Holiday Festivals, Parades, & Tree Lightings in Charleston

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There are so many wonderful holiday festivals and celebrations taking place around the Lowcountry this year! Parades, tree lightings, and festivals…we’ve got you covered!

*Please note – While we make every effort to crosscheck current links and event details on our guides, we always encourage you to do the same before making final plans. If details are missing or incorrect, please let us know so that we can correct them.


Holiday Festival of Lights

Dates: November 10 – December 31

Location: James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston

Details: Featuring over 700 displays and 2 million lights, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a cherished holiday tradition for many families throughout Charleston and beyond.


Mt Pleasant Towne Centre Lights Up

Dates: November 18, 6 pm

Location: Mt Pleasant Towne Centre, 1218 Belk Dr, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Details: Don’t miss the spectacular laser light show and the lighting of our 44′ Christmas tree. Live performances by the East Cooper Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra and Isabella Ullo Plus a visit from jolly old St. Nicholas himself, as well as delicious food and drinks.


Let It Snow

Dates: November 24 – December 30, Tree Lighting on November 24 at 6 pm (sold out)

Location: The Charleston Place, 205 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401

Details: Witness the rare occurrence of snow in the Holy City and watch as snow magically falls on Market Street Circle blanketing the holiday trees in a lovely sheet of winter white. Enjoy cocoa and sweet treats available for purchase from the Gingerbread House, as well as a cash bar with seasonal cocktails like Spiked Cocoa and Cider, and a Candy Cane Martini. Snow queue starts at 5 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm, at the entrance to the Market Street Circle. Gates open 15 minutes in advance of the snowfall. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Reservations are required.


Folly Beach Tree Lighting

Dates: November 26, 7 pm

Location: Folly River Park


Old Time Summerville Christmas Celebration

Dates: November 28, 6 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Hutchinson Square, Summerville

Details: Join the Town of Summerville for our annual Town of Summerville Tree Lighting Ceremony in Downtown Summerville. This celebration includes pictures with Santa, the countdown and lighting ceremony, letters to Santa, live window displays, and more Holiday fun!


Christmas in the Creek Holiday Tree Lighting

Dates: December 1, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Goose Creek Municipal Center

Details: Kick off the holiday season in Goose Creek as the City’s Christmas tree is lit for everyone to see! Christmas in the Creek will feature holiday hayrides, holiday crafts, marshmallow roasting, photos with Santa, and LOTS more! The tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m. The Lakeside Light Display will be up throughout the month of December.


Light the Lake

Dates: December 1, 5 pm – 7 pm

Location: Colonial Lake

Details: Stroll along the Colonial Lake’s pathways adorned with more than 1,000 luminaries, creating a breathtaking glow. This free event begins the holiday season with a special tree lighting ceremony at 5:45 p.m., led by Mayor John Tecklenburg. The evening continues with live music performed by the Charleston Caroling Company, a delightful food village offering concessions, artist vignettes, a whimsical photo booth, and more!


Hanahan Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Vendor Market 

Dates: December 1, Vendor Market, 5:30 – 8:30 pm and tree lighting at 6 pm.

Location: Hanahan Amphitheater, 3100 Mabeline Rd, Hanahan

Details: Join us for our annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Vendor Market at he beautiful Hanahan Amphitheater. Meet Santa Claus, shop our local vendor market, enjoy some of the best food trucks in the low-country, and enjoy performances by our local school chorus groups, and bands! To end the night we will show a movie on the BIG screen!


IOP Holiday Street Festival

Dates: December 2, 2 pm – 7 pm

Location: Front Beach on the Isle of Palms

Details: Arts, crafts, food vendors, children’s activities, live entertainment, and Santa Claus!


City of Charleston Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting

Dates: December 3, 3 pm

Location: Marion Square

Details: Come join the City of Charleston for this fun, high-energy parade which will commence on Broad Street at Rutledge, travel North on Meeting Street, and conclude on Calhoun Street at Meeting Street. Participants include musical ensembles, clubs, and organizations. Tree Lighting to Follow in Marion Square.


Lights & Love

Dates: December 3, 6 pm – 8 pm

Location: Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre, 1218 Belk Drive, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Details: Please join us for Lights & Love, a very special holiday celebration for families with children on the spectrum. For some children with Autism and Neurodiversity, holidays can be challenging. Together as a community, we are celebrating the Possibilities, not the Disabilities. The evening will include live entertainment, face painting with Faith, balloon animals & glitter tattoos with Carol, a bounce house, arts & crafts, vendors, food trucks and more! Enjoy performances by the Charleston School of The Arts Jazz band and Charleston Voices Youth Choir plus fun with Matt’s Balloon Show. Plus, a visit from the one and only Santa Claus! Delicious bites available for purchase from Johnny Foccacia, New Dog Hot Dogs, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Holy City Popcorn, plus beer & wine from our friends at Burtons Grill & Bar.

Enjoy performances by Team Swagger, Charleston School of Arts Jazz Band, and Irene Rose, a nationally touring singer/songwriter that inspires children to love their neighbors, be kind, and to overcome darkness with light. Plus, a scavenger hunt of the beautiful holiday lights around Towne Centre as well as a visit from Santa Claus himself. Brought to you in partnership with Just Bee. Please register HERE!


Christmas in the Creek Holiday Parade

Dates: December 9, 9:30 am – 11 am

Location: Saint James Avenue, Goose Creek

Details: The annual Christmas in the Creek Holiday Parade is coming to Goose Creek on Saturday, Dec. 9! The parade will take place on St. James Avenue in Goose Creek, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The mile-long parade begins on St. James Avenue and continues to Marilyn Street. Road closures will begin at 8:00 a.m. Rain date is December 16.


Folly Beach Parade

Dates: December 9

Location: Folly Beach

Details: Join us on December 10th in Santa’s favorite beach town for The Annual City of Folly Beach Christmas Parade! Line up along Center Street as floats, marching bands and community associations show their holiday spirit. Visitors and locals are all welcome! Join Santa at Folly River Park to receive goodies after the parade!


Folly Beach Menorah Lighting

Dates: December 9, 12 pm

Location: Center Street


Charleston Holiday Parade of Boats

Dates: December 9, 6 pm

Location: Charleston Harbor

Details: Join another Lowcountry tradition at the Holiday Parade of Boats. This display of lighted and festive boats proceeds from the Cooper River, through the Charleston Harbor, and into the Ashley River. This is a family-friendly event is sure to become a holiday tradition for everyone. View the procession along Charleston’s waterfront decorate your own boat and join the parade (advance registration required).


Chanukah in the Square 2023

Dates: December 10, 4 pm – 6 pm

Location: Marion Square

Details: An initiative of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program at the College of Charleston and Chabad of Charleston and the Lowcountry, Chanukah in the Square is a festive celebration featuring live music, arts and crafts, and traditional seasonal food, culminating with the lighting of a menorah at dusk.


Summerville Christmas Parade

Dates: December 10, 2 pm

Location: Downtown Summerville

Details: The Summerville Christmas Parade is designed to promote positivity throughout the Town of Summerville while capturing the “spirit of the Christmas holiday.” The parade is a family-friendly, non-political event that aims to bring the community together to celebrate the season while representing the local traditions and Summerville hospitality. The 2023 theme is Christmas movies.


28th Annual Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade

Dates: December 10, 5:30 pm

Location: West Coleman Blvd.

Details: Brilliantly lit floats and community groups march down West Coleman Boulevard as the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade sets sail to the delights of thousands of residents and visitors.


Holiday Party With Santa

Dates: December 12, 4 pm – 5:30 pm

Location: Alhambra Hall

Details: Come to our Holiday drop-in with Santa and walk through our winter wonderland while enjoying Christmas music, crafts, cookie decorating, and games!


Deck the Halls: Golf cart Parade and Tree Lighting

Dates: December 19, 6 pm – 8 pm

Location: Nexton Square, 801 Nexton Square Drive, Summerville, SC

Details: Nexton residents will kick off the event with a parade of lighted golf carts which you can cheer on from the Midtown Lawn as they file in to be judged. Afterward, enjoy live music, food trucks kids activities and ooh and ahh over the tree lighting ceremony. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy that will benefit  Children in Crisis.


Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below!

10 COMMENTS

  1. Don’t forget about Wonderland of Temuco Lane. We’re partnered with Lowcountry Food Bank this year, to raise donations for them. Turning the lights on, Dec 1st and ending January 1st. Tune your radio to 88.1 FM.

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