There’s something quite magical about Charleston in December. The city’s historic streets are dotted with twinkling lights, festive music drifts from courtyards and churches, and holiday traditions—both old and new—fill every corner of the Holy City. Whether you’re strolling the Battery with a cup of cider, taking in illuminated boats on the harbor, or enjoying carollers sing the classics, ‘tis the season in Charleston.
If you’re joining us at The Pinch this December, here’s your guide to some of the city’s best holiday events.
If you’re joining us at The Pinch this December, here’s your guide to some of the city’s best holiday events.
Charleston Festival of Lights
NOVEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 16
Holiday Festival of Lights
For more than three decades, the Holiday Festival of Lights has been one of Charleston’s most dazzling seasonal traditions. Millions of multicolored lights transform James Island County Park into a wonderland of glowing displays. Families can stroll through enchanted pathways, shop for holiday ornaments and other seasonal trinkets, and enjoy kettle corn, hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows. (There’s even a build a reindeer workshop for the younger children.) The drive-through light show itself is a spectacle worth the trip alone.
Historic Charleston Home on The Battery
December 5–6
Christmas on The Battery: Carols, Candlelight & Gullah Christmas Stories
The Battery becomes even more atmospheric during this two-night celebration at the historic Edmondston-Alston House, one of the oldest houses in the region that also happens to overlook the harbor. Guests can leisurely explore the candlelit mansion, taking in festive décor as well as performances by the Charleston Caroling Company. In the courtyard, wine or hot cider keeps spirits warm while a local storyteller shares Gullah Christmas tales—a rare chance to experience Charleston’s cultural, if complicated, history in such an intimate setting.
Dock Street Theater
November 29 – December 21
A Christmas Carol at Dock Street Theatre
The nation’s first theatre stages one of literature’s most beloved holiday stories. Charleston Stage’s original musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol brings Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and Victorian London to life with an ensemble cast and classic carols. A tradition since 1978, this production has become a Lowcountry holiday pastime. Performances often sell out so reserve your tickets early.
Historic Charleston Home
December 2 – January 3
Charleston Strolls Holiday Walking Tour
Explore Charleston’s historic district dressed in holiday splendor. This two-hour walking tour leads guests down carriage-free lanes and cobblestone streets, hidden gardens and graveyards, weaving stories of Charleston’s past with glimpses of many of the grand, private homes decorated for the season. Highlights include the Four Corners of Law (at the intersection of Meeting and Broad streets) and The Battery, along with a tour of the Edmondston-Alston House. Ticket proceeds help preserve Charleston’s historic landmarks, making it both a festive and impactful experience.
Drayton Hall
Fridays–Sundays in December
Holiday Tours at Drayton Hall
Step back into the 18th century at Drayton Hall, one of the country’s most elegant estates and an excellent example of Palladian architecture, where special tours highlight how the holidays were observed in colonial times. Led by the Curator of Education, these tours explore questions of faith, family, and tradition, tracing the origins of Christmas customs we still celebrate today. The estate also hosts a Holiday Sip & Shop and a cookie decorating workshop during the season.
Candle Light Concert
Tuesdays & Fridays in December
Candlelight Performances of The Sound of Charleston
The city’s musical heritage is on full display during these candlelit concerts at Circular Congregational Church which was founded in 1681 and is one of the city’s most progressive. The holiday edition features seasonal selections alongside spirituals, jazz, gospel, and Civil War-era songs. After each show, guests are invited to celebrates over light refreshments. Performances later in December—on the 26th and 30th—are perfect for filling the quiet days between Christmas and New Year’s.
Holiday Parade of Boats
December 13
Holiday Parade of Boats
Few things capture Charleston’s maritime spirit like the Holiday Parade of Boats. Beginning at 6 p.m., vessels strung with lights sail from the Cooper River through the harbor and into the Ashley River. (Locals are invited to decorate their own craft and join the procession.)The sparkling procession is free to attend and viewable from many waterfront vantage points, making it one of the season’s most festive family traditions.
Holiday Sleigh Ride
Select Dates in December
Holiday Sleigh Ride
Step into a Lowcountry version of a classic holiday fantasy at the Old South Carriage Company. A horse-drawn carriage is transformed into a “sleigh” for a festive ride through downtown Charleston. Sing carols as you pass beneath gas lamps and garland-wrapped balconies, then warm up with hot chocolate and cookies back at Santa’s Stable. Kids will especially love this one-of-a-kind experience.
