South Carolina: Things to do in Charleston in the fall

Charleston, South Carolina is a great place at any time of the year. There are lots of events, festivals, and entertainment that are geared to people of all ages. As the summer heat moves out of the Low Country, here are just a few of the things to do in Charleston, SC in the fall.

The Charleston Farmers' Market is open at Marion Square on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity to get some great fresh local produce and handmade products. From September 3 through November 28 come and enjoy the best in food, arts, and crafts as residents and visitors have been doing for the last 26 years. In December there is a holiday market on both Saturday and Sunday.



For a month, for the last 39 years, homes and gardens in Charleston have opened up for tours. For 2018 the dates are October 4-28. The tours are a fundraiser for the Preservation Society of Charleston and highlight architecture from the Georgian period right through to the present day. Private homes, historic buildings, and churches are all included.

For most of these buildings, this is the only way you would ever be able to tour them. It goes on for almost 4 weeks and there are a variety of different ticket options. You can tour a single destination, an entire area or buy the entire time. This is a highlight of the fall season in Charleston.

The fall is the perfect time to enjoy The Sound of Charleston. The fall concert series will begin early in the month of September and run through December. The programs will be presented at the Circular Congregational Church on Wednesday and/or Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. It combines music with the history of Charleston and is something that will be of interest to older children, adults, and seniors.

The Harvest Festival in North Charleston's Wannamaker County Park takes place on November 3, 2018 in Mullet Hall Equestrian Center. A full day of fun for the entire family.

If you are feeling the urge to get in the holiday spirit, for three days in mid-November the Charleston Holiday Market comes to the Charleston Area Convention Center. Bring your camera to get pictures of the kids with Santa and have your wallet and credit card ready to do some serious shopping. It is a great time for the entire family.

Doing a ghost tour is a favorite thing to do at any time of the year, but in the fall with Halloween, it is even more exciting. You can take a 90-minute walking tour of the Provost Dungeon in the Old Exchange Building with Bull Dog Tours until November 30th. Would you prefer to tour in a mule-drawn carriage? Palmetto Carriage Tours offer a ride to some of the most haunted graveyards and buildings in the city.

Perhaps you would like to join Mike Brown of Old Charleston Tours on a 90-minute walk that is guaranteed to give you a look at some of the lesser-known stories that you won’t hear anywhere else. 

These are just a few of the many things that are available to do in Charleston, South Carolina in the fall. There are many more. The CVB has a calendar that lists most of the events that are taking place this fall. You will need to make your reservations for accommodations early as this is a very popular destination.