What's your pleasure? Charleston offers a comfortable climate, unique antebellum architecture, miles of sandy beaches and acres of superb natural parks for any one who is visiting our historic city. We have put together a year round guide with the most important events and festivals happening each year in our holy city. Arts, recreational and cultural opportunities abound, including museums, music, dance and theater, along with water sports, golf, hunting, fishing, and horseback. Please scroll down to read about all the yearly events before you plan your trip to Charleston.
Various Events Year Round
Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission CCPRC provides year round activities to please the whole family. Special events with music and dancing, fishing tournaments, camping and cottages, beach parks, challenge courses, holiday festival of lights and waterparks. For more information about events happening at CCPRC, visit their website Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission
Charleston Museum Welcome to The Charleston Museum, America's First Museum, founded in 1773. Explore this rich, varied history at the Museum and its two National Historic Landmark houses. All are located downtown, in America's Most Historic City. Exhibitions feature objects from our extensive cultural, historic and natural history collections and introduce you to the rich heritage of the Lowcountry, whose social and architectural legacy is reflected in our two premier historic houses. Whether you have an interest in early Southern furniture or in Southeastern birds, The Charleston Museum has something for everyone in your family.
Charleston Museum
Gibbes Museum of Art The Gibbes Museum of Art maintains approximately 10,000 objects that directly support its mission to "collect, conserve, and interpret an American fine arts collection with a Charleston perspective." This includes objects that reflect the distinct patronage of this region. The strength of the collection lies in its 18th, 19th and early 20th century paintings, works on paper (prints, drawings, watercolors, photographs), miniature portraits, and sculpture. The objects in each medium reinforce the history of Charleston as an important colonial and antebellum city, and today as a tourist destination.
More about Gibbes Museum of Art
SC Aquarium Learn about South Carolina with its Mountain Forest, The Piedmont, the Coastal Plain, the Salt Marsh Aviary, the coast and Ocean. More about The SC Aquarium
Performing Arts Center What's happening at the Performing Arts Center More about the Performing Arts Center
Music
Charleston Symphony Music is created to celebrate and praise, proclaim joy and love, to laud triumphs. It tells us who we are, reminds us of where we've been, and helps us understand where we are headed. Join us for our voyage through the World of Amazing Music! More about The Charleston Symphony
Charleston Southern University Check out the schedule for any upcoming events More about Charleston Southern University
Charleston Music Hall Check out the schedule for any upcoming events More about The Charleston Music Hall
Chamber Music Society of Charleston Concerts The Chamber Music Society of Charleston is thrilled to announce a new concert season full of chamber music that promises to entertain and inspire! Check out the schedule for any upcoming events The Chamber Music Society of Charleston
Theater
College of Charleston Find out the schedule for any upcoming theater performances College of Charleston
Dock Street Theater Find out the schedule for any upcoming theater performances The Dock Street Theater
Footlight Players Find out the schedule for any upcoming theater performances The Footlight Players
Village Playhouse Find out the schedule for any upcoming theater performances The Village Playhouse
January
Nov. 13 - Jan 3 - The 20th annual Holiday Festival of Lights. James Island County Park. Feel the magic at the Holiday Festival of Lights. Take the 3-mile drive through millions of sparkling lights and hundreds of light displays. Then witness the wonder of Santa's Village & Winter Wonderland. When magic happens, lasting memories are made.
January 1st 12:00 noon - Folly Beach Paddle - Meet at Sea Kayak Carolina around noon, depart for the Folly River Landing promptly at 12:30 pm.
January 2, 2010 - 8th Annual Trident United Way Resolution Run, Family Fun 5K Run/Walk 9am Downtown Charleston - Make plans to join us for the 5K and stay to celebrate with music, food, prizes and information on how to make healthy resolutions of all kinds for the New Year. Fees: $20/adult until midnight December 21 $25/adult December 22 - January 2 Includes long sleeved t-shirt and timing chip
Children ages 7-14 pay their age in dollars Children 6 and under and pets are free Course: Certified course begins at Joe Riley Stadium, winds around Hampton Park, The Citadel parade grounds and back to Joe Riley Stadium Race Day Registration Begins: 7am at Joe Riley Stadium Parking: Free at Joe Riley Stadium Register: Contact Tammy Thompson at (843) 740-9000, ext. 245 or tthompson@tuw.org for more information.
January 3, 2010 - Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes (Touring) is taking place on Sunday, at North Charleston Coliseum (5001 Coliseum Drive) Charleston, South Carolina, United States.
January 5, 2010 - An Evening with Chris Botti at The Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street, Charleston, SC
January 9, 2010 - The Dill Sanctuary Oyster Roast, 1163 Riverland Drive, 2:00 - 5:00 pm. Celebrate the Museum's 237th birthday and join us for an oyster roast and nature walk at the Dill Sanctuary. Enjoy fresh oyster, then kick back and listen to bluegrass music by Blue Plantation or take a hike around the Museums wildlife sanctuary with guest naturalist, Billy McCord. Oyster, Barbeque and all the fixings, as was as a full bar are included in the ticket price. Advance reservations are required. Reservations are required and early reservations recommended as previous oyster roasts have sold out quickly. Adult tickets $25.00 member, $35.00 non member, Children ages 6-12 $15.00 member, $20.00 non member. Call 843-722-2996 x 264 or for more info, go to www.rchesser@charlestonmuseum.org.
January 9th &10th - The Wizard of Oz The North Charleston Convention Center, North Charleston
January 15-16 - Half Marathon, 10k, 5k - North Charleston - The proceeds from this event benefit the R. Keith and Deborah C. Summey Youth Endowment for the Arts (YEA), a local non-profit that supports fine arts programming in Charleston County Schools. Performance groups from the area and our schools will dot the length of the course along with water and first-aid stations. The half marathon course starts on Noisette Blvd. near McMillan Ave. on the old Naval Shipyard, now known as 'The Navy Yard at Noisette.' The Navy Yard has a few old roads and several old railroad crossings; major hazards will be marked and staffed with volunteers to assist running the route with ease. Breathing in the history of the area as a garden retreat and then a Naval installation will make runners aware that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 10 Storehouse row, the heart of the Navy Yard, has been creatively reused now for the building arts and design center and is on the immediate left. 10 Storehouse Row is also home to our Fitness Expo, packet pick-up, walk-up registration and our pre-race meal. The building was built in 1939 under FDR's public works program as a distribution center.
January 20 - 23 - Annual Charleston Comedy Festival - Theatre 99, 280 Meeting Street, Charleston, 4 days - 38 shows - 9 venues for tickets, go to: www.etix.com
January 22-24, 2010 - The Charleston Boat Show - The Charleston Area Convention Center and Coliseum, Charleston, South Carolina, (864) 250-9713 Proudly Presented by The Tri-County Marine Trade Association Experience the Biggest Boat Show & Sale in the Lowcountry!
A record number of attendees visited the Charleston Boat Show held at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex this past January, making it the largest turnout in the Show's 27- year history. According to JBM & Associates, producers of the Show, overall attendance was 10,140- a 11% increase in attendance over last year's Show, and a 20% increase in attendance over the past 3 years.
"The Show was a great success and attendance was up significantly. Feedback from the dealers has been overwhelming positive, with very strong sales made at the Show, as well as later sales resulting from leads during the Show. The January Show is a barometer for the rest of the year; based on the Show results, 2010 should be another great year for Charleston area boat dealers," said Tim Clark of Longshore Boats.
Over the last 27 years, The Charleston Boat Show has established itself as the premier Boat Show in South Carolina, and a must attend event for boating enthusiasts in the Lowcountry. This year's Show was presented by Mercury Marine and sponsored by Sentry GMC and McElveen GMC. The Show featured more than 95 boat lines as well as the latest in marine accessories, products and services.
Jan 22, 2010 (Friday) to Feb 7, 2010 (Sunday) The Miracle Worker - The Footlight Players Theater, 20 Queen Street, Charleston, 843-722-4487 or http://www.footlightplayers. net
January 29 - The Charleston Lowcountry Oyster Festival Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant, SC- 65,000 pounds of oysters will roll into Boone Hall Plantation on Sunday, for the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association's 23rd Annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival supported by the Town of Mt. Pleasant. Just 10,000 tickets will be sold so get yours early. Advance tickets are $8.00 and will be available from all Charleston Area Applebee's Restaurants. Tickets at the gate are $10.00 with children 10 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Gates open at 10:30am with plenty of free parking inside. For more information about the Lowcountry Oyster Festival go to: Charleston Restaurant Assn.
February
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition Charleston, SC– Historic Charleston & the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition . . . For one weekend each year in February, the genteel city of Charleston roars to life with the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, the nation’s largest wildlife art and nature event. The exposition showcases original paintings, carvings and sculpture by some of the most gifted artists in the wildlife art genre, as well as photography, gifts and collectibles, conservation exhibits, family activities, and more. For more information about the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.
March
Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens Explore the interiors and gardens of some of the finest homes in America during the 59th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens Mid-March through Mid-April. Festival tours feature the interiors and gardens of approximately 150 historic private houses in 10 colonial and antebellum neighborhoods during the peak of the city's blooming season. The Festival also will feature several Plantation Oyster Roasts and Picnics at Drayton Hall Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, c. 1738, and daily walking tours through the Old and Historic District. Included again this year will be a number of delicious and entertaining luncheons, as well as plantation and harbor tours. The Luncheon Lecture Series features three-course meal menus, book signings and presentations by Charleston authors and historians. For more information about the Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens.
The Garden Club of Charleston Visit beautiful houses and gardens in historic, downtown Charleston that are made available to our club by friends and members For more information about the The Garden Club of Charleston.
The Flowertown Festival The Flowertown Festival is the LARGEST Arts & Crafts festival in South Carolina and has been named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. This family-oriented 3-day event is held each spring, set against the backdrop of blooming azaleas in Azalea Park, in the charming and historic town of Summerville, South Carolina... just 18 miles from Charleston.
For more information about the The Flowertown Festival.
Apr
Cooper River Bridge Run The Cooper River Bridge Run. For more information about the The Bridge Run.
Family Circle Cup The Family Circle Cup. For more information about the The Family Circle Cup.As a top women’s professional tennis tournament (Tier I) on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, the Family Circle Cup attracts the top female athletes in the world. Every April, tennis stars descend on Charleston to compete for one of the most coveted trophies in the sport. Celebrating over three decades in women’s professional tennis, the 2007 Family Circle Cup is scheduled for April 7th - 15th at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information on this 9-day event that brings nearly 100,000 people to Charleston each year, visit www.familycirclecup.com.
Lowcountry Cajun Festival For more information about the The Lowcountry Cajun Festival.
East Coast Canoe and Kayak For more information about the East Coast Canoe and Kayak.
May
Charleston Maritime Festival For more information about the Charleston Maritime Festival.
Sculpture in the South For more information about the Sculpture in the South.
Piccolo Spoleto For more information about the Piccolo Spoleto.
Spoleto For more information about the Spoleto.
June
Piccolo Spoleto For more information about the Piccolo Spoleto.
AVP Charleston Open The best volleyball players in the world compete on the AVP Tour, and they're all coming to Charleston! Catch the stars of the game that include internationally known Olympic Gold Medalists and AVP superstars such as Kerri Walsh, Misty-Mae, Holly McPeak, Karch Kiraly, and Stein Metzger as the 2007 AVP Charleston Open marks the AVP's first appearance in Charleston as the world's top volleyball stars come to the Family Circle Tennis Center, June 14-17, 2007. Twenty-four teams will compete in both men's & women's competition. For more information on this action-packed 4-day annual event, visit www.familycirclecup.com.
July
Patriot's Point 4th of July Celebration For more information about the Patriot's Point 4th of July Celebration.
Blue Grass and BBQ Festival For more information about the Blue Grass and BBQ Festival.
September
Fall Tours of Homes and Garden - The Preservation Society of Walking tours held on the peninsula of Charleston with the city's various historic neighborhoods. The Tours feature the interiors of architecturally significant privately owned homes, beautiful gardens, churches and public buildings of historic Charleston. All proceeds benefit the Preservation Society of Charleston. For more info Call 843-722-4630. http://www.preservationsociety.org 147 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401
MOJA Arts Festival The Moja Festival is a celebration of African American and Caribbean Art. For more information about the Moja Festival Festival.
October
Annual Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens We invite you to experience Charleston’s distinctive architecture, history and culture during the Preservation Society of Charleston’s Annual Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens. Visit intimate gardens and architecturally significant private homes, churches and public buildings as you stroll through our historic streets. Tours highlight American architecture from the early Georgian Period into the 20th century. You will enjoy unique neighborhoods that represent Charleston’s flourishing culture from the Colonial era to the present. Most of the properties on tour are privately owned and are open to the public exclusively for the Preservation Society of Charleston. The tour starts the last weekend of September for 5 weeks into October each year. Tickets may be purchased online at www.preservationsociety.org; by telephoning (843) 722-4630; in person at 147 King Street; or by mailing in the ticket order form.
December
Holiday Festival of Lights The Holiday Festival of Lights, James Island County Park. For more information about the Holiday Festival of Lights.
Visit our events calendar listing all events around town and times.
Charleston's Finest
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