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RING-A-DING-DING!
There's plenty to do this holiday season to put the jingle in your bellsThe magical holiday season is upon us and Charleston won’t let us down this year. Every area of the Lowcountry offers plenty of events, programs and activities to suit any taste, interest or age group. So get your calendars out and start scheduling. Make some memories with your family that will last a lifetime.
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Gingerbread House Workshop
The Post and Courier
WHERE: The Inn at Middleton Place
WHEN: Dec. 20, 2–4 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: This is a fun, family activity designed for all ages. Design an edible architectural masterpiece at an architectural award-winning inn.
DETAILS: Cost includes all materials and is $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 5–16, and free for children younger than. Reservations required.
GET INFO: Call 556-0500 or visit www.middletonplace.org.
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Charleston Christmas Sleigh Ride 2009
WHERE: Downtown Charleston
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday evenings
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Get into the holiday spirit this year by wrapping yourself in a cozy waterproof blanket and sipping hot chocolate during a leisurely evening boat tour of the Charleston Harbor. Look at the holiday lights, listen to holiday music and learn about Charleston holiday traditions.
DETAILS: Cost is $40 per adult and $30 per child.
GET INFO: Visit www.ThrillerCharleston.com or call 276-4203.
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“A Christmas Carol”
WHERE: Felix Davis Community Center at Park Circle
WHEN: Dec. 15, 5–7 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Local theater instructor and talented performer George Younts will present a wry adaptation of the classic Christmas tale. Enjoy the ageless story of Jacob Marley (Scrooge) and the valuable lesson he learns one haunting Christmas Eve.
DETAILS: Free.
GET INFO: For more information call 740-5854 or e-mail culturalarts@northcharleston.org.
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Family Yuletide
WHERE: Middleton Place
WHEN: Dec. 12, 5:30–8 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Enjoy storytelling around a warm fire, Christmas caroling, and ornament and wreath making. See craftspeople working in their shops by candlelight and a live nativity scene featuring many of the plantation’s animals. Hot cider and seasonal refreshments included. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children younger than 15. Ages 6 and younger are free.
DETAILS: Reservations required.
GET INFO: Call 556-6020.
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Holly Days
WHERE: Downtown Summerville
WHEN: Dec. 5, 12 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: It’s a great place to experience an old-fashioned Christmas and have an incredibly special time. There will be shopping, caroling, live holiday window displays, homemade treats, cocoa and cider and more.
GET INFO: Call 821-7260 or visit www.summervilledream.org.
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North Charleston Christmas Festival
WHERE: Park Circle
WHEN: Dec. 5, 4–9 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: There will be children’s events, hay rides, arts and crafts, a marshmallow-roasting pit, a holiday farmer’s market, entertainment, locally decorated Christmas trees and more.
DETAILS: Free event. Mayor Keith Summey and Santa will perform the tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m.
GET INFO: Call 740-2531 or visit www.northcharleston.org.
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Holiday Magic
WHERE: Marion Square
WHEN: Dec. 5–20
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: There will be children’s events, storytelling, a marshmallow-roasting pit, crafts, a holiday farmer’s market, free health screenings and more. Drop off your letter to Santa at the North Pole mailbox or give it to him directly.
DETAILS: Free.
GET INFO: For more information visit www.charlestoncity.info.
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City of Charleston tree lighting ceremony
WHERE: Marion Square
WHEN: Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Get into the holiday spirit listening to community bands and caroling and seeing spectacular downtown Charleston decorated for the holidays.
DETAILS: Free. Mayor Joe Riley Jr. and Santa Claus officially light the tree around 6 p.m.
GET INFO: For more information visit www.charlestoncity.info.
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Chanukah Bazaar
WHERE: The Jewish Community Center
WHEN: Dec. 2, 5–9 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: There will be fun Chanukah craft projects, food, health experts and vendors.
DETAILS: Dinner that includes soup, a latke and a drink will also be served for $3.50.
GET INFO: For more information call 571-6565, ext. 307.
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Pancake Breakfast
WHERE: The Jewish Community Center
WHEN: Dec. 25, starting at 9:30 a.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: There will be lots of food, inflatable fun, bingo and a family movie. This is a community-wide event.
GET INFO: For more information call 571-6565, ext. 307, or e-mail ronnecaw@charlesonjcc.org.
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Chanukah in the Square
WHERE: Marion Square Park
WHEN: Dec. 13, 4–6 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Activities will include lighting of the first candle on the 9-foot menorah, live music, jump castles, craft tables and food.
DETAILS: The event is free and open to the public.
GET INFO: For more information call 953-5682.
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The Nutcracker
WHERE: Gaillard Auditorium and North Charleston Performing Arts Center
WHEN: Dec. 12 and 13
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: The shows will feature hundreds of local children from downtown Charleston and North Charleston. The version follows the traditional storyline, but with a twist, and takes place right here in Charleston in 1865.
DETAILS: Tickets range from $30–$45.
GET INFO: For more information call 723-7334 or visit www.charlestonballet.org.
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The Annual Spirituals Concert
WHERE: Drayton Hall
WHEN: Dec. 5 and 6
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: This is a rare opportunity to gather in the candlelit great hall and hear music that could have been heard centuries ago in the fields and praise houses that surrounded Drayton Hall. There will be three concerts by Ann Caldwell and The Magnolia Singers, an a capella vocal ensemble dedicated to the preservation and performance of early southern music and spirituals.
DETAILS: Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for Friends of Drayton Hall, which includes a catered reception and informal tours of the house before the concert starts.
GET INFO: To make a reservation call 769-2605 or visit www.draytonhall.org.
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Provided
The Charleston Christmas Special
WHERE: Charleston Music Hall
WHEN: Dec. 5 and 6
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: This hilarious musical variety show – with some serious sentiment mixed in – has become a tradition for many families. The cast includes local professionals as well as entertainers from all over the country. This year, Elvis will return to learn how to stuff a holiday turkey from Julia Child.
DETAILS: Tickets range from $19.50 to $32.50.
GET INFO: Visit www.bradandjennifermoranz.com for more information. To purchase tickets visit www.etix.com or call 800-514-3849.
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Middleton Place Grand Illumination
WHERE: Middleton Place
WHEN: Dec.18, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Join costumed interpreters as they take you back to the Christmas of 1782 at historic Middleton Place. Illuminated by torchlight, candlelight and starlight, guests will enjoy strolling the formal garden paths and allées lit by dancing torchlight, or viewing extensive family collections by soft candlelight in the House Museum. Visitors will learn about the joyous holiday season of 1782 – extraordinary because it marked the British evacuation of Charleston and the end of the Revolutionary War in the South. The evening will conclude on the Greensward with amusements of the season, live music, warm fires and seasonal refreshments.
DETAILS: Advance tickets cost $15 per adult and $5 per child, $20 per adult and $5 per child at the door.
GET INFO: For more information, call 566-6020 or visit www.middletonplace.org.
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The Holiday Festival of Lights
WHERE: James Island County Park
WHEN: Now through Jan. 3, 2010
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: This year’s festival is bigger and better than ever. In addition to the three-mile driving tour that features more than 600 light displays, there will be family movie nights and many other exciting events. There will be a fireworks display at
9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Winter Wonderland and Santa’s Village feature giant greeting cards, a climbing wall, carousel, train rides and shopping.
DETAILS: Cost is $10 per vehicle for 1 to 15 guests, $25 per vehicle for 16 to 30 guests and $100 per vehicle for 31 or more guests.
GET INFO: For more information, schedule of events or discount information call 795-4FUN or visit www.holidayfestivaloflights.com.
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Sundaes with Santa
WHERE: Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
WHEN: Dec. 5, 11 a.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Sundaes with Santa, a toy drive for the nonprofit East Cooper Community Outreach, which provides emergency assistance and other services, will be held at Discovery Ice Cream. Children get a free pass to use the robot to make their own personal sundaes.
DETAILS: Reservations required. Entry is one unwrapped toy or a cash donation.
GET INFO: For information visit www.mtpleasanttownecentre.com.
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Summerville Christmas tree lighting
WHERE: Summerville Town Hall
WHEN: Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: The Summerville High School Band and Chorus will perform. Mayor Berlin G. Myers will light the tree.
DETAILS: Free.
GET INFO: For more information call 821-7260.
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“Lights Up” Tree Lighting at the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
WHERE: In front of Belk in Towne Centre
WHEN: Nov. 21, 6 p.m.
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Towne Centre gears up for the holidays with twinkling lights, snow falling on Belk and many fun things for families to do. WEZL will broadcast live.
DETAILS: Free.
GET INFO: For information visit www.mtpleasanttownecentre.com.
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Free horse-drawn carriage rides
WHERE: Towne Centre
WHEN: Through Dec. 21
WHY YOUR FAMILY WILL LIKE IT: Kids will love the carriage ride around Towne Centre looking at all of the twinkling lights.
DETAILS: Free. Pickup for carriage rides is in front of Palmetto Grande.
GET INFO: For information visit www.mtpleasanttownecentre.com. *
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