No holiday season is complete without a visit to the man in red! Below is a list of places you’ll be able to find Santa Claus this holiday season!
Looking for some other family-friendly holiday fun? Check out our other holiday guides!
- A Guide to Holiday Parades, Festivals, and Tree Lightings in Charleston
- Ultimate Guide to Holiday Events Around Charleston
Did we miss an event? Email us at [email protected] to let us know!
*Please note – While we make every effort to crosscheck current links and event details on our guides, we always encourage you to do the same before making final plans. If details are missing or incorrect, please let us know so that we can correct them.
Charleston’s Holiday Market
Dates: November 10, 11, & 12, check the website for times
Location: North Charleston Coliseum
Details: All the gifts and glitter, music and magic, food and fun of the season come together at this exciting event! Santa will be there throughout the weekend.
Northwoods Mall Visit With Santa
Dates: Santa arrives on November 22. Reserve your spot here.
Location: Northwoods Mall, 2150 Northwoods Blvd., North Charleston, 29406
Details: Experience the magic of the season by visiting Santa’s Workshop. Create lifelong holiday memories! Reservations for Santa are encouraged, however, not required.
Bee City Zoo’s Christmas Wonderland of Lights
Dates: November 22 – December 24, see all the times and days here.
Location: Bee City Zoo, 1066 Holly Ridge Ln Cottageville, SC 29435
Details: The zoo will be open during the day and with normal admission rates. Come early, enjoy the zoo, and stay to watch the zoo transform into a wonderland of lights. Enjoy all of our Christmas activities and don’t forget to see Santa and get your photos taken with one of our furry little babies!
Photos With Santa Claus at Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre
Dates: November 24 – December 24, see exact times here.
Location: Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre, The North Pole is located at 1744 Towne Centre Way {former Bed Bath & Beyond}.
Details: Embrace the spirit of the holiday season with a professional photo of your loved ones and pets* with Santa Claus at The North Pole. Every child will receive a free chocolate pop from Sweet Julep’s Candy & Gifts! Guests can now make reservations for photos. JUST CLICK HERE! *Pet photos every Monday. Pets must be on a leash or crated.
Daniel Island Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dates: November 24, Gates open at 4:30 pm, entertainment begins at 5 pm, tree lighting with Santa at 6 pm.
Location: 161 Seven Farms Drive, Charleston, SC,
Details: The Daniel Island Community Fund invites you to join us for the Annual Daniel Island Holiday Tree Lighting event to be held at Credit One Stadium (161 Seven Farms Drive). Food, entertainment, Christmas cookie decorating, and more!
Holiday Festival at Wild Dunes Resort
Dates: November 24, 5 pm – 8 pm
Location: Wild Dunes Resort
Details: Join us for the happiest time of year this holiday season by celebrating at our holiday fest! Featuring pictures with Santa, gingerbread decorating, letters to Santa, an oyster roast, and lots more to enjoy for guests of all ages.
Summerville Christmas Celebration
Dates: November 28, 6 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Hutchinson Square, Summerville, SC 29483
Details: Join the Town of Summerville for our annual Town of Summerville Tree Lighting Ceremony in Downtown Summerville. This celebration includes pictures with Santa, the countdown and lighting ceremony, letters to Santa, live window displays, and more Holiday fun!
Winter Wonderland
Dates: December 1, 12 pm
Location: Wonder Works, 624 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Details: Join us & The Belle Hall Shopping Center for our annual Winter Wonderland event on Friday, December 1st from 12-7 PM! Get into the spirit of the season with us while you enjoy treats, crafts, and more! Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus. The event will benefit local children’s charities.
Holidays on Hutson
Dates: Event starts December 1, Santa will be there on December 12, 14, & 20.
Location: Hutson Alley (a charming cobblestone alley tucked between 39 Rue de Jean, Coast Bar & Grill, Charleston’s Smallest Bar, Victor’s Seafood & Steak, Vincent Chicco’s, and The Charleston Music Hall)
Details: Beginning December 1st, and lasting throughout the month, Hutson Alley will deck the halls with lights, ornaments, trees, and all the sparkle befitting the most wonderful time of the year. The fun kicks off in the evenings at 5 pm during the week and 4 pm on weekends. Snow will fall from the sky twice a night as you sip hot chocolate among the lights. There will be s’mores kits available for purchase and festive cocktails served from Charleston’s Smallest Bar. Santa himself will be making 3 appearances at Holidays on Hutson on the 12th, the 14th, and the 20th. There will also be additional vendors and crafts for several nights to enhance the experience.
10th Annual Homegrown Holiday Bazaar
Dates: December 2, 10 am – 2 pm
Location: Johns Island County Park
Details: Fantastic Family Fun! Food Trucks Beer & Wine, Silent Auction, Mr and Mrs Santa Claus, Shopping w/ Local Vendors, Games and crafts, Bounce House, Pony Rides, and Live Music by The Revelators. FREE ADMISSION TO EVENT with park admission of $2 each at the gate. Gold Pass holders and children under 2 are free.
Breakfast With Santa at Citadel Mall
Dates: December 2, 9 am – 11 am
Location: Citadel Mall, 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407
Details: Kids can enjoy our annual Breakfast with Santa event on December 2 at 9 AM, which includes treats for the children, giveaways, and visits with Santa. Children who bring toys to donate to Toys for Tots will receive a free Chick-fil-A breakfast. Call (843) 766-8321 to RSVP
City of North Charleston Christmas Festival & Parade
Dates: December 2, 4 pm – 8 pm
Location: Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Cir, North Charleston, SC 29405
Details: Families, friends, and neighbors share the joys of the season through music, children’s activities, festive food and decorations, thousands of twinkling lights, visits with Santa, and a parade.
Santa Sleigh Ride Tour
Dates: Starting December 2, see full calendar and book here.
Location: Old South Carriage Co., 14 Anson St., Charleston, SC 20401
Details: Harness some holiday fun and climb aboard our specially decorated carriage driven by one of Santa’s caroling elves. After a festive 20-minute caroling ride, stop by Santa’s workshop for cookies and cocoa – and a photo op with jolly old Saint Nick.
Breakfast With Santa at Wild Dunes
Dates: December 2, 9, & 16, 10 am – 11:30 am
Location: Wild Dunes Resort, 127 N. Tryon St., Ste #D5757 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms, SC 29451
Details: Santa is coming to Wild Dunes Resort to enjoy a delicious breakfast with your little ones! Featuring Rudolph’s pancake buffet with loads of sweet-tooth toppings and hot chocolate, it’ll leave the whole family full of food and the holiday spirit!
Lights & Love
Dates: December 3, 6 pm – 8 pm
Location: Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre
Details: The evening will include live entertainment, face painting with Faith, balloon animals & glitter tattoos with Carol, a bounce house, arts & crafts, vendors, food trucks, and more! Enjoy performances by the Charleston School of The Arts Jazz band and Charleston Voices Youth Choir plus fun with Matt’s Balloon Show. Plus, a visit from the one and only Santa Claus! Delicious bites are available for purchase from Johnny Foccacia, New Dog Hot Dogs, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Holy City Popcorn, plus beer & wine from our friends at Burtons Grill & Bar.
Santa Sundays at the South Carolina Aquarium
Dates: December 3, 19, & 17, 10 am – 2 pm
Location: South Carolina Aquarium
Details: Mix and a-mingle with Kris Kringle! Santa’s taking three trips to Charleston in preparation for Christmas, and you can meet him at the Aquarium. During Santa Sundays, guests can meet Santa and have their photo taken with him! And we don’t know if there’ll be snow, but you can have a cup of cheer. Thanks to Charleston Coffee Roasters, you can sip on delicious hot coffee during the festivities! General admission tickets or member reservations are required to participate in Santa Sundays.
Sensory Friendly Photos With Santa
Dates: December 3, 10 am – 4 pm
Location: Metro Chamber of Commerce, 4500 Leeds Ave., North Charleston
Details: 15-minute sessions, sign up here
Cookie Exchange & Visit With Santa and the Grinch at Crosswinds Farm
Dates: December 8, 11 am – 2 pm
Location: Crosswinds Farm, 799 Target Rd, Holly Hill, SC 29059
Details: Christmas is such a magical time of the year! Why not spend it on the farm? We also have cute animals in festive outfits, we’ll have time to play in fluffy snow, visit with Santa and the Grinch, letters to Santa, have a cookie exchange, Christmas music, and MORE!
Santa at Folly River Park & Santa Shack
Dates: December 8, 6 pm
Location: Folly River Park
PJ’s With Santa
Dates: December 9, 4 pm – 7 pm
Location: Hutchinson Square, Summerville
Details: The rumors are true! Guess who is coming back to Hutchinson Square?! Purchase your tickets here and don’t miss one of our favorite holiday events!
Breakfast With Santa at The Tides Hotel
Dates: December 9, 9 am – 11 am
Location: The Tides Hotel
Details: Bring your little ones to meet Santa and snap some memorable photos. We’re setting up craft tables with ornament-making stations, perfect for collecting cherished keepsakes year after year. While you’re here, savor a delightful hot and cold buffet featuring Belgian waffles, cheesy breakfast potato casserole, assorted muffins & danishes, and more. Parents, make sure to bring your cameras! Tickets are available in advance, and we have limited capacity, so don’t wait too long to secure your spot. Adult tickets are $32, children under 10 are $22, and the littlest elves under 2 get in for free. Please note that tickets won’t be available at the door, so grab yours in advance and get ready for a festive morning of family fun!
Brunch w/ Santa & Holiday Bazaar
Dates: December 10, 10 am – 4 pm
Location: Stones Throw Brewing, 101 Button Hall Ave., Goose Creek
Details: Stones Throw Brewing is hosting it’s 1st annual “Brunch w/ Santa & Holiday Bizarre”. Join us Sunday December 10th from 10am till 4pm. Santa will arrive about 11am and will walk the Brewery for a bit, then will join our diners in the back room for pictures. We will have letters on hand to write for Santa, treats for the kids, kids games and face painting. There will be about 20+ craft vendors on hand for our Christmas Bizarre.
Our back room has plenty of tables & seating, but if you’d like to reserve a table with Santa, reservations are highly recommended.
Mt. Pleasant Recreation Holiday Party With Santa
Dates: December 12, 4 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: Alhambra Hall
Details: Come to our Holiday drop-in with Santa and walk through our winter wonderland while enjoying Christmas music, crafts, cookie decorating, and games!
Crosswind Country Christmas with Santa
Dates: December 16. 11 am – 2 pm
Location: Crosswinds Farm, 799 Target Rd, Holly Hill, SC 29059
Details: We have photos with Santa and the Grinch (you take your own child’s photo) photos on the handcrafted wooden sleigh, decorations, dressed-up animals in holiday outfits, $5 horse rides, a petting zoo, train rides, Christmas music, hot cocoa, food, decorate – a- cookie kits, marshmallow roasting, snowflake machines, and SO much more.
Santa Claus at Top Dawg Tavern
Dates: December 20, 5 pm – 8 pm
Location: Top Dawg Tavern – Summerville
Details: Santa, the big guy himself, will be making an appearance on Wednesday, December 20th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm! Bring your kids (or fun-loving friends) to meet Santa at Top Dawg Tavern! Make sure to bring your Christmas List for him to take back to the North Pole and your camera phone to take lots of photos! Plus, we will have Live Music from 7-10 pm, $8 Tavern Burgers, Whiskey Wednesday, and Happy Hour specials all night!
Knightsville General Store
1700 Central Avenue
Summerville, SC 29483
December 1, 11-4
Bring the family for a festive afternoon of local shopping, lunch specials, seasonal goodies, family games, face painter and more!
Bring a donation to Stockings for Troops and take a picture by the fireplace with the 🎅Jolly Old Elf🎅 himself!(12-4pm)Mrs. Clause will be here too!
The Elves in the Vendor Village are hard at work getting everything ready for an amazing shopping experience
🎄Enjoy strolling through the glitter & bows, Garland & lights from over 25+ Local Crafters & Vendors for their Decorating Competition🎄
You can find something for everyone on your list with an AMAZING variety of quality items available both in store and outside!!
Suggested item donations to Stockings for Troops include hard candy, hot chocolate mix, coffee, creamer, large and small ziplock bags. These items will be collected and placed into hand sewn stockings made by Sew Fabulous and friends then shipped to military members who can’t be home.
We will be having a Cookies with Santa DIY children’s workshop at our West Ashley DIY studio, Board & Brush Charleston, on Sat Dec 11th from 10:30am to noon! Each child will get to create a personalized DIY project while enjoying free milk & cookies and then get to visit and take pictures with Santa!
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