Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, Charleston. From holiday performances to festive fêtes, winter is just around the corner for the Holy City.
Gather the family and friends and celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 27 events happening between December and February.
City Editor Lexa can never say no to a good oyster roast.
Photo by @lowcountryoysterfestival
Festivals
Holiday Festival of Lights | Friday, Nov. 11-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 5:30-10 p.m. | James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr. | $15+ | Cruise along a three-mile display featuring an estimated two million lights.
Illumination Charleston | Thursday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 4 | Times vary | Venues vary | Prices vary | Peep the schedule for this joint celebration between Explore Charleston, Southern Living, and Historic Charleston Foundation kicking off the season with events focusing on Southern culture, preservation, and design inspiration.
Holiday Street Festival | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 2-7 p.m. | Front Beach, Isle of Palms | Free | You’re never too old for a visit from Santa Claus who plans to be in attendance for this street fest offering food vendors, artisans, and live entertainment on Isle of Palms.
Christmas Festival & Parade | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 4-8 p.m. | Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Cir., North Charleston | Free | Stroll over to Park Circle to share the joy of the season through festive food and decorations, thousands of twinkling lights, and a parade.
Wine Under the Oaks | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 1-5 p.m. | Boone Hall Plantation, 1235 Long Point Rd., Mount Pleasant | $69 | Grab a ticket to enjoy complimentary desserts + oysters, wine samples, live music from Motown Throwdown, and demonstrations.
Charleston Restaurant Week | Thursday, Jan. 12-Sunday, Jan. 22 | Times vary | Venues vary | Prices vary | Calling all foodies: Charleston Restaurant Week is back this winter featuring various local eateries offering unbeatable deals — more details to come.
Taste of Folly | Saturday, Jan. 14 | Time details to come | Center Street, Folly Beach | Free | Enjoy food competitions, local bands, and 40+ vendors during this annual event.
Winter Wine Festival | Saturday, Jan. 29 | 12-4 p.m. or 6-10 p.m. | Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain St. | $45+ | Charleston Wine Festivals is back with the winter edition of its seasonal wine festival featuring samples of 50+ wines, mimosas, beers + White Claw.
Lowcountry Oyster Festival | Sunday, Jan. 29 | Boone Hall Plantation, 1235 Long Point Rd., Mount Pleasant | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | $23 | Dig into 60,000 pounds of oysters at the world’s largest oyster festival held right here in our backyard.
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition | Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 19 | Times vary | Venues vary | $35+ | Check out our guide to SEWE 2023 for the 4-1-1 on this exposition featuring fine art, live entertainment, and special events.
Sea & Sand Festival | Saturday, Feb. 25 | Time details to come | Center Street, Folly Beach | Free | Explore Folly Beach’s longest-running festival that’s chock full of events for the whole family — more details to come.
Last year’s Aquarium Aglow experience was enlightening.
Photo by @chstoday
Holiday events
Aquarium Aglow | Friday, Nov. 18-Saturday, Dec. 31 | Entry times vary | South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf | $26.95+ | Explore the South Carolina Aquarium in a whole new light — or tens of thousands of new lights — plus interactive displays + refreshments.
Holiday Events at The Charleston Place | Friday, Nov. 25-Monday, Jan. 2 | All day | The Charleston Place, 205 Meeting St. | Free | You heard it here: The Charleston Place is transforming into a European holiday bazaar this season, featuring iconic holiday decor, a tree lighting ceremony on November 25, and snowfall twice nightly.
Charleston Strolls Holiday Walking Tour | Thursday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 a.m. + 3 p.m. | Mills House Hotel, 115 Meeting St. | $45 | Our team loves to “ooh” and “aah” at the seasonal decorations around town, and now we have the opportunity to join like-minded individuals while learning about the Holy City’s history.
Christmas Made in the South | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. + 11 a.m-5 p.m. | The Exchange Park/Fairgrounds, 9850 US-78, Ladson | $9 | Get your holiday shopping done at this award-winning three-day market featuring handcrafted work, gourmet food, and entertainment celebrating its 29th anniversary.
Drayton Hall Candlelight Tours | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | Historic Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Rd. | $50+ | Embark on a candlelight tour of this eighteenth-century historic house + enjoy a warm seasonal beverage.
Drayton Hall Oyster Roast | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 2:30 p.m. | Historic Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Rd. | $85+ | Drayton Hall’s annual oyster roast features all-you-can-eat oysters, a chili bar, and local beverages — lawn chairs welcome.
Charleston Holiday Parade | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 3 p.m. | Locations vary | Free | Join the City of Charleston in this celebration starting on Broad Street at Rutledge Avenue and concluding on Calhoun Street at Meeting Street with a tree lighting to follow in Marion Square.
Christmas Parade | Saturday, Dec. 10 | Time details to come | Center Street, Folly Beach | Free | Who doesn’t love a good old holiday parade? Head to the annual Folly Beach parade to sleigh the season alongside floats, marching bands, and community associations.
Reindeer Run | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 9 a.m. | Downtown Charleston | $40 registration | Lace up your sneakers for this 31st annual, family-oriented, pet-friendly 5k run + walk benefitting the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.
27th Annual Christmas Light Parade | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 5:30-8 p.m. | West Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant | Free | Grab your blanket and make your way to the 27th annual parade along West Coleman Boulevard that kicks off with a fireworks show.
We can’t wait to catch a holiday performance at Dock Street Theatre.
Photo by @james_simpson_photography
Holiday performances
A Christmas Carol | Wednesday, Nov. 30-Wednesday, Dec. 21 | Times vary | Historic Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St. | $46.50-$85.50 | Explore colorful new sets and costumes and a new holiday score in this classic Charles Dickens production.
A Very Merry Footlight Holiday Special | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 18 | Times vary | Queen Street Playhouse, 20 Queen St. | $34+ | Snag a ticket for this family-friendly holiday musical featuring special guests, comedy skits, and yuletide hits.
Holiday Swing: A Charleston Jazz Tradition | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 5 p.m. | Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. | $25+ | Don’t be elfish: Get into the holiday spirit with winter classics during this family-friendly Charleston Jazz tradition with Maestro Robert Lewis and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra.
Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 7 p.m. | North Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston | $22+ | It wouldn’t be the holidays without a Pentatonix performance, right? Alexa, play “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
Vienna Light Orchestra | Friday, Dec. 16 | 5, 6:30 + 8 p.m. | SC Society Hall, 72 Meeting St. | $45+ | Grab tickets before they’re sold out to enjoy 2,000 flickering candles shedding light on world-class musicians from seven countries.
Nutcracker! Magic of Christmas Ballet | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 3 + 7 p.m. | North Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston | $30+ | Join in on the fun during the 30th-anniversary tour of this holiday tradition featuring stars of Ukraine ballet.
Stay tuned for upcoming content on New Year’s Eve parties and holiday light displays. 👀