10 Things to do in Charleston at Christmas

Christmas is one of the best times to travel and get to know a new place, because of the opportunity you have at your fingertips to understand first hand how the cultural identity of that population works. The things to see and do in Charleston during this time also reinforce this idea, as it is a place with a very busy scene when it comes to adult and family entertainment.

In this compilation I have grouped together an excellent variety of 10 activities that occur annually. All of which are fully focused on the magic of Christmas and the festive enjoyment of all in attendance.

Gospel music has always been part of the cultural imagination of the American South. In fact, when you think of a Southern church you automatically assume that there will be gospel music to accompany the prayers and gospels. So it makes sense that the city would use this to its advantage to entertain its tourists with the Sound of Charleston Concerts.

This is a series of concerts that begin with the arrival of autumn in September, but the real stars of the season are the performances that are reserved for the Christmas festivities. This is due to the fact that the setting of the venue is in keeping with the style associated with Christmas, as is the musical repertoire.

So Christmas carols and all kinds of Christmas musical classics are incorporated into the set of songs played by the choristers and pianists who are in charge of performing this magnificent concert.

Details of interest

• Prices: Fares may be adjusted each year, but adults are most commonly charged at around US$30 per person. Children under the age of 7 are almost always admitted free of charge.
• Dates: Dates change according to the distribution of weekends, but every year there is one performance booked for 23 or 24 December and another for 30 December.
• Duration: It can run for an hour and a half and it's a concert that involves all kinds of local music. From civil war ballads to a bit of jazz. It takes place after dark and is therefore one of the best things to do in Charleston at night.
• Location: The venue of choice is the Circular Congregational Church, which is located in Downtown and is one of the architectural gems of this community.

During the weekends in December, a Christmas market is held in Marion Square, which the city council has decided to name the Charleston Holiday Market.

It sells all sorts of products and items associated with Christmas festivities in American culture, such as gingerbread houses, peppermint-flavoured candy canes and hot chocolate with marshmallows.

There are also souvenirs, Christmas cards, home decorations and even natural pine trees for sale that locals can take home if they haven't already set up their Christmas tree in the living room.

Most commonly, there is an opportunity for the little ones in the house to have their photograph taken with Father Christmas and his wife, Mrs Cla us. This moment is usually accompanied by live music choirs and all kinds of artistic performances by local performers.

Without a doubt, the best dates to attend are around December 25th, but any day you have available will be entertaining knowing that this is one of the best things to do during the holiday season in Charleston.

Continuing with the idea of Christmas shopping, you should know that in the heart of the City Market there is a stall that every year is positioned as the best place to buy decorative curiosities at a good price and with excellent quality in the Charleston area.

The City Market is a place that will be fascinating in itself when you see it, as it is a market that stretches along 4 streets inside historic buildings that are collectively over 200 years old.

During the Christmas season, the market is open every day of the week, from 9 am to 5 pm. However, I advise you to go on a weekday, such as a Monday or Tuesday, as you will have much more freedom to explore this Christmas stall, as well as the wide range of food and crafts on offer in this magical place.

Rounding out the day with some of the boat tours of Charleston Bay and the Cooper River is a good idea since the City Market is not that far from the dock where these boats depart. Right next to the South Carolina Aquarium.

The story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a heartless millionaire who hates Christmas and confronts ghosts from his past, present and future to turn his life around 180 degrees in a Christmas classic in Anglo-Saxon culture.

For that reason, it is a play that is staged every year in a theatre in the city and it would be a terrible idea to miss it if you have the opportunity to experience a performing arts experience like this.

There are no guarantees as to which of the city's establishments have this literary piece on their theatrical calendar each year, although the Dock Street Theater is one of the most consistent in its repertoire of holiday events.

Taking part in Charleston' s best guided tours is a good way to get a sense of what the city's most iconic theatres look like from the outside. Some, like the Charleston Gaillard Center, are worth photographing and admiring from a distance.

In early December, on the first or second Saturday of the month, there is an event called Wine Under The Oaks. It is a wine tasting that takes place inside the grounds of the Boone Hall Plantation.

There is always live music and the holiday atmosphere is subtle, but present in all the right corners. It's an adults-only event so you won't find children running around and pets are not allowed.

You can buy Christmas hampers with all sorts of Christmas souvenirs, such as artisan cheeses and products from local breweries. As wine is the real star of the day, there are often cooking workshops that involve it as a main ingredient in the preparation.

There are desserts inspired by local gastronomy and oysters abound as part of the hors d'oeuvres. This is due to the fact that Christmas is the peak of the harvesting season for this tasty mollusc.

Details of interest

• Price: Most commonly, such events usually have a $50 admission fee, but this is always changing. There is also the fact that there are VIP categories that give you access to certain benefits on site.
• Duration: it depends on your interest, but it is an activity that almost always starts in the mid-afternoon after noon and goes on until late at night, like 10 pm.
• Alternative plans for kids: You might feel a bit guilty about looking for Christmas activities that are only focused on adults. That's why it's recommended that when you return to the historic district you hire some of the best carriage tours of Charleston. Chances are good that you'll get a driver who's dressed up as Christmas characters such as elves or reindeer on the sleigh.

The United States is a country of cultural mixtures and at the same time Christmas is a concept that has moved far away from its Christian origins to become a much more acceptable holiday for all schools of thought.

It is therefore logical that within Charleston there is strong support for the Jewish community during the Christmas holidays and Chanukah in the Square is the way in which they have consolidated this appreciation of cultural diversity.

It's a small festival that takes place in Marion Square or any other square in the city during Chanukah, which in a way is the equivalent of Christmas in the Jewish faith. Or at least it is the ephemeris that almost always coincides with this important celebration of Christianity.

The square is decorated in accordance with the plans of the Jewish organisations in the community, but the most common is a gigantic 8-candle candelabra called Menorah, which is more than enough to set the scene.

There are talks, choral groups perform live and there are also sales of Jewish products. So a stroll through Chanukah in the Square is not a bad idea if you're looking for things to do in Charleston in December that are somehow or other connected to the beauty of Christmas.

Right there in Marion Square, one of the most important events of the Christmas season takes place in the first days of December.

This is the Holiday Magic and it is basically the official opening of the Christmas season by the city council. Right in what is perhaps the largest and most imposing square in this southern community.

On this day, which almost always falls on the first Saturday of the month, a gigantic Christmas tree is lit and soars into the sky, reaching a height of approximately 18 metres. There are live band concerts and the Christmas market is inaugurated for the whole month.

It's a free activity that can perfectly entertain your family's afternoon if your visit coincides with the lighting of this Christmas tree. Spectators begin to gather at around 4:30 and the tree is usually lit in a spectacle of lights and sounds at 6:00 pm sharp. Which is logical knowing that in autumn and winter the sky starts to darken much earlier.

So you don't have to look far to find things to do or see in Charleston with kids if you're lucky enough to be in town on Holiday Magic Saturday.

Seeking out-of-town entertainment during the Christmas season is quite logical if you are fortunate enough to be visiting Charleston for more than a week.

At the same time, tours of Charleston County and South Carolina plantations are an excellent way to learn about how slave dynamics worked and how they played out during the Christmas season.

Magnolia Plantation, Boone Hall Plantation and Drayton Hall Plantation are some of the most famous and close to downtown. This allows you to make a mid-afternoon getaway without having to give up any morning or evening plans.

On these types of guided tours you learn about the lives of slaves during this unfair period of American history. You'll also get an educational look at the way cultural patterns developed among the plantation owners, such as the celebration of Christmas.

Depending on the place you have chosen for your accommodation, it is more or less likely that you will have the possibility to have an overnight stay elsewhere.

This is because several hotels in Charleston's historic district such as the French Quarter Inn and the Mills House Hotel offer very compelling Christmas stay packages.

They become attractive because the hotel's bars and lobbies celebrate the holidays with live music and a very festive atmosphere. This will make you feel like an aristocrat waiting for Christmas to arrive in your own mansion.

Keep in mind that these are 200 to 250 year old houses and staying in them is a once in a lifetime experience, even more so during a time as magical and cosy as Christmas.

In fact, they are such beautiful sights to behold that even Charleston' s tour buses often include them on their route so that passengers can take in the architectural beauty of this city.

Southern food has a special place in what Americans call comfort food. Fried chicken and cornbread are among the staples when you think of this style of cooking. However, Christmas is even more special when it comes to celebrating through food.

Turkey is often the star of this dinner, but baked ham with peaches, pecan feet and oyster dressing are other elements you'll only find at an authentic Charleston-style Christmas dinner.

High Cotton Charleston Restaurant, Magnolias and Revival are just a few of the eateries where you might find a holiday dinner with these Southern characteristics during your trip.

December is not the coldest month of the winter, in fact it marks the transition between autumn and the winter season. That doesn't mean it doesn't get cold, as the high is usually around 16 degrees Celsius, while the low is usually 8 degrees Celsius.

By doing a calculation you can infer that the average temperature for Christmas week is usually 10 to 12 degrees Celsius and that means that it is best to pack a few coats in your luggage for any evening activities.

As for the elegance required to enter establishments, it all depends on the place, as a fancy Christmas dinner in a French Quarter restaurant may require you to wear long trousers.

In general, though, this is a destination that is known for being lax about the dress code when it comes to denying visitors access to the city's tourist and shopping attractions.

Christmas in Charleston can be considered the most expensive time to visit the city, as the month of December is a season of high tourism in all parts of the world and the amount of events that take place during the festivities are used to their advantage to maximize their projects.

However, you can't overlook the fact that this city is a lot cheaper than other tourist destinations on the East Coast of the United States. Even during peak seasons such as Christmas and the summer months.

On the other hand, one cannot ignore the fact that Christmas is a time of the year with a much more significant influx of tourists. This is due to the tourism that usually takes place during the festivities, but also due to the visit of the families of the local people.

So you can expect a larger number of people than you will find in January or February, but you won't suffer from any major inconvenience in making the plans in your tourist agenda.