Holiday Events in Charleston
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s truly the most wonderful time of the year to visit Charleston. The weather is amazing, the Christmas decorations are a sight to behold, and the Holy City is packed to the brim with cheer and events!
We hope your days are filled with comfort and joy, and to help you get this festive season off to a merry start, we’ve rounded up our favorite things to do in Charleston during the holidays.
There’s a little something for everyone on this list, whether you’re hitting the town with the whole family in tow, planning an epic date night, scheduling tea with Santa, or looking for the best holiday events in Charleston!
And, of course, if you’re looking to surprise your loved one with a special locally made Christmas gift, we’ve got you covered there too! Shop our SEAS-onal Collection, customize a Gilded Oyster Ornament, put out the milk and cookies, and relax.
From our family to yours, happy holidays.
Best Holiday Things to Do in Charleston with the Family
Don’t let holiday shopping get your tinsel in a tangle! Bundle up the fam and head to Marion Square for the Charleston Holiday Farmers Market.
Enjoy tasty treats and quality time while perusing the offerings of local makers, farmers, and artisans. Be sure to visit the Grit & Grace Studio booth! You’re sure to find something for everyone on your list while supporting local businesses.
photo credit: Reese Moore Photography
The Elf on a Shelf: A Christmas Musical
We’re all about Elf on a Shelf this year (have you met Sandy, our Elf on a Shell?!), and we love that this playful holiday tradition has come to life in the form of a Christmas musical.
Let the beautiful music and lively dance routines transport you from Charleston’s Gaillard Center to the North Pole for a festive evening out the whole family will adore! The Elf on a Self: A Christmas Musical takes the stage at 6:00 p.m. on December 2.
Tea with Santa
Santa Claus is coming to town… and staying at Hotel Bennett! Meet the man in red at Charleston’s luxurious Hotel Bennett for their signature Tea with Santa event, each Sunday between November 28 and Christmas Day. Enjoy tea service at Camellia’s, photos with Santa, storytime with Mrs. Claus, a gift for the children, and a glass of prosecco for the adults.
For a whole latke family fun, head to the annual Chanukah in the Square on Sunday, November 28 between 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.! Chanukah in the Square is the largest annual Jewish event in the state of South Carolina, and it is free and open to the public.
Celebrate the lighting of the first candle of the Menorah, and enjoy live music by the Jewish Choral Society, jump castles, face painting, craft tables, latkes, and donuts.
photo credit: Chabad of Charleston - Center for Jewish Life
Run, run, Rudolph! The 30th annual Reindeer Run is Charleston's jolliest 5K and a must-attend event, whether you're a serious runner or planning to power prance in your favorite light-up tutu, candy cane tights, and Santa hat.
The race kicks off at 9 a.m. on December 11, but be sure to pre-register online. This event is dog- and stroller-friendly, so you can bring the whole family, including furbabies, and it benefits MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital.
If you love Christmas a watt, head to the James Island County Park for the 32nd Annual Holiday Festival of Lights! The 3-mile driving tour of spectacular lights and the park attractions are open nightly from November 12 through December 31. You’ll be filled with cheer by the extensive, stunning light displays, Christmas train, s’mores stations, holiday store, visit with Santa Claus, sweet shop, and 50-ton sand sculpture.
Holiday Events in Charleston
Hip Hop Nutcracker
For an evening out that’s sure to sleigh, purchase tickets to the Hip Hop Nutcracker! Now in its 7th season, the Hip Hop Nutcracker reimagines and reinvents Tchaikovksy’s beloved classic ballet as an exhilarating and inspirational contemporary holiday performance. You’ll be mesmerized by digital graffiti, dynamic dance routines, a DJ, a violinist, and a short set from MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers during this one-night performance at Charleston’s stunning Gaillard Center on December 7.
Do you hear what I hear? The lively sounds of Holiday Swing: A Charleston Jazz Tradition featuring vocalist Zandrina Dunning! Maestro Robert Lewis and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra will present swingin’ arrangements of winter classics and holiday tunes at the Charleston Music Hall on Saturday, December 4, at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Charleston Music Hall, especially with Brad & Jennifer Moranz’s 26th Annual Charleston Christmas Special on the horizon. Billed as “Broadway comes to Charleston,” each of the 8 shows features animated performances, holiday music, impressive costumes, and choreographed dance routines that are sure to keep spirits bright this holiday season.
photo credit: Damon R. Smith
Deck the halls with your own unique wreath creation this year! Members of the Garden Club of Charleston, who annually decorate the Joseph Manigault House for the holidays, are hosting a hands-on wreath-making workshop at the famed historic home on December 4, 2021.
You’ll use a gorgeous array of greenery and decorative accents to create a 16” wreath to adorn your home. Admission to the Joseph Manigault House, which will be decorated with a Hark The Harold Angels Sing theme this year, is included in your ticket.
Ground your holiday season in history and the Gullah culture with a soul-stirring afternoon at the 38th Annual African American Spirituals Concert at Drayton Hall on December 12, 2021.
After a light reception with wassail, a historic and traditional holiday libation of Charleston, Ann Caldwell and the Magnolia Singers will perform music that could have been heard centuries ago in the surrounding fields and praise houses. Drayton Hall is the oldest plantation open to the public in the United States, and this important event offers a unique and reverent window into Charleston’s past.
Bill Murray Look-A-Like Polar Plunge
Baby, it’s cold outside… but it’s even colder if you participate in the Bill Murray Look-A-Like Polar Plunge. Get ready to “freeze your bills off” during this hilarious annual event on Folly Beach on New Year’s Day. Dress up at your favorite Bill Murray character, register at the booth at noon, and plunge into the ocean. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes, so plan your outfit accordingly!
Free Holiday Fun in Charleston
Christmas Tree in Marion Square
Marion Square is going to be lit this Christmas, literally. Each year, the City of Charleston installs a 64-foot brilliant Christmas tree of lights in the center of Marion Square. Grab your love or loved ones and some cocoa and enjoy an evening stroll around and under this magnificent holiday decoration.
photo credit: @rgloverphotography
If you’re looking for a festive event that won’t break the bank, yule want to mark your calendar for the 26th Annual Christmas Light Parade in Mount Pleasant. Vibrant floats, community groups, and performers will make their way up West Coleman Boulevard on December 12 to spread holiday cheer throughout the community. This annual event is well-attended, so be sure to pack a thermos of tea or hot chocolate and arrive early for a good view!
photo credit: Town of Mt. Pleasant
Charleston Holiday Boat Parade
If parades float your boat, grab a lawn chair and stake out your spot for the Charleston Holiday Boat Parade. This spectacular annual event, now in its 40th year, features brightly decorated vessels that cruise the Charleston Harbor to the delight of thousands of spectators. You can view the Charleston Holiday Boat Parade from the shores of the Charleston peninsula, Patriots Point, and other viewing locations, including organized on-the-water and landlocked viewing parties. The parade will take place on December 11, 2021, between 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cougar Night Lights
The College of Charleston brings joy to the world each year with the Cougar Night Lights installation in the Cistern. CofC alumnus John Reynolds, a multi-Emmy award-winning lighting designer, created a dazzling display of more than 43,000 lights for the facade of historic Randolph Hall and the surrounding live oak trees. The College of Charleston hosts several events that set the light show to music, so stay tuned to their website for more information. The lighting display is free and open to the public nightly through January 1.
Romantic Things to Do in Charleston This Holiday
Charleston Strolls Holiday Walking Tour
What’s better than walking through a winter wonderland? Enjoy a two-hour guided walking tour through Charleston’s historic district with Bulldog Tours.
You’ll journey through festively decorated neighborhoods where carriages and motor coaches are prohibited with stops at the Four Corners of Law, The Battery, and the Edmondston-Alston House Museum, where you’ll be treated to an abbreviated private tour. Your guides will regale you with colorful stories and historical tidbits as you soak up the beauty of the Lowcountry.
Candlelight Orchestra Christmas Concert
Everything is more romantic by candlelight, so surprise your significant other with tickets for two to the Candlelight Orchestra Christmas Concert on December 19. A sea of flickering candles illuminates the musicians at Society Hall during this magical 65-minute performance of classic holiday music. With 3 performances to choose from, you can easily make it a dinner-and-a-show affair, and beverages will be served before the concert.
Give the gift of quality time by stepping out to Illumination Charleston with your love. Tastemakers, designers, artisans, and personalities are gathering in Charleston for 3 days of demonstrations, holiday decor, tours of historic houses, markets, engaging design presentations, and fabulous nighttime festivities! Illumination Charleston begins on December 2 and runs through December 5, 2021, so grab your tickets today.
‘Tis the SEAS-on for festive lights, so head to the South Carolina Aquarium for Aquarium Aglow, a one-of-a-kind immersive holiday experience. The displays and exhibits are decked out with tens of thousands of lights, and the creative designs range from exciting contemporary to nostalgic. You’ll also enjoy food, beverages, and live entertainment during the event, which runs on select nights between November 18 and January 2, 2022.
photo credit: Reese Moore Photography
Winter Wonderland at Charleston Place Hotel
Meet your love under the mistletoe (or giant chandelier) at the Charleston Place Hotel for a luxurious wintery evening. An all-white enchanted wonderland decor, a birch forest, 70 decorated trees, and a 40-foot tree of lights transform the stately downtown hotel, and its traditional holiday train has returned for its 20th seasonal installment in the grand lobby. Catch Cocktails and Caroling on Fridays in the Market Street Circle between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and keep an eye out for the nightly “snow” at 6 p.m. in Market Street Circle.
While planning your Charleston holiday itinerary, remember to include a visit to the Grit & Grace Studio Flagship store at the historic Tellis Pharmacy Building. We’ve decked the halls in our newly renovated space, and our shelves are stocked with delightful finds, handcrafted gifts, and locally made treats for everyone on your list.
We also offer quick shipping on all our online items, including our thoughtfully curated gift baskets, and our in-house calligraphy team would love to add a Christmas greeting if you won’t be home for the holidays this year.
One Love & Blessings,