In 2025, two of downtown's holiday lightings fell on Thanksgiving weekend. American Gardens lit its first community tree on the Friday, and two days later Colonial Lake held Light the Lake on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
In 2026 the calendar has spread out. American Gardens on King Street is the only one lighting a tree on Thanksgiving weekend. Light the Lake moves to Friday, Dec. 4, four days later on the calendar than last year's Nov. 30. That Friday is two days before the parade, the menorah lighting in Marion Square and the City's televised tree lighting, which all fall between 3 p.m. and the evening of one Sunday. The season now opens at a park built by a hotel group, and the civic events come close together at the end.
| Date | Place | Host | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 27 | American Gardens, 174 King St. | Beemok Hospitality Collection | 5 to 8 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Colonial Lake | Charleston Parks Conservancy, with the City | 5 to 8 p.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Broad Street to Meeting and Calhoun | City of Charleston Holiday Parade | Steps off 3 p.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Marion Square | Chanukah in the Square | 4 to 6 p.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Marion Square | City festival and tree lighting | Begins 6 p.m. |
The Season Now Starts Where a Parking Lot Was
American Gardens has existed for less than a year. Live 5 News reported the park's official opening on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. ABC News 4 described it as almost an acre of green space between King and Meeting streets, on land that used to be a parking lot. Beemok Hospitality built it in partnership with the City of Charleston and the Gibbes Museum of Art, at a cost of $11 million. General manager Eric Mann told ABC News 4 that the site "was a parking lot back in January and February" of the year it opened, and the station listed 68 crepe myrtles, more than 100 magnolias, eight live oaks and two custom four-tiered fountains.
That makes 2026 the park's second holiday season. Beemok Hospitality Collection's holiday announcement, published by Holy City Sinner, describes a 40-foot live tree that will be lit at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving. The event listing shows 5 to 8 p.m. at 174 King St., with live holiday music and the Holiday Market.
The tree lighting is only the start. For the rest of the season, the park runs on a regular schedule:
- Holiday Market: Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 27 through Dec. 31, with a rotating lineup of local makers, artisanal foods and handcrafted gifts.
- Venetian carousel: the vintage carousel gives rides throughout the season.
- Light the Park: starts each evening's festivities, with live holiday music on select nights.
- Santa and Mrs. Claus: visits on Saturdays.
Each City event happens once. American Gardens runs its market five days a week for five weeks, starting the night its tree is lit.
Colonial Lake Moves to a Friday
The City's 2025 listing described Light the Lake as "a beloved tradition now officially hosted by the City of Charleston," held on Nov. 30, 2025, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
In 2026, Charleston Parks Conservancy lists Light the Lake for Friday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Conservancy calls it its own annual event, run "in collaboration with the City of Charleston." The evening keeps its familiar program: 1,000 luminaries around the water, a hot chocolate and cookie bar, craft stations, holiday performances and a promised "100% chance of snow." The main event is still Mayor Cogswell lighting the tree in the middle of the lake. Admission is free, and the Conservancy's page links to an RSVP.
Moving from a Sunday to a Friday puts the lake event on a weekday evening this year, and the 2026 listing runs it until 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6, Hour by Hour
Two days after Colonial Lake, the rest of the civic calendar falls into one afternoon and evening. Here is the order of events on Dec. 6, based on the City's Holy City Holiday page and the College of Charleston event calendar:
- 3 p.m., the Holiday Parade steps off. The parade starts on Broad Street and heads to Meeting and Calhoun. In 2025 the route ran from Broad at Rutledge, north on Meeting Street, and ended at Calhoun and Meeting. That year, City Police restricted through traffic along the route starting at 2 p.m. and cross traffic starting at 2:45 p.m.
- 4 p.m., Chanukah in the Square begins in Marion Square. The College of Charleston lists this free community celebration from 4 to 6 p.m., with a giant menorah lighting, communal candle lighting, live music, food, children's entertainment, treats and crafts. The Jewish Federation listing names Chabad of Charleston, the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies program and the City of Charleston as sponsors.
- 6 p.m., the Holy City Festival begins in Marion Square. The program includes the televised tree lighting and a holiday light show.
Last year the City's calendar put Chanukah in the Square on Dec. 14, a week after the Dec. 7 parade. This year the menorah lighting ends in Marion Square at the same hour the City's festival begins on the same ground. Anyone who follows the parade north on Meeting Street can be in the square for both.
Applications for the parade itself are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. The City's announcement says schools, community groups and local businesses may apply. Preference goes to Charleston-based participants, community organizations, live musical acts such as marching bands, and entries with a strong holiday theme. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The application form is online.
Between the Lightings, the Hotels Keep a Steady Calendar
Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, and again after Dec. 6, most of the holiday programming on the peninsula comes from the same company that owns American Gardens. Beemok Hospitality Collection's season runs Nov. 26 through Dec. 31 across The Charleston Place, The Cooper, American Gardens and Sorelle.
This is also The Cooper's first holiday season on the harbor. Executive Pastry Chef Shante Dorsett and her team will teach hands-on cookie-decorating classes for all ages. At The Crossing, beverage director Cameron Nadler starts the 12 Days of Cocktails on Dec. 13, with a new specialty cocktail each day through Christmas Eve.
On Meeting Street, the Nutcracker Tea returns to The Charleston Place's Thoroughbred Club on select weekends, with performances by the Dance Conservancy of Charleston. A Letters to Santa mailbox is in the lobby. On Saturday, Dec. 12, Beemok Hospitality Collection and Half-Moon Outfitters hold the Reindeer Run, a family- and pet-friendly 5K that starts and ends at American Gardens, with proceeds going to MUSC Children's Hospital.
In the nine days between the King Street tree lighting and the City's big Sunday, and for the weeks after, the park has its market, its carousel and Light the Park each evening.
Our office at 72 King Street is on the same street as the American Gardens tree, toward the Battery, and our team will be out among the luminaries and the parade crowds this season like everyone else downtown. If the holidays have you thinking about which corner of the peninsula you would like to be walking home to after the Marion Square lighting, Oyster Point Real Estate Group would be glad to talk it through over coffee. Contact Us.
