There are more than 40 things happening around Charleston this November, and the holiday lights start flipping on the second week of the month. Cooler mornings, bluegrass on Johns Island, 50 pitmasters by the river and a tree lighting almost every weekend.
Here’s the whole month in one place, starting close to home on Johns Island and working out from there. Save this one so you’re not scrambling on a Saturday morning.
November at a glance
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6 to 15 | Charleston Literary Festival | Dock Street Theatre |
| Nov 7 | Harvest Festival | Johns Island County Park |
| Nov 7 | Kiawah Tour of Homes | Kiawah Island |
| Nov 8 | Second Sunday on King and Lowcountry Nosh | Downtown |
| Nov 13 | Holiday Festival of Lights opens | James Island County Park |
| Nov 13 to 15 | Food & Wine Classic | Around Charleston |
| Nov 14 | Holy Smokes BBQ Fest | North Charleston |
| Nov 15 | Steeplechase of Charleston | Stono Ferry, Hollywood |
| Nov 21 | Lights Up tree lighting | Mt Pleasant Towne Centre |
| Nov 26 | Turkey Day Run | Marion Square |
Heather’s pick: the Harvest Festival at Johns Island County Park on Nov 7. Live bluegrass, hayrides, pumpkins and barbecue, right here on the island. It’s small-town Johns Island at its best.
Close to home: Johns Island, Kiawah and nearby
Harvest Festival (Nov 7). Johns Island County Park, 11 am to 5 pm. Live bluegrass, hayrides, pumpkin decorating and Carolina barbecue.
Kiawah Tour of Homes (Nov 7). The Symphony League’s tour of decorated homes on Kiawah, a fundraiser for the Charleston Symphony.
Erinys Quartet (Nov 10). A chamber music evening at the Seabrook Island Clubhouse.
Classic Disc Golf (Nov 13 to 15). Tournament weekend at Trophy Lakes on Johns Island.
Steeplechase of Charleston (Nov 15). Race day at Stono Ferry in Hollywood, with tailgates, the Merchant Market and the Corgi Cup. Kids 12 and under get in free.
Downtown and around Charleston
- Through Nov 8: Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson
- Nov 5: Jerry Seinfeld at the North Charleston PAC
- Nov 6: First Friday Art Walk, with downtown galleries open 5 to 8 pm
- Nov 6 to 15: Charleston Literary Festival at Dock Street Theatre, ten days of author talks and signings
- Nov 7: BBQ & Bluegrass Festival at Middleton Place, and Wynonna Judd at the North Charleston PAC
- Nov 8: Second Sunday on King, with no cars from Queen to Calhoun, noon to 5 pm
- Nov 8: Lowcountry Nosh, a Jewish food festival with klezmer music and a kids’ zone
- Nov 11: Veterans Day concert aboard the USS Yorktown, plus a Tribute to Veterans at the North Charleston PAC
- Nov 12: Spyro Gyra at the Charleston Music Hall
- Nov 13 to 14: YALLFest, the young adult book festival downtown
- Nov 13 to 15: Charleston Food & Wine Classic, with chef demos and grand tastings
- Nov 14: Holy Smokes BBQ Fest at Riverfront Park, with 50+ pitmasters, and Travis Tritt at the North Charleston PAC
- Nov 18: Wine Down Wednesday cruise from Seabreeze Marina
- Nov 24: Mannheim Steamroller at the North Charleston PAC
- Nov 26: Turkey Day Run at Marion Square on Thanksgiving morning
- Nov 29: A Christmas Carol opens at Dock Street Theatre
Tree lightings and holiday lights
The lights start early this year. Here’s every lighting worth the drive, in order.
- Nov 7: Tree Lighting & Hometown Heroes at Tanger Outlets
- Nov 13: Holiday Festival of Lights opens at James Island County Park, with 750+ displays on a three-mile drive through Dec 31
- Nov 20: Aquarium Aglow opens at the South Carolina Aquarium
- Nov 21: Lights Up tree lighting at Mt Pleasant Towne Centre
- Nov 21 to 22: Christmas Tree Festival at Boone Hall Farms
- Nov 26: Holiday Lights Driving Tour opens at Old Santee Canal Park
- Nov 27: Tree lighting at American Gardens on King Street, and The Sanctuary tree lighting on Kiawah
- Nov 27 to 29: Holidays at Freshfields on Kiawah
Save the date for December: Summerville on Dec 1, Colonial Lake and Park Circle on Dec 4, Isle of Palms on Dec 5, and Marion Square after the holiday parade on Dec 6.
Every week in November
- Saturdays: Charleston Farmers Market at Marion Square, Sea Island Farmers Market on Johns Island, and the Weekend Wine Down at Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw
- Sundays: Brunch Farmers Market at the Pour House, and the Sunday Market at American Gardens
- Tuesdays: Mt Pleasant Farmers Market
- Wednesdays: Hampton Park and West Ashley farmers markets
- Fridays and Saturdays: Charleston City Night Market
- Stingrays hockey home games: Nov 6, 7, 20, 27 and 28
Live near it
The best part of living here is how close all of this is. Here’s where to look, depending on what you want nearby.
- Johns Island. Live oaks, more land for your money, and the Harvest Festival, Trophy Lakes and the Saturday farmers market right here. Wadmalaw’s vineyard and the Kiawah beaches are a short drive. Search Johns Island homes
- Kiawah and Seabrook. Resort and island living, with The Sanctuary and Freshfields at your doorstep for the holidays.
- West Ashley and James Island. Close to downtown and the Holiday Festival of Lights, with weeknight markets nearby.
- Downtown. Walk to King Street, Marion Square, Dock Street and nearly everything on this list.
Search all Charleston area homes
Keep reading
- Johns Island Math: How Far Is Everything, Really?
- Johns Island’s Quiet Boom: Hotels, Restaurants and a Changing Horizon
- How the Charleston Market Is Driving Demand in Johns Island
Which one are you making it to?
If you’re thinking about a move to Johns Island or anywhere around Charleston, a weekend at one of these events is a great way to get a feel for a neighborhood. I’m happy to share the latest numbers for any area you’re curious about, or show you around.
You can see this month’s carousel on Instagram at @heathergregory_realtor. Dates and times can change, so check with each event before you go.
Heather Gregory · 760-220-2446 · heather.gregory@seaglass.com