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
– Festival of Houses & Gardens, March 13 - April 13 2024
Popular annual spring house and garden tours of the Historic Charleston Foundation, with tours of private homes and gardens, workshops, lectures, history walks and more. More details
– Summerville Flowertown Festival, April 5-7 2024
Very popular annual arts and crafts festival in Summerville, timed to coincide with the spring flowers. More details
– Lowcountry Strawberry Festival, April 5-7, 12-14 2024
Annual festival at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, with carnival rides, animal shows, strawberries and other food, contests, performances and more. More details
– Lowcountry Cajun Festival, April 13 2024
Annual Louisiana-themed festival at James Island County Park, with Cajun and Creole foods, Zydeco music, children’s activities and more. More details
– Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, April 13 2024
Film festival focused on environmental matters and the outdoors, at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Founders’ Day Festival, April 13 2024
Annual living history event at Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, with historical re-enactors and other programs and activities. More details
– Lowcountry Dogapalooza, April 13 2024
Free music festival and pet adoption event at Hanahan Amphitheater, featuring local and regional musicians plus 20+ rescues and shelters. More details
– Blues by the Sea, April 14 2024
Annual outdoor blues festival at Freshfields Village, Kiawah Island. More details
– Charleston Jazz Festival, April 18-21 2024
Annual festival of jazz music with concerts at multiple Charleston venues. More details
– High Water, April 20-21 2024
Popular annual festival of Americana music at Riverfront Park, North Charleston. More details
– Charleston Cocktail Week, April 22-28 2024
Annual cocktail festival with events at various Charleston bars and restaurants. More details
– Plantasia, April 27 2024
Annual plant festival at Magnolia Park and Community Gardens, with plant marketplace, gardening and artisanal vendors, food trucks and children’s activities. More details
– Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival, April 28 2024
Popular annual festival in Mount Pleasant in celebration of the seafood industry, with boat parade and blessing ceremony, seafood from local restaurants, craft show, live music, contests and more. More details
→ See more April events in Charleston
– North Charleston Arts Fest, May 1-5 2024
Very popular annual arts festival with a wide selection of free performances, exhibitions and other events at various North Charleston venues. More details
– Isle of Paws Music Fest, May 4 2024
Dog-friendly event in Isle of Palms featuring local musicians, food trucks, dog contest, pet vendors and more. More details
– Lowcountry Shrimp Festival, May 4 2024
Annual food festival in McClellanville, with local seafood, blessing of the fleet ceremony and boat parade, live music and more. More details
– Spoleto Festival USA, May 24 - June 9 2024
Huge annual arts festival featuring 100+ performances across the city. More details
– Piccolo Spoleto Festival, May 24 - June 9 2024
Annual festival of the performing and visual arts, with a wide range of performances and other events featuring local and regional artists at venues across the city. More details
→ See more May events in Charleston
– Spoleto Festival USA, May 24 - June 9 2024
Huge annual arts festival featuring 100+ performances across the city. More details
– Piccolo Spoleto Festival, May 24 - June 9 2024
Annual festival of the performing and visual arts, with a wide range of performances and other events featuring local and regional artists at venues across the city. More details
– High Tide, June 1 2024
Annual electronic music festival. More details
– Pride Parade, June 1 2024
Annual LGBTQ+ parade through downtown Charleston. More details
– Charleston Carifest, June 13-16 2024
Annual Caribbean-style carnival to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month, with costume parade, live music, dancing, food and more. More details
→ See more June events in Charleston
– 4th of July Fireworks, July 4 2024
Big annual Independence Day fireworks display at Folly Beach. More details
– Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival, July 20 2024
Annual festival of Caribbean food and culture at Riverfront Park, North Charleston, with foods made with Jamaican jerk seasoning plus other Caribbean foods, jerk cooking contest, music and more. More details
– Sweetgrass Festival, July 27 2024
Annual festival in Mount Pleasant the culture and history of the local Gullah/Geechee people, featuring local basketmakers, educational activities, craft show, live music, storytelling and more. More details
→ See more July events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more August events in Charleston
– MOJA Arts Festival, September 26 - October 6 2024
Popular annual festival of Black arts and culture, with performances, food events, crafts events and other activities at various Charleston locations. More details
→ See more September events in Charleston
– MOJA Arts Festival, September 26 - October 6 2024
Popular annual festival of Black arts and culture, with performances, food events, crafts events and other activities at various Charleston locations. More details
– Latin American Festival, October 6 2024
Annual festival of Latin American and Caribbean music, art and food at North Charleston Wannamaker County Park. More details
– 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 Beerfest, October 26 2024
Annual beer festival in Riverfront Park, North Charleston, with beer from craft breweries, live music, food, games and more. More details
→ See more October events in Charleston
– 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
– Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival, November 14-17 2024
Annual festival of Italian film at the Queen Street Playhouse. More details
→ See more November events in Charleston
– 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
→ See more December events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more January events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more February events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more March events in Charleston