December is a great month to visit Charleston. Although the weather can be cool, the city more than makes up for it with its holiday events and festivities.
You can visit holiday markets and lights shows; take advantage of special programming at local attractions exploring the sights, foods and history of Christmases past; or attend Christmas parades and tree-lightings, among other seasonal events.
The year is finally rounded off by several fireworks displays and celebrations to mark the New Year, with events in downtown Charleston and at its nearby beach communities.
Interested in a specific type of event? See Charleston’s calendars of upcoming:
– Concerts
– Comedy shows
– Musicals
– Food festivals
– Farmers markets
→ See more Charleston events in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
See also:
– December weather in Charleston
– Free things to do in Charleston
– Attractions and other things to do in Charleston
– Charleston’s biggest festivals
– Things to do near Charleston
!Event dates, venue and other details can change at short notice. Please check all information at the official website before making plans to attend an event.
– Holiday Festival of Lights, November 10 - December 31 2023
Big annual drive-through holiday lights show at James Island County Park, plus holiday food and shopping, Santa Village and more. More details
– A Christmas Carol, November 29 - December 22 2023
Holiday musical at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. More details
– ArtWalk, December 1 2023
Monthly first Friday art walks in downtown Charleston galleries. More details
– Uncorked, December 1 2023
Annual holiday wine event at Boone Hall Plantation, with wines and cocktails, food, live music, and more. More details
– James Island Holiday Market, December 1 2023
Evening holiday market in James Island, with local businesses, makers and food trucks. More details
– Christmas Made in the South, December 1-3 2023
Holiday fine arts and crafts market at the Exchange Park Fairgrounds in Ladson. More details
– Pretty Woman: The Musical, December 1-3 2023
Musical at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– Holiday Street Festival, December 2 2023
Annual holiday festival at Front Beach, Isle of Palms, with arts and crafts, food vendors, live entertainment and children’s activities. More details
– Holiday Swing: Charleston Jazz Orchestra, December 2 2023
Holiday concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony, December 2 2023
Holiday concert at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Morgan Evans, December 2 2023
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Charleston Holiday Market, December 2-3, 9-10, 16 2023
Popular annual holiday market in Marion Square. More details
– Wine Under the Oaks, December 3 2023
Annual holiday wine festival at Boone Hall Plantation, with wine tastings, desserts, oysters and other foods, cooking and wine demonstrations, live music and more. More details
– Indo Western Fusion Night – Live Concert by Vidya Vox, December 3 2023
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Mersiv, December 3 2023
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Holiday Festival of Lights, November 10 - December 31 2023
Big annual drive-through holiday lights show at James Island County Park, plus holiday food and shopping, Santa Village and more. More details
– A Christmas Carol, November 29 - December 22 2023
Holiday musical at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. More details
– Christmas Made in the South, December 2-4 2023
Holiday fine arts and crafts market at the Exchange Park Fairgrounds in Ladson. More details
– Nurse Blake, December 6 2023
Comedy show at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, December 6 2023
Holiday musical at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour, December 7 2023
Comedy show at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– Kameron Marlowe: I Can Lie Tour, December 7 2023
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Spiegeltent: Cabaret Royale by Underbelly, selected evenings, December 7-22 2023
Circus and cabaret performance at the Gaillard Center. More details
– The Wood Brothers: Heart is the Hero Tour, December 8 2023
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Allman Betts Family Revival, December 8 2023
Tribute concert at the Gaillard Center. More details
– A Very Merry Footlight Holiday Special, December 8-22 2023
Holiday variety show at the Queen Street Playhouse. More details
– Christmas Parade, December 9 2023
Annual holiday parade through downtown Folly Beach. More details
– Kiawah Island Marathon, December 9 2023
Annual marathon and half marathon races on Kiawah Island. More details
– Reindeer Run, December 9 2023
Annual holiday 5K run/walk and costume contest in downtown Charleston to benefit the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. More details
– Holiday Market & Craft Show, December 9 2023
Annual holiday farmers market in Mount Pleasant, with local produce and foods, local arts and crafts, children’s activities and more. More details
– A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage!, December 9 2023
Holiday performance at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Holiday Pops: A Celebration of Wonder with the North Charleston Pops!, December 9 2023
Holiday concert at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– The Wood Brothers: Heart is the Hero Tour, December 9 2023
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Charleston Holiday Market, December 2-3, 9-10, 16 2023
Popular annual holiday market in Marion Square. More details
– Big Band Holidays, December 10 2023
Holiday concert at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Christmas Light Parade, December 10 2023
Annual holiday light parade and fireworks show along West Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. More details
– Holiday Festival of Lights, November 10 - December 31 2023
Big annual drive-through holiday lights show at James Island County Park, plus holiday food and shopping, Santa Village and more. More details
– A Christmas Carol, November 29 - December 22 2023
Holiday musical at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. More details
– Spiegeltent: Cabaret Royale by Underbelly, selected evenings, December 7-22 2023
Circus and cabaret performance at the Gaillard Center. More details
– A Very Merry Footlight Holiday Special, December 8-22 2023
Holiday variety show at the Queen Street Playhouse. More details
– A Gullah Christmas Concert, December 13 2023
Holiday concert at Boone Hall Plantation, with Gullah Christmas stories and songs. More details
– The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays, December 14 2023
Illusion show at the Gaillard Center. More details
– The Charleston Christmas Special, December 14-23 2023
Holiday musical show at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Elf in Concert, December 15 2023
Holiday movie with live musical accompaniment at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– Charleston Holiday Market, December 2-3, 9-10, 16 2023
Popular annual holiday market in Marion Square. More details
– Dorrance Dance, December 17 2023
Holiday dance performance at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Holiday Festival of Lights, November 10 - December 31 2023
Big annual drive-through holiday lights show at James Island County Park, plus holiday food and shopping, Santa Village and more. More details
– A Christmas Carol, November 29 - December 22 2023
Holiday musical at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. More details
– Spiegeltent: Cabaret Royale by Underbelly, selected evenings, December 7-22 2023
Circus and cabaret performance at the Gaillard Center. More details
– A Very Merry Footlight Holiday Special, December 8-22 2023
Holiday variety show at the Queen Street Playhouse. More details
– The Charleston Christmas Special, December 14-23 2023
Holiday musical show at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Holiday Pops!, December 21-23 2023
Holiday concert at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Spiegeltent: Homegrown & Nationally Known, December 23 2023
Concert at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Holiday Festival of Lights, November 10 - December 31 2023
Big annual drive-through holiday lights show at James Island County Park, plus holiday food and shopping, Santa Village and more. More details
– Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, December 26 2023
Holiday ballet performance at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– Futurebirds with Carl Broemel, December 30 2023
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– New Year’s Eve Flip-Flop Drop & Fireworks, December 31 2023
New Year’s Eve celebration and fireworks show in Folly Beach. More details
– Futurebirds with Carl Broemel, December 31 2023
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
→ See January events