Charleston, S.C. Festivals and Events

(The following is a general list of festivals and events that traditionally take place in Charleston and the area.  All are ‘subject to change’)

For a ‘Real Time’ guide to Charleston Event check out the Calendar.   Also, visit the Charleston facebook page.

Charleston County Park & Recreation Commision’s 2012 Special Event Calendar (PDF format)

January

• The Charleston Bridal Festival
• The Citadel Dress Parade – www.Citadel.edu
• Lowcountry Oyster Festival – www.BooneHallPlantation.com / www.CharlestonRestaurantAssociation.com
  
• Be a Tourist in Your Own Town – www.BeATourist.net

February

• Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration
• Lowcountry Blues Bash – www.BluesBash.com
• Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) – www.SEWE.com
  
• Oyster Roast Trail Ride – Mullet Hall Equestrian Center – 843-768-Jump
• African American Heritage Days – North Charleston Wannamaker County Park
• Coastal Island Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP
• SC Dressage and Combined Training Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center 768-JUMP

March

• The Charleston Art & Antiques Forum – www.CharlestonAntiquesForum.org
• Charleston International Antiques Show – www.HistoricCharleston.org
• Charleston Symphony Orchestra League ASID Designer Showcase – www.CSOnline.org
  
• Charleston Wine and Food Festival – The annual BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival®, March 1-4, 2012, celebrates the best that the city of Charleston, SC has to offer: a local food culture rich in tradition and James Beard award-winning chefs. (Place page on CharlestonShines.com)
• The Garden Club of Charleston’s Annual House and Garden Tours – www.TheGardenClubOfCharleston.com
• Historic Charleston Foundation’s Festival of Houses and Gardens – www.HistoricCharleston.org
• Kids Fair – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Charleston Fashion Week
• Mullet Haul 5 and 10-mile Run Mullet Hall Equestrian Center
• Coastal Island Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP
• Customer Appreciation Day Charleston County Parks
• Ashley Hall Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP (continues into April)

April

• Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival – Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront – www.TownOfMountPleasant.com
  
• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Colleton County Rice Festival – Walterboro
• Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk – www.BridgeRun.com
• East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival – James Island County Park – www.ccprc.com
• Family Circle Cup – Daniel Island Tennis Centre, Daniel Island – www.FamilyCircleCup.com
• Flowertown Festival – Summerville – www.SummervilleYMCA.org/flowertown
• Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival – www.CityOfFollyBeach.com
• Lowcountry Cajun Festival – James Island County Park –  www.ccprc.com
• Lowcountry Senior Games – Lowcountry Senior Center
• Wings Over Charleston Air Expo – www.CharlestoAirExpo.com
• Ashley Hall Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP (continues from March)
• Coastal Island Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP (continues into May)
• Spring Break Camps Charleston County Parks
• Pet Fest – Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park
• Carolina Marsh Tacky Association Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP
• Shaggin’ on the Cooper Mount Pleasant Pier
• Moonlight Mixer Folly Beach Fishing Pier

May

• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Dining with Friends Lowcountry Aids Services – www.aids-services.com
• Grace Episcopal Church Tea Room – www.GraceChurchCharleston.org
• Greek Festival – Greek Orthodox Church of The Holy Trinity – www.greekfest.us
• Lowcountry Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet – McClellanville
  
• North Charleston Arts Festival – www.NorthCharleston.org
• Piccolo Spoleto Festival – www.PiccoloSpoleto.com
• Spoleto Festival USA – www.SpoletoUSA.org
• Coastal Island Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP (continues from April)
• Open Trail Ride at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP
• Charleston County Waterparks Open Weekends Only Whirlin’ Waters, Splash Zone, Splash Island
• Moonlight Mixer Folly Beach Fishing Pier
• Yappy Hour James Island County Park
• Summer Pier Kickoff Tournament Folly Beach Fishing Pier (843) 588-FISH
• Shaggin’ on the Cooper Mount Pleasant Pier
• Splash Zone Waterpark Open (TBD) Daily James Island County Park
• Whirlin’ Waters Waterpark Open (TBD) Daily Wannamaker County Park
• Wilderness First Aid Charleston County Parks
• Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series James Island County Park

June

• Carolina Day – Sullivan’s Island – www.nps.gov/fosu
• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Summer Camps Charleston County Parks (June-August)
• Splash Island Waterpark Open (TBD) Daily Palmetto Islands County Park
• Moonlight Mixer Folly Beach Fishing Pier
• Skin Screenings at Whirlin’ Waters North Charleston Wannamaker County Park
• Pier Tournament – Cooper River Challenge Mount Pleasant Pier (843) 762-9946
• Pier Tournament Folly Beach Fishing Pier (843) 588-FISH
• Yappy Hour James Island County Park
• Summer Concert Series – James Island County Park
• Shaggin’ on the Cooper Mount Pleasant Pier
• Scouts Day at Whirlin’ Waters North Charleston Wannamaker County Park
• Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series James Island County Park
• Movies at the Mount Pleasant Pier Mount Pleasant Pier

July

• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Patriots Point 4th of July Blast – Mount Pleasant – www.PatriotsPoint.org
• Summer Camps Charleston County Parks (June-August)
• Uncle Sam Jam Mount Pleasant Pier
• Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series James Island County Park
• Charleston Summer Classic Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP
• Shaggin’ on the Cooper Mount Pleasant Pier
• Summer Concert Series – James Island County Park
• Movies at the Mount Pleasant Pier Mount Pleasant Pier
• Pier Tournament Folly Beach Fishing Pier (843) 588-FISH
• Moonlight Mixer Folly Beach Fishing Pier

August

• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Key West Boats Fishing for Miracles King Mackerel Tournament – www.FishingForMiracles.org
• Summer Camps Charleston County Parks (June-August)
• Shaggin’ on the Cooper Mount Pleasant Pier
• Moonlight Mixer Folly Beach Fishing Pier
• Skin Screenings at Splash Zone James Island County Park
• Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series James Island County Park
• Summer Concert Series – James Island County Park
• Pier Tournament Folly Beach Fishing Pier (843) 762-9946
• Yappy Hour James Island County Park
• Movies at the Mount Pleasant Pier Mount Pleasant Pier
• Labor Day Weekend Trail Ride at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP (continues into September)

September

• Charleston Restaurant Week – www.CharlestonRestaurantAssociation.com
• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• MOJA Arts Festival – www.MojaFestival.com
• Preservation Society of Charleston’s Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens – www.PreservationSociety.org Begins in Sept. and continues thru Oct.
• Scottish Games and Highland Gathering – Boone Hall Plantation – Mt. Pleasant – www.CharlestonScots.org
• Labor Day Weekend Trail Ride at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP (continued from August)
• Pier Tournament – Cooper River Challenge Mount Pleasant Pier (843) 762-9946
• Shaggin’ on the Cooper Mount Pleasant Pier
• Dog Day Afternoon Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark
• Pier Tournament Folly Beach Fishing Pier (843) 588-FISH
• Coastal Island Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP
• Yappy Hour James Island County Park
• Moonlight Mixer Folly Beach Fishing Pier
• Progressive Show Jumping Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP

October

• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Charleston Oktoberfest
• Children’s Day Festival – Park West Recreation Center, Mt. Pleasant – www.TownOfMountPleasant.com
• Chili Cookouff Hilton Head Island – Kiwanis Club
• The Coastal Carolina Fair – Ladson (End of October and beginning of November)
• Komen Charleston Race for the Cure – www.komenlowcountry.org
• Latin America Festival – Wannamaker County Park – North Charleston – www.ccprc.com
• Local Music on the Farm – Thornhill Farm, Mcclellanville
• Oktoberfest – St. Teresa Catholic Church, Summerville
• Parktoberfest – The Olde North Charleston Merchants Association and North Charleston Artist Guild
• Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art
• Plantation Days at Middleton – www.MiddletonPlace.org (one weekend in October and one in November)
• Preservation Society of Charleston’s Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens – www.PreservationSociety.org Begins in Sept. and continues thru Oct.
• The Southern Living Taste of Charleston – Presented by The Charleston Restaurant Association and Southern Living Magazine – www.CharlestonRestaurantAssociation.com
• That Big Book Sale – www.ccpl.org
• Tidelands Dressing and Combined Training Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center 768-JUMP
• Pier Tournament – Cooper River Challenge Mount Pleasant Pier (843) 762-9946
• Yappy Hour James Island County Park
• Coastal Island Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center (843) 768-JUMP
• Folly Challenge Triathlon Folly Beach County Park

November

• The Battle of Secessionville – Boone Hall Plantation – Mount Pleasant – www.BooneHallPlantation.com
• Blessing of the Vines Festival – Irvin-House Vineyards, Wadmalaw Island
• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Charleston Fine Art Annual – www.cfada.com
• Charleston’s Holiday Market
• Holiday Festival of Lights – James Island County Park – www.HolidayFestivalOfLights.com
• Plantation Days at Middleton – www.MiddletonPlace.org (one weekend in October and one in November)
• The Coastal Carolina Fair – Ladson (End of October and beginning of November)
• The Junior League of Charleston ‘Whale of a Sale’ – www.jlcharleston.org
• Harvest Festival Weekend Trail Ride Mullet Hall Equestrian Center
• Harvest Festival Mullet Hall Equestrian Center
• Holiday Festival of Lights Fun Run & Walk James Island County Park
• Where the Wild Things Run Caw Caw Interpretive Center
• SC Dressage and Combined Training Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center 768-JUMP

December

• Annual Spirituals Concert at Drayton Hall – www.DraytonHall.org
• Charleston Farmers Market – Every Saturday April through December – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Family Yuletide – Middleton Place – www.MiddletonPlace.org
• Happy New Year Charleston – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Holiday Parade of Boats – www.Charleston-SC.gov
• Winter Break Camps Charleston County Parks
• Tidelands Dressage and Combined Training Horse Show Mullet Hall Equestrian Center 768-JUMP
• Holiday Festival of Lights Winter Carnival & Fireworks James Island County Park