Holiday Bucket List for Charleston

Get ready for holiday spirit in the Holy City!

Fun Holiday Happenings in Charleston 2025.

An array of holiday happenings awaits you in Charleston, where the Lowcountry slips into its winter finery and everything feels touched by wonder. Charleston Place transforms into a holiday wonderland and becomes pure magic with its own private snowfall. And there is so much more!

Guests and locals can enjoy a Nutcracker Tea featuring ballerinas from The Dance Conservatory of Charleston, as well as pop-up performances from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. The holiday train, one of the hotel’s most memorable traditions, will return this year with new enhancements, traversing the grand lobby along 300 feet of track.

Coupled with visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Festival of Trees, holiday storytime for kids, and the nightly snowfall in the hotel’s Market Street Circle, there’s “snow”place like The Charleston Place during the Christmas season.

I always enjoy the Charleston Farmers Holiday Market where I find gourmet gifts, and an array of locally made arts and crafts. There’s always special entertainment and family fun. Nearby, Marion Square transforms every Saturday to host farmers, chefs and artists.

Stroll along King Street where shops are dressed in their holiday best, and twinkling lights shine like scattered stars. You’re sure to bring home bags of treasures as visions of sugarplums dance in your head. All is calm, all is bright with garlands of cedar and wreaths with bright-colored bows on porches and doorways that signal the arrival of this most wonderful time of the year.

Take a scenic ride to James Island on the magical trolley where over 700 dazzling, displays and 2 million twinkling lights await. For added fun, hop on the Festival Express train or join a Reindeer Workshop to create your own furry friend.

Take a Holiday “Sleigh” Ride with Old South Carriage Company. You will be driven around by one of Santa’s caroling elves. Return to Santa’s workshop for cookies and cocoa and a photo op with jolly old Saint Nick.

Charleston Christmas Tea Party Private Tour includes private historic homes and gardens with ripening citrus and camellias in bloom. Take a deep dive into Charleston history and enjoy time honored recipes at the tour guides private home overlooking the Ashley River on Tradd Street.

Amid the hustle of the holidays, there is a moment when Christmas happens. It may be the sounds of carolers in the neighborhood that suddenly lifts the heart, or the jingle of bells and the twinkle of lights seen and heard on nearby streets. Or it could happen as you enter this historic home for a private tea.

Holiday enchantment awaits in unexpected ways. It might be the throngs of smiling shoppers dress in their “ugly Christmas sweaters,” or the trays of cookies doused in powdered sugar served in shops along the way. Now is the time to believe in angels, twinkling stars, and goodwill to all.

Here is where the bright shining lights of Christmas match the twinkle of stars in the dark sky high above towering oaks. Garlands of cedar and wreaths with bright-colored bows on porches and doorways signal the arrival of the most wonderful time of the year. On these hollowed streets shineth The Everlasting Light. The hope and fears of all the years are met in Him tonight.

The Christmas Recipe Box

Cranberry Sauce you will be making forever - it’s so good!

Recipe is courtesy of Sue Moran who is one of the most creative cooks ever. Hers is uniquely delicious and festive because it is made with red wine and simple mullling spices.

Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce

This is so easy it can be done in the microwave.

• 2 qt (or larger) microwave safe bowl I use a pyrex measuring cup

Ingredients

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 3/4 cup red wine

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 2 star anise

Instructions

• Rinse the cranberries and put them into your 2 quart microwave safe bowl. Add the sugar and wine and stir to combine.

• Break the cinnamon stick in half. If it’s very thick you may want to use a chef’s knife. Add it and the star anise to the bowl.

• Cover loosely with a plastic microwave cover or paper towel and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Stir.

• Microwave for a final 3 minutes. Be sure to keep a loose cover on your bowl as the cranberries will foam up as they boil.

• Stir again and let the bowl cool at room temperature. Then refrigerate until cold, or overnight. Your mulled wine cranberry sauce can be made up to 4 days in advance. Pull out the whole spices before serving.

• The cranberry sauce will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

What is your favorite fun holiday event? I’d love to hear from you.