Category: Festivals

HCF Festival of Houses and Gardens

Tickets are now on sale for Historic Charleston Foundation’s (HCF) month-long 76th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens from March 15 – April 16, 2023. The festival comprises an array of educational tours and events that explore the area’s significant cultural and architectural landscapes and historic events in the Charleston region, from over 350 years ago to present day.

Tour some of Charleston’s most beautiful homes and gardens on historic streets including King Street, Tradd Street, Legare Street, and new for 2023, a Montagu Street tour. In addition to these tours, there are several other interesting options offered during the festival. Enjoy a new lineup of exciting speakers in the Food for Thought Lecture series; experience refreshed Live Like a Local events such as workshops, musical programs, and sunset historic harbor cruises; and sign up for one of the HCF’s acclaimed Morning History Walks with licensed tour guides. 

Visit the Historic Charleston Foundation website for a full list of events and programs and to purchase tickets, or you can download the brochure here. 

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Historiccharleston.org)

Holiday Festival of Lights November 11 – December 31

Holiday Festival of Lights
November 11 – December 31, 2022
5:30-10:00 pm
James Island County Park

The Holiday Festival of Lights is back for its 33rd year! With over two million lights, this beloved tradition offers fun for the whole family and is sure to boost your holiday spirit. The Holiday Festival of Lights is open every evening, rain or shine, from 5:30-10:00 pm November 11 through December 31.

The festival is more than just driving through the three miles of beautiful light displays. You are invited to park your car and explore Winter Wonderland,  home of the area’s largest holiday sand sculpture formed from over 50 tons of sand. Roam through festival shops for merry gifts, official collector series ornaments, toys, personalized items, decorations and stocking stuffers. Pop into Santa’s Sweet Shoppe for tasty treats. Take a ride on the train for an up-close view of the festival, and see even more light displays on the Enchanted Walking Trail. A complete map of the Holiday of Lights Festival can be found here.

Santa will be in the park at Santa’s Village nightly from November 21 through December 23.

NEW THIS YEAR: To enhance visitor experience and to help manage wait times and traffic, Holiday Festival of Lights organizers have identified regular nights and peak nights. Ticket prices during peak nights will be higher.

Visitors can save by buying tickets in advance online. Regular night pricing will be $15 per vehicle if purchased online, or $20 at the gate. Peak night pricing will be $25 per vehicle if purchased online, or $30 at the gate.

Click here for more information and tickets.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: CCPRC website)

First Friday Fall Festival Nov 4

Town Market of James Island First Friday Fall Festival will take place Friday, November 4, 2022, from 6 pm-9 pm.

Join us for local vendors, seasonal produce, food trucks, free movie on the big screen at dusk, petting zoo, entertainment, and more!

First Friday events take place at James Island Town Hall, 1122 Dills Bluff Drive.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Town Market of James Island)

Charleston Literary Festival Nov 4-13

The countdown has begun! On Friday, November 4, Charleston Literary Festival (CLF) will be kicking off CLF 2022. This will be a jam packed 10 days comprising 27 captivating sessions featuring multiple Pulitzer prize winners, countless New York Times bestselling authors, artists, historians, journalists, critics and more.

Find the complete CLS 2022 program here.

An Opening Night Party on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 8:00 pm will be an evening to celebrate a shared love of books mixed with a hefty dose of that famous Charleston hospitality!

Set against the backdrop of the Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston, we invite our literary friends to come together—eat, talk, and dance—under the stars accompanied by the swinging sound of Wycliffe Gordon & His International All Stars and chef Tonya Mitchell’s Lowcountry cuisine.

Get your Opening Night Party tickets here.

-Submitted by Charleston Literary Festival

(Image credit: charlestonliteraryfestival.com)

Fall Festival and Run Like the Devil 5K and Fun Run Oct 22


Charleston Collegiate School and Kiawah River are excited to host the annual Fall Festival, 5k, and Fun Run on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Kiawah River on Betsy Kerrison Parkway.  The 5K begins at 10:00 am and the Fun Run starts at 12:00 pm. The Festival runs from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm.

Enjoy a gorgeous day along the marsh and under the oak trees this Saturday. There is no entrance fee to attend (only to register for the 5K or Fun Run) so come out and take part in all the outdoor fun – the farmer’s market of local makers and goods, games for the children, food for purchase from local food trucks, live music and more! All festivities will be outdoors/open air. In the past two years, we have welcomed over 1,000 guests! For more information, please click here.

–Tidelines Editors

Paw-ty time! Dogtoberfest Oct 22

Freshfields Village is paws-itively thrilled to announce its annual Dogtoberfest on Saturday, October 22, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm to benefit pet rescue organizations in the Lowcountry!

The festival will feature an adoptable meet-and-greet with local rescue groups, pet vendors, and an adorable pet costume contest. There will also be music and entertainment throughout the day!

Guests are encouraged to bring their dogs out to enjoy the festivities and enter the pet costume contest for an exciting prize. The contest begins at 4:00 pm. In addition, on-site vendors will provide food and beverages for purchase during the event.

Dogtoberfest’s proceeds will go to participating pet rescue organizations: Charleston Animal Society, Dorchester Paws, Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary, Southern Tails for Precious Paws, LowCountry Lab Rescues, and Grateful Goldens Rescue. To get you excited, click here to view some of the favorite photos the pup-arrazi captured in years past.

–Tidelines editors

(Image credit: Freshfields)

51st Annual Charleston Scottish Games Nov 5

The 51st Annual Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering
by the Scottish Society of Charleston

Saturday, November 5
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Riverfront Park, North Charleston

With its inaugural event in 1971, the Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering is the second oldest event of its kind in the southeast. Drawing visitors from around the country and abroad, the Games brings in over 8,000 guests, immersing visitors in Scottish heritage and history. Get your tickets to the 51st Annual Charleston Scottish Games and Highland Gathering and make your plans to visit Scotland for the day!

Click here for tickets and information.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: charlestonscottishgames.com)

Run Like the Devil 5K and Fun Run Oct 22


Charleston Collegiate School  & Kiawah River are excited to host the annual Fall Festival, 5k, and Fun Run on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Kiawah River on Betsy Kerrison Parkway.  The 5K begins at 10:00 am and the Fun Run starts at 12:00 pm.  The Festival runs from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm.

Registration ends October 20, 2022, so sign up now. Bring your friends and family to enjoy this fun fall tradition. For more information and to register, please click here.

–Tidelines Editors

Summerville Italian Feast-Oct 9

Come celebrate Italian culture and heritage at the Summerville Italian Feast.

Italian food and drink will tempt festival goers. Entertainment including student choirs, bands, and orchestras will perform throughout the day. It will be a day filled with Italian customs and traditions to be enjoyed by all.

  • Sunday, October 9, 2022
  • 11:00 am-6:00 pm
  • Hutchinson Square in the heart of historic downtown Summerville
  • Free Admission for this family friendly festival

For more information, check out Summerville Italian Feast on Facebook.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Summerville Italian Feast)

Fields Farm Fall Festival – October 15

Head over to Fields Farm, 3129 River Road, Johns Island, on Saturday, October 15, 2022 for the Fields Farm Fall Festival. There will be local craft vendors, food trucks and lots of fresh local fruits and veggies.

Can’t make it on October 15? Fields Farm is open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10:00 am-5:00 pm. You can even order online here for pick up.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Fields Farm)

SEWE Save the Date

Mark your calendars for the 2023 Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE). SEWE will be held February 17-19, 2023. Start planning your SEWE week by clicking here for a list of the events. SEWE tickets go on sale Friday, October 14, 2022.

This year SEWE has added a new fall kickoff event called Flyways. Flyways will be held on October 15, 2022, 7:00 pm-11:00 pm, at the Bus Shed, Charleston Visitor Center, located at 375 Meeting Street. Flyways is hosted by SEWE and Ducks Unlimited. For more information and tickets, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

MOJA Arts Festival Sep 29-Oct 9

Official 2022 MOJA poster by Amiri Gueka Farris

The annual MOJA Arts Festival begins September 29, 2022, with an opening day parade starting at 6:00 pm at Marion Square. The multi-day festival, celebrating African-American and Caribbean culture, runs through October 9, 2022.

MOJA Arts Festival includes a wide variety of events encompassing visual arts, music, dance, storytelling, and more. Many of the events are free to attend; others are ticketed events. To view the complete calendar of events and order tickets, click here.

*Moja (Mow-jha) is a Swahili word meaning “One.” Moja is an appropriate name for this festival which celebrates harmony among all people in our community.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: MOJA Festival poster by Amiri Gueka Farris)