Christmas Lights in Charleston, SC

Popular picks this season include Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park (Nov 13 – Dec 31), Light the Lake (Dec 4 – Dec 4), Christmas Tree Festival at Boone Hall Farms (Nov 21 – Nov 22) and Holiday Festival of Lights. In all, 17 displays are mapped in and around Charleston, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.

Free options include Lights Up Tree Lighting at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, Charleston Holiday Parade of Boats, City of Charleston Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting and Folly Beach Christmas Parade. 9 of the 17 displays near Charleston are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.

Yes. Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park (Per vehicle (gift passes $25 per vehicle of 1-15 people)) and Holiday Festival of Lights (2025 per vehicle: $15 to $30 in advance, $25 to $45 at gate depending on night). Drive-thru shows usually charge per car, and buying tickets online ahead of time is often faster.

Yes. Christmas Tree Festival at Boone Hall Farms, Lights Up Tree Lighting at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and 40,000 Spectacular Light Display. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.

The earliest Charleston-area displays turn on Nov 13, and most are running by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Many stay lit through New Year's; check each display's page for its exact dates and nightly hours.