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.

School Resource Officers make impact at summer camps

The 2012 School Resource Officer (SRO) Summer Camp program integrated curriculum and instruction from SROs who interacted daily with children 5 to 12 years old. In total, 480 children were involved in the program. SROs were paramount in the organization and execution of our recreational activities and cultural art projects as well.

In 2012, camp sites had organized instructional time for SROs to address campers of different age groups. Curriculum was tailored to each age group and covered law related topics, such as Shoplifting, Bullying, School Offenses, Internet Safety, Street Safety, Gang Activity, DUI/Drug Safety, and Constitutional Law.

School Resource Officers in our camps provided early detection and prevention of behavioral issues and ensured positive community relations between the Police Department and the community.

SROs participated in the following camps:
Northwoods
Armory Park
Jeanene Batten
Murray Hill
Minor Crosby
Felix Pinckney
Gethsemani
Charleston Farms
Stall High School

North Charleston students experience athletics at The Citadel

Over the next 6 weeks, The Citadel Athletics Department and the City of North Charleston are partnering to give participants in North Charleston’s 14 afterschool programs The Citadel Athletics experience. The experience coincides with North Charleston Recreation Department’s fall curriculum for afterschool programming, focused on leadership, dedication, goals, and positive life choices.

Approximately 150 children between the ages of 5-12 years old will visit The Citadel and observe the Bulldogs football team at practice while they prepare for the weekend’s game. Additionally, they will take tours of McAlister Field House and Johnson Hagood Stadium and will become familiar with The Citadel campus.

Visits will be made to The Citadel every Wednesday from 4:00pm to 5:15pm until October 24.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the children of North Charleston. It gives exposure and firsthand experience of The Citadel and the opportunities available after high school graduation,” said North Charleston Recreation Program Director Trish Elsie.

“This is a perfect partnership for The Citadel Athletics Department. Community outreach and involvement has been something we have been focusing on recently and we could not have asked for a better partner than the City of North Charleston Recreation Department,” said The Citadel Athletics Marketing Coordinator Ryan Powell.

North Charleston Fire Museum & Educational Center Celebrates Anniversary with 5th Annual Bike Rodeo and Safety Day

The North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday, May 19, 2012 with the Annual Safe Kids Bike Rodeo and Safety Day. The Fire Museum opened its doors to the public on April 28, 2007 and since that time has hosted over 300,000 visitors.

As a thank you to the community, the North Charleston Fire Museum, in conjunction with Safe Kids Trident Area, will present a full day of family fun activities to entertain while educating to prevent accidental childhood injury. Children will receive a free new bike helmet and can take part in free jump castles, a climbing wall, music, and water games.

Guests can visit over 30 different vendors and booths, and watch vehicle extraction demonstrations by the North Charleston Fire Department and the North Charleston Police Department Bike Team. Children can also navigate their way through the bicycle obstacle course after receiving a free bike inspection and tune up. Bring your own bike or use one of the free bikes available for check out.

Attendees can cool off in the museum and enjoy free admission for the entire family. The Bike Rodeo is scheduled from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm and the Fire Museum will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with the last admission at 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Bike Rodeo & Safety Fair poster

For more information, contact Max Sterling at (843) 740-5550 x 221 or maxjsterling@gmail.com.

KaBOOM! designates North Charleston a “Playful City USA” Community for 2nd 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 2nd consecutive year the City has earned this honor. 213 cities and towns across the country received the designation of which only 6 were recognized from the State of South Carolina. 

"Some of the most innovative concepts and cost-effective programs are being developed in Playful City USA communities," says Darell Hammond, Founder and CEO of KaBOOM!. “They are key allies in the fight to combat the play deficit and serve as outstanding role models for government and community leaders across the country." 

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.” 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is critical to healthy brain development. It allows children to use their creativity while simultaneously developing imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Yet today's children spend less time playing outside than any previous generation in part because only 1-in-5 live within walking distance of a park or playground. The resulting play deficit is having profound consequences for kids physically, socially and academically. 

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.

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

Christmas Events and Parade (Updated with photos)

Update: Parade photos added

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

Christmas Festival and Parade

Saturday, December 3 from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm around Park Circle with the Christmas Parade beginning at 6:00 pm. The Christmas Festival includes a Holiday Market with children activities, craft vendors, food vendors, and live musical performances on three 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 light the City’s Christmas tree located outside the front entrance of the Felix C. Davis Community Center.

A map displaying each event and the parade route.

Winter Wonderland

Thursday, December 1 and Friday, December 2 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon 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.

Live Performances on Thursday & Friday by Becky Becker of Becky’s Box of Puppets, helping children discover the joy of reading and weaving magical tales that come to life before your eyes are two of Becky's trademarks.

For required pre-registration, contact the North Charleston Parks & Recreation Department at (843) 745-1028.

Children’s Theatre

Friday, December 2 at 10:00 am at Sterett Hall Auditorium, Atlantic Coast Theatre presents a Beatrix Potter Holiday. Famous children's author, Beatrix Potter, arrives to entertain the guests at her annual holiday party. Stories such as "The Tailor of Gloucester" and "The Rabbit's Christmas Party" come to life on stage with the help of the audience. Her most famous character, Peter Rabbit, may even surprise the guests.

This performance is full but a waiting list is available in case of cancellation. Call 740-5854 for more information.

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, December 3 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. Tickets can be purchased Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Felix C. Davis Community Center for $4.00 per person.

To purchase tickets, contact the North Charleston Parks & Recreation Department at (843) 745-1028 or visit the Felix C. Davis Community Center.

$5 to $50 Gift Market

Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4; 11:00 am-3:00 pm at The Meeting Place. Presented by the North Charleston Artist Guild.

The $5 to $50 Gift Market is the perfect place to purchase original art, jewelry, and fine crafts by local artists as gifts for family and friends this holiday season. Admission is free and, as the name suggests, everything will be priced at or below $50. More information at northcharlestonartistguild.org

Christmas lights and displays will shine at Park Circle and on the eight exterior islands nightly from December 3 until New Year’s Day.



PHOTOS: Christmas Festival and Parade

For general inquiries, the public should visit www.northcharleston.org or contact Sheri Pearson at (843) 740-2538.

A.C. Corcoran commemoration of our Veterans

On Friday, November 11, 2011 A.C. Corcoran Elementary welcomed service men and women who served valiantly for our country.

Corcoran Elem. celebrated Veteran’s Day with a school-wide assembly program. The Student Council led the program with the Military Magnet color guard leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The guest speaker was retired Lt. Colonel Charles Johnson, who is also CCSD District 4 Board Member for the Innovation Zone Learning Community (IZlC). Lt. Colonel Charles Johnson was escorted by the entire first grade outside to lead a march with song. Corcoran also recognized our staff, parents, friends, and community members who are Veterans.

Woodmen of the World flag pole dedication ceremony

The Woodmen of the World erected a flag pole at the Gary McJunkin Community Center in North Charleston, SC in honor and remembrance of the heroes and victims in the fight against terrorism and to celebrate the enduring spirit of all Americans.

Malcolm C. Hursey Elementary School students sang patriotic music at the ceremony.

North Charleston Fire Museum Celebrates Anniversary with 4th Annual Bike Rodeo and Safety Day

The North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center will celebrate its fourth anniversary on Saturday, April 30, 2011 with the Annual Safe Kids Bike Rodeo and Safety Day.

The Fire Museum opened its doors to the public April 28, 2007 and since that time has hosted over 110,000 visitors. As a thank you to the community, the North Charleston Fire Museum, in conjunction with Trident Area Coalition of Safe Kids, will host a full day of family fun activities to entertain while educating to prevent accidental childhood injury.

Children will receive a FREE new bike helmet and can take part in free jump castles, a climbing wall, music and water games.

Snoopy, McGruff the Crime Dog and even Charlie The RiverDog will be in attendance. Guests can visit over 30 different vendors and booths, watch vehicle extrication demonstrations by the North Charleston Fire Department, the South Carolina Highway Patrol roll over simulator and North Charleston Police Department Bike Team exhibitions.
Children can also navigate their way through the bicycle obstacle course after receiving a free bike inspection and tune up. Bring your own bike or use one of the free bikes available for check out.

Attendees can cool off in the museum and enjoy FREE admission for the entire family. The Bike Rodeo runs from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm and the Fire Museum will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with the last admission at 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

For more information contact Max Sterling at (843) 740-5550 x 221 or maxjsterling@gmail.com.

Child Passenger Safety for Parents and Caregivers

Are you confident that you are installing and using your child's safety seat correctly?  It is known that 3 our of every 4 seats are not.

Join us March 30, 2011, 6:00 pm at Fire Station 4 at 7270 Cross County Road for this free child passenger safety course.

Nationally, motor vehicle collisions are the #1 killer of children and adults ages 1 to 44.  Learn about the basics of child passenger safety and how to ensure that every time your child rides in a motor vehicle they are as safe as possible.  This 1 hour interactive session is hosted by Nationally Certified Car Seat Technicians.

It could save your child's life.

For more information and to register, call 843-792-5327 or 843-740-2647.

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North Charleston Elementary receives the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Grant

North Charleston Elementary receives the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant. The grant Program is a federally assisted program providing free fruits and vegetables to students in participating elementary schools during the school day.  The goal of the Fresh Fruit Vegetable Program is to improve children's overall diet and create healthier eating habits to impact their present and future health.

NCES has been awarded a total of $24,400 to purchase supplies and produce for the school year. The FFVP will help schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices; expanding the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables children experience and consume; and help combat the childhood obesity epidemic.

Participants responsible for the FFV Grant
Latisha Vaughn-Brandon, Principal
Katherine Thornton, Physical Education
Denfield Wade, Cafeteria Manager
Leslie Skinner, Communities in Schools
Cheryl Dunn, Nurse