Each year, the City of Charleston celebrates the holiday season with Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston. Hosted by the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the series of events offers free, family-friendly activities, live performances and decorations all around town for the community to enjoy together. This year’s schedule of events is as follows:
Chanukah in the Square: Sunday, November 28 at 4 p.m.
Join the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program and Chabad of Charleston and the Lowcountry for the 14th annual Chanukah in the Square extravaganza, sponsored by the Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold Foundation and the City of Charleston. Visit the Facebook event page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2643717229107636.
Tree Lighting: Thursday, December 2 from 5 to 6 p.m., Marion Square
Enjoy musical interludes leading up to Mayor John Tecklenburg lighting the tree in Marion Square.
Holiday Parade: Sunday, December 5, 2021 at 3:30 p.m.
Come join the City of Charleston for a 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.
Holiday Parade of Boats: December 11, 2021
Join the Lowcountry tradition at the Holiday Parade of boats. This display of lighted and festive boats travels from the Cooper River, through the Charleston Harbor and into the Ashley River. View the procession along Charleston’s waterfront or decorate your own boat and join the parade. Application to participate: http://charlestonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/PARADE-OF-BOATS-REGISTRATION-FORM-2021-fillable.pdf. Applications are due by 4 p.m., Wednesday, December 8, 2021.
Happy New Year, Charleston!: Friday, December 31 from 5 to 10 p.m., Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting Street
This high energy celebration offers a non-alcoholic event full of family fun to mark the New Year in Charleston. Live music, entertainment and kids’ activities will be provided.
156th Annual Emancipation Proclamation Parade: Saturday, January 1, 2021 at 11 a.m.
Mayor Tecklenburg has announced that 2020 Olympic Silver Medalist Raven Saunders will be the Grand Marshal for the 156th Annual Emancipation Proclamation Parade in Charleston set for Saturday, January 1, 2022. The parade will begin at Burke High School, proceed east on Fishburne Street, north on Ashley Avenue, east on Sumter Street, south on King Street, east on Calhoun Street, south on Wharfside Street and end at the International African American Museum. More details can be found here: https://chsepa.wordpress.com/.
Holiday Magic Parking Voucher
Enjoy two free hours of parking this holiday season from November 15, 2021 through January 1, 2022 in participating garages in downtown Charleston! Download the free voucher here: http://charlestonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/HolidayMagic2021_ParkingVoucher_onepager.pdf