New Year's Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31. The Festival of Lights has its last night, schools are on break and the city closes for New Year's Day, Friday, Jan. 1.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from each organizer’s own page and the City of Charleston’s news releases, linked below. Events are added as venues and organizers announce them.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, and New Year’s Day is Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. As of Oct. 12, no public New Year’s Eve fireworks show or citywide countdown had been announced for Charleston. What is set: the Holiday Festival of Lights has its final night on Dec. 31, and schools are on winter break.

Who to call

  • Police non-emergency: 843-743-7200; emergency, 911
  • Trash and any city question: Citizen Services Desk, 843-724-7311
  • Holiday Festival of Lights: James Island County Park office, 843-406-6990

New Year’s Eve events

  • Holiday Festival of Lights, closing night. The county’s drive-through light show at James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, is open 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, its last night of the season, according to Charleston County Parks. Tickets are priced per vehicle. More on our holiday lights page.
  • Fireworks. No public show had been announced when we checked. If the city, the county or a venue announces one, it goes here with the time and the best places to watch.
  • Restaurants and bars. We list New Year’s Eve dinners and parties only when the restaurant or venue posts them on its own site. Venues can send theirs through our contact page.

For live music venues to check, see our live music and nightlife guide; for a dinner out, our date night guide.

What is open and closed

Service New Year’s 2026-27
Charleston County School District Winter break, Monday, Dec. 21, to Friday, Jan. 1; teacher workday Monday, Jan. 4; students return Tuesday, Jan. 5 (2026-27 calendar)
City offices and recreation centers 2026-27 closings not posted yet; closed Jan. 1-2 last year
City garbage and trash 2026-27 schedule not posted yet; see below
County recycling No change; the county’s hauler does not move pickup for New Year’s

What the city did last year. For New Year’s 2026, the city said offices closed Thursday and Friday, Jan. 1-2, along with all recreation facilities, pools and tennis centers, which reopened Saturday, Jan. 3. Trash and garbage ran:

  • City crews: normal Monday to Wednesday; no collection Thursday, Jan. 1; Thursday routes on Friday, Jan. 2.
  • Trident Waste, Johns Island and outer West Ashley: the same, with Friday routes moved to Saturday, Jan. 3.
  • Trident Waste, Daniel Island and Cainhoy: a normal week.

The Charleston Municipal Golf Course stayed open all week. These were the 2025-26 dates. The city posted last year’s schedule on Dec. 29; we will update this page when the new one is out. More on our trash and recycling page.

Getting home safely

Plan a ride before you go out. If you see an impaired driver, call 911. For anything that is not an emergency, Charleston police take calls at 843-743-7200. Downtown garages and rates are on the city’s Where to Park page.

What this means for you

  • Dec. 31 is your last chance to see the Festival of Lights this season.
  • No fireworks show is announced yet; check back here in December.
  • Students go back Tuesday, Jan. 5.

More: holiday lights and Christmas events and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Are there New Year’s Eve fireworks in Charleston?

As of Oct. 12, 2026, neither the City of Charleston nor Charleston County Parks had announced a public New Year’s Eve fireworks show. We will add one here if it is announced.

Is the Festival of Lights open on New Year’s Eve?

Yes. Thursday, Dec. 31, is the last night of the 2026 Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park, open 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Is there trash pickup on New Year’s Day in Charleston?

The city has not posted its 2026-27 schedule. For New Year’s Day 2026 it skipped Thursday pickup and collected Thursday routes on Friday. Charleston County recycling does not change for New Year’s.

When do Charleston County schools go back after winter break?

Winter break runs Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, is a teacher workday, and students return Tuesday, Jan. 5.