Christmas in Charleston, SC is one of the most wonderful places to be during the most wonderful time of year! The weather is fabulous and this charming city outdoes itself with its gorgeous Christmas decorations, events, shopping, and festive tours.
As a lifelong Charlestonian, I am sharing all of my favorite traditions and things to do during the holidays in Charleston.
In this guide, I’m telling you all about where to find the best Christmas decorations, light displays, the best places to shop for gifts, holiday activities, Christmas markets, and festive themed bars for holiday cocktails.
Now that I have a daughter, I love showing her the many things to do in Charleston at Christmas that I loved as a child. So, you can count on plenty of family friendly recommendations as well!
Read on to plan your holiday season in Charleston!
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Events for Christmas in Charleston SC
There is always something going on in Charleston and Christmas time is no different. From annual events that locals cherish to new festivals this year, here are some of the best events to discover. And don’t forget, it is parade season so I have included some of the best ones around the area!
Holiday Festival of Lights
November 14-December 31, 2025
The Holiday Festival of Lights is an annual event that I have been going to my whole life. It’s held at the James Island County Park and you drive in your car (with a cup of hot cocoa), tune into the Christmas station and cruise through the miles long light displays.
After you drive through a few times, stop in the village to see Santa, ride the train, checkout the gingerbread house competition and more. It’s one of the iconic Charleston Christmas traditions.
Illumination Charleston
December 5-6, 2025
Illumination Charleston is presented by Southern Living and features workshops, demonstrations, parties, and a holiday market with southern tastemakers.
New this year is the Southern Living Idea House on Kiawah Island that you can tour. It will be decorated for the holidays so it’s the perfect time to check it out!
Charleston Boat Parade
December 13, 2025
The Charleston Boat Parade is always a fun tradition here in Charleston. It takes place in the Charleston Harbor and you can watch from anywhere with a view of the Cooper River. Enjoy seeing the boats lit up as night falls (around 6pm).
No tickets required – good spots to watch are Patriots Point, Waterfront Park, and the Battery.
Charleston Christmas Parade
December 7th, 2024 (2025 date is TBD)
The Charleston Christmas Parade will be held on December 7th, 2024 beginning at 3pm on Broad and Rutledge heading toward Meeting Street where it will end at the Calhoun and Meeting St Intersection.
Mount Pleasant Parade
Sunday, December 14th, 2025
The Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade is one of the absolute bests! It will be on Sunday, December 14th, 2025 beginning at 5:30pm running down Coleman Boulevard beginning at Live Oak Drive and ending at Patriots Point Rd. around 8pm.
Folly Beach Parade
Saturday, December 13th, 2025
The Folly Beach Christmas Parade is always low-key and very festive! It will be on Saturday, December 13th, 2025 beginning at 12:00pm running down Center Street. Learn more about it here.
Reindeer Run 5K
Saturday, December 13th, 2025
The Reindeer Run will be held on Saturday, December 13th, 2025 at 9am. The event is super popular and has up to 3500 runners. Race through beautiful downtown Charleston in your best holiday costume.
It is a fundraiser for MUSC Children’s Hospital so you’ll be supporting a great organization!
Marion Square Christmas Tree Lighting
The lighting of the official Christmas tree is one the best traditions. Gather in Marion Square for the celebration as this 64-foot Christmas tree comes to life!
Christmas Lights in Charleston, SC
Charleston really shows off this time of year. Here are the best places to see Christmas light displays.
Holiday Festival of Lights
Mentioned above, this is the best place to see Christmas lights in Charleston and get in the holiday spirit!
Charleston Boat Parade
Also, I talked about the boat parade above. It’s a very Lowcountry way to see festive Christmas lights. Even better if you have a boat and want to participate!
Aquarium Aglow
Begins Thursday, November 21, 2024 (date for 2025 is TBA!)
Aquarium Aglow at the South Carolina Aquarium is a family-friendly event. Take your kids to enjoy thousands of lights throughout the aquarium along with interactive displays. And, there’s beer and wine available! Win-win!
The event opens to the public on November 21, 2024 and runs from 5:30pm until 9:00pm on select dates through the end of the year.
Christmas Markets in Charleston, SC
Charleston is a magical place to visit during the holiday season and the Christmas Markets are a big part of the charm! Whether you want to shop for locally made gifts and seasonal decor or just want to get in the holiday spirt, these markets are sure to deliver!
Garden & Gun Winter Market
November 21-23, 2025
Head over to the Garden & Gun headquarters on East Bay Street for a holiday market full of local artisans. It’s the perfect opportunity to shop local and get your holiday gifts purchased early. Find unique local and regional products from brands like Clayton & Crume, Middleton Made Knives, and Brackish to name a few.
G&G Winter Market will feature the winners of the 16th Annual Made in the South Awards plus past winners and runners-up including those in food, drink, style, home, and outdoors! There will be food and drinks of course, but also fun demonstrations celebrating southern artists and craftsmanship.
The event runs 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday and 12pm-4pm on Sunday.
The Jasper 3rd Annual Holiday Market
Saturday, November 23, 2024 (TBA for 2025)
The Jasper Holiday Market will be back on November 23rd from 10am -2pm so you can shop with over 40+ vendors. Enjoy live music and tasty food offerings!
Christkindlmarkt Charleston 2025
December 5-7 and 12-14, 2025
The Christkindlmarkt Charleston might be the closest you can get to an authentic German Christmas market in South Carolina. They offer everything from seasonal decor to gifts from local makers. Plus, they import many unique finds from all over Europe!
Take the kids for a day of family fun OR make it a girls night out at the night market. The market is open at select times on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for two weeks of December – 5th-7th and 12th-14th. You do need to buy tickets in advance.
Illumination Holiday Market
Saturday, December 6, 2025
I mentioned the Southern Living Illumination event earlier, but their holiday market at the Charleston Visitor Center is not to be missed. This exclusive market features southern artisans selected by the editors at Southern Living, plus workshops and demonstrations. The ticket costs $125 and includes entertainment, light bites, and drinks! It’s a full day affair!
Things to do in Charleston at Christmas
A few of my favorite things to do in Charleston for Christmas. These are some festive tours, attractions, performances, and special offerings that will enhance your holiday visit to Charleston, SC.
Holiday Walking Tour
I always recommend a walking tour for first time visitors. It’s a great way to get a lay of the land! By walking, you’ll get better up close views of the scenery and historic architecture. And at Christmas time, expect beautiful decorations at these stately homes.
This Holiday Walking Tour will take you on a tour through the historic district hearing stories and traditions from Charleston’s rich history.
I also suggest the Holiday Cocktail Tour (yes, you read that right). Stop into some of the area’s festive bars for 3 cocktails and an abbreviated walking tour to learn about Charleston’s history.
Find the best experiences in Charleston on Get Your Guide today. I love to peruse their site for tours in my favorite destinations. You can sort and filter by ratings and read reviews from others to help you find the perfect tour.
See “A Christmas Carol” at the Dock Street Theater
Experience America’s oldest theater, the Dock Street for their annual Christmas performances. Plan to see A Christmas Carol with showings November 29 – December 21, 2025. It is truly such a special place to see a play and is located on one of my favorite streets in Charleston! I absolutely LOVE getting to see this performance at Christmastime!
Hear the Sound of Charleston
The Sound of Charleston performs in the Circular Congregational Church with sounds including gospel, Gullah, jazz, and classics. The Holiday Show is not to be missed – enjoy holiday songs, cider and cookies!
Charleston Place Hotel – Train Display & Snow Fall
The Charleston Place Hotel is the most iconic hotel in Charleston and has become known for their incredible train display during the holidays. Visit their lobby to see it in action!
They have also added a really cool experience where it “snows” – yes, snows – daily at 6pm and 8pm in the Market Street Circle. You have to see this luxury hotel in all its Christmas glory! We took our 1 year old last year and it was honestly really fun!!
The snowfall is free, but you have to reserve tickets in advance! I’m talking in November when they open registration. However, we happened to walk by one evening and were able to walk right in. It’s worth trying even if you can’t snag a spot in advance.
Charleston Holiday Farmers Market
The Charleston Farmers Market will take on the holidays beginning in December on Saturday & Sunday’s from 9am until 3pm at Marion Square.
Christmas Shopping on King Street
There is no better place to shop for Christmas gifts than King Street. You will find festive decorations at the local boutiques, men’s stores, national retailers, and local art galleries. I’m sharing my favorite Charleston gifts below and you can check out my favorite King Street shops here!
Drinks at The Dewberry
The Dewberry is one of my favorite hotels in the city. It is super swanky and does a unique light display at Christmas. Have drinks in their lobby, referred to as the Living Room. We go here every Christmas eve for a glass of champagne!
It’s super cosy with lounge seating inside and tables outside on the patio overlooking Marion Square. It’s one of my favorite spots on a cool, winter night. Or head upstairs to The Citrus Club for drinks and a great view of the 64-foot Christmas Tree lit up at Marion Square.
Get Hot Chocolate at the Lifesized Gingerbread House
Hotel Bennett is right in the heart of the city at Marion Square. They do a lifesized gingerbread house in their main lobby serving hot chocolate! Such a great family friendly activity to see their luxury decorations, too.
Meet Santa and Have Your Photo Taken
There are plenty of place to meet Santa in Charleston. But, if you’re a local with kids, these are my top recommendations:
- Santa & Mrs. Claus at The Dewberry – They only do this on one date, but it’s the most authentic Santa and you get Mrs. C, too!! We took our daughter last year and it was so fun! It’s free and they’ll take a photo for you, but it’s on your phone or camera – no professional photographer!
- The Charleston Santa at The Charleston Visitor Center – The Visitor Center hosts “the Charleston Santa’ for several days in December at The Best Friend Train Museum. it is totally free and you get a printed photo to keep. Reserve your time slot in advance!!
Local Charleston Shops for Christmas Gifts
A collection of my favorite Charleston stores to do your Christmas shopping and pick out new Charleston ornaments for your tree.
- LAKE Pajamas
- Croghan’s Jewel Box (also, great for ornaments this time of year)
- Old Whaling Company
- M. Dumas and Sons (mens’ store)
- Jordan Lash (mens’ store)
- WonderWorks (kids)
- Candlefish
- HART Jewelry
- Blue Bicycle Books
- Copper Penny (women’s clothing)
- Preservation Society Gift Shop – a hidden gem for local items in one place, tax free!
- Gold Creations (jewelry)
- Rhodes Boutique
Charleston Gifts and Charleston Ornaments
Some of my go to gifts that are locally made in Charleston from small businesses plus a few ornaments for your tree 🙂
