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A Holy City Holiday

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A Holy City Holiday
The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs celebrates the holiday season each December with A Holy City Holiday, offering free, family-friendly activities, live performances and decorations all around town for everyone in the community to enjoy together. 

*Times and dates subject to change

Light the Lake at Colonial Lake: November 30, 2025 from 5:00-7:00pm

A beloved tradition now officially hosted by the City of Charleston. This magical evening, happening the Sunday after Thanksgiving, sets the stage for a month full of parades, boat lights, menorah glow, and festive markets to kick off the holiday season! Light the Lake is at Colonial Lake (Broad between Ashley and Rutledge).

Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony: December 7, 2025 steps off at 3:00pm

Come join the City of Charleston for this fun, high energy parade which will commence on Broad Street at Rutledge, travel North on Meeting Street, and conclude on Calhoun Street at Meeting Street. Participants include musical ensembles, clubs and organizations. Tree Lighting to Follow in Marion Square.

Holiday Parade of Boats: December 13, 2025, Charleston Harbor sets sail at 6:00pm

Join another Lowcountry tradition at the Holiday Parade of Boats. This display of lighted and festive boats proceeds from the Cooper River, through the Charleston Harbor and into the Ashley River. This is a family-friendly event is sure to become a holiday tradition for everyone. View the procession along Charleston’s waterfront or decorate your own boat and join the parade (advance registration required).

Apply to participate in the Holiday Parade of Boats – CLICK HERE. Deadline to apply is by 4:00pm on December 3, 2025.

Chanukah in the Square: Date December 14, 2025 at 4:00pm, Marion Square

An initiative of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program at the College of Charleston and Chabad of Charleston and the Lowcountry, Chanukah in the Square is a festive celebration featuring live music, arts and crafts and traditional seasonal food, culminating with the City of Charleston’s official menorah lighting at dusk.

Holiday Market in Marion Square will be held Saturdays & Sundays, 9:00am-3:00pm on 12/6, 12/7, 12/13, 12/14, 12/20

You’ll find everything you need to deck the halls for the holidays and fill the pantry with local goodies, all from local farmers, growers, artisans and crafters. Browse a wide assortment of art, crafts and holiday gift items and get your holiday shopping done early.

AEP5 Briefings on Capitol Hill

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Americans for the Arts recently did a series of AEP5 briefings on Capitol Hill. These included an arts advocacy “fly-in” day—six AEP5 study partners from key Congressional Districts and states traveled to Washington, made a presentation about the importance of the arts in their communities, and met with their legislators. Here are just a few of those important presentations:

Robert Lynch, President and CEO, Americans for the Arts

Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research and Policy, Americans for the Arts

Ben Folds, Recording Artist

City Gallery

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City Gallery

The City Gallery at Joe Riley Waterfront Park, owned by the City of Charleston and operated by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, is a tangible resource and reliable venue for displaying the finest contemporary art from local, regional, national and international artists, stimulating discussion and dialogue among audiences. In the process, in this dynamic visual arts venue, those who visit the City Gallery will be educated, enlightened and inspired by their experiences in this cultural space.

The City Gallery provides access to the visual arts for everyone in Charleston, S.C., visitors and residents alike, by offering exhibits that are all admission-free.

Charleston Farmers Market

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Charleston Farmers Market

Founded in 1989 with the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, the Charleston Farmers Market is produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with the City of Charleston Parks Department and Special Events Committee.

The Charleston Farmers Market is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry farmers, growers, prepared/packaged food, artisans, crafters, live performers and community groups and activities. We offer a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans. Attracting locals and tourists alike, the CFM is the community connection, bringing together people from all parts of the Lowcountry and beyond. Whether you are a local that frequents the CFM or a tourist visiting for the weekend, we have something for you to enjoy.

Charleston Farmers Market

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Charleston Farmers Market

April 9- November 26, 2016
Marion Square, Downtown Charleston

The Charleston Farmers Market is available each Saturday from 8am-2pm in the beautiful Marion Square, between King and Meeting Streets at the edge of Calhoun Street in the Upper King Street Design District. The park at Marion Square has long been the center of festive activities and is the perfect tranquil setting for the Farmers Market. Nestled beneath beautiful trees with plenty of room for families to gather and children to play, the Farmers Market comes to life each Saturday morning and offers an abundance of the freshest local produce, shrimp, plants, herbs and cut flowers. While strolling the Charleston Farmers Market, a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunches are available while listening to a variety of live entertainment. The Farmers Market also offers an amazing assortment of juried arts and crafts, providing the best selection and most talented local artisans.  Visit www.charlestonfarmersmarket.com.

2015 Vendor Manual

Ongoing Applications:

2016 Performer Application

2016 Not-for-Profit Application

 

Piccolo Spoleto Festival

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Piccolo Spoleto Festival

May 22 – June 7, 2020

Focusing primarily on artists of the Southeast region, Piccolo Spoleto is the perfect complement to the international scope of Spoleto Festival USA, its parent festival, and its 500 events in 17 days transforms Charleston into an exhilarating celebration of performing, literary and visual arts. Piccolo Spoleto’s traditional program offerings include visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theatre, poetry readings, children’s activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts and film.  Visit www.piccolospoleto.com.

About the Piccolo Spoleto Festival

Frequently Asked Questions

Ways to Give

MOJA Arts Festival

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September 29 – October 9, 2022

2022 marks Charleston’s 39th annual MOJA Arts Festival: A Celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts. Selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for many years, the MOJA Arts Festival promises an exciting line-up of events with a rich variety of traditional favorites. The upcoming festival is scheduled for Thursday, September 29 through Sunday, October 9, 2022. Nearly half of MOJA’s events are admission-free, and the remainder are offered at  modest ticket prices.

The MOJA Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary festival produced and directed by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the MOJA Planning Committee, a community arts and cultural group, and the MOJA Advisory Board, a group of civic leaders who assist with fundraising and advocacy.

Moja, a Swahili word meaning “One,” is the appropriate name for this festival celebration of harmony among all people in our community. The Festival highlights the many African-American and Caribbean contributions to western and world cultures. MOJA’s wide range of events include visual arts, classical music, dance, gospel, jazz, poetry, R&B music, storytelling, theatre, children’s activities, traditional crafts, ethnic food, and much, much more. In addition to its myriad arts presentations, MOJA also includes an active and busy educational outreach component of workshops in the public schools and senior outreach in senior citizen homes.

For more information, visit www.mojafestival.com

QUESTIONS? Please contact Office of Cultural Affairs at (843) 724-7305 or email CulturalAffairs@charleston-sc.gov

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MOJA Arts Festival

MOJA Arts Festival


Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston

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December

The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs celebrates the holiday season this 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. We hope you will join us in helping make Holiday Magic!!!

Virtual Offerings to be Announced.

Holiday Parade of Boats

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Cooper River, Charleston Harbor & Ashley River

2018 Information

The 37th Annual Holiday Parade of Boats will be held in Charleston Harbor on Saturday, December 8, 2018, organized by the City of Charleston in partnership with the Charleston Sail and Power Squadron. You can participate in the parade by simply registering, decorating your boat from stem to stern with lights, and joining us on the water. Thousands of spectators view the parade along the route from Mt. Pleasant to Charleston each year.

The parade begins at approximately 5:30PM near the Mt. Pleasant side and ends in the Ashley River, (after processing down the Charleston side of the Cooper River), at approximately 7:30PM. We say approximately, because of various factors, including wind, current, and the ability of the boats to maintain headway.

Captains and crews will be invited to the Captain’s Party and Awards Ceremony the following afternoon. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place boats in both the power and sail categories, with the best-in-show award going to the highest scoring boat overall.

Information about the historic Rotary Club of Charleston’s Light Up the Night Parade Viewing Party at the Charleston Maritime Center is available by visiting www.charlestonparadeofboats.com.

For more information: Call Ray Swagerty, Production Manager & Parade of Boats Coordinator (843) 724-7414 or email SwagertyR@charleston-sc.gov.