A Lowcountry full of fantastic Holiday December 2015 Events and fabulous things to ‘see and do’ await your arrival. Bring your significant other, or the whole family, and enjoy Charleston and her waterways plus fascinating historic sites. The Holiday Season is simply a great time to get out-on-the-water and visit captivating Fort Sumter!
TripAdvisor ranked the Holy City 3rd place in its list of top American travel destinations, placing it as more popular than the likes of Las Vegas, San Francisco, New Orleans and the nation’s capital! Fort Sumter Tours is also award-winning. Fort Sumter Tours is the recipient of a “Certificate of Excellence” awarded by TripAdvisor. # 1 Top USA Destination was voted by Conde Nast Traveler readers, for Fort Sumter. And, Travel & Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Awards ranked Charleston, South Carolina # 1 in the USA & Canada and #2 in World’s Best Cities via the Reader’s Choice Awards. Conde Nast Traveler has ranked Charleston as one of the best small cities in the USA! Also, Anthony Bourdain’s top-ranked CNN show, Parts Unknown, featured in December 2015 how fantastic a “foodie” city is Charleston, SC to visit along with significant other qualities that attract tourists…like an historic Tour of Fort Sumter!
Guests board at informative Liberty Square’s Fort Sumter Visitors Center. Don’t miss this great opportunity that the whole family will enjoy! Fort Sumter Tours is the only authorized National Park Service concessioner, proudly owned and operated for over 50 years by The Campsens, a local Charlestonian family with generations of maritime heritage. Booking online is a seabreeze via fortsumtertours.com or simply call Toll-Free 1-800-789-3678 or 843-722-BOAT. Cancellations with refunds accepted up to 24-hours in-advance. Walk-in reservations are welcome at 360 Concord Street, Liberty Square’s Fort Sumter Visitors Center, on a space available basis. Parking is easy at nearby Aquarium Wharf garage or metered on-street.
Fantastic Festivals & Holiday Events in December 2015!
James Island, South Carolina
6th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights ~ 12/01 – 12/31/2015
James Island County Park
Take your Family & Friends on a walk through history and stunning experience on Charleston Harbor with a Fort Sumter Tour. Next, plan to head to James Island, that evening, after a great dinner in Historic Charleston and the whole family will enjoy a true Holiday Treat!
Featuring over 750 displays and two million lights, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a cherished holiday tradition for many families throughout Charleston and for visitors. James Island County Park comes alive with illumination, and is a great place to capture the magic of the holiday season. The Holiday Festival of Lights has been recognized around the country and the world! It was featured as the only U.S. event in Moscow’s Festival of Festivals, Coastal Living recognized it as “One of the Top 10 Holiday Celebrations,” the American Bus Association ranked it as “One of the Top 100 Events in the Nation,” and it was most recently named one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. Additional celebrated attractions to see & do, include: Marshmallow Roasting, Festival Train Rides, Lakeside Lights Interactive Activity, The Amazing Dancing Light Display, Enchanted Walking Trail, Old-Fashioned Carousel, Unique Gift Shops and the Reindeer Workshop, Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, Photos with Santa, Plus much more! Activities include: Live Music; Stilt Walking Performances; Fireworks (9pm); Giant Greeting Card, Gingerbread House and Light Display and loads of fun for the entire family! http://ccprc.com/1546/Holiday-Festival-of-Lights
Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Isle of Palms Holiday Street Festival ~ Front Beach ~ 12/05/2015
The 4th Annual Isle of Palms Holiday Street Festival will be held Ocean Boulevard at the Front Beach area of Isle of Palms. FREE event featuring local music, food, and fun. The Sullivan’s Island Elementary School choir will kick off the event with a few holiday tunes. Local restaurants will be set-up on the street offering special menu items throughout the afternoon. Additional entertainment includes carnival rides, jump castles, karaoke, a balloon artist, a face painter, and a photo booth. Children will have the opportunity to meet with Santa Claus from 4:30-6:30pm and Mayor Cronin will officially light the 22’ Christmas Tree in the middle of Ocean Boulevard around 5:30pm. http://iop.net/
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Wine Under the Oaks ~ Boone Hall Plantation ~ 12/06/2015
Wine Under the Oaks become one of the premier holiday special events in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Admission includes Wine samples from a variety of wine distributors and winery partners. Complimentary “bubbles” provided by Biltmore Estate and desserts by Cypress Of Charleston.Spanish Food and Wine Pairing with complimentary samples provided by Boone Hall Farms and The Wine Shop. Complimentary oyster samples by Crosby’s Seafood – “Serving up Charleston’s finest oysters.” Breads and Spreads with complimentary samples provided by Harris Teeter. Wine and cooking demonstrations presented by some of Charleston’s finest chefs in a portable kitchen provided courtesy of the Charleston Restaurant Association and The Culinary Institute. Complimentary table seating on a first come first serve basis. Live concert performance by the band Pablo Cruise. Special pricing on featured wines at World Of Wines retail tent. Unique gift options exhibited by a number of specialty vendors. The Plantation will be decorated in holiday décor and it is the perfect way to kick-off the holiday season. Gates Open 12:30pmEvent Will Be From 1pm-5pm, On The Back Lawn ~ Casual Dress. http://boonehallplantation.com/wine_under_the_oaks
20th Annual Christmas Light Parade & Tree Lighting ~ 12/13/2015
More than 100 floats will march down Coleman Boulevard as the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade sets sail to the delight of thousands of residents and visitors. The tree lighting and fireworks display begins at approximately 5:30pm at Moultrie Middle School, immediately followed by the Parade beginning at around 5:45pm.
http://www.comeonovermp.com/index.aspx?NID=115
Holiday Farmers Market & Craft Show ~ 12/15/2015
Moultrie Middle School Grounds ~ Farmers Market Pavilion
The annual Holiday Farmers Market & Craft Show combines all the goodies from traditional food market such as locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, hot food and homemade preserves with handcrafted gifts created by local artisans. Come see this year’s wonderful assortment of Christmas ornaments, glasswork, whimsical crafts, and a wide variety of original art by locally recognized potters, artists, craftsmen and photographers.11:00am – 4:00pm. http://www.comeonovermp.com/index.aspx?NID=114
North Charleston, South Carolina
Nutcracker Holiday Ballet ~ 12/04 – 12/05/2015
North Charleston Performing Arts Center
The South Carolina Ballet presents Charleston’s favorite family tradition, Nutcracker. Just in time for the holiday season this award-winning spectacle is a family favorite! Artistic Director William Starrett’s award winning choreography has been combined with a cast of more than 120 dancers, new costumes and enchanted special effects. The company’s 35 professional dancers will dance side by side with over 60 local children, ages 4 to 18. Paired with Tchaikovsky’s score, sugar plum fairies, mischievous mice and waltzing flowers will ring in the holiday cheer. “This season’s Nutcracker is going to be spectacular with the biggest cast in our 55 year history,” says Starrett.
The Nutcracker, which was first performed in St. Petersburg in 1892, tells the story of a young girl named Clara who experiences a magical journey as a reward for saving the life of her beloved Nutcracker Prince. The American version began in 1940 when the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo suddenly took refuge and presented its production in New York City. George Balanchine, the company’s ballet master, is the famed founder and choreographer of Nutcracker. It is this famed production that Columbia City Ballet’s famed Nutcracker is adopted after with a hint of our Southern roots. “The Russian Licorice Whip dance alone will blow you away. I can’t wait for the audience to get to experience this year’s tremendous production,” proclaims William Starrett.
The South Carolina Ballet will present Nutcracker at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, December 4th & 5th. Tickets range from $27-57 (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased online at www.Ticketmaster.com or visit www.southcarolinaballet.com.
WWE Raw ~ World Wrestling ~ 12/07/2015
North Charleston Coliseum
WWE Raw is back at the Coliseum! Come see a mega eight man tag team match!
Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose and Kane vs WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family! Ticket Prices: $100, 95, 55, 50, 35, 25, 15 (plus applicable fees).Great seats start at $15 (plus applicable fees). North Charleston Coliseum Advance Ticket Office, charge-by- phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. http://www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/
Elf, The Broadway Musical ~ 12/22 – 12/23/2015
North Charleston Performing Arts Center
ELF THE MUSICAL is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s big bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.
Both performances are at 6:30pm. http://www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com/events/detail/elf-the-musical