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More Charleston Holiday Celebrations

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Don’t worry if you missed a parade or tree lighting; there’s still plenty of holiday events to celebrate the season in Charleston. Here are a few events to wind out the year and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more events.

Grand Illumination: Christmas 1782 – Dec. 13-14. Stroll through gardens illuminated by torchlight, candlelight and starlight and hear costumed interpreters along the way tell stories of the holiday season when the British evacuated Charleston at the end of the Revolutionary War.www.middletonplace.org | 843-556-6020

Holiday Pops – Dec. 14-15. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra and CSO Chorus perform holiday favorites at the Sottile Theatre. www.charlestonsymphony.org | 843-723-7528

Holiday Open House at Irvin-House Vineyards – Dec. 15. Shop Lowcountry gift sets, wine and items from Firefly Distillery while enjoying the music of De Gullah Singers and The Plantation Singers. www.irvinhousevineyards.com | 843-559-6867

“The Nutcracker” – Dec. 15-16. A performance by the Charleston Ballet Theatre’s Children’s Series at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. www.charlestonballet.com | 843-723-7334

Holy City Messiah – Dec. 18, 20, 21. Enjoy Handel’s “Messiah” with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and tenor Oliver Mercer and bass baritone John Brancy, bass baritone at the St. John the Baptist, St. Theresa Catholic Church, & St. Benedict Catholic Church. www.charlestonsymphony.org | 843-723-7528

Dylan Thomas Christmas in Wales – Dec. 23. Chamber Music Charleston and the Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina at Dock Street Theatre. www.chambermusiccharleston.org

Kwanza Celebration – Dec. 26. Candles on the Kwanzaa Kinari in Marion Square will be lit.www.charlestonarts.org | 843-724-7305

Noon Year’s Eve – Dec. 31. Family friendly New Year’s celebration at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. www.Explorecml.org | 843-853-8962

Photo/Billy Alexander

Happy New Year, Charleston! – Dec. 31. Ring in the New Year in Marion Square with this non-alcoholic, family friendly celebration of the arts. www.charlestonarts.org | 843-724-7305

New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise – Dec. 31. Enjoy a four-course dinner and ring in the New Year with SpiritLine Cruises. www.Spiritlinecruises.com | 843-722-2628

New Year’s Eve Sail-ebration Cruise – Dec. 31. Ring in the New Year aboard the Spirit of the Lowcountry with dance music and food. www.Spiritlinecruises.com | 843-722-2628

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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/

Additional Places to Explore

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