Join us and make your Holiday Magic!
Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston
The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs celebrates the holiday season each December with Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston, offering free, family-friendly activities, live performances and decorations all around town for everyone in the community to enjoy together. Details for the 2017 Holiday Magic celebrations will be posted here in the Fall.
- Holiday Market
- Saturdays & Sundays in December
- Tree Lighting Ceremony
- An annual Charleston holiday jubilee featuring performances from musicians and arts organizations throughout Charleston that will culminate in the lighting of the magnificent 64-foot Holiday Tree of Lights, the official City of Charleston Christmas tree in Marion Square.
- Student Performance Day
- Student performances and visits with Santa throughout the day
- Holiday Parade
- This holiday tradition is better than ever as bands, floats, marchers and performers parade through downtown Charleston.
- Broad Street at Barre St., King Street, Calhoun Street, disperses on Calhoun between East Bay and Meeting Streets
- Chanukah in the Square
- A free, festive party for everyone; featuring music, dancing, and the lighting of the nine foot Menorah by Charleston’s Holocaust survivors. Visitors can enjoy crafts and treats, including latkes and other traditional Chanukah foods.
- Presented in partnership with the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies program at the College of Charleston and Chabad of the Lowcountry
- Parade of Boats
- Head to the water for a Lowcountry holiday tradition as this display of lighted and festive boats proceeds through the Charleston Harbor. View the procession along Charleston’s waterfront or decorate your own boat and join the parade.
- Presented in partnership with Charleston Sail and Power Squadron.
- Kwanzaa Kinara Lighting
- Charleston marks the first night of Kwanzaa with a special ceremony lighting the first candle of the Kwanzaa Kinara in a celebration for the entire community. Participants will enjoy the music and movement of drummers and dancers alongside readings and remarks from Lowcountry Kwanzaa leaders.
Happy New Year, Charleston!
This free to the public celebration offers a family friendly, non-alcoholic event featuring kid friendly activities, live music and food trucks.
