Printer-Friendly Version of Charleston's Main Events
Complete this form to list your Charleston event. Event Listings: $50-$200 each.
Holiday Festival of LightsMid November 2010 thru January 2011
Location: James Island Country Park, about 15 minutes from downtown Charleston Phone: (843) 795-7275
Every year the James Island County Park lights up over 500,000
lights to provide you with an enchanting 3-mile driving tour. Fun for
everyone - in fact, they also offer a marshmallow roast and a 54 passenger
train ride through the park to view the lights. To tour the lights in your car is $10/car and if you'd like you can ride the
train around the lake for approximately $2/person and children under 2 are free if they sit in the lap of an adult.
Holiday Magic Entertainment and Visits with Santa
December 2010
Fridays: 10:00am-6:00pm; Saturdays and Sundays: 10:00am-4:00pm
Location: Marion Square - Between King, Meeting & Calhoun Streets Phone: (843) 724-730.
Children's choirs, church choirs, gospel, classical, folk, jazz, storytelling and other forms of entertainment dazzle audiences at Marion Square. Bring your Christmas wish lists to the North Pole Mailbox and visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their Elf assistants in the magically decorated park.
Charleston Sleigh Ride
Thursday – Sunday Evenings through December, 2010 (excluding Christmas, includes New Years Eve)
Cost: $40/adult, $30/children
Location: Charleston Harbor Phone: (843) 276-4203
In December, Thriller slows it down to provide a leisurely tour of the Charleston Harbor at night to view the holiday lights. Get into the holiday spirit with waterproof blankets and hot
chocolate in travel mugs provided. Christmas music and stories about Charleston and holiday traditions are shared. 1 hour tour.
The Reindeer Run
December 4, 2010
Location: Front of Southend Brewery, 161 East Bay Street at Cumberland St., Downtown Charleston, SC Phone: (843) 278-5277
A festive fun-filled 5K run/walk (3.1 miles) through the streets of downtown Charleston during the holiday season This event is open to persons of all fitness levels. There will be awards three-deep for age groups from 8 & Under and up to 70 & Over; but if running is not your bag, walk the course and dress-up in your best holiday costume, and win fabulous prizes for Most Original Costumes.
North Charleston Christmas Festival
December 4, 2010 Phone: (843) 740-5854 4:30-9pm
Annual North Charleston Christmas Lighting, Festival and Parade - Experience dozens of beautiful Christmas trees decorated by local churches, schools, businesses, and civic groups. Enjoy rides, dancing troupes, hayrides, pony rides, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Clause and the annual Christmas parade. Admission is free.
Charleston Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 4, 2010, 4:30pm-6:00pm Marion Square
Location: Marion Square - Between King, Meeting & Calhoun Streets Phone: (843) 724-7305.
Join Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and Santa Claus in lighting the magnificent 60-foot Tree of Lights, the official City of Charleston Christmas Tree at Marion Square.
Parade of Boats
December 4, 2010
Location: Official viewing sites are Waterfront Park, The USS Yorktown and the Battery
Area. Parade begins along Mt. Pleasant at 5:00pm
Viewing from the peninsula begins at 6:30pm; Fireworks begin at approximately 6:45pm Phone: (843) 724-7305
Get on board with a Lowcountry holiday tradition as this display of lighted and festive boats proceeds from the Cooper River,
through the Charleston Harbor and into the Ashley River, culminating in a brilliant fireworks display over the harbor. View the
procession along Charleston’s waterfront or decorate your own boat and join the parade.
Charleston Christmas Parade
December 5, 2010 2-5 PM
Phone: (843) 720-1981
The holiday tradition is better than ever as bands, floats, marchers and performers parade through downtown Charleston. The parade
begins at the intersection of Calhoun and Meeting Streets, proceeds down King Street to Broad Street to Lockwood Blvd.
Annual Spirituals Concert
December 2010 (Dates to be Determined)
5:30pm with an additional matinee concert on Sunday at 3:00pm
Location: Drayton Hall
Phone: (843) 769-2605
Drayton Hall presents African American spiritual music with
four performances by Ann Caldwell and The Magnolia Singers.
The program includes work songs, field cries, hollers, rhyme songs and spirituals, all of which served as a means of pacing field work,
prayer and praise, communication, and relief from the indignities and degradation of bondage. These concerts are a rare opportunity to hear
music that could have been heard centuries ago in the fields and praise houses that surrounded Drayton Hall.
Concert tickets include a catered wine and hors d'oeuvres reception on the portico and informal tours of the house given by Drayton
Hall's experienced museum guides. Seating is limited and reservations are required.
The Charleston Christmas Special
December 10-19, 2010 Downtown Charleston
(843) 416-8453
The Charleston Christmas Special, Charleston's longest running holiday show, is a heart-warming two
hour musical variety show for the whole family presented live at the Charleston Music Hall downtown. Starring former Broadway
performers Brad and Jennifer Moranz (former Radio City Rockette), plus "Serenade Show" star Bobby Alvarez, along with Tiffany
Parker, Marie Talley, Latoya Smith, a chorus line of beautiful dancers, and the Tommy Gill Orchestra.
Holiday Farmers Market
Every Saturday Morning in December
Location: Marion Square, located at King and Calhoun Streets December 5 to 20: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: (843) 724-7305
Under the brightly colored tents at Marion Square, you'll find everything you need to deck the halls for the holidays and
fill the pantry with baked delights: natural wreaths, fresh greenery, special breads, cookies and fresh vegetables,
as well as the best assortment of art, crafts and holiday gift items to complete your shopping lists.
The Low Country Singing Christmas Tree
December 2010 (Dates to be Determined) Summerville Baptist Church
(843) 873-2440
Come share the excitement of this year's presentation of the Low Country Singing Christmas Tree. We hope that you will enjoy the music, the drama, the lights, the orchestra and most of all experience the love of Christ through this magnificent presentation.
Over the years we have seen the attempt to leave Christ out of Christmas and to turn this special time from a very significant religious holiday to a season filled with shopping, frayed nerves and dashed hopes of families being harmonius. We want to remind and encourage you through this musical presentation that Christ can still be the center of your Christmas...and your life.
We look forward to seeing you at these special Christmas Services.
Charleston Men's Chorus
December 2010 (Dates to be Determined)
Location: Sottile Theatre, 44 George Street, Downtown Charleston
Phone: (843) 720-8505
The Charleston Men's Chorus will perform
a combination of sacred music as well as joyful holiday lyrics. Tickets: $15 adults; $10 seniors/students; free ages 6 and under.
The Nutcracker Ballet
December 11, 12, 17 and 18, 2010
Location: North Charleston Performing Arts Theatre
Tickets: $30, $35, $40 & $45. Children’s tickets are $10 off each price level.
Phone: (843) 723-7334, M-F
It's Charleston circa 1865 and families are filling the streets and the market of downtown in a last minute rush for gifts and
decorations. Young Maria is presented with the gift of a cherished authentic Nutcracker. With a little help from Uncle Drosselmeyer
she is transported on a world tour through lands of fantasy beyond her imagination. This Charleston holiday tradition celebrates
the magic of the holiday spirit and the kid that remains inside us all.
Live Manger Scene
December 22, 23, 24, 2010
Location: Front Lawn of Bethany United Methodist Church
Address: 1853 Maybank Highway, James Island Phone: (843) 795-3527
This church presents a live manger scene that you can drive past or stop and view.
Hours are 6-8 PM on the 22nd, 6-8 PM on the 23rd and directly following the 6 PM Christmas Eve Service (6-8 PM). Free for all.
Happy New Years Charleston
December 31, 2010, 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Location: Marion Square and surrounding locations Phone: (843) 724-7305
This community celebration offers a non-alcoholic
and family-oriented alternative program to celebrate the New Year in Charleston. This city wide, admission-free program has something
wonderful for everyone: comedy, African dancing, many forms of music including classical, gospel and jazz, children's activities and so much more.
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