North Charleston Christmas events

To celebrate the upcoming holiday season, the City of North Charleston will feature the following public Christmas events.

Christmas Festival and Parade
Saturday, December 7, from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm around Park Circle with the Christmas Parade beginning at 5:00 pm. The Christmas Festival includes a Holiday Market with children’s activities, craft and food vendors, and live musical performances on two stages. The Christmas Parade begins at the corner of Montague and Mixson Avenues, proceeds down Montague, around Park Circle, and concludes at Armory Park.

Immediately following the Christmas Parade, Mayor R. Keith Summey and Santa Claus will light the City’s Christmas tree located outside the front entrance of the Felix C. Davis Community Center.

Christmas Festival Schedule
3:00 pm - Police will close the Park Circle traffic circle, Montague Avenue from Mixson to the traffic circle, and Mixson and Lackawanna to West Enterprise to vehicular traffic
3:00 - 4:45 pm - Children’s activities (jump castles, petting zoo, carriage rides)
5:00 - 6:30 pm - Parade, immediately followed by the Christmas tree lighting
6:30 - 9:00 pm - Musical performances on all stages, children’s activities continue, food and craft vendors
9:00 pm - Roads opens to traffic


View North Charleston Christmas Events in a larger map

Winter Wonderland
Tuesday, December 3, from noon to 1:30 pm, Wednesday, December 4 - Friday, December 6, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm at Armory Park. This free pre-school event provides young children an opportunity to visit Santa, participate in hands-on activities, including holiday arts & crafts, and take part in live performances and music.

For required pre-registration, contact the North Charleston Parks & Recreation Department at (843) 740-5807.

Children’s Theatre
Friday, December 6, at 10:00 am at Sterett Hall Auditorium. Atlantic Coast Theatre presents Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus. Francis P. Church’s famous newspaper reply to an inquisitive little girl is imaginatively brought to the stage in this fast paced show that pays homage to the classic holiday films of the 1940s. A reporter must follow leads to find proof about the existence of Santa Claus, realizing in the end that believing is proof enough. For grades K-8.

To purchase tickets, call (843) 740-5854. Children $2, accompanying adults free.

Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 7, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at Felix C. Davis Community Center. Breakfast with Santa gives area children the opportunity to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. A hearty meal is provided.

To purchase tickets, call (843) 745-1028 or visit the Felix C. Davis Community Center for $4 per person.



Film Screening - It’s A Wonderful Life
Saturday, December 7, at 7:00pm at the Olde Village Community Building. The Park Circle Film Society will feature the classic holiday film It’s A Wonderful Life, as part of the quarterly Silver Screen Series. Frank Capra's inverted take on A Christmas Carol stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a good man who's spent a lifetime giving up on his dreams in order to keep life in his small town humming. When a guardian angel named Clarence finds a despondent George poised to jump off a bridge, he shows George what life would've been like had he never been born.

All tickets sold at the door. General Admission - $5, Film Society Members - $2.

North Charleston POPS!
Saturday, December 7, at 7:30pm at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. The POPS! presents A Rockin’ Christmas, a rockin' good time featuring the greatest pops music of the season. Classics like Santa Baby, White Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Merry Christmas Darling, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and The Christmas Song are just a few of the treats awaiting you in this high-energy holiday concert.

Ticket information

Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 8, at 7:00 pm at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra's wind and strings ensembles will perform familiar holiday classics to kick off the holiday season. Bring family and friends to share in the good cheer of the holiday!

Admission is free.

Village Antiques & Collectibles Holiday Market
Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each day at Felix C. Davis Community Center. The Show will feature home decor, fine antiques, furniture, collectibles, antique guns, art, jewelry, rugs, crafts, vintage toys & games, silver, pottery, china, silver, salvage items, outdoor decor, vintage instruments, and more.

Admission is $2.00, all of which will be benefits The Spay Not Slay Endowment.

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Christmas lights and displays will shine at Park Circle and on the eight exterior islands nightly from December 7 until New Year’s Day.

KaBOOM! designates North Charleston a “Playful City USA” Community for 3rd consecutive year

The City of North Charleston was once again named a “Playful City USA” community by KaBOOM!, the national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America’s children. KaBOOM! created “Playful City USA” in 2007 to help local governments address the play deficit by ensuring children have the time and space they need to play. 

This is the 3rd consecutive year the City has earned the honor. 217 cities and towns across the country received the designation of which only 6 were recognized from the State of South Carolina. 

"Kids need to play actively, every day, at home, in school and in their communities, yet play is disappearing," says Darell Hammond, Founder and CEO of KaBOOM!. “Children spend nearly eight hours a day in front of a screen; almost half of all poor students are deprived of recess; and to make matters worse, only one in five children live within walking distance of a park. Playful City USA communities like North Charleston are creating innovative programs and initiatives and deserve recognition because of their efforts to give kids the childhood they deserve and best prepare them for their future." 

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey stated, “The North Charleston Recreation Department offers a wealth of activities and space for play that promotes healthy lifestyles, including sports for all ages at our many athletic complexes, senior programming in our community centers, afterschool and summer camps for our city’s youth, and passive play at the numerous playgrounds dotting the city.” Mayor Summey continued, “We take great pride in providing our citizens with play areas and programming that rival the best in the nation.” 

Opportunities for play are increasing in the City of North Charleston. The Danny Jones swimming pool was recently enclosed for year-round aquatics, Pepperhill Park was renovated, and Wescott Park, a baseball complex and Cal Ripken training facility, will soon open. 

In November 2009, KaBOOM! donated and assisted in building a state of the art, handicap accessible playground on Brookside Drive in North Charleston. KaBOOM! representatives, local non-profit The Sustainability Institute, community volunteers, and civic leaders participated in the single-day build of the playground. View photos of the build day. 

For more information on the KaBOOM! Playful City USA program, www.kaboom.org/playfulcityusa.

Are you JOY?

The City of North Charleston invites “JOY” (“Just Older Youth”) to participate in our active programming, tailored to encourage an active lifestyle, healthy living, and promote fellowship. The City’s menu of activities, now expanded through partnerships with local businesses, satisfies a variety of interest and creates excitement for each senior. If you are interested in taking part, contact Senior Coordinator Belinda Swindler at (843) 745-1028 or via email at belindaswindler@yahoo.com.

Senior Line Dancing Felix Davis Community Center Every Monday Beginner Class – 9:00 am Intermediate Class – Immediately following “Jolly Friends” Bingo Felix Davis Community Center Every Wednesday 1:00 pm Senior Tennis Danny Jones Sports Complex Every Monday through Friday 8:00 am Weather permitting Senior Bowling League Sandpiper Bowling Lanes on Ashley Phosphate Rd Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Practice begins – 9:00 am League Bowling begins – 9:30 am League and Recreational bowling is offered

Seniorcize Felix Davis Community Center Every Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 am – 11:15 am A low aerobics class Senior Yoga Felix Davis Community Center Every Wednesday 5:30 pm Senior Golfing The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation Every Tuesday 8:00 am Prizes and refreshments are provided Senior Water Aerobics 2070 Northbrook Boulevard Every Monday through Thursday Contact Premier Physical Therapy for more information at (843) 797-5167

In an effort to encourage walking we invite “JOY” to walk historic Park Circle. Join the “Walk the Circle Club” by completing a registration form at the desk in the Felix Davis Community Center. Throughout the year, the number of laps walked is recorded and special recognition is given to accomplished walkers.

Other activities available for “JOY” include ceramics, contra dancing, disc golf, quilting and square dancing.

Seniors are invited to join the North Charleston Spring Bocce League. For more information and registration, join us on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Felix Davis Community Center.

For more senior activities information,offered by the City of North Charleston, contact Senior Coordinator Belinda Swindler at (843) 745-1028 or via email at belindaswindler@yahoo.com.