Don't miss all the exciting cultural events that Charleston has to offer! We've highlighted a few events below, but please connect with us to stay up to date on what's happening in the arts scene. |
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HOLIDAY MAGIC IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON |
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The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs celebrates the holiday season with Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston, offering free, family-friendly activities and live performances for everyone in the community to enjoy.
Join us on Saturday December 10 and Sunday December 11 for Holiday Market in Marion Square from 9:00am-3:00pm. You’ll find everything you need to deck the halls for the holidays and fill the pantry with local goodies, all from local farmers, growers, artisans and crafters. Browse a wide assortment of art, crafts and holiday gift items and get your holiday shopping done early.
The Holiday Parade of Boats on Saturday December 10 at 6:00pm. 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.
New this year on Sunday, December 11, the Holiday Magic on Ann Street Block Party! Live performances from The V-Tones of Charleston, LaFaye & The Fellas, and Kings of SC Reggae. There will be local vendors selling great gifts for the Holidays, a crafting station and more. The best part about all of this: the event is FREE and open to all. So throw on your favorite holiday sweater and come on down to enjoy a winter wonderland full of holiday cheer!
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CofC's Broadway Ensemble presents Holiday Hijinks
December 5 at 6:30pm
Chapel Theatre, 172 Calhoun Street
Admission: Free
Join College of Charleston for their Broadway Ensemble’s holiday revue! Admission is free! Their ensemble has been prepping all semester long and they’re excited to celebrate the holiday season with some classic tunes. They hope to see you there! Scan the QR code for a list of donation items needed for One80 Place and bring to the event!
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Charleston Music Hall Holiday Film Series: Christmas Vacation
Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street
December 5 at 7:30pm
Admission: $8-$10
The Charleston Music Hall will present a holiday film favorite, Christmas Vacation.
Doors 7:00PM | Show 7:30PM
All Ages
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The Charleston School of the Arts Symphony and Singers Present Holiday Spectacular
Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun Street
December 6 at 7:00pm
Admission: Starts at $18, plus applicable fees
Join the award-winning Charleston School of the Arts Symphony and Singers at their 9th annual Holiday Spectacular Concert. This festive concert will feature holiday favorites that will be a hit with the entire family.
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Another JOHNNYSWIM Christmas Tour
Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street
December 6 at 8:00pm
Admission: $35-$45, plus applicable fees
The duo, Amanda Sudano Ramirez and Abner Ramirez, write and record an album, and then tour, connecting with fans around the world on the road. All of their records have been driven by that desire to give life their songs live.
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Wild Dunes Holiday Market
Wild Dunes Resort, 5757 Palm Boulevard, IOP
December 8 at 4:00pm
Admission: Free
Sip, Shop & Stroll the Sweetgrass Plaza. Enjoy live music and an array of local vendors. Sample treats and drinks, shop till you drop, and enjoy special savings on resort retail. Children's activities will also be available for fun for all ages.
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2nd Annual Soulful Holiday Pop-Up
IBA Events Venue,
7910 Dorchester Road
December 8 at 6:30pm
Admission: Free
IBA Event Rentals along with Carolimas's invites you to come shop with us and support local black owned businesses. We will have vendors (jewelry, crafts, clothing, health and beauty, candles, etc,), door prizes, photo ops, and a Black Santa.
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Holiday Movie Night: The Polar Express
Smythe Park, 2364 Daniel Island Drive
December 8 at 5:00pm
Admission: Free
Join your neighbors on Thursday, December 8th for a night of fun to watch The Polar Express on Smythe Lawn located on Smythe Street. Please bring your own blanket and chairs for a special night of holiday magic under the stars.
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One Christmas Night In Memphis
Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street
December 8 at 8:00pm
Admission: $25-$35, plus applicable fees
From the same cast and creator behind the number one booked show, One Night in Memphis but with additional festive holiday classic songs to get even the Grinch in the mood! Imagine Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis gathered around some yuletide and singing their legendary hit songs of course but also merrily singing everyone’s favorite holiday songs.
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QSP presents Who's Holiday!
Queen Street Playhouse, 20 Queen Street
December 8-18
Admission: $25, plus applicable fees. *Recommended for 17+ only
In this raunchy and hilarious one-woman show, Cindy Lou Who is all grown up - and she isn’t quite the adorable child you remember from Dr. Seuss’s classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Now a chain-smoking forty year old living in a trailer on Mt. Crumpet, many years have passed since Cindy caught the Grinch in her living room in this 60 minute R-rated comedy.
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Skate the Stadium
Credit One Stadium, 161 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island
Holiday Carolers December 8-9, 5:30pm
Admission: $10, plus applicable fees
Visitors are invited to come celebrate the season with skating, cozy firepits, seasonal concessions and other special holiday events. Catch the holiday spirit with vocal performances from local High School choral groups.
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Santa is coming to town!
Folly River Park, Center Street,
Folly Beach
December 9 at 6:00pm
Admission: Free
Bring the children to meet Santa and his elves. Traditional stockings and wishlists will be shared. New this year Santa is setting up a KIDS ONLY Winter Bazaar. Kids 12 and younger can go “shopping” for their parents or siblings. This experience will be free and includes a gift bag. limited participation…and No Parents Allowed!
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City of Charleston Recreation Holiday Happenings
Various dates, times and venues
Admission: Free
Celebrate the season with holiday activities at various City of Charleston Recreation facilities!
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Dueling Nutcrackers
Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun Street
December 9 at 7:30pm
Admission: Starts at $25, plus applicable fees
Featuring the Charleston Symphony and Charlton Singleton & The Beehive Jazz Orchestra. Two orchestras. One stage. What happens when Duke Ellington meets Tchaikovsky? Find out when Charlton Singleton and The Beehive Orchestra and Charleston Symphony meet onstage.
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Charleston Music Hall
Holiday Film Series: Elf
Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street
December 9 at 7:30pm
Admission: $8-$10
The Charleston Music Hall will present a holiday film favorite, Elf.
Doors 7:00PM | Show 7:30PM
All Ages
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Folly Beach Christmas Parade
Center Street, Folly Beach
December 10 at 12:00pm
Admission: Free
Join the 32nd annual Folly Beach Christmas Parade! Watch and cheer on the floats as they travel down Center Street all leading up to Santa and his elves riding on Folly Beach Fire Engine #Ladder 1101. The fun does not stop after the parade…Join Santa at Folly River Park for live music, and cookie decorating.
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Dance Conservatory of Charleston presents The Nutcracker
Sottile Theatre, 44 George Street
December 10-11
Admission: $30-$45, plus applicable fees
With over 200 student dancers comprising two casts, every student shines, from the children's division dancers as Little Gingerbread, to the pre-professional students in the principal roles of Sugar Plum and Snow Queen. Seth Orza will play the Snow King and Cavalier in this year's performances.
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Charleston Stage presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St.
December 10 & 17
Admission: $34.50, plus applicable fees
When the Herdmans, the worst kids in town, somehow wrangle the leading roles in the local Christmas Pageant it seems everything that is sacred will be lost and yet, through this motley crew of rough and tumble kids, the true meaning of Christmas is movingly rediscovered. Adapted from Barbara Robinson’s widely acclaimed contemporary Christmas classic, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
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Poho Holiday Night Market
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway
December 10 at 5:00pm
Admission: Free
The Pohoho Holiday Night Market featuring local goods, makers, vintage collectors, art, live music + full bar service, as well as food from Root Note!
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City of Charleston
Holiday Parade of Boats
Charleston Harbor
December 11 at 6:00pm
Admission: Free
Join the 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 .
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Debbie Gibson's Winterlicious - An Evening of Holiday and Hits
The Riviera Theater, 227 King Street
December 10 at 7:00pm
Admission: $37.50-$87.50, plus applicable fees
Just in time for the holiday season, 80s Megastar Debbie Gibson is thrilled to announce the release of her first-ever holiday album “Winterlicious!”
Experience Winterlicious sing along to timeless Christmas hits like “Let It Snow,” “I Wish Everyday Is Christmas,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and many more.
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Santa Social
The Dewberry, 334 Meeting Street
December 11 from 11:00am-4:00pm
Admission: $20 contribution
Join The Dewberry for their annual Santa Social. Enjoy cider, cookies, and cocktails with Santa and Mrs. Claus on The Living Room Patio. A $20 contribution for a picture with Santa will benefit our neighbor, The Children's Museum of The Lowcountry.
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Holiday Magic on Ann Street
December 11 from 3:00-6:00pm
Admission: Free
Join the Holiday Magic Block Party! Live performances from The V-Tones of Charleston, LaFaye & The Fellas, and Kings of SC Reggae. There will be local vendors selling great gifts for the Holidays, a craft station, and more! The best part about all of this: the event is FREE and open to all. So throw on your favorite holiday sweater and come on down to enjoy a winter wonderland full of holiday cheer!
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Victory Day
Marion Square
December 11 at 11:30am
Admission: Free
The Revolutionary War Victory Day reenactment, remembrance, and celebration will take place at Marion Square from 12:30 - 2:25 pm.
This patriotic event is open to the public.
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Spirituals Concert with Ann Caldwell and the Magnolia Singers
Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Road
December 11 at 1:30pm
Admission: $60-$70, plus applicable fees
Join Drayton Hall's most requested event of the Holiday Season! Ann Caldwell and The Magnolia Singers will usher in the Holidays with their ancestral hymns. Enjoy a beverage and light bites at the reception before being seated for the performance. This event sells out every year, get your tickets early!
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Daughters of St. Paul present Come to Bethlehem
Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun Street
December 11 at 3:00pm
Admission: Starts at $25, plus applicable fees
Join the Daughters of St. Paul for one night only for the Sisters’ “Farewell Concert” to the City of Charleston until we meet again! The Sisters who have been stationed here throughout thirty-eight years want to say “Thank you!” though music.
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Charleston Men's Chorus
Christmas Concert
St. Philip's Church,
December 11 at 3:00pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the season with the Charleston Men's Chorus. The annual Christmas concert features joyful and sacred music. Selected works include "Christ was born on Christmas Day" "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Christmas Cantata".
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Charleston Stage presents
A Christmas Carol
Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St.
Through December 21
Admission: $36-$85, plus applicable fees
Charles Dickens’s immortal classic returns in an all new theatrical production with colorful new sets and costumes along with an inventive holiday score.
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College of Charleston presents Cougar Night Lights
The Cistern Yard, between George and St. Philip Streets
Through January 2 at 6:00pm
Admission: Free
Cougar Night Lights captures the magic of the holiday season with dazzling light displays set to classic holiday tunes as well as popular contemporary songs.
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Spiegeltent: Cracked Nuts
Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun Street
Through December 23
Admission: start at $55, plus applicable fees
Cracked Nuts! will deliver thrills, laughs, and mind-blowing feats that will leave you inspired and delighted this holiday season staring Vegas legends Matt and Heidi Morgan.
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North Pole on the Plaza
Hotel Bennett, 404 King Street
Through December 25 at 5:00pm
Admission: Free
This December, Gabrielle Plaza overlooking Marion Square is transforming into the downtown destination for holiday magic. Discover nightly movies, fires, smores kits and festive specialty cocktails.
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A Very Merry Footlight
Holiday Special
Queen Street Playhouse,
20 Queen Street
Through December 18
Admission: $34-$48, plus applicable fees
The Christmas-time variety show is back and bigger and campier than ever bringing all the holiday cheer you can handle in one sitting! This event is full of family friendly songs and skits!
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Visits with Santa
The Charleston Place, 205 MeetingStreet
Through December 23
Admission: Free
Meet the Big Man and Mrs. Claus too!
Santa queue starts one hour before the start of the experience. Please queue outside of Buxton Books, located in the West Gallery, across from the Artist Collective.
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Holiday "Sleigh" Ride
Old South Carriage Company,
14 Anson Street
Through December 23
Admission: $30, plus applicable fees
Harness some holiday fun and climb aboard a specially decorated carriage driven by one of Santa's elves. The last stop is Santa's magical stable where you'll join Old St. Nick and Mrs. Claus for hot cocoa and cookies.
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Santa Sundays
The SC Aquarium,
100 Aquarium Wharf
Through December 18, Sundays
Admission: SC Aquarium general admission ticket or member reservation is required
Santa Claus is coming to Charleston! Stop by the Aquarium on Santa Sundays to meet jolly old St. Nick himself and pose for a keepsake photo.
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Want us to publicize your Holiday Event?
Invite Charleston Arts to co-host your Facebook event! Please note, you can only invite us from a Page Account, not a personal account. Need some help? CLICK HERE for for instructions on how to invite Charleston Arts to co-host.
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