11th Annual St. Paddy's Day Block Party & Parade

Come join the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Lowcountry on Saturday, March 15, 2014 from 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm in the Olde Village of North Charleston. The 11th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Block Party & Parade promises fun for the entire family. The Block Party location is East Montague Avenue between Virginia Avenue and Jenkins Avenue.

Join and invite your friends over at the Facebook Event.

The celebration will feature live music across three stages, street vending and fare from Olde North Charleston restaurants, additional local food vendors & trucks, the North Charleston Artist Guild, a Kid’s Zone with jump castles, a fire truck, face painting, as well as the always favorite mechanical bull. 

Live music line-up includes:

Family Zone Stage: Charleston Hot Shots, The V-Tones and High Gravity Jazz Band.
Cheerwine Stage Lizzy Pitch, Folkgrass, The Three Dudes, The Ryan Perry Band.
Madra Rua Stage: Karl Byrne, Don Merckle & the Blacksmiths, and Wadata.

This year’s party will kick off with a parade starting at Park Place East (adjacent to East Montague Avenue and across from Park Circle Community Center) at 12:00 noon. The parade route will proceed down East Montague Avenue through the block party location to O’Hear Avenue. The parade Grand Marshalls will be Madra Rua Irish Pub owners, Robert Spencer and Stephen O’Connor, who recently celebrated the 11th anniversary of the pub’s opening. North Charleston's Mayor Keith Summey, the North Charleston High School band, The Charleston Police Pipe & Drum Band and many other local groups will also participate in the parade.

East Montague Avenue will close from Park Place East to O’Hear Avenue at 11:30 am and stay closed for the duration of the parade. East Montague will close between Virginia Avenue and Jenkins Avenue at 9:00 am for set up and remain closed until 8:00 pm.

The party, parade and parking are free to the public.

The 11th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Block Party and Parade is sponsored by the Madra Rua Irish Pub, the City of North Charleston, Southern Eagle Distributors, Lee Distributors, Cheerwine and the Olde North Charleston Merchant’s Association.

www.madraruapub.com

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.

St. Paddy's Day Block Party & Parade - March 16

Come join the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Lowcountry on Saturday, March 16th in the Olde Village of North Charleston (located on East Montague Avenue near Park Circle). The 10th Annual “St. Paddy’s Day Block Party & Parade” is from 12 PM – 8 PM and promises fun for the entire family. The Block Party location is East Montague Avenue between Virginia Avenue and Jenkins Avenue.

The celebration will feature live music across three stages, bagpipe music, a mechanical bull, food vendors & trucks, corned beef and cabbage, Irish trivia, a Kid’s Zone with jump castles, face painting, local artisans, and much more. 

Live music line-up includes: Karl Byrne, Customs Four & Friends, The V-Tones, Folkgrass, Sean Austin Leonard, Michael Wolk, Don Merckle & The Blacksmiths, The Three Dudes, Maya Morill, Lizzy Pitch and WADATA. 

This year’s party will kick off with a parade starting at Park Place East (adjacent to East Montague Avenue and across from Park Circle Community Center) at 12 PM. The parade route will go down East Montague Avenue to the block party location near Virginia Avenue. The parade Grand Marshalls will be Madra Rua Irish Pub owners, Robert Spencer and Stephen O’Connor, who recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the pub’s opening. North Charleston's Mayor Keith Summey, the North Charleston High School band and many other local groups will also participate in the parade. 

East Montague Avenue will close from Park Place East to O’Hear Avenue at 11:30 AM and stay closed for the duration of the parade. East Montague will close between Virginia Avenue and Jenkins Avenue at 9:30 AM for set up and remain closed for the duration of the block party. 

The party, parade and parking are free to the public. 

The 10th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Block Party and Parade is sponsored by the Madra Rua Irish Pub, The City of North Charleston, Southern Eagle Distributors, Guinness, Cork Neighborhood Bistro, DIG in the Park, EVO Pizza & Bakery, Cheerwine, The Sparrow, The Barbecue Joint, The Mill, Fratello’s, The Idle Hour, Richard’s Coffee and More and Park Pizza.

Photos from last year's event

Participants Sought for Opening Processional of 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is accepting applications from local performing arts groups of all ages for participation in the 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival Opening Processional on Saturday, May 4, at 9:45am. In past years the processional has been led by African drummers and dancers and has included groups dressed in brightly colored outfits and costumes, volunteers carrying giant puppets, banners and other crafted props, jugglers, dance troupes, theatre groups, and more. Applications can be found on the Applications page at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. Deadline for applications is Friday, April 19, at 5:00pm.

The Opening Processional has kicked off the Arts Festival’s Main Event festivities at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex for over a decade. Participants parade around the complex toward the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Once the Processional enters the North Charleston Performing Arts Center Auditorium, the celebration continues with a Performance Spotlight, featuring 3-5 minute performances by pre-selected groups. Performance Spotlight slots may be requested on the Opening Processional application and are filled on a first come, first served basis. 

The North Charleston Arts Festival will be presented May 3-11, 2013, at various venues throughout North Charleston and the surrounding area. The nine-day event is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, highlighting national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, and Literature. For 3o years the festival has made quality arts programming affordable and accessible to the widest spectrum of the public, attracting over 30,000 residents and visitors from throughout the Southeast to participate in a fabulous array of free and modestly priced performances, workshops, exhibitions, and activities. The Main Event weekend at the North Charleston Performing Arts and Charleston Area Convention Center on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, offers free parking and admission to over 40 performances on four themed stages. Other Main Event activities include fine art and photography shows, the SC Palmetto Hands fine craft exhibit, a gem and mineral show, an antique show, activities for kids at Box City and Creation Stations, art and craft booths, and a food courtyard. The Arts Festival continues with over sixty free and ticketed events and exhibitions throughout the week at various locations, including street dances, concerts, theatre presentations, film screenings, workshops and demos, children’s activities, a National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, and the Grand Finale with fireworks. 

For more information on the Opening Processional, contact Nancy Rodriguez at (843)740-5851. Visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com for more information about the 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival and other participation opportunities, including downloadable applications for judged art, photography, and youth art exhibitions; art & craft and food vendor space; and volunteers.

North Charleston Christmas Festival and Parade

Saturday, December 1 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’s 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 returns to Mixson Avenue.

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 traffic circle to vehicular traffic
4:00 - 5:30 pm	Children activities (jump castles, petting zoo, carriage rides)
4:00 - 6:00 pm	Performances prior to parade
6:00 - 7:00 pm	Parade / Mayor’s Tree Lighting
7:00 - 9:00 pm	Performances on all stages
9:00 pm	Road opens for traffic

A map displaying each event and the parade route.

Performers at Christmas Festival 
Happy Feet Dancers
Leonard School of Music Jazz Band
Chilenia Jamison aka Nina Ross
Caley Crew - Soloist
Lowcountry Voices Ensemble
Ashley Gospel Singers
Michael Brown & F.O.C.U.S.

Christmas lights and displays shine at Park Circle and on the eight exterior islands nightly from the beginning of December until New Years Day.

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.