Charleston SC 2013 Holiday Events

Celebrate the holidays in Charleston SC at the Holiday Festival of Lights, Boone Hall Plantation Christmas, the Charleston Reindeer Run, the Jingle Bell Ball and more!

Charleston SC Christmas events and holiday celebrations feature Christmas lights, holiday pub crawls, Christmas trees, holiday parades, festivals and more! Enjoy over 700 displays and two million lights at Charleston's Holiday Festival of Lights, listen to your favorite holiday songs at Charleston Music Hall's Christmas Special and watch as boats decorated from stem to stem cruise along the Charleston Harbor in the Charleston Holiday Parade of Boats. Mark your calendar today so that you can enjoy all of these exciting holiday events with family and friends.

Visiting from out of town to experience Christmas in Charleston? Contact our Charleston hotel partners today to enjoy comfortable accommodations, a delicious hot breakfast and more!

2013 Charleston SC Holiday Events:

Holiday Festival of Lights
Now - December 31, 2013
Featuring over 700 displays and two million lights, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a cherished holiday tradition for many families throughout Charleston and beyond. The Holiday Festival of Lights has been recognized around the country and the world. It was featured as the only U.S. event in Moscow's Festival of Festivals. More than just a driving tour, Holiday Festival of Lights offers a magnificent sculpture made from over 50 tons of sand, an up-close look at the lights on the holiday train, mouth-watering treats from Santa's Sweet Shoppe, handmade gingerbread houses a Victorian carousel and more! Call 843-795-4386 for more information.

5th Annual Holiday Pub Crawl in Charleston SC
Now - January 10, 2014
Back by popular demand, the Holiday Pub Crawl is the best way to tour Charleston in a unique and festive way, celebrating everything local! Nothing represents the holiday season better than friends, family, warm cider and spirits, and tables topped with plates of different hors d'oeuvres to enjoy! Visit historic taverns and pubs, feast on appetizers and holiday treats, and taste local craft beer, Christmas ale or beverage of choice during this exciting holiday event! Call 843-577-5535 for more information.

Official City of Charleston Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 30, 2013
Holiday festivities kick off on Saturday, November 30th with the opening of a special extended Holiday Farmers Market in Marion Square, followed by the Official City of Charleston Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4:30PM in the park.

Charleston Christmas Parade
December 1, 2013
Celebrate the 33rd Annual Charleston Christmas Parade in downtown Charleston on Sunday, December 1st. The parade begins at 2PM at the intersection of Calhoun and Meeting Streets and proceeds down King Street to Broad Street to Lockwood Blvd. Bring family and friends to this exciting two hour event!

Boone Hall Plantation Christmas
December 1 - 31, 2013
As holiday time rolls through Boone Hall's magnificent oaks, Boone Hall Plantation Christmas comes alive with festivities, decorations, and good ole southern holiday hospitality, that is only befitting America’s Most Photographed plantation. There’s something special about this plantation home’s holiday attire. For example, there’s a variety of very creative ornaments on one tree that is made with local sweetgrass. On another tree there’s decorations made with cotton and berries grown right on the plantation. There are wreaths made from magnolia tree leaves also grown on these historical grounds. It’s holiday decorating at its finest…an annual affair at Boone Hall.

The Charleston Christmas Special at Charleston Music Hall
December 6, 2013 at 7PM
Seen by over 9,000 people each year, this year's show will once again be all new and filled with more of your favorite holiday songs and dances. This show sells out, so get your tickets early! Call 843-853-2252 for more information.

23rd Annual Reindeer Run
December 7, 2013
The Charleston Reindeer Run starts and finishes in front of Southend Brewery. Register today so that you can race against family and friends at the 2013 Reindeer Run. At the finish line, there will be plenty of music, food and drinks - free for race participants! Complimentary beer will be served from 9:30AM - 11AM as racers cool down and awards are presented. The fun will continue during the After Party, where Southend Brewery beer, Bloody Marys, appetizers and more will be at happy hour prices until 2PM.

Christmas Festival and Parade
December 7, 2013 from 3PM - 9PM
The 2013 Christmas Festival includes a Holiday Market with children's activities, craft and food vendors, and live musical performances on two stages. The Christmas Parade begins at the corner of Montague and Mixson Avenues, proceeds down Montague, around Park Circle, and concludes at Armory Park.

Charleston Holiday Parade of Boats
December 7, 2013
The 32nd Annual Holiday Parade of Boats will be held in Charleston Harbor. Thousands of spectators will view boats decorated from stem to stem with lights! Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place boats in both the power and sail categories, with the best-in-show award going to the highest scoring boat overall. Call 843-724-7414 for more information.

North Charleston Pops - A Rockin' Christmas
December 7, 2013
The POPS! presents a rockin' good time featuring the greatest pops music of the season. Classics like Santa Baby, White Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Feliz Navidad, Celebrate Me Home, Merry Christmas Darling, and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, are just a few of the treats awaiting you on this high-energy holiday concert. Call 843-202-2787 for tickets.

Jingle Bell Ball
December 18, 2013 at 8PM
Mix 95.9's Jingle Bell Ball presents The Fray, Avril Lavigne, Daughtry, Jesse McCartney and special appearances from ZZ Ward! Contact the North Charleston Coliseum at 843-529-5000 for ticket information.

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker
December 26, 2013
40 star-studded dancers perform Olympic-worthy leaps in Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. It is the holiday performance for families with magical toys, falling snow, growing Christmas trees, and astounding ballet moves. The Moscow Ballet dancers are world- class and a delight to experience. Celebrate Russian ballet and the beauty of the holidays in Moscow Ballet’s grand production of the Great Russian Nutcracker! Bring the whole family for the quintessential Holiday experience. Tickets are going fast so get your seats now! Contact the North Charleston Performing Arts Center at 843-529-5000 for ticket information.

Danielle Snyder
Charleston SC Events