Another December weekend, another weekend filled with your pick of holiday market plus other holiday happenings near Charleston! The weather these past couple weekends has wreaked a bit of havoc on events in the Lowcountry. Although we didn’t get the snow that blanketed parts north, we did get a lot of rain. Alas the Parade of Boats in Charleston Harbor, a local tradition and fun annual event for all ages, was cancelled by the Coast Guard due to rough chop. The downtown Charleston Holiday Parade, which was supposed to take place the first Sunday in December, luckily just got postponed. It’s due to take place this Sunday, December 16th. The time is the same - it starts at 3:00 p.m. - but they’ve tweaked the parade route a bit. The revised route will now head up Meeting Street. Here’s the scoop from the official city website, and it includes info about related street closings. The parade is always a lot of fun, with floats, lots of marching bands and holiday music, local celebrities and the big guy himself, Santa. It’s an easy drive from the Isle of Palms. Just head through Mount Pleasant, over the Ravenel Bridge and take the Meeting Street exit.
A holiday market or two in Charleston
Another casualty of the rainy weekends has been the downtown Holiday Market. This weekend is the last chance to check it out. Thankfully the rain should be gone by mid-morning tomorrow. The Holiday Market is scheduled to take place this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15th and 16th from 9:00 a.m. till 3:00. It’s the holiday version of the Charleston Farmers Market, which has been named one of the best in the country. The market is centered around Marion Square and is an ideal place to grab a bite or pick up something to prepare dinner with in one of our beach rentals Charleston. It’s also a perfect place to do some Christmas shopping or pick up a uniquely Lowcountry souvenir from your stay in one of our luxury beach house rentals SC. Here’s the market’s official website. Also going on tomorrow is a relatively new holiday market. It’s the Cigar Bazaar Holiday Market happening at the Cigar Factory, also downtown. Here are some deets:
- Loads of local artisans, regional vendors and retailers;
- Live music to get you in the holiday mood;
- Drink specials to do the same;
- Going on from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m.;
- Located at 701 East Bay Street, just off the Ravenel Bridge;
- Here’s their Facebook event page.
Brunch with Santa right on the IOP
If you’re on the Isle of Palms this weekend or next, you’ll have a great chance to have brunch with Santa. That’s right - On December 15th and 22nd, Santa himself will be right here on the IOP. He’ll be at The Refuge, the popular island restaurant in the Harris-Teeter shopping center, between 9 -11:00 a.m. This will be especially fun for any kids in your clan. They can have their picture taken with Santa, check out the hot chocolate and ornament decorating stations. Oh - and kids 6 and under eat free! Can’t beat that. So have a hopefully rain-free weekend enjoying holiday fun. And when you are looking for the best beach house near Charleston, be sure to call EP. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger