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2009 Holiday Activities and Events in Charleston SC

By: PremiereCharleston.com's Merry Holiday Elf

11/30/2009

It may seem like a hassle to bundle everybody up and drag them to downtown Charleston or some remote County park to see a bunch of lights go on, or to witness a flatbed truck full of Red Hat Ladies pass by in some Holiday parade.

And...it is. But when you're there, and when it's over, you always come away feeling just a little bit more connected to Charleston SC. And, as octo-harpy Kate Gosselin never tires of saying, “We're making memories.” Right before I put a big piece of duct tape over her mouth. So, here we go...

2009 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremonies in Charleston SC

• Tuesday December 1st, 6:30 pm, Summerville Town Hall, http://www.summerville.sc.us/
• Wednesday December 2nd, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, West Ashley Park, recreation@ci.charleston.sc.us
• Wednesday December 2nd, 6:30 pm, Memorial Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant...(Which will be colder...this or the Boat Parade? Probably this, because there's booze at the Boat Parade!)   
  
• Thursday December 3rd, 6:00pm, Front Beach, Isle of Palms
• Saturday December 5th, 4:30pm to 6:30pm, Marion Square, Downtown Charleston mailto:recreation@ci.charleston.sc.us
• Monday December 7th, 5:30pm, James Island Rec Center  
• Monday December 7th, 6:30pm, Forest Park 

2009 Holiday Parades in Charleston SC

• Saturday December 5th, 4:00 – 9:00pm, North Charleston Festival and Parade, Park Circle
• Saturday December 5th, Parade of Boats. Starts in Mt Pleasant around 5:30pm, Downtown Charleston viewing starts around 6:30pm
• Sunday December 6th, 2:00 – 4:00pm, 29th Annual Downtown Charleston Christmas Parade
• Sunday December 13th, 2:00-4:00pm, Summerville Historic Business District
• Sunday December 13th, 5:45 – 7:15pm, Mount Pleasant, down Coleman Boulevard

2009 Holiday Events and Attractions in Charleston SC

Holiday Festival of Lights, James Island County Park, Ongoing through January 3rd.
It's the 20th year for this local favorite. Though, I have to wonder how much of a “favorite” it is for James Islanders. The traffic can be a real drag. But it's a mellow good time slowly cruising the park looking at the lighted displays.  But why do I always get in front of the guy who WON'T turn off his headlights? For more info: http://ccprc.com/index.aspx?nid=140

Christmas Made In The South, Ladson Exchange Park, December 4th - 6th 
Massive holiday crafts fair (so you KNOW I'm there!) now in its 17th smash year. Tickets are $6 for adults. Get your hand stamped, and that $6 lasts all weekend! Crafts, y'all!

Daniel Island Holiday Festival, Family Circle Tennis Stadium, Saturday December 5th, 10am – 8pm. Includes all day, one-stop shopping bazaar from 10 to 6, and a big festival finale from 5 to 8.  One thing I can tell you is, unless you hear otherwise, do NOT park in the Publix shopping center!

2009 Holiday Concerts, Plays and Performances in Charleston SC 

At the Gaillard Auditorium in Downtown Charleston, you can enjoy the following events:

• Saturday December 5th, 7:00pm, Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Christmas Concert
• Saturday December 12th, 2:00pm and 7:30pm performances, The Nutcracker
• Sunday December 13th, 3:00pm, The Nutcracker
• Saturday December 19th, 8:00pm, CSO  Holiday Pops

Gaillard Information

Keep Crackin': If you like your Nutcracker more Russian and more expensive, check out the Moscow Ballet version on Wednesday December 23rd  at the North Charleston Coliseum. Info at: www.nutcracker.com

The Charleston Christmas Special, December 10th through 20th at Charleston Music Hall. This heart-warming two hour musical spectacular is an annual Charleston Holiday tradition, and it's all new for 2009. 

Get Scrooged! College of Charleston's Sotille Theater presents A Christmas Carol, December 2nd through 20th. Why see the creepy motion-capture film when you can see it on the stage, the way it was meant to be?

Other Faiths 2009 Holiday Activities in Charleston SC

• Chanukah in the Square, Sunday December 13, 4pm – 6pm, Marion Square, Downtown Charleston
• Kwanzaa Festival, Sunday December 29, 2pm-5pm. St. Julian Devine Community Center, 1 Cooper St, Downtown Charleston. A free annual event with a community parade, African drumming & dancing.

And the closing bell of Charleston SC's 2009 Holiday events:

Happy New Year Charleston! Thursday December 31, 4pm to 10:30pm, Marion Square and surrounding downtown Charleston locations.

That's the tally, as far as we can tell. Obviously, this can't possibly be the entire list of Holiday haps, but you get the idea...there's stuff to do at Holiday time in Charleston SC! And if you're downtown, make a whole deal of it: grab some coffee for the parade, hit a couple of boutiques, and do dinner afterward. Ho Ho Ho, y'all!

 

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