The holiday season is upon us which means there’s more than one event going on in Charleston to celebrate! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite celebrations around town along with ticket information, details, and more!
Mount Pleasant Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade
Brilliantly lit floats and community groups will march down Coleman Boulevard as the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade sets sail to the delight of thousands of residents and visitors. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 10th with a fireworks show (now moved to the Town Hall football field to be visible from the new viewing area on W. Coleman Blvd.) then immediately followed by the start of the parade at Mill St. traveling south and ending at the intersection of Coleman Blvd. and Patriots Point Rd.
Coleman Boulevard Road Closure Schedule:
Whilden St. to Pherigo St. closes at 4:00 p.m. for the lineup
Whilden St. to Patriots Point Rd. closes at 5:00 p.m.
Ravenel Bridge off-ramp onto Coleman Blvd. closes at 5:00 (all traffic diverted to Highway 17)
Patriots Point Rd. from Coleman Blvd. to Harry Hallman Blvd. closes at 5:00 (all Patriots Point and hotel/golf course traffic will divert onto Harry Hallman)
The entire parade route is a No Drone Zone in the interest of public safety; please leave your drones home!
Children’s Village at Magnolia Plantation
Take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane in the Children’s Village at Magnolia Plantation. Along this delightful holiday village, your children can visit Santa’s Workshop, Candy Factory, Gingerbread House, Barber Shop, Post Office, Chapel, General Store, and many more businesses that make up the North Pole! Each weekend throughout December, Magnolia Plantation will have special events:
December 3: “Santa Paws” featuring dog adoptions, pet parade, and holiday pet costume contest.
December 4: Holiday face painting, costume contest, crafts and activities.
December 10: Summerville Dance Academy performance, holiday face painting, holiday carolers, holiday crafts and activities.
December 11: Magnolia Dance Academy, holiday face painting, crafts and activities.
December 17: Pony rides from Lowcountry Party Animals, holiday carolers, Lowcountry Muscle Car Club, holiday crafts and activities.
December 18: Palmetto Bronze handbell ensemble performance, holiday crafts and activities.
Charleston Christmas Walking Tours
Enjoy the holiday season by taking a stroll around Charleston’s most beautiful streets to see brightly decorated homes. Tour where carriages and cars are not allowed and take a fascinating stroll with stories and traditions revealing in Charleston’s rich history. During your tour you will visit the Four Corners of Law and The Battery. See private neighborhoods dressed in their holiday finery. Hear about Old Charlestowne from 1670 through the Civil War to the present and enjoy historical highlights and famous landmarks. The finale of the tour will conclude at the beautiful Mills House Hotel, where everyone will enjoy holiday refreshments.
James Island Holiday Festival of Lights
Sit back, relax, and enjoy a quiet drive through James Island’s infamous Holiday Festival of Lights. During this driving tour you’ll see beautiful light displays throughout the park. It’s more than just a driving tour! You can park your car and enjoy a number of activities like sand sculptures, an up-close look at the looks on the holiday train, treats from Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, crafts, a Victorian carousel, visits with Santa Claus, and much more!
Holiday Magic at Marion Square
Charleston’s famous farmer’s market has a slew of fun, holiday events planned for December. As you visit local farmers to pick up fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, and food from local food trucks, you’ll be entertained with live music, holiday vendors for gift shopping, caroling, kids activities, and free visits and photos with Santa Claus!
Holiday Market – LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE
12/2 – The Lowhills
12/3 – The small opera company
12/9 – Peter Kfoury
12/10 – Tesoro LIVE Acoustic Music
12/16 – Susie Summers
12/17 – The V-Tones of Charleston
Bounce Castles provided by Charleston Fun Factory
Additional Holiday Magic Events Include;
Sunday, 12/3 – City of Charleston Holiday Parade (Colonial Lake – Marion Square)
Sunday, 12/3 – Tree Lighting Ceremony (Marion Square)
Saturday, 12/9 – Parade of Boats (Charleston Harbor)
Sunday, 12/17 – Chanukah in the Square (Marion Square)
Tuesday, 12/26 – 1st Day of Kwanzaa
Sunday, 12/31 – Happy New Year Charleston! (Marion Square)
On Saturday, December 9th, lavishly decorated boats will take over Mount Pleasant. Boats adorned with colorful lights will promenade past the viewing docks while guests on shore fill the air with their favorite holiday carols and feast on the scrumptious tastes of the season. This family-friendly event is sure to become a holiday tradition for young and old from near and far. Arrive early at 2pm for the annual Oysters on the Point where attendees can partake in freshly steamed local oysters, craft beer, enjoy live music, and pick up a few presents from the holiday market.
More information here on the boat parade and here for the oyster roast.
Charleston’s largest New Year’s Eve party is on the USS Yorktown and offers guests breathtaking views of the Charleston Harbor, a legendary fireworks display show, live music, hors d’oeurves, and champagne to toast to a new year. Book your tickets early as this celebration sells out quickly every year! This NYE bash is ages 21 and up and asks guests to “dress to impress”.
Tired of the same old holiday party at a friend or neighbor’s house? Round up your friends and celebrate the holiday season aboard the Charleston Harbor Cruise and enjoy a boat tour with dinner and drinks to celebrate! Step aboard the stunning Carolina Queen vessel for a gourmet-buffet style dinner and live entertainment, all while enjoying a two-hour tour of the Charleston harbor by night. The tour runs from 7pm-9pm and tickets are $52.95 per person. We promise this will be a holiday party that your friends won’t forget!
