There’s lots to celebrate in Charleston, from its talented musicians and writers to its wealth of history. This fall, the city will host several open-to-the-public festivals highlighting the best in Southern culture, and as one of the South’s most cosmopolitan cities, it only makes sense they’re being held in Charleston. Whether you’re a country music fan, a bookworm, a shopping addict, or just want to learn more about the city’s hidden gems, there’s something here for you. Read on for our guide to the best fall festivals in Charleston.
All That Jazz: Lowcountry Jazz Festival
September 4–6
Jazz is baked into Charleston’s DNA, and nowhere is that more evident than at the Lowcountry Jazz Festival, which will take place over the course of Labor Day weekend. The three-night festival features three headliners – Grammy-winning neo-soul singer Anthony Hamilton, multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala, and jazz duo RnR (Robert Elliot and Rick Braun) – with artists like saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and Japanese keyboardist Keiko Matsui rounding out the talented lineup. The Lowcountry Jazz Festival kicks off Friday night with its All White Party at the Charleston Gaillard Center, the world-class performing arts theater and exhibition hall that has become a de facto symbol of Charleston’s cultural vibrancy. The event will feature the music of Ingala, whose tenor saxophone will keep things moving all night long. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate Charleston’s rich legacy as an incubator for American jazz.
Country Roads: Riverfront Revival
October 9-10
Darius Rucker’s two-day music festival at Charleston’s Riverfront Park is billed as a “love letter to country music and to South Carolina’s Lowcountry” – after all, the “Wagon Wheel” crooner and former frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish was born and raised in Charleston, and continues to champion the city’s musicians. In addition to Rucker, who will headline the festival, the lineup features Nelly, Trombone Shorty, BigXThaPlug, Old Dominion, and other Southern musicians, each of whom embody the diverse sounds of the region’s contemporary music scene. The family-friendly festival will also feature Lowcountry food and drink (boiled peanuts, whiskey), while a portion of the proceeds will go toward Charleston’s MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.
Home Sweet Homes: Preservation Society’s Fall Home Tours
October 1-31
Charleston is practically brimming with history, and nowhere tells the story of Charleston’s history like its homes. The city is famous for its dozens of opulent historic homes – many of which are open to the public, but more of which are private, its architectural treasures hiding behind wrought iron gates. In October, though, the Preservation Society of Charleston will lead its signature Fall Home Tours, now in its 50th year, allowing visitors rare access into some of the finest homes and gardens across the city. Themed walking tours include Charleston’s Pink Houses (Oct. 2), Forging Ahead: The Ironwork of Charleston (Oct. 3-23), Black History that Shaped Charleston (Oct. 7), and Exploring South of Broad (Oct. 24), the picture-perfect neighborhood known for its cobblestone streets lined with sherbert-colored historic homes and their parterre gardens.
Ladybird Books
Reading Between the Lines: Charleston Literary Festival
November 6-15
From DuBose Heyward to Pat Conroy, Charleston has a rich literary tradition, but it’s not just local writers who will be featured at this year’s Charleston Literary Festival. The list of confirmed speakers includes 21 critically-acclaimed writers from around the world: Barbara Kingsolver, the bestselling author of Demon Copperhead, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Hernan Diaz, genre-defying poet Claudia Rankine, essayist Roxane Gay, and famed memoirist Susan Orlean, among others. Now in its tenth year, this boutique ten-day festival will take place at the Dock Street Theater in the historic French Quarter, with about 50 events where authors and intellectuals will read and discuss their latest works. The Festival will also offer a fellowship prize of $10,000 and a full Charleston residency to an emerging writer from the Carolinas, helping to nurture the next generation of literary talent in the region.
Curated Finds: Garden & Gun Winter Market
November 20-22
Garden & Gun is the South’s premiere lifestyle magazine, and the team is behind some of Charleston’s best and buzziest events. This November, G&G will host the beloved Winter Market, a curated marketplace with the region’s best local artisans and makers. The maker’s market, which takes place at the Cigar Factory headquarters, is open to the public, just in time for the holiday season. The associated Made in the South Awards celebrate the best artists, designers, and chefs among those vendors–think silk scarves, fine jewelry, bespoke leather boots, and coastal-cool decor for the festive season. It’s a display of the absolute best in Southern food, drink, craft and design, and naturally, it’s right in the heart of Charleston.