EXPLORE THE LOWCOUNTRY
Seasonal Events & Concert Series
Festivals, concerts, and community traditions throughout the year.
Party at the Point
Charleston’s longest-running happy hour concert series, featuring live bands, food, and drinks along the waterfront at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina in Mt. Pleasant.
2026 Season: Fridays, April 17–July 17 • $15 adults • Kids 12 & under free
Sounds on the Square
A free outdoor concert series held at Hutchinson Square in historic downtown Summerville. Enjoy live music in a relaxed community setting — bring a chair or blanket.
2026 Dates: April 11, May 9 & June 13 • FREE
Dancing on the Cooper
Enjoy live music and dancing on the Mount Pleasant Memorial Pier overlooking Charleston Harbor. This recurring community series offers a scenic setting for an evening by the water.
Seasonal Series: Monthly, April–September • FREE
North Charleston Farmers Market with Live Music
A weekly outdoor market at Park Circle Pavilion featuring South Carolina produce, local artisans, food trucks, and live music.
Seasonal Market: Thursdays, May–October • Live music 5–7 PM • FREE
Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series
Enjoy an evening of live reggae music under the stars at James Island County Park, with food, beverages, and vendors available on site. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.
Summer Series: Select Fridays, May–August • Paid admission per vehicle
Creekapalooza
Goose Creek’s free concert series at the Joseph S. Daning Amphitheater, featuring large-scale live performances throughout the year. Past performers include Plain White T’s, Sister Hazel, and Better Than Ezra.
Concert Series: 3–4 shows per year • FREE tickets required through Eventbrite
Seasonal Events
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Holiday
Winter Events
Lowcountry Oyster Festival
One of the world’s largest oyster festivals, featuring more than 50,000 pounds of oysters, live music, oyster shucking and eating contests, a children’s area, and a full food court.
Annual Event: Late January/Early February • Paid Admission
Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival
A family-friendly street festival along Center Street featuring nearly 100 vendors, arts and crafts, food, clothing, children’s games, and local entertainment.
Annual Event: Late February • FREE
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
One of the nation’s largest wildlife art and sporting lifestyle events, bringing exhibitions, live animal demonstrations, conservation programs, and special events to venues throughout downtown Charleston.
Annual Event: February 13–15, 2026 • Paid Admission
Colour of Music Festival Winter Edition
A celebration of Black classical music featuring world-class musicians, concert performances, and cultural programming at venues throughout Charleston.
Annual Event: February • Paid Admission
Spring Events
MARCH
St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Park Circle Block Party
A major St. Patrick’s Day celebration combining Charleston’s annual parade with Park Circle’s lively block party featuring live music, street vendors, and local food.
Annual Event: March • FREE
Charleston Wine + Food Festival
A five-day culinary celebration featuring chef-led dinners, tastings, cooking demonstrations, and a Culinary Village with leading local and national chefs and winemakers.
Annual Event: March 4–8, 2026 • Paid Events
The Charleston Festival
A month-long celebration offering rare access to Charleston’s historic private homes and gardens, along with musical performances, lectures, and cultural programming.
Annual Event: March 18–April 11, 2026 • Paid Admission
Cooper River Bridge Run
One of the largest 10K races in the United States, taking thousands of participants across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from Mt. Pleasant into downtown Charleston.
Annual Event: March 28, 2026 • Paid Registration
Flowertown Festival
One of the Southeast’s largest arts and crafts festivals, featuring more than 200 artists and vendors, food trucks, children’s activities, and live entertainment throughout historic Summerville.
Annual Event: March 27–29, 2026 • FREE Admission
APRIL
North Charleston Smooth & Gullah Jazz Music Festival
A new annual music festival blending smooth jazz with Gullah cultural traditions, storytelling, Lowcountry cuisine, and community performances.
Annual Event: April 10–11, 2026 • Paid Admission
Woofstock: A Lowcountry Dog Music Festival
An outdoor music festival where well-behaved dogs are welcome, featuring live performances, food trucks, craft vendors, children’s activities, and support for local animal rescues.
Annual Event: April 11, 2026 • Paid Admission
Charleston Jazz Festival
A multi-day celebration of jazz featuring international headliners alongside local and regional artists performing at venues throughout Charleston.
Annual Event: April 13–19, 2026 • Paid Admission / Some Free Events
Black Food Truck Festival
A family-friendly cultural festival highlighting Black-owned food trucks, live music, DJs, artisan vendors, and handmade products from regional creators.
Annual Event: April 13–19, 2026 • Paid Admission / Some Free Events
High Water Festival
A two-day indie, folk, and rock music festival along the Cooper River featuring national and international artists, local food, craft beverages, and waterfront views.
Annual Event: April 18–19, 2026 • Paid Admission
Lowcountry Cajun Festival
A celebration of Louisiana culture with live zydeco music, crawfish, jambalaya, étouffée, Lowcountry food, children’s activities, and the annual crawfish-eating contest.
Annual Event: April • Paid Admission per Vehicle
Lowcountry Strawberry Festival
A spring family favorite featuring U-Pick strawberries, carnival rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, live entertainment, magic shows, and food at Boone Hall Plantation.
Annual Event: April–May • Paid Admission
MAY
Charleston Dragon Boat Festival
A colorful dragon boat competition on the Ashley River featuring decorated boats, costumed teams, live entertainment, food, and vendors while supporting cancer survivorship programs.
Annual Event: May 2, 2026 • Free for Spectators
Charleston Airshow
A free public airshow at Joint Base Charleston featuring military jet demonstrations, vintage aircraft, static displays, and military exhibits.
Annual Event: May 2–3, 2026 • FREE
Charleston Greek Festival
A longtime Charleston tradition featuring authentic Greek food and wine, traditional music and dancing, cultural exhibits, and artisan vendors.
Annual Event: May 8–10, 2026 • Paid Admission
Spoleto Festival USA
One of the country’s premier performing arts festivals, presenting more than 150 performances of opera, theater, dance, and music throughout historic Charleston.
Annual Event: May 22–June 7, 2026 • Paid Admission
Piccolo Spoleto
Spoleto’s companion festival showcasing local and regional artists through music, poetry, children’s programs, film screenings, visual arts, and other cultural events.
Annual Event: May 22–June 7, 2026 • Many Events FREE
Summer Events
JUNE
Charleston Carifest Caribbean Carnival
A vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture featuring a colorful downtown parade, soca and reggae music, Caribbean food, storytelling, art, and family activities.
Annual Event: June • Mixed Free & Ticketed Events
Juneteenth Family Fest Charleston
A community celebration of Juneteenth featuring live performances, Black art, nonprofit and HBCU exhibitors, cultural food, children’s games, and a fireworks finale.
Annual Event: June 20 • Paid Admission
High Tide Festival
A waterfront dance music festival featuring electronic and dance artists, sunset parties, late-night performances, vendors, seafood, and local food trucks.
Annual Event: June 5–6, 2026 • Paid Admission
JULY
Summerville Fireworks & Freedom Festival (Fourth of July)
Summerville’s annual Fourth of July celebration featuring live music, food trucks, a kids’ zone, and a professional fireworks show at Gahagan Park.
Annual Event: July 4 • FREE
Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival
A celebration of Gullah Geechee heritage and the traditional art of sweetgrass basket making, with live performances, demonstrations, Gullah cuisine, and cultural exhibits.
Annual Event: July 25, 2026 • FREE
Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival
A family-friendly celebration of Caribbean food, music, and culture centered around jerk cuisine, live entertainment, and cultural vendors.
Annual Event: July • Paid Admission
Fall Events
SEPTEMBER
Greater Charleston Lowcountry Jazz Festival
A Labor Day weekend celebration featuring nationally recognized jazz artists at the Charleston Gaillard Center while supporting Closing the Gap in Healthcare.
Annual Event: September 4–6, 2026 • Paid Admission
MOJA Arts Festival
A longstanding celebration of Black arts and culture featuring visual arts, dance, jazz, gospel, R&B, poetry, theater, children’s activities, Gullah storytelling, and a street parade.
Annual Event: September 24–October 4, 2026 • Many Events FREE
OCTOBER
Ari Foss Foundation Annual Memorial Walk
A meaningful community walk honoring babies lost to stillbirth and neonatal loss, with local vendors, food trucks, children’s activities, and a remembrance ceremony at Park Circle.
Annual Event: October • FREE / Donations Welcome
Latin American Festival
A celebration of Latin American and Caribbean cultures featuring live music, traditional food, dancing, folk arts, crafts, and cultural exhibits.
Annual Event: October 4, 2026 • Paid Admission per Vehicle
Riverfront Revival
A celebration of Latin American and Caribbean cultures featuring live music, traditional food, dancing, folk arts, crafts, and cultural exhibits.
Annual Event: October 4, 2026 • Paid Admission per Vehicle
Charleston Beer Fest (Oktoberfest)
A celebration of Latin American and Caribbean cultures featuring live music, traditional food, dancing, folk arts, crafts, and cultural exhibits.
Annual Event: October 4, 2026 • Paid Admission per Vehicle
Coastal Carolina Fair
The tri-county area’s major annual fair featuring more than 65 rides, live music stages, a rodeo, animal shows, agricultural exhibits, creative arts, and classic fair food.
Annual Event: October 30–November 9, 2026 • Paid Admission
NOVEMBER
Holy Smokes: A Lowcountry BBQ Festival
A major barbecue celebration bringing together more than 50 pitmasters and chefs representing Texas, Traditional, New School, and Coastal barbecue styles.
Annual Event: November 14, 2026 • Paid Admission
Charleston Literary Festival
A boutique literary festival featuring internationally acclaimed fiction and nonfiction authors in intimate conversations at the historic Dock Street Theatre and other Charleston venues.
Annual Event: November 6–15, 2026 • Paid Admission / Some Free Events
Colour of Music Festival — Fall Edition
The fall edition of Charleston’s celebration of Black classical music, presenting acclaimed musicians and performances throughout the city.
Annual Event: November • Paid Admission
Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering
A celebration of Scottish heritage featuring athletic competitions, traditional music and dancing, clan tents, cultural demonstrations, and Celtic vendors.
Biennial Event • Next Scheduled for 2027 • Paid Admission
Holiday Events
Holiday Festival of Lights
A beloved holiday tradition at James Island County Park featuring more than two million twinkling LED lights, themed displays, train rides, marshmallow roasting, Santa visits, shopping, and family activities.
Annual Event: Mid-November–December 31 • Paid Admission per Vehicle