Charleston is one of the southeast’s biggest festival destinations, with a wide range of hugely popular events attracting visitors to the city from far and wide each year.
Regional highlights include the Lowcountry Oyster Festival and Southeastern Wildlife Exposition early in the year; the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, house and garden tours, and the Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto Festivals in spring; the MOJA Arts Festival and a second round of house and garden tours in fall; and then the Holiday Festival of Lights during the festive period.
Charleston’s event calendar is rounded out by a variety of other food, music and arts festivals, some in downtown Charleston and some in neighboring communities.
Interested in a specific type of event? See Charleston’s calendars of upcoming:
– Concerts
– Comedy shows
– Musicals
– Food festivals
– Farmers markets
– Marathons, 5Ks and other races
See also:
– Things to do in Charleston
– The best time of year to visit Charleston
– Charleston’s weather by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November or December
– The Fall Tours, October 9 - November 2 2024
Annual fall architecture, history and garden tours to benefit the Preservation Society of Charleston, visiting private homes and gardens and other buildings not ordinarily open to the public. More details
– Charleston Literary Festival, November 1-10 2024
Annual book festival featuring author talks at various downtown Charleston locations. More details
– Harvest Festival, November 2 2024
Annual fall festival at Johns Island County Park, with live bluegrass music, pumpkin decorating, crafts market, hayrides, barbecue and festival food, and more. More details
– Charleston Scottish Games, November 2 2024
Annual Scottish heritage festival, with athletic games, Scottish music and dancing, vendors, and more. More details
– Charleston Vegan Festival, November 2 2024
Vegan festival at Palmetto Islands County Park, Mount Pleasant, with food trucks, bakers, local artisans and more. More details
– Rockabillaque, November 9 2024
Big annual classic car and bike show in Park Circle, North Charleston. More details
– Holy Smokes: A Lowcountry Barbecue Festival, November 9 2024
Annual food festival in Riverfront Park, North Charleston, with 50+ pitmasters and chefs from across the country, barbecue samples, seafood and other foods, live music and more. More details
– Meadival Festival, November 9 2024
Renaissance and Viking themed festival at Deep Water Vineyard, Wadmalaw Island, with mead tastings and other drinks, live music, lawn games, vendors and more. Costumes welcome. More details
– Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival, November 14-17 2024
Annual festival of Italian film at the Queen Street Playhouse. More details
– Yallfest, November 15-16 2025
Annual festival of young adult literature, with panels, signings and other events. More details
– Holiday Festival of Lights, November 15 - December 31 2024
Big annual holiday lights display at James Island County Park, plus holiday sand sculptures, holiday shopping, Santa visits, and other activities. More details
– Christmas Tree Festival, November 23-24 2024
Free annual holiday festival at Boone Hall Farms, Mount Pleasant, with holiday crafts, Ferris wheel, music, inflatables, Santa visits, tree and decoration sale, and more. More details
→ See more November events in Charleston
– Holiday Festival of Lights, November 15 - December 31 2024
Big annual holiday lights display at James Island County Park, plus holiday sand sculptures, holiday shopping, Santa visits, and other activities. More details
– Wine Under the Oaks, December 1 2024
Annual holiday wine event at Boone Hall Plantation, with wine tastings, desserts and oysters, demonstrations, live entertainment and more. More details
– Holiday Street Festival, December 7 2024
Annual holiday festival on Front Beach, Isle of Palms, with arts and crafts, vendors, live entertainment, children’s activities, Santa Claus and more. More details
→ See more December events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more January events in Charleston
– Lowcountry Oyster Festival, February 2 2025
Very popular annual food festival at Boone Hall Planatation, with steamed oysters by the bucket plus other foods and drinks, eating and shucking contests, live music, children’s activities and more. More details
– Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, February 14-16 2025
Big annual festival of wildlife and sporting and outdoors activities, with events across Charleston, including wildlife-themed fine art and crafts, animal displays, sporting demonstrations, wildlife and conservation education, and more. More details
→ See more February events in Charleston
– Charleston Wine + Food, March 5-9 2025
Big annual food festival with a wide variety of events at various Charleston locations. More details
– The Charleston Festival, March 13 - April 13 2025
Annual home and garden festival of the Historic Charleston Foundation, with tours of historic homes and gardens, walking tours, lectures and other history- and preservation-focused events. More details
– Charleston St Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17 2025
Annual St Patrick’s Day parade through downtown Charleston. More details
– Mount Pleasant Artfest, March 22 2025
Annual arts festival at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, with local musicians, dancers and artists, juried art show, children’s activities and more. More details
– House and Garden Tours, March 27-29 2025
Annual tours of the Garden Club of Charleston, visiting selected local gardens not usually open to the public. More details
→ See more March events in Charleston
– The Charleston Festival, March 13 - April 13 2025
Annual home and garden festival of the Historic Charleston Foundation, with tours of historic homes and gardens, walking tours, lectures and other history- and preservation-focused events. More details
– Summerville Flowertown Festival, April 4-6 2025
Big annual arts and crafts festival in downtown Summerville, timed to coincide with spring blooms. More details
– Lowcountry Cajun Festival, April 12 2025
Annual Louisiana-themed food and music festival at James Island County Park, with Zydeco music, Cajun and Creole foods, other southern and festival foods, children’s activities and more. More details
– Woofstock: A Lowcountry Dog Music Festival, April 12 2025
Annual music festival at Hanahan Amphitheater. More details
– Charleston Jazz Festival, April 24-27 2025
Annual festival of jazz music with concerts at several Charleston locations. More details
– Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival, April 27 2025
Popular annual food festival at Memorial Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant in celebration of the local seafood industry, with food from local restaurants, boat parade, live music, craft show, contest and other family activities. More details
→ See more April events in Charleston
– Spoleto Festival, May 23 - June 8 2025
Very popular annual festival of the arts, with performances at various Charleston locations. More details
– Piccolo Spoleto, May 23 - June 8 2025
Annual arts festival running alongside the international Spoleto Festival, featuring hundreds of events across the city by local and regional artists and performers. More details
→ See more May events in Charleston
– Spoleto Festival, May 23 - June 8 2025
Very popular annual festival of the arts, with performances at various Charleston locations. More details
– Piccolo Spoleto, May 23 - June 8 2025
Annual arts festival running alongside the international Spoleto Festival, featuring hundreds of events across the city by local and regional artists and performers. More details
→ See more June events in Charleston
– 4th of July Drone Show, July 4 2025
Lighted drone show at Folly Beach in celebration of Independence Day. More details
– Sweetgrass Festival, July 26 2025
Annual festival in Memorial Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant, celebrating the basket-making traditions, history and culture of the local Gullah/Geechee people. More details
→ See more July events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more August events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more September events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more October events in Charleston