Special Edition: A Charleston Food Lover's Guide of Upcoming Holiday Markets and Pop-Ups
Over TEN holiday markets, a life-size gingerbread house unveiling daily pastry specials, a Nutcracker-themed afternoon tea, plus a combo wreath-making & wine tasting workshop led by a sommelier.
Okay, here’s the good news: there’s no shortage of holiday markets, tree lightings, and other celebrations for us to enjoy in Charleston through the end of the year, and I’ve aggregated them all in one place!
The bad news is Substack won’t let me fit them all into one newsletter.
So, this will be the first of TWO special edition holiday round ups!
The list below is focused on all of the best holiday markets, restaurant special events, pop-ups, and other food/drink-related holiday festivities up to December 20th, complete with timing, booking links, etc.
My next roundup will go out in a few days and will be a list of the Charleston restaurants that are taking reservations for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Plus, I'll include details on holiday pre-orders from my favorite bakeries and shops in Charleston, too.
Wednesday, December 4th: The Gibbes Museum of Art is having a holiday market from 3-8pm, and the nice folks at Jessamine + Vine will be there pouring drinks!
Wednesday, December 4th: Starting at 5pm, the Refinery’s Rockin’ Around the Refinery market will have live music, a hot cocoa and cookie bar, a Christmas bar serving drinks from Cleats, plus vendors like Mabel Mae’s Bakery, Globetrotter Granola, and Burnt and Salty, a local condiment sauce brand.
Thursday, December 5th & Friday, December 6th: This sounds pretty cool…the Library Society is hosting a ‘Holiday Shopping Bazaar in the Stacks’ in their Main Reading Room. Vendors like Sugar Bakeshop, Anne’s Charleston Cheese Biscuits, Lia Burke Libaire, and Buxton Books will be there. Find the daily hours and learn more on the Library Society’s website here.
Thursday, December 5th: Scrappy holidays from J. Stark! From 5-8pm, J. Stark is hosting a special holiday market featuring artwork made using J. Stark scraps. I love this sustainable twist on a holiday market!
Thursday, December 5th: From 5:30-8:30pm, Hotel Emeline is lighting up their 12-foot tree, complete with carolers, complimentary hot cider, cocoa, holiday cookies, and cocktails.
Thursdays, December 5th, 12th, and 19th: Park & Grove will be continuing their Holiday Market Under the Stars with local vendors and their outdoor bar set up from 5:30-8:30pm each night.
Friday, December 6th: The Colonial Lake tree lighting event kicks off at 5pm, with free pizza from D’Allesandro’s and food trucks like Hamby Catering, King of Pops, and Kees Kitchen. Plus, pop by Burbage’s from 4-6 for a sparkling wine tasting, or Wentworth for free hot cocoa and shopping. The actual lighting of the tree will be at 6pm, and you can find more info here.
Friday, December 6th: Before the annual tree lighting on Sullivan’s Island, check out A Maker’s Post, Bennie & Coco and Goldbug for sips, treats, and shopping starting at 4pm.
Friday, December 6th: Calling all holiday dessert lovers! Roxa is popping up on a more permanent basis with a new holiday tasting menu at 218 President Street. They’ll be serving up a six-course holiday tasting menu experience Fridays to Sundays through December, and they’ll have a completely gluten-free version of the tasting menu, too. You can book on Resy now.
December 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, & 22nd: The Thoroughbred Club at the Charleston Place is hosting a Nutracker-themed afternoon tea for both kids and adults! Tea includes sweet and savory treats plus a mini-performance by the Dance Conservatory of Charleston. Book on Resy now.
Saturdays, December 7th, 14th, and 21st: There are three more weeks of the Old Village’s annual Holiday Stroll, culminating in a visit from Santa on the 21st!
Saturday, December 7th: Glug some glühwein and meet the Grinch at Bay Street Biergarten’s Christkindlmarkt from 11am-4pm.
Saturday, December 7th: In addition to the usual Sea Island Farmers Market from 9:30am-1:30pm, there will also be a special holiday night market from 4:30-8pm!
Sunday, December 8th: Prophet Coffee is throwing a holiday market with food by Bangin’ Vegan Eats and Lil Sprout Vegan Desserts from 9am-1pm. For more on the vendors, check out their IG post below.
Sunday, December 8th: It’s Second Sunday on King, from noon to 5pm! Bright Light Bakery will be there with seasonal sourdough baked goods.
Sunday, December 8th: It’s Good Neighbor Sunday meets the M.A.R.S.H. Project’s Holiday Market, from 3-6pm at Graft! There will also be a “mini” Wake Refill set up, and if you’re headed there, bring a toy for the BE Impactful Foundation’s toy drive, too.
Sunday, December 8th: Big Tent Pizza will be at House of Brews West Ashley’s holiday market today from noon to 4pm-ish.
Sunday, December 8th: The Wedge will be at Hobcaw Brewing’s holiday market from 1-5pm.
Sunday, December 8th: Fiddler’s Fire will be at the Sunday Brunch Farmers Market’s holiday market from 11am-3pm.
Thursday, December 12th through Christmas: The Charleston Place recently commissioned their Senior Executive Pastry Chef Fabrice Benezit to build the most giant and magnificent gingerbread house ever! Starting the 12th, they’ll kick off their 13 Days of Christmas by unveiling a new daily pastry special inside the gingerbread house! These pastry specials will be available at their coffee shop, Community Perk.
Thursday, December 12th: Starting at 4pm, the Dime on Daniel Island is holding a Christmas cookie decorating workshop. Tickets cover your personal cookie tin, cookies, decorations, and hot cocoa, plus there will be drinks available for purchase. Buy tickets on Eventbrite here.
Friday, December 13th to Sunday, December 15th: Rewined’s Gourmet Winter Market is inspired by European gourmet markets, and will include awesome local vendors like Spicewalla, Eat Milled, Deluxe Special and Plot to Pot. Check it out at 71 Wentworth Street from 11am-5pm throughout the weekend! P.s. I featured products from Rewined and Spicewalla in my local gift guides!
Saturday, December 14th: The Restaurant at Zero George is throwing a holiday wreath making and wine tasting event, led by one of their Zero sommeliers and Astilbe Floral. The class starts at 12:30pm, and you can buy tickets on Resy.
Saturday, December 14th: It’s a day of holiday fun at Firefly Distillery today…their Adopt & Shop market with 843 Pop Up Local Market and adoptable pups from Southern Tails for Precious Paws will be set up from 1-5pm. Fiddler’s Fire will be popping up from 1:30-5:30pm, and throughout the day, the Distillery will be leading holiday spirits cocktail making classes (at 1, 3, and 5pm). They’ve also got three more days of holiday markets coming up later this month. For more info, check out their Instagram post.
Saturday, December 14th: Chef Ali Ramee is hosting another guest dinner at Huriyali, but this time it’s a five-course holiday dinner. Find more info by scrolling through Chef Ali’s post below. To reserve, Venmo alexandra-ramee.
Sunday, December 15th: From 1-4pm, Fuel is throwing a holiday block party with oysters from the Walrus, live music, and vendors like Butter Me Up Bakery, Trash 4 Sale, Sweet Jessamine Flower Truck, and others.
Tuesday, December 17th: Flowershop will be at the Post House for a holiday flower workshop at 5:30pm. The Post House will provide bubbly and light bites, too, and you can get tickets here.
Thursday, December 19th: Burbage’s is hosting a Christmas cheer wine tasting with Advintage Distributing from 4-6pm!
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