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
– 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
– Charleston Summer Wine Festival, August 24 2024
Wine tasting event and live music at Charleston Harbor Cruise Terminal. More details
– Lowcountry Jazz Festival, August 30 - September 1 2024
Annual Labor Day Weekend festival of jazz and blues music. More details
→ See more August events in Charleston
– Lowcountry Jazz Festival, August 30 - September 1 2024
Annual Labor Day Weekend festival of jazz and blues music. More details
– Charleston Pride Festival, September 21 2024
Annual LGBTQ+ Pride festival at The Refinery, with live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and more. More details
– 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
– Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch, September 27 - October 27 2024
Annual fall festival at Boone Hall Farms, with corn maze, tractor tours, petting zoo, live performances, festival food vendors, pumpkin sale and more. More details
– Cooper River Bridge Run Kids Run & Family Festival, September 29 2024
Free children’s races and festival with family yoga and children’s activities. 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
– Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch, September 27 - October 27 2024
Annual fall festival at Boone Hall Farms, with corn maze, tractor tours, petting zoo, live performances, festival food vendors, pumpkin sale and more. 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
– Charleston Scottish Games, November 2 2024
Annual Scottish heritage festival, with athletic games, Scottish music and dancing, vendors, 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
– Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival, November 14-17 2024
Annual festival of Italian film at the Queen Street Playhouse. 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
→ 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
→ 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
– 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
→ 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
– 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
– Charleston Jazz Festival, April 24-27 2025
Annual festival of jazz music with concerts at several Charleston locations. More details
→ See more April events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more May events in Charleston
Events this month to be confirmed.
→ See more June events in Charleston