It seems that each year, holiday happenings happen a little bit earlier. Some may be cynical about it, but personally I like making the holiday season last as long as possible.
Recently I blogged about the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park. The past couple of nights (Nov. 12th and 13th) saw the preview run/walk through the two-mile light display route, and sure enough both nights sold out well in advance.
Well, tonight is the official grand opening of the festival, and there will be lots of special activities to kick it off. If you have been staying in one of our beach rentals Charleston this week, this would be an excellent way to spend your last night here. It’s guaranteed fun for all ages staying in your Charleston beach house.
Gates open at 5:30, with the celebration beginning at 6:30 and lasting till 9:30. On the agenda: plenty of live music to get you in the holiday mood, stilt-walking performances, the announcement of the winners in the categories of gingerbread houses, light display designs and giant greeting cards, and a special fireworks display at 9:00 p.m. This is the 25th annual installment of the festival, so the show should be especially good.
There is no extra charge for the grand opening - regular admission price will cover it. It’s located on James Island at 871 Riverland Drive, which is in the City of Charleston. It’s convenient to all our rental homes South Carolina, either one of our Isle of Palms luxury rentals or a Folly Beach house Charleston. I’d recommending getting there early since this is an extremely popular (and fun) event.
Last blog I mentioned one of the area’s most beloved plantations, Magnolia, and what they in store the next couple months (including the peak blooming time of one of the world’s best camellia gardens). Well, another one of Charleston’s historic plantations, Middleton Place, is also gearing up for the fall harvest and holiday season.
This weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, they are hostingPlantation Days in the Stableyard from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. both days. There they will have demonstrations of traditional craftworkers who would have prepared the plantation for the winter and holiday season. Gullah culture and storytelling will be highlighted.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27th), they will be serving a special traditional Thanksgiving Day buffet, with seating from 11:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. It will take place among the live oaks at the Pavilion and under “a graceful sailcloth tent.”
Then the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, they will be hosting a special open-air Holiday Market in the Museum Shop, Garden Market and Nursery. They’ll have plenty of local vendors and artisans, live music and carols, and complimentary hot cider and holiday treats. Sounds like a lovely alternative to hitting the mall or big box stores to kick off your Christmas shopping.
Middleton Plantation is located at 4300 Ashley River Road in Charleston. It, too, is a doable drive from all our SC vacation rentals, be they Isle of Palms vacation rentals or especially Folly Beach house rentals Charleston SC. Here’s website with all the info:https://www.middletonplace.org/
A luxury house on Isle of Palms is a great place to gather family and friends for the holidays. If you are interested in one of our luxury beach house rentals SC during the holiday season, please give us a call ASAP so we can make sure you get matched with a home-away-from-home.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger