeting Street.

Try a Taste of Something New

One Broad Street, 1 Broad St.
A great new neighborhood hangout, One Broad is situated in a historic four-story antebellum building located at the corner of Broad and East Bay streets. Chef, Kevin Getzewich (formerly of Two Boroughs Larder, The Macintosh and Indaco) has teamed up with Normandy Farms baker and owners Ben Johnson and Mike Ray to create a unique take on breakfast, lunch and dinner with small plates inspired by the variety of breads coming from Normandy Farms Bakery.

Felix, 550 King St., Suite 100
At Felix, dining and drinking are experiences to be enjoyed, even cherished. Enjoy cocktails and small plates, all with the flare of today’s Paris.

Be sure to take in the Charleston Wine + Food Festival through March 4. Check out the  Culinary Village in Marion Square for plenty of delicious samples, drinks and food-inspired fun.

You Can’t Escape Adventure

Brand New Mount Pleasant location: Elite Escape Games
966 Houston Northcutt Blvd.

Elite Escape Games
Photo/Elite Escape Games

Escape rooms are all the rage and one has opened in Mount Pleasant. A team of young game enthusiasts with a passion for creating unique puzzles and games have created a new place for adventure. The creators have always been captivated by video games and stories of mystery, fantasy and horror. While the sense of adventure is exhilarating, they wanted to feel like more than just spectators. That’s why they created Elite Escape Games, where thrilling scenarios come to life in realistic environments and the players become the heroes/heroines of the story.

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/

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