Looking for the best things to do in Charleston in the fall? Whether you’re local or planning a visit, it can be hard to narrow down what’s worth your time during one of the most beautiful seasons in the Lowcountry.
As a lifelong Charleston local, I’ve done all of these fall activities year after year and I’m sharing the very best ones in this Charleston fall bucket list. From spooky ghost tours and live music festivals to pumpkin patches and local wine tastings, these are the Charleston fall events and experiences I look forward to the most.
This guide is perfect if you’re a local looking to make the most of the season or a visitor building your itinerary.
You’ll find can’t-miss events, cozy seasonal outings, and insider tips from a Charleston native.
Scroll through and start checking off your Charleston, SC fall bucket list because autumn here is just too good to miss.
Charleston Fall Bucket List: Here are the best things to do in Charleston in fall
1. Boone Hall Fright Nights & Pumpkin Patch
Dates: September 26 – October 26 (pumpkin patch) | Fright Nights are September 27 – November 1
Boone Hall is the ultimate destination for Halloween fun in Charleston and is a must for your Charleston fall bucket list! Take the kids to the pumpkin patch, explore the petting zoo, and wind your way through the 8-acre corn maze. It’s the largest fall festival in the state! Admission is $15 and free for kids under 2.
On weekend nights, Boone Hall Fright Nights takes over and it’s not for the faint of heart. Think haunted hayrides and terrifying walkthroughs. This event is for ages 12+ and tickets start at $39. Open September 27- November 1 on select nights!
2. Attend the Fall Tours of Homes & Gardens
Dates: October 1-31, 2025
Hosted by the Preservation Society of Charleston, these guided walking tours offer a rare chance to step inside historic private homes and lush gardens throughout downtown. Perfect for architecture lovers and anyone curious about Charleston’s past.
Check out the full schedule and get tickets here.
3. Charleston Food and Wine Classic
Dates: November 14-16, 2025
This elevated culinary event is a newcomer to Charleston’s food scene and already making waves. 2024 was their first year and it was so much fun! Expect tastings, chef demos, and seminars led by top culinary talent from across the country including our own local chefs and sommeliers! Created in partnership with Explore Charleston, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living, it’s one for the books.
4. Magnolia Plantation Beauti-Fall Festival
Dates: Saturday, September 20, 2024 (2025 dates TBA!)
Wander the beautiful grounds of Magnolia Plantation while enjoying food vendors, seasonal games, and fall-themed activities for the whole family. It’s a fun and relaxed way to welcome the season.
5. Riverfront Revival
Dates: October 10–11, 2025
This homegrown music festival by Darius Rucker is a celebration of Southern music and good vibes. Hosted at North Charleston’s scenic Riverfront Park, Riverfront Revival is a weekend of live performances, local eats, and community spirit. Check the official website for this year’s headliners and tickets.
6. Octoberfest Charleston
Dates: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Oktoberfest Charleston is a lively event that celebrates German culture with a variety of beers, traditional food, live music, and games. It’s a fun-filled day perfect for enjoying a festive atmosphere and experiencing authentic Oktoberfest traditions.
7. Harvest Festival at Johns Island County Park
Dates: Saturday, November 1, 2025
The Harvest Festival at Johns Island County Park is hosted by the Charleston County Parks Department and is the perfect Fall family event! Enjoy live and local bluegrass music, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, and plenty of activities for kids. They’ll be serving the best fall southern cuisine like Carolina barbecue and of course some kettle corn!
8. The Moja Arts Festival
Dates: September 25 – October 5, 2025
The MOJA Arts Festival honors African American and Caribbean culture with an inspiring mix of music, dance, poetry, film, art, and storytelling. Events take place across the city and most are free or low-cost.
9. Spend the day at Deep Water Vineyard
Deep Water Vineyard, located on Wadmalaw Island, is Charleston’s only vineyard known for their muscadine wine. This gorgeous estate is perfect to spend a fall day during the harvest season. Do a wine tasting or simply grab a glass of wine and have a picnic. They usually have all kinds of events and live music on the weekends as well.
10. Take a Haunted Ghost Tour
Fall is the best time to explore Charleston’s haunted history. From graveyards to ghost stories, there are plenty of spooky tours to choose from. My favorite? The nighttime ghost tours through the historic district or haunted jail. Check out this one with over 200 5-star reviews:
11. Go Crabbing with Tia
This hands-on lowcountry experience is unlike anything else. I went Crabbing with Tia in November one year and had the absolute best time! We caught so many crabs and Tia is such a gem!! You’ll join Tia Clark, a local legend, for an unforgettable day crabbing off the docks and learning about Charleston’s coastal traditions.
12. Visit a Brewery
Cooler temps = perfect brewery weather. Try seasonal brews and pumpkin ales at some of my local favorites like Revelry, Westbrook, Edmund’s Oast, Holy City, and Low Tide Brewery. Many offer food trucks and live music on fall weekends.
13. Catch a Concert
There is always live music somewhere in Charleston and the fall is the perfect time to catch a show at one of the outdoor venues. Check the schedules at some of the best open air venues like The Windjammer on IOP, Firefly Distillery, and the Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island.
14. Take a Walking Tour
Fall is prime time for historic walking tours with less heat, more charm. Choose a historic tour, architecture walk, or culinary experience led by a certified local guide. It’s the best way to get immersed in Charleston’s past and present.
I always recommend a walking tour in Charleston especially in the fall. It is the best way to really see Charleston up close and hear from the amazing certified tour guides.
15. Visit the Marion Square Farmers Market
Head to the Marion Square Farmer’s Market to grab a coffee and stroll through the different vendors. The local farms will be there with all the best fall produce and local artisans will sell their works.
16. Attend a Football Game at The Citadel
Fall football is small, but fun here! Catch a game at Johnson Hagood Stadium and get in the spirit with tailgates and local pride.
17. Go Apple Picking in the Upstate
If you’re a local, make a day trip or weekend getaway to the SC or NC mountains to go apple picking. Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, NC (just 3.5 hours away) is a local favorite and makes for a perfect weekend fall getaway.
18. Explore the Angel Oak Tree
The cooler weather makes fall a great time to visit this ancient live oak. It’s less crowded in the fall, and the golden light makes for beautiful photos.
19. Take a Sunset Sail
Fall sunsets in Charleston are some of the best. Book a sunset sail around the harbor or hop on a catamaran for views of the Battery, Fort Sumter, and Ravenel Bridge. I love this one that is limited to only 50 people aboard a GORGEOUS tall ship!
Also see: The Best Places to Go in October
20. Take a Kayak or Paddleboard Tour Through Fall Marshes
The weather is cooler but still sunny which perfect for exploring Shem Creek or Folly’s estuaries by kayak or SUP. Fall light over the marsh is magic, and you might spot dolphins or migrating birds. I LOVE when the marsh grass turns from green to a golden color against the blue sea.
21. Attend Second Sunday on King Street
Dates: Second Sunday of each month, including October and November
King Street closes to traffic and transforms into a pedestrian promenade with outdoor dining, shopping, live music, and local vendors. The fall versions are extra festive!
22. Go Leaf Peeping at Cypress Gardens
Located in Moncks Corner (about 40 minutes from downtown), Cypress Gardens is stunning in the fall. Stroll or paddle through cypress swamps surrounded by changing leaves and Spanish moss. You’ll recognize it from The Notebook—yes, that boat scene.
23. Take a Day Trip to Botany Bay
Fall is the perfect time to visit this serene beach and preserve on Edisto Island known as Botany Bay. You’ll walk along a quiet shell-strewn path through a maritime forest that opens up to a hauntingly beautiful “boneyard beach” with fallen trees and driftwood.
24. Experience Ghost Stories at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
Dates: Select nights in October
This historic site offers candlelit tours of the dungeon, where you’ll hear stories of pirates, prisoners, and Charleston’s dark past. It’s one of the city’s oldest and most chilling haunted experiences. Check it out here:
25. Halloween on the Harbor Cruise
Several local boat companies (like Charleston Harbor Tours or Saltwater Cycle) offer Halloween-themed harbor cruises. Think costume parties, drinks, music, and Charleston’s skyline under the moonlight. Perfect for adults looking for a festive night out on the water.
26. Attend a Halloween Party at a Local Bar or Rooftop
Many local bars, rooftops, and distilleries host adult Halloween parties the weekend before Oct. 31. Some to keep an eye on:
- Uptown Social (costume contests and DJs)
- The Watch Rooftop
- Firefly Distillery’s Halloween Bash
- Bay Street Biergarten
27. Take a Self-Guided Stroll Through Historic Cemeteries
Wander through graveyards like St. Philip’s Church, Circular Congregational, and Unitarian Churchyard. These historic burial sites are beautiful by day and hauntingly atmospheric as dusk sets in. Just be respectful as these are still active, sacred places.
You can also do this guided tour which is great if you’d like more history and local knowledge:
The Wrap Up: Charleston Fall Bucket List
Charleston in the fall is pure magic with cooler air, golden sunsets, and so many ways to enjoy the season. Whether you’re sipping wine under the oaks, getting spooked on a ghost tour, or dancing under the stars at a music festival, this Charleston fall bucket list is packed with unforgettable experiences.
Whether you’re a local looking for new adventures or a visitor planning your itinerary, I hope this guide helps you discover the very best things to do in Charleston in the fall. Let me know which one you’re checking off first!
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