Lighting up the season ✨

Where to find holiday lights in Charleston, SC

We love this Ravenel Bridge display at the Festival of Lights. | Photo by @charlestoncountyparks

Looking to brighten your holiday season? While you might still be in Thanksgiving recovery mode, we can’t help but look forward to the twinkling holiday tradition that is lighting up the Lowcountry.

From drive-through light displays to parades and candlelight events, we’ve rounded up a guide to some of the brightest holiday lights around Charleston.

Holiday Festival of Lights | Thursday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 5:30-10 p.m. | James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr. | $15+ | Buckle up for a three-mile drive-through light display featuring an estimated two million lights.

Aquarium Aglow in Charleston, SC — Check out the aquarium in a whole new light.

Aquarium Aglow | Thursday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 31 | Entry times vary | South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf | $26.95+ | Immerse yourself in tens of thousands of lights displayed throughout the SC Aquarium + enjoy interactive displays and refreshments.

Light the Lake | Friday, Dec. 2 | 5-7 p.m. | Colonial Lake, 46-54 Ashley Ave. | Free | RSVP to ring in the holiday season at Charleston Parks Conservancy’s annual family-friendly celebration featuring 1,000 luminaries, jingle bell jewelry making, and letters to veterans.

CHS_cougar_night_lights_NOV2022 — This local spot feels magical.

Cougar Night Lights | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Jan. 1 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Cistern Yard, College of Charleston, 66 George St. | Free | Head to the college’s annual light display featuring 30-minute programs set to holiday tunes for the ultimate seasonal experience.

Candlelight Tours of Drayton Hall | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, March 4 | 5:30 + 6 p.m. | Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Rd. | $50+ | Explore this eighteenth-century historic house by candlelight + enjoy a warm seasonal beverage afterward.

Heads up: This isn’t a comprehensive list. Have a favorite holiday light show? Share it with us — or better yet, send us your photos.

Tap the button below for two more light shows.

GIVE IT A GLOW

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, Dec. 1

Small Wonders | Thursday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Lowcountry Artists Gallery, 148 E. Bay St., Charleston | Free | Explore the gallery’s December exhibition featuring small 8x8 paintings for the holidays with a portion of proceeds donated to local nonprofit Pattison’s Academy.
Christmas on the Battery: Carols, Candlelight & Gullah Christmas Stories | Thursday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 2 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Edmondston-Alston House, 21 E. Battery | $50 | Embark on a self-guided tour by candlelight, hear the Charleston Caroling Company, and learn Gullah Christmas stories from a local storyteller.

Friday, Dec. 2

Christmas Made in the South! | Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 4 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Exchange Park/Fairgrounds, 9850 U.S. 78, Ladson | $9 | Get your holiday shopping done at this award-winning three-day market featuring handcrafted work, gourmet food, and entertainment.
The Sound of Charleston Special Holiday Edition | Friday, Dec. 2 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., Charleston | $26-$28 | Hear the music of Charleston’s history during this special edition of The Sound of Charleston + stick around for cookies after the show.
Paint & Sip Event @ The Inn at Middleton Place: Narnia | Friday, Dec. 2 | 7-9 p.m. | The Inn at Middleton Place, 4290 Ashley River Rd., Charleston | $35 | Enjoy step-by-step guidance through the creative process from a professional artist — beer, wine, and light snacks will be available for purchase.

Saturday, Dec. 3

South Carolina Stingrays vs. Savannah Ghost Pirates | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 6:05 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston | $21+ | Cheer on the ‘Rays during the annual Teddy Bear Toss night presented by Crews Chevrolet — the first 1,500 fans at the game receive a cowbell giveaway.
Friends + Family Jewelry Sale | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | French Quarter Inn, 166 Church St., Charleston | Free | Treat your loved ones (or yourself) to 50% off from The Cargo Hold, Inc. and shop fine sterling silver jewelry, including Southern Gates® pieces, Italian bracelets, leather jewelry + more.*

Sunday, Dec. 4

Lights and Love | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 6-8 p.m. | Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre, 1218 Belk Dr, Mount Pleasant | Free | This brand-new event is a special holiday lights walk for Autism and Neurodiversity awareness featuring an evening of sensory-friendly performances and entertainment.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

This billion-dollar startup wants to help you retire

SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. | Photo provided by SmartAsset

This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement. 👀

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors serving our local area.

In just a few minutes, you can get matched with up to three financial advisors, each legally bound to work in your best interest. Now that’s service.*

TRY THE FREE TOOL

Weather

59º | Mostly sunny | 0% chance of rain

Sunrise + sunset

Rise: 7:03 a.m.
Set: 5:15 p.m.

Tide

Low: 8:10 a.m. + 8:48 p.m.
High: 2:06 a.m. + 2:36 p.m.

Open

In case you missed it, The Sweetgrass Lounge opened in late October in The Refinery. The official flagship of Sweetgrass Vodka serves locally-sourced Sweetgrass spirits and cocktails, local beer, and light bites. Check it out at 1640 Meeting St. 🥂
Remember the old Sticky Fingers on Main Street in Summerville? The building now houses three different restaurants: Azul Mexican at the front, Kairos Mediterranean at the back, and Not Your Average Wings in between the two. In short, there’s something for everyone at 1200 N. Main St. 🍴 (WCBD)

Development

More affordable housing may be headed to the Peninsula near the site of the Magnolia Project development. Developers recently donated one acre of land to the city, which is expected to be used to build up to 600 additional affordable housing units “right next to Magnolia.” Vertical construction may begin in the first quarter of 2024. 🏗️ (WCSC)

Edu

Calling all CofC winter graduates: The College Today has shared its guide to Winter Commencement 2022 ahead of the ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 17, including details on live video broadcasting, the commencement speaker + ticket info. Check it out. 🎓 (The College Today)

Real Estate

The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission has purchased a 0.53-acre property in Mount Pleasant for $1.9 million. The land is expected to assist in parking expansion at the Shem Creek Boat Landing, recognized as one of the busiest boat landings in the county. 💵

Seasonal

There’s another ice skating rink in town. The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina has debuted Ice Skating on the Point, the venue’s first-ever synthetic ice skating rink + Winter Wonderland experience. Enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores kits, and a 100% recyclable rink from Thursdays to Sundays through Sunday, Feb. 5 at 20 Patriots Point Rd. ⛸️ (Holy City Sinner)

Traffic

Heads up: On Saturday, road restrictions will begin on Isle of Palms at 6 a.m. ahead of the island’s Holiday Street Festival and Tree Lighting. Parking will not be permitted on either side of Ocean Boulevard between Pavilion Drive and 10th Avenue. Restrictions may end by 10 p.m. 🚘 (WCBD)

Community

Dorchester County is celebrating its 125th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 10. Head to Ashley River Park for birthday cake, meet-and-greets, and performances from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $2 per person. Pssst: Bring a new toy for the Do More Christmas Toy Drive for free admission for one vehicle. 🎂

Number

$14,000. That’s the donation that the Dorchester District Two Educational Foundation recently received from the Summerville Italian Feast, held in October. The funding is expected to facilitate the creation of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Architecture, and Mathematics (STEAM) programs. 💰 (WCBD)

Health

The news we’ve been waiting for: Cheese can fit into a healthy diet. According to health experts, cheese (in small amounts) is good for you since it’s rich in both calcium and protein (some cheeses even contain probiotics and beneficial vitamins). Get the lowdown on the best cheeses to reach for this holiday season — and beyond. 🧀 *

Shop

If you work from home like us, you’ve likely become accustomed to having stiff muscles at the end of a workday due to prolonged sitting. Combat this with a little office upgrade — an electric standing desk paired with a sleek under desk treadmill. Oh, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.*

Correction

We’re seeing major dollar signs. Yesterday, we wrote that Charleston’s gross regional product was ~$45 million, but it’s actually ~$45 billion. Good news for the Holy City.

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

City

Back and bigger 📣

We’re loving the cozy ambiance in this space. | Photo by @victorsseafoodandsteak

Drum roll, please... 🥁

Victor’s Seafood & Steak is hosting a grand opening this evening, Dec. 1, to signify the restaurant’s expansion in Hutson Alley.

The eatery first opened in June at 39F John St. and has now grown to occupy the space of the former Michael’s on the Alley next door. Expect quintessential bites like oysters on the half-shell, lobster rolls, and seafood towers + platters, plus a selection of salad, filets, and burgers at this downtown spot. We don’t know about y’all, but we’ve got our eyes on that wild mushroom gnocchi dish. Check out the full menu. 👀

Join the housewarming party by making a reservation for the first official night in Victor’s new dining room.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Alexandra.

Editor’s pick: I’ve got some sweet news for y’all today. This Sunday is National Cookie Day + King Street Cookies is celebrating in style with a free snickerdoodle or chocolate chip cookie with any purchase all day long. Better yet? Both the Mount Pleasant and King Street locations are offering this deal.

Those gourmet, made-from-scratch cookies are too good to pass up any day, but now I have an excuse to head to the store first thing Sunday morning. Grab your fix at 370 King St. or 405 W. Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. 🍪

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn about Charleston’s top industries, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alexandra Garian, Tatum Jacaruso, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Stephanie Zapiecki | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY