10 Things to Do in Charleston in Winter

When travelling to Charleston at this time of year, it's important to research what you can see and do in Charleston in winter. While some activities can be done at any time of the year, others are specific to this season, such as the best celebrations and festivals.

If you like to celebrate Christmas and New Year's in style, this is the season to visit. In addition to these famous celebrations, you'll find tours and festivals specially designed for this time of year. Want to see Charleston in winter?

For many people, it's a challenge to get out during the coldest days of winter. However, there is a way you can keep warm with a blanket while touring the city. I recommend taking a carriage tour of Charleston and making the most of your time.

On this tour you will feel like you are travelling back in time. The horse-drawn carriage will take you on an hour-long tour of Charleston's Historic District. The tour costs approximately €53 and at the end of the tour you can have your photo taken with the horses.

Some of the sights you'll see are the old mansions, churches and gardens around the city. You can also see the Old Exchange and Provos Dungeons, a historic American building. After the horse-drawn carriage tour you can stop for a hot drink at the Charleston Market.

If you love food, I invite you to take advantage of Charleston Restaurant Week. This celebration takes place over eleven days in South Carolina in mid-January, so you have plenty of time to sample the food that restaurants have to offer. You'll find a wide variety of options, including casual, fine dining, breakfast, dinner and more. I recommend you book your table in advance so you can enjoy the food and good prices.

This is definitely one of the events you should take advantage of when you visit Charleston for 4 days or more, although it is advisable to look for accommodation in the city in advance. Some hotels have packages and special offers for this festival.

If your travel dates don't coincide with this event and you still want to enjoy the local cuisine, there's nothing better than booking a food tour of Charleston, where you can sample typical Lowcountry-style dishes.

Practical information

• Location: depends on the restaurant you choose.

• When to go: mid-January.

• Price: Restaurant reservations can vary in price. Dishes can cost from €15 to €40.

• Opening times: Depends on the restaurant's opening hours.

In Charleston you'll find many activities to celebrate Christmas throughout the month of December. Choose one that you can enjoy with family or friends, in the cold or outdoors, there's something for everyone:

• At the Festival of Lights at James Island County Park you can watch the entire site light up with more than 2 million lights. You can attend from mid-November to the end of December.
• The Christmas Parade is another much-anticipated event. The parade starts on Meeting Street and ends on Calhoun Street at Meeting Street and throughout the celebration you'll see bands, musicians and performers putting on a Christmas show that the whole family will surely enjoy.

These activities should definitely be on your list of things to do in Charleston during December.

On the second Saturday of December each year, the Folly Beach Christmas Parade is held. The event starts at Second Street and West Ashley Avenue, ending at Center Street. Kids and anyone with a sweet tooth will enjoy sampling the candy canes and other treats that the floats give away along the way.

After the parade is over, you can head to Folly River Park to do some shopping and maybe find that perfect gift you haven't found yet. Or, if you prefer, you can book a shopping tour of Charleston where you'll visit Charleston's most stylish boutiques. This activity includes discounts of up to 20% off your purchases and accompanying drinks such as wine, margaritas or champagne - great!

Practical Info

• Location: Folly Beach, Second Street to West Ashley Avenue, South Carolina.

• When to go: Second Saturday in December.

• Price: Free admission, you only pay for what you consume.

• Hours: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

If you're in Charleston on New Year's Eve, you'll find fun and exciting ways to ring in the New Year. There are plenty of plans for you to enjoy with your family, friends or partner:

• At Night Heron Park you can watch the fireworks display in the night sky. The event features food and family activities, so it's a great plan for activities to do with children. It usually starts at 5pm and ends at 8pm.

• Charleston Wonderland 's New Year's Eve party starts at 8pm and ends at 1pm. You'll welcome in the New Year by dancing and sipping your favourite cocktails. You can also enjoy singers and artists who liven up the night with their music. To participate you must buy a ticket in advance.

• The Yorktown Countdown takes place at Patriot's Point, located very close to downtown Charleston. You'll celebrate the New Year aboard the USS Yorktown, the famous warship. In addition, you can watch the fireworks and the immensity of the night and enjoy the bar, live music and other entertainment from 9pm until 1am.

Festivals are a great way to enjoy winter in Charleston. They're usually held indoors so you can stay warm.

For example, the Charleston Comedy Festival is held in mid-January for one weekend. This event features all kinds of comedians with different techniques and shows, and you can enjoy sketches, stand-ups and improv shows. To find out the date and location of the event, visit the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Comedians from all over the country perform every year. If you're a comedy fan, you'll probably recognise some of them as they've appeared on TV shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live. Others even have on Netflix or have appeared on Comedy Central or HBO. At the end of the event you might even get a chance to take a selfie with your favourite comedian.

January is the perfect month to enjoy good food in Charleston. That's why I recommend going to the Lowcountry Oyster Festival. Some years this event takes place during the first week of February, so keep your eyes peeled. There you will have the opportunity to eat oysters of the highest quality, accompanied by alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer.

At this festival you will find something for everyone. You can sit comfortably and enjoy your dish while listening to live music, or you can take part in a competition. Many visitors take their chances in the raw oyster eating and shucking contest. If you've never tried this dish before, I recommend you don't enter - it's your health first!

Tickets to this event are available online through the Lowcountry Hospitality Association website.

Practical information

• Location: Boone Hall Plantation. 1235 Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC.

• When to go: First week of February.

• Price: Festival admission averages €20.

• Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

In addition to enjoying the holiday events at Folly Beach, in January you can participate in The Taste of Folly, an event held year after year 15 minutes from downtown Charleston.

During the celebration you can sample food from the trucks, as well as alcoholic beverages and sodas. You can also enjoy the live music at the event, as well as the eating contests. The most famous one is the fastest hot dog eating contest.

Along the street where the festival takes place you will also find local art vendors. Games and auctions are also commonplace at this event. It's definitely one of the things to do if you' re travelling to Charleston in January.

Practical Info

• Location: Folly Beach, South Carolina.

• When to go: Mid-January.

• Price: Free admission, you only pay for what you consume.

• Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Every January, the annual Charleston Half Marathon is an event organized by Capstone Races. On race day, competitors' families and the citizens of Charleston come together to cheer them on.

At different points along the road where the participants will run, bands are placed to entertain the competition. This is a great opportunity to hear live music and meet local bands. There is no entrance fee to watch the race or listen to the music.

Charleston is known for its many museums and historic buildings, and in each building you can admire the beauty of its architecture. Touring these sites during the winter allows you to stay out of the cold and take advantage of the fact that there aren't too many visitors:

• I recommend starting with a visit to the Nathaniel Russell House, the home of a slave trader and salesman that houses an obscure part of American history. It also has a neoclassical style that many artists and architects will admire.
• If you want to continue your tour of historic sites you can stop by the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. This building is very important in South Carolina as it was the site of the first meeting of the South Carolina General Assembly.
• If you prefer to browse Charleston's art, the Gibbes Museum of Art is the best place to visit.
• Or stop by the College of Charleston and visit the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, where you'll find contemporary art exhibits you're sure to love. These places are ideal for a different kind of day out and to protect yourself from the cold.

Charleston is an ideal city to visit in almost any season. If you travel in the winter, be prepared to experience temperatures ranging from 6°C to 17°C. Very few days the temperature drops to -1°C.

On the other hand, the skies are consistently cloudy during December, January and February. This makes rain more likely during this season. Snow is not very common in Charleston, but it can snow. Therefore, it is advisable to take precautions.

Days are generally short, with December 21 being the shortest with only about 10 hours of daylight. It usually gets dark from 6pm or even earlier. It is therefore advisable to make plans during the day to make the most of the light and warmth of the sun.

If you're travelling during the winter you should know that you'll be spending Christmas here, so you might want to bring some gifts from your hometown to give to new friends. In addition to this, I recommend you prepare for winter. Although the temperatures are not very aggressive, if you are not used to the cold I am sure it can affect you.

It is essential that you take a coat with waterproof fabric. This will keep you warm and protect you from rain and even snow if it catches you by surprise. Lightweight jumpers can be a good option if you are travelling in late February when temperatures are not as cold.

If you are travelling in December it is much better to bring warmer jumpers, as well as comfortable trousers. Shoes are important too. Make sure they allow you to walk comfortably and quietly and that they are waterproof. That way if it rains or snows, you won't get your feet wet.

A good plan is to spend the afternoon at a coffee shop near your accommodation. It shouldn't just be coffee, remember that hot chocolate with marshmallows is a traditional drink in the country.

Another good idea would be to visit the Charleston City Market. Visiting it in December is a different experience as you can get Christmas decorations, souvenirs you might want to take home and much more. Plus, the place is decorated for the holidays so you're sure to get some great pictures.

Visiting the South Carolina Aquarium is another good idea. It is an enclosed place where you can keep cool and observe the marine life. The site is also often decorated with Christmas decorations. As well as these there are other places you can visit without being exposed to the cold outside.