10 Things to Do in Charleston in August

Having a list of things to see and do in Charleston ready before you set foot in the city is advisable if you don't want to waste time making decisions about what to see and do in Charleston because you don't know what the city has to offer.

I invite you to read all the information I have compiled for you if you want to get an idea of what this city has to offer during the sunniest and hottest month of the year.

If there is one musical rhythm that is associated with the carefree and free atmosphere of summer, it would be Reggae. In Charleston they have this in mind, and that's why every year they enjoy a series of concerts with this Caribbean theme.

They take place in a municipal park, one of the largest in Charleston County. As for the concert, children under the age of 12 usually pay no admission fee, while adults almost always pay a fee of $10 per person.

The event does not usually go on until dawn, but it can extend for several hours. Doors usually open around 7:30 pm, when it's just getting dark in the summer, but usually close at 10:30 pm. Bear in mind that the music will be over by 11:30 pm.

There are always plenty of food choices from local vendors, as well as event apparel. Don't forget that it 's outdoors on a grassy clearing, so you'll want to bring a beach chair that your accommodation might lend you or at least a picnic-style blanket.

It's quite a family-friendly atmosphere, so it's one of the things to do or see in Charleston in the evening when you want your kids to join in.

Details of interest:

• Prices: It's an inexpensive event and adult tickets are usually no more than $10, while children under 12 get in for free.
• Date: Starts in late June and runs through mid-August, leaving weekends as the specific days on which they are held.
• Venue: James Island County Park.

The summer humidity can be quite stifling for those not accustomed to the hot, oceanic climate of coastal South Carolina. So it's a good idea to cool off at the summer version of the Charleston Wine Festival.

There are usually more than 50 types of wine on offer with a large repertoire of local makers complemented by a good variety of Southern-made beers and spirits.

The venue for this event may change from year to year, but the Charleston Bay Cruise Terminal is almost certain to be chosen. That's because it's an air-conditioned facility that can keep out the ambient heat of the southern afternoon.

There are also outdoor patios at the locations usually chosen for this event and another aspect you can't forget is that it's an adults-only event. That is, only those over 21 are allowed to attend, knowing that this is the minimum age for alcohol consumption in the United States.

If you are looking for other family entertainment alternatives for the same day of this event with the intention of balancing the itinerary, you can join the Charleston tour bus. It will take you and your whole family to see the most iconic sites in the historic district of this beautiful city.

Details of interest:

• Price: Ticket prices usually range from $40 to $60 per person, depending on when you decide to purchase your admission ticket. Clearly, the most expensive rate is for those who pay on the day of the event.
• Date: The date changes from year to year, but it is most commonly held at the end of the month, on a Friday or Saturday in one of the last two weeks of August.

Another adult entertainment event you can enjoy when visiting Charleston during the month of August is the Beer From Here hosted at the South Carolina Aquarium.

Basically, it's an evening offering all kinds of craft beers from local companies like Holy City Brewing and Low Tide Brewing to a large group of attendees who are looking for fun in an interesting environment like the city's beautiful aquarium.

It's usually held in early August, but either way, a daytime visit is a must if you want to impress your kids with the wonders of South Carolina's aquatic wildlife.

Another convenient aspect of planning a visit here is that it's right next to the pier where boat tours of Charleston's waterfront and bay depart from. This is another activity that can be purely family-friendly so you won't feel so guilty about going for a more adult approach to fun on the same night.

As a family holiday is all about everyone having fun, it makes sense to also include in your itinerary an activity that is primarily focused on children's entertainment.

In this case, the opportunity at hand is the Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark, a water park located in North Charleston that is open daily during the first half of August.

Spread over 15 hectares of county park land, you'll find all sorts of water slides. Some are quite traditional, others are designed for racing other participants, there's a man-made wave beach and there's also a river with a mechanised current that can relax you when you're looking for a little break between rides.

It's definitely one of the best things to see or do in Charleston with kids during a summer visit. Don't get me wrong, though, as many of the rides are just as interesting for an adult who has outgrown the adrenaline-fuelled adrenaline rush of adolescence.

Please note that in this type of establishment you can't take food with you, and therefore all food must be consumed within the commercial offer of the park. However, this is not a problem, as there are several cafeterias that offer food that even the fussiest of children can enjoy.

Throughout the summer, Charleston hosts some pretty traditional seaside parties with the sunset as a backdrop. They're called the Moonlight Mixers and are basically a gathering of locals on the Folly Beach fishing pier.

They always come with musical mixes by a DJ who knows how to combine beach and ambient music with a couple of oldies worthy of a good dance. The Foggy, a dance style typical of the last century in the American South, is the star of the show among the adults and senior citizens who attend this annual event with their family and friends.

Attendees are invited to bring their own folding chairs, but are not allowed to bring their own coolers, let alone their own drinks. This is due to the fact that every night of the Moonlight Mixers during the month of August they have their own bars for the purchase of drinks and cocktails. As well as soft drinks and packaged juices for the little ones in the house.

Regarding the duration of the event, you should know that participants usually arrive around 6:30-7:00 pm and don't leave the pier until 10:00 pm. Remember that the goal is to enjoy the moonlight over the tide and the beautiful sunset that precedes it.

At the southern end of the Charleston metropolitan area, facing the Atlantic Ocean and outside the immediate vicinity of the bay, lies Sullivans Island. Its long, white sandy beaches make it a suitable destination for a weekend getaway during your August visit to the city.

Renting a boat to take you to some of the island's piers is a good idea if you want to experience something similar to the sandbars and cays of Vizcaino Bay in Miami. But you can also get there by road, via the Ben Sawyer Bridge.

There is a Sullivan's Island Nature Trail, a wildlife and vegetation trail. Fort Sumter Historical Park is another nice spot on the island to take the kids for a skating session or just to take in the views of the sea from a different perspective.

Right next to Sullivans Island is Isle of Palms, which is a very similar island when it comes to natural charms.

There you'll find other equally captivating beaches, but you'll also be surprised by the wide range of hotels on offer if you decide to stay a night outside of Charleston for a more beachy atmosphere.

The Wild Dunes Golf Course is a dune and grass course that you might find entertaining if you enjoy the sport, or at least if you're interested in observing how the area's millionaires live in this privileged neighbourhood of the city.

On your way back to historic downtown, it's also advisable to book some of Charleston' s best guided tours. For you have to prioritise the fact that the architectural beauty of this part of the city is what defines the interest of most tourists who fall in love with this quiet and welcoming southern city.

The Charleston City Museum represents a perfect balance between an institution that seeks to comprehensively educate the visitor about all cultural, natural and historical aspects of the site where it is located.

It is believed to be the oldest museum in the entire country, as its founding is traced back to 1773, even before the start of the war for independence by the colonies would transform into a federal union.

There are exhibits that focus on the natural history of South Carolina, there are others that focus on the details of the Civil War, and there are also a few rooms dedicated to fun and educational fun for the youngest visitors in the house.

It is open every day of the week during the month of August, from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and open at noon on Sundays. During this month it can be your best ally to escape from the heat knowing that inside there is air conditioning.

As for ticket prices, they are changeable, but discounts for children are common. Therefore, it is likely that an adult will end up paying around US$12, while a teenager will pay around US$10 and a child under the age of 13 will pay around US$8.

Another cultural and historical learning activity that might interest you is to schedule a South Carolina plantation tour from Charleston. This is due to the fact that the slave-era agricultural cultivation centres are one of the major historical landmarks of the region's dark past during the 19th century.

Oaks are without debate the trees of choice when it comes to some of the most iconic vegetation in the southern United States. Walking through a park is a very pleasant experience if you enjoy the simple act of observing and admiring them as the wonder of nature that they are.

So right in the geographic centre of Johns Island, another section of Charleston's suburbs, is the Angel Oak, which is the oldest oak tree east of the Mississippi River.

The beautiful tree is approximately 65 feet tall. In addition, its shade can reach an estimated 20,000 square feet on some days of the year. Therefore, the summer season of August is a great time to visit, considering the sunshine of the month and how pleasant it would be to be under the shade of such a magnificent tree. At no other time of the year does this tree offer such impressive shade over the park's panorama as in the month of August.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a true natural wonder and without having to pay a single penny to do so.

It is located within a park that was created exclusively for the conservation of this magnificent specimen. Therefore, you will only be able to visit from 9 am to 5 pm every day of the week, except on Sundays, when the opening time is extended to 1 pm.

The locals know it as the Old City Jail. It is one of the oldest architectural landmarks in the city.

During its operations from 1803 to 1939, it housed all manner of criminals, including pirates, Northern officers in the Civil War and local con men.

It is believed to have ghosts of every imaginable type and a couple of innkeepers who allegedly poisoned their guests in the 1800s are a perfect example of the apparitions that are said to swirl around this spooky place.

Keep in mind that it's a perfect attraction to visit in August as you're more likely to be accompanied by other tourists and that reduces the fear you might feel about being in a place as scary as this. Plus, there's the fact that August is a month when this sort of museum usually offers tours that even go into the wee hours of the morning.

That's because the sky gets dark at around 9pm and this makes the whole experience a little more special, knowing that midnight is the time when most paranormal events start to unfold.

For that reason it is an excellent idea to take part in some of the best ghost tours in Charleston if you have any kind of interest in the culture of the forbidden and spiritism. You should note that within the United States, this is a city that stands out for the fact that it is home to a number of recorded spirit apparitions like few others.

August is the hottest month of the year and in Charleston specifically, the highs are around 33 degrees Celsius, while the lows tend to be around 24 degrees Celsius. In turn, the American South is characterised by very humid summers and even more so in coastal cities such as this one.

So it's advisable to pack comfortable, breathable clothes in your luggage, but don't forget a couple of formal outfits in case you need to visit somewhere that's a bit more dressy.

August is the busiest month of the year in Charleston. That means you're more likely to encounter groups of people when visiting the attractions on your itinerary.

However, one thing that makes a difference with this theme is that Charleston is not an overly large tourist epicentre on the east coast of the United States. As such, you'll never encounter the queues or delays that cauterise other major metropolises during summer holidays.

Charleston's prices in August won't be excessive, but it's not the cheapest month of the year either, just because it's high season, tourist-wise.

Charleston is quite a family atmosphere, which is intensified even more in August by the fact that children are out and about playing and having fun due to the existence of the school holidays. The school holidays will end at the end of August, as in many other places in the northern hemisphere.

So travelling with children to Charleston during August is not only advisable, but preferable if you are the type of person who hates queuing. It's also if you're someone who knows that your child likes to enjoy a day at the beach or a visit to a city park. For those are two things that abound in the entertainment on offer during this important time of year.