Check out the wide variety of activities available during December by Charleston County Parks!
-Submitted by Charleston County Parks
December in Your Charleston County Parks
Category: Festivals
The 2026 Charleston Festival
The Charleston Festival
Save the Date!
March 18 – April 11, 2026
Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) has celebrated houses, history, and culture through its annual spring festival since its founding in 1947 as the Festival of Houses and Gardens. As the Foundation’s longest-running fundraising and educational event, the Festival has evolved into a celebration of Charleston’s history, architecture, culture, and community.
Known as The Charleston Festival since 2025 to reflect this evolution, the annual event will continue to present House & Garden Tours and exclusive programming, in addition to a variety of new experiences to enjoy. Explore private homes and gardens, enjoy Gullah music and Lowcountry cuisine, attend historian-led talks, take a boat tour, and experience after-hours events inside landmark museums from March 18 through April 11, 2026.
Tickets are on sale as of December 1, 2025.
Continue reading “The 2026 Charleston Festival”Downtown Charleston Holiday Events
Enjoy the many holiday events in downtown Charleston!
Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
Downtown Charleston / Marion Square
Sunday, December 7, parade starts at 3:00 pm, with the tree lighting to follow in Marion Square, culminating at 6:00 pm with the lighting of the Tree of Lights.
Holiday Parade of Boats
Charleston Harbor
Saturday, December 13, dusk – 8:00 pm
A sparkling procession of lighted boats through the harbor.
Chanukah in the Square
Marion Square
Sunday, December 14, 4:00 – 7:00 pm
This cherished community celebration is the City of Charleston’s official menorah lighting, bringing neighbors together with food, music, and light.
Holiday Farmers Markets
Marion Square
December 6, 7, 13, 14, & 20; 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Shop seasonal produce, gifts, and festive treats at our holiday market series.
–Tidelines Editors
2025 Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Holiday Hours for Thanksgiving 2025
Contractor Hours – No contractor work Thursday, November 27, through Sunday, November 30. Normal contractor hours resume Monday, December 1.
The Lake House will be closed at noon on Thursday, November 27. All fitness classes will be canceled Thursday, November 27, through Saturday, November 29.
SIPOA offices and ARC/Commercial Access will be closed all day on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28. They will be back to normal hours on Monday, December 1. Trash, recycling, and yard debris will be collected as usual on Monday, December 1.
Harris Teeter will be:
• Open Wednesday, November 26, with normal hours.
• Open Thursday, November 27, from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm.
• Open Friday, November 28, at 8:00 am
• Back to normal hours on Saturday, November 29.
Town of Seabrook Island Offices will be:
• Closed from 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 26.
• Closed all day on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28.
• Back to normal hours on Monday, December 1.
Vincent’s Drug Store will be:
• Open Wednesday, November 26, with normal hours.
• Closed all day Thursday, November 27.
• Open Friday, November 28, from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm
• Back to normal hours on Saturday, November 29.
Post and Computer Center will be:
• Open Wednesday, November 26, with normal hours.
• Closed all day Thursday, November 27.
• Back to normal hours on Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
–Tidelines Editors
(Image credit: Free Clipart)
Charleston Coastal Choir Holiday Concert December 1
Please mark your calendars for the Charleston Coastal Choir Holiday Concert, “Here We Come A Caroling”. Under the direction of Van McCollum, the Charleston Coastal Choir will perform both traditional and spiritual holiday music, helping the audience get into the holiday spirit!
Please come out to enjoy seasonal holiday music and to support your friends and neighbors in the Charleston Coastal Choir. Admission is free.
-Submitted by Deborah Banecker
Experience The South Carolina Aquarium Aglow
Experience Aquarium Aglow
Enjoy the South Carolina Aquarium after dark, transformed by dazzling displays of light and color! Explore the galleries filled with festive fun, including immersive photo stations set to capture the perfect holiday picture. During the event, the aquarium is transformed with thousands of lights and immersive installations. The event features larger-than-life light exhibits, such as a giant kraken (a legendary sea monster)!
Continue reading “Experience The South Carolina Aquarium Aglow”November in Your Charleston County Parks
Check out the wide variety of activities available during October by Charleston County Parks!
| Festivals & Events November 14 – December 31 Holiday Festival Of Lights November 17- December 16 Holiday Festival Of Lights Dragon Boating Nature, History & Culture November 15 Seashore Exploration November 17 Seashore Exploration November 19 Early Morning Bird Walk at Caw Caw November 20 Tree Identification November 20 Seashore Exploration November 21 Taino BBQ at McLeod Plantation Historic Site November 22 Early Morning Bird Walk at Caw Caw November 26 Early Morning Bird Walk at Caw Caw |
-Submitted by Charleston County Parks
Holiday Festival of Lights November 14 – December 31
Holiday Festival of Lights
November 14 – December 31, 2025
5:30-10:00 pm
James Island County Park
The Holiday Festival of Lights is back! 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 14 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 to 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 is available here.
Santa will be at Santa’s Village each night from 6:00 – 10:00 pm, November 14 through December 23. Visiting with Santa at the festival is free. Digital photos are available for an additional fee.
To enhance visitor experience and to help manage wait times and traffic, Holiday Festival of Lights organizers used historical attendance data to create GREEN, YELLOW, and RED nights. Admission prices vary based on the night.
Visitors can save by buying tickets in advance online. Green night pricing is $15 per vehicle if purchased online, or $25 at the gate. Yellow night pricing is $25 per vehicle if purchased online, or $35 at the gate. Red night pricing is $30 per vehicle if purchased online, or $45 at the gate.
Click here for more information and tickets.
–Tidelines Editors
(Image credit: CCPRC website)
Charleston Literary Festival November 7-16
The Charleston Literary Festival provides the opportunity to engage with renowned authors and participate in discussions around outstanding books and ideas. This year, the festival takes place November 7 – 16 with live events presented at the Dock Street Theater.
Founded in 2017, Charleston Literary Festival specializes in high-quality Festival events that create perspective-altering conversations with world-renowned authors and thinkers. The distinctive international ethos offers attendees the opportunity to engage with renowned authors in unique settings and to contribute to conversations around outstanding books and ideas. The Festival’s programming is carefully curated on the basis of literary and artistic excellence, originality, and critical acclaim.
For more information about the events and to purchase tickets, click here.
–Tidelines Editors
Holy Smokes BBQ Fest November 8
The 2025 Holy Smokes Barbecue Festival is planned for November 8, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Riverfront Park, 1061 Everglades Ave, North Charleston.
The full lineup of pitmasters can be found by clicking here. Pitmasters will be divided into villages based on the type of barbecue: Traditional, Texas, New School, and Coastal barbecue.
General admission tickets are $95 and include unlimited food from all villages, with drinks available for purchase. VIP tickets, $250, include complimentary beverages and access to exclusive bites and premium perks. To purchase tickets, click here.
–Tidelines Editors
(Image credit: holysmokeschs.com)
Charleston Scottish Games November 1
The 54th Annual Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering
by the Scottish Society of Charleston
Saturday, November 1
9:00 am to 5:00 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 southeastern United States. Drawing visitors from around the country and abroad, the Games bring in over 10,000 guests, immersing visitors in Scottish heritage and history. This year’s honor clan will be Clan Donald. Clan Donald represents resilience, unity, and determination. Clan Donald is one of the oldest and largest Scottish clans, encompassing 8 branches, over 450 separate family names, and nearly 100 tartans.
Get your tickets to the 54th Annual Charleston Scottish Games and Highland Gathering and make your plans to visit Scotland for the day!
Click here for tickets and information. Follow Charleston Scottish Games and Highland Gathering on Facebook for all the latest on the event.
–Tidelines Editors
(Image credit: charlestonscottishgames.com)
2025 Mepkin Abbey Creche Festival
Reservation spots are now available for the 2025 Mepkin Abbey Creche Festival. This year’s theme is “Nativity in Wood and with Wood”.
- November 17 -22 and November 28 – December 6, 2025
- Monday – Saturdays only
- 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
The Mepkin Abbey Crèche Festival is a self-guided walking tour of nativity displays from around the world. Displays are both outside and inside. It is approximately 1/4 mile walk each way, but it is wheelchair accessible.
There is no cost to attend. Guests can make their online ticket reservations here. Donations are accepted to help offset the cost of hosting the event.
Cookies, hot cocoa, and coffee will be available for purchase. In addition, a gift shop with holiday gifts and fruitcakes will be set up. Mepkin also offers a Crèche Store with a wide variety of nativity sets so that you can begin your own crèche collection.
–Tidelines Editors