These touring itineraries detail the best things to see and do while you're in Charleston over the holidays. Itineraries include complete information on recommended tours, accommodations, MUST TRY restaurants and shops. Information includes which restaurants are open Christmas day, website links, touring tips, how to get to/from downtown, where to park and much much more essential touring information!

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Mid 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.