There's always something fun happening in Charleston. The subtropical climate allows festivals and celebrations to be held year round. This is a list of the top Charleston events.
Charleston is not only one of the top tourist destinations, but also home to some of the best festivals and events in the U.S. Many of these Charleston events, including the Spoleto Festival, the MOJA Arts Festival, and Christmas in Charleston, draw thousands of people. Almost every month is filled with something to do. Here's a list of the top festivals and events happening in Charleston.
Lowcountry Jazz Festival
Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2024
The Annual Greater Charleston Low Country Jazz takes place September 2-3, 2023 in Charleston featuring world-class jazz in a world-class venue, The Charleston Gaillard Center!
MOJA Arts Festival
Sept. 26 - Oct. 6, 2024
The MOJA Arts Festival is a celebration of the many African-American and Caribbean contributions to western and world cultures. MOJA’s events include visual arts, classical music, dance, gospel, jazz, poetry, R&B music, storytelling, theatre, children’s activities, crafts, ethnic food, and more.
Beer Fest
Oct. 26, 2024
Calling all Lowcountry craft beer fanatics: Get excited to soak up the suds and sun at the 2023 Charleston Beer Fest. Don’t miss the awesome live music, beer games, and tantalizing food trucks on display.
Charleston Beer Week
TBA
The 10th Annual Charleston Beer Week highlights the wide variety of craft beer brands enjoyed in the area today, with many unique events you wouldn't normally find on your calendar.
Charleston Harvest Festival
Nov. 2, 2024
Come on out to Johns Island County Park for foot-stompin’ live music from local bluegrass bands, pumpkin decorating, archery, and more. Feast on Southern delights like finger-lickin’ Carolina barbecue, kettle corn, and all of your favorite festival foods!
Charleston Scottish Games
Nov. 2, 2024
The Annual Charleston Scottish Games and Highland Gathering has an incredible lineup of events, including athletics, live music, demonstrations and much more.
Christmas in Charleston
Nov. 26, 2024 - Jan. 1, 2025
The sway of the carriage transports you back several centuries. The professional guide points to the poinsettias flanking the front door of the antebellum mansion. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the holiday festivities in one of America’s most historic cities.
Bill Murray Polar Plunge
Jan. 1, 2025
The annual plunge will include a costume contest, commemorative t-shirts, and of course, a plunge into the “chilly” Atlantic! All attendees are encouraged to come in costume, especially as your favorite Bill Murray character.
New Year's Eve Flip Flop Drop
Dec. 31, 2024
The famous Folly Beach Flip-Flop Drop will take place on New Year’s Eve, Friday, December 31st. Center Street will close to traffic as revelers enjoy local restaurants and family-friendly festivities.
Charleston Restaurant Week
Jan.11 - 21, 2024
Restaurant week is an eleven day celebration at participating restaurants. From fine to casual dining, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, promotions, and discounts. Come out and savor the flavors of the Lowcountry.
Taste of Folly
January 20, 2024
The Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival is a family and child-friendly event. The festival is free to the public, and there will be nearly 100 street vendors offering arts, crafts, clothing, concessions, children’s games, silent auction, etc.
Lowcountry Oyster Festival
February 4, 2024
The Lowcountry Oyster Festival is the world’s largest oyster festival, and has been named one of the “top 20 events in the southeast”. Highlights include the legendary “Oyster Shucking” and “Oyster Eating” contests, live music, wine, and a selection of domestic and imported beers.
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
February 16 - 18, 2024
SEWE is a showcase of everything to love about wildlife and nature through an incredible lineup of events, including fine art exhibits, conservation education, sporting demonstrations and after-hours gatherings.
Folly Beach Sea and Sand Festival
February 24, 2024
The Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival is a family and child-friendly event. The festival is free to the public, and there will be nearly 100 street vendors offering arts, crafts, clothing, concessions, children’s games, silent auction, etc.
Charleston Carifest
June 13 - 16, 2024
Charleston Carifest is a four day event celebrating the connection of Charleston and the Caribbean, featuring food, fun music, and costumes. The big Carnival Day is Saturday and includes a Street Parade, followed by an epic celebration in Brittle Bank Park.
Front Beach Fest Isle of Palms
March 2, 2024
The City of Isle of Palms brings in spring with a free street festival featuring fun for the whole family, including jump castles, climbing walls, street performers, Vendor village, food trucks, and local restaurants. The afternoon features live beach music from The Holiday Band and The Pink Slips.
Wine and Food Festival
March 6 - 10, 2024
The annual Charleston Wine + Food Festival is a celebration of Charleston’s culinary excellence. Discover the distinctive flavors of the Lowcountry and uniquely Charleston experiences, while interacting with and learning from the country’s best chefs, authors and beverage professionals.
St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 16, 2024
Residents and visitors are invited to come out and enjoy South Carolina’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This family-friendly event will kick off on Saturday morning at 10:00 am. Before the parade, St. Patrick’s Church will hold a celebratory mass.
Charleston Antiques Show
March 22 - 24, 2024
The Charleston Antique Show is a premier destination for collectors and enthusiasts of antiques. The show is a showcase of English, European, and American period furnishings, decorative arts and fine art, architectural elements, garden furniture, vintage jewelry, and silver--all late 17th to 20th centuries.
Charleston Bluegrass Festival
March 29 - 30, 2024
The Charleston Bluegrass Festival offers plush camping options, local food, craft vendors, and outdoor activities, along with the finest names in bluegrass. Attendees can expect a weekend of revelry, complete with some of the finest names in bluegrass.
The Charleston Festival (Formerly Festival of Houses and Gardens)
March 14 - April 14, 2024
The Charleston Festival (formerly The Festival of Houses and Gardens), is a celebration of the culture, history, style, art, design and preservation of the Holy City through a variety of programs, tours and events.
Lowcountry Strawberry Festival
April 5 - 7 and 11 - 14, 2024
The Strawberry Festival features fresh-from-the-field deliciousness and family-friendly fun, including a petting zoo, rides, games, food vendors, fresh strawberries, and live music.
Cooper River Bridge Run
April 6, 2024
The Cooper River Bridge Run is the 3rd largest 10K in the US and one of the largest in the world. It includes world-class competition in a unique setting with unparalleled participant satisfaction. The main goal of the event is to promote continuous physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.
Lowcountry Cajun Festival
April 13, 2024
The Cajun Festival brings Louisiana living to the Lowcountry. This full-day festival features Cajun and Creole foods, children's activities and more. After getting full on food, kick off your shoes and dance to live Cajun music performed on stage throughout the day.
Charleston Jazz Festival
April 18 - 21, 2024
The Charleston Jazz Festival features student musicians, local jazz groups, and internationally acclaimed performers including the Emmet Cohen Trio, the Jorge Luis Pacheco Quartet, Kandace Springs and Etienne Charles in multiple venues.
High Water Festival
April 20 - 21, 2024
High Water brings musicians from all over the world to the beautiful Riverfront of N. Charleston, creating a musical oasis. With two alternating stages, you can catch all your favorite bands and discover new ones too.
Charleston Cocktail Week
April 24 - 28, 2024
Cocktail Week showcases the award-winning bars and restaurants in the area. It brings locals and travelers together to experience the epicurean masterpieces of Charleston’s renowned chefs, mixologists, and bartenders.
Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival
April 28, 2024
Mount Pleasant hosts its Annual Blessing of the Fleet. A safe and prosperous shrimping season is the sentiment of this community-supported benediction, which dishes up fresh seafood and showcases local crafts, live music, kids activities, a boat parade, and lots of seafood will be present.
North Charleston Arts Fest
May 1 - 5, 2024
The annual five-day celebration of arts and culture highlights regional and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Literature.
Greek Festival
May 10 - 12, 2024
Experience great food, wine, music, dancing, and fun at the Charleston Greek Festival at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity. Guests will enjoy great tasting favorites, including Gyros, Chicken Mousakka, Lamb, Finikia, Spanakopita, Baklava, Wine, Beer, and more.
Spoleto Festival USA
May 24 - June 9, 2024
The Spoleto Festival USA is one of the largest festivals in Charleston, with events showcasing both established and emerging artists in more than 150 performances of opera, dance, theater, classical music, and jazz.
Piccolo Spoleto
May 24 - June 9, 2024
The Piccolo Spoleto focuses primarily on artists of the Southeast region, offering visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theater, poetry readings, children’s activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts, and films.
Pride Parade
June 1, 2024
Charleston Pride is excited to announce they will have their annual Pride Parade on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Join crowds of people lining King Street as the Pride Fest parade runs through the heart of downtown Charleston.
Patriots Point 4th of July Blast
July 4, 2024
Celebrate the Fourth of July on board one of the most historic warships in the United States. Once the sun sets in the Charleston Harbor, the Flight Deck of the Yorktown will offer a front row seat to the fireworks display, which will feature firework shells shot from a barge in the Cooper River.
Fourth of July Fireworks
July 4, 2024
Celebrate America’s birthday in one of the best historical cities in the U.S. Here’s where to watch fireworks in the Lowcountry.
Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival
July 20, 2024
The Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival is a family-friendly event that celebrates the best in Caribbean food, culture, and music. The focus of this unique festival is to highlight Caribbean food, specifically food using Jamaican jerk seasoning.
Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival
July 27, 2024
The Sweetgrass Festival celebrates the rich Gullah Geechee culture and provides an extensive showcase of sweetgrass baskets in the Lowcountry. The event features unique handmade arts & crafts, paintings, live performances, and documentary films.
Folly Beach Wahine Classic
July 27 - 28, 2024
With nearly 250 competitors and countless more families, fans and followers, Folly Beach Wahine Classic (FBWC) is the longest running all-female surf contest on the East Coast and South Carolina’s only all-female surf contest!
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