Charleston to late November: Fall Tours end Oct. 31, Trick or Treat at The Joe Oct. 30, the Veterans Day Parade Nov. 8 and the Festival of Lights from Nov. 13.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Rebuilt at the start of every month. Each listing links to the organizer; times are as the organizer publishes them. For this weekend only, see things to do this weekend; for theater, galleries and concerts, see arts and exhibitions this month.

The last two weeks of October bring Halloween, the final Preservation Society tours and a full Gaillard calendar; November brings the Veterans Day Parade, the Festival of Lights and the end of the Marion Square market season. Here is what is on from Oct. 19 to Nov. 30.

Before you go

This week

  • State of Our City: Daniel Island and Cainhoy, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, Daniel Island Recreation Center. Mayor William Cogswell and council members report on that part of the city and take questions. State of Our City page.
  • Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St. Gaillard Center.
  • Peninsula Plan open studio on the zoning code rewrite, 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the city’s Design Division, 85 Calhoun St. Free. City calendar.
  • “Broadway Bound,” Charleston Stage at the Dock Street Theatre, through Sunday, Nov. 1. Neil Simon’s comedy. Charleston Stage.
  • Trunk or Treat at Bees Landing, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, Bees Landing Recreation Center, 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd. Free. Fall 2026 Recreation Guide.
  • Jim Henson’s “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE,” 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, Gaillard Center. Gaillard Center.
  • “Ghostbusters” in Concert, 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, Gaillard Center. Gaillard Center.

Next week: Halloween

  • Peninsula Plan open studio on undergrounding utilities, 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 85 Calhoun St. Free. City calendar.
  • Charleston Symphony Pops 1: “The Witching Hour,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, Gaillard Center. Gaillard Center.
  • Trick or Treat at The Joe, 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, VIP lot at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, 360 Fishburne St. Free; candy from vendors, games, inflatables and face painting. Parking at Brittlebank Park and Stoney Field, the city says. Fall 2026 Recreation Guide.
  • An Evening with David Sedaris, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Gaillard Center. Gaillard Center.
  • Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch, last weekend, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, to Sunday, Nov. 1, 2434 N. Highway 17, Mount Pleasant, about 6 miles east. $15 ages 3 and up. Boone Hall.
  • Preservation Society Fall Tours end Saturday, Oct. 31; the North Central house and garden tour moved to Saturday, Nov. 7. Tickets in advance only. Fall Tours page.

Later in November

  • State of Our City: James Island, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, James Island Elementary, and Peninsula, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, Burke High School. State of Our City page.
  • Harvest Festival, Saturday, Nov. 7, Johns Island County Park, 2662 Mullet Hall Road. Charleston County Parks.
  • Veterans Day Parade, Sunday, Nov. 8, from Market Street along East Bay and Broad streets to Colonial Lake; the city lists it from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Details on our Veterans Day page.
  • Holiday Festival of Lights opens Friday, Nov. 13, and runs nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 31 at James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive. Charleston County Parks. More on our holiday lights page.
  • YALLFest, from 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. The young adult book festival is free to enter; its headline events are ticketed. Charleston Music Hall listing.
  • Peninsula Plan public forum, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, Burke High School, 244 President St.; doors 5:30 p.m. City news release.
  • West Ashley Thanksgiving Market and Pumpkin Smash, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Ackerman Park, 55 Sycamore Ave. City farmers markets.
  • Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K, 9 a.m. Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, Marion Square. Race page. More on our Thanksgiving page.
  • Holiday shows start Nov. 28; dates are on our Nutcracker and holiday shows page.

Regular events

Market When Where
Charleston Farmers Market 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 21 (none Nov. 28) Marion Square, 329 Meeting St.
Holiday markets 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 Marion Square

The West Ashley Farmers Market ended its season Oct. 14. Both are run by the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Marion Square market takes SNAP/EBT at its info tent. Details on the city’s markets page and in our farmers markets guide.

Fort Pemberton Park, James Island. The city’s newest park, at 221 Yates Ave. in Riverland Terrace, has a fishing dock, kayak launch, walking paths and a picnic shelter on 8.7 acres along the Stono River, and is open daily, the city says. More in our parks and trails guide.

Charleston’s big annual events

Send us your event

Community events are listed free. Email hello@charlestonnewstoday.com or submit an event at least a week ahead with the date, time, venue, cost and a photo; the listing goes on this page and in our events diary.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Charleston Farmers Market open this fall?

Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marion Square, 329 Meeting St., through Nov. 21. There is no market Nov. 28, and holiday markets run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19, the city says.

What are the big free Halloween events in Charleston?

The city’s Trunk or Treat at Bees Landing Recreation Center, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and Trick or Treat at The Joe, 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. Both are free.

When are the Preservation Society Fall Tours in 2026?

Oct. 1-31. One house and garden tour, North Central, was rescheduled to Nov. 7, the Preservation Society of Charleston says. Tickets must be bought in advance.

When does the Holiday Festival of Lights open?

Friday, Nov. 13. It runs nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 31 at James Island County Park, Charleston County Parks says.