Charleston, SC in the fall exudes charm and history becoming even more enchanting. As the weather cools down and the leaves start to change, Charleston's unique beauty is accentuated, making it a perfect time for a fall vacation. Plus, Charleston, South Carolina, was just named the best city in the U.S. again. If you're planning a fall getaway in the Holy City, here are some of the best Charleston Fall Activities.
Charleston enjoys being the #1 city for its abundant leisure activities, fascinating history, iconic beach communities, and milder temperatures throughout the fall season. If you’re considering visiting Charleston, SC, in the fall, read Pam Harrington Exclusives's Fall Guide below.
Fall in Charleston, SC, is the perfect time to visit the #1 City in the United States
Charleston, SC, is known as the Holy City because of its iconic historic church spires that frame the downtown skyline.
Church Street, named for its many houses of worship, is popular with locals and visitors alike. This cobblestoned, winding Charleston street offers a peaceful morning stroll with the pup or a creamy latte.
Anchored at the southern end by Waterfront Park, Church Street winds through the French Quarter. The eighteenth and 19th-century historic homes offer a glimpse of meticulously manicured gardens and the beautifully inspired ironworks of legendary ironsmith Philip Simmons.
The Charleston French Quarter District is named for the number of French Huguenots who settled in this downtown Charleston borough. It teems with an inspiring collection of art galleries featuring local and regional artists of various mediums. Additionally, The Dock Street Theatre, dating back to 1740, hosts special holiday performances and serves as home to the Charleston Stage Company.
Fall in Charleston: Plan Your Itinerary
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Historic City Market
The holidays are approaching us, and the Charleston City Market is a great place to inspire your holiday shopping. Let holiday gift giving this year be inspired by the market’s collection of unique shops featuring artisan crafts and regional gifts inspired by Charleston artists.
The Charleston City Market was established in 1804 and encompasses several city blocks. This iconic merchant center is one of the most visited markets in the United States.
Start your visit in the market's Great Hall, a United States National Register Landmark that offers 18,300 square feet of micro boutiques.
Continue to three open-air structures filled with everything from handcrafted sweetgrass baskets, local grits, home goods, and textiles, to locally inspired jewelry. You’re sure to find the perfect gift or souvenir!
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Charleston Plantations & Gardens
Known as America’s oldest garden, Magnolia Plantation brilliantly captures Charleston’s spectacular fall foliage. Few estates are more photographed or visited than Magnolia.
The meticulously maintained gardens burst with Sasanqua camellias, pansies, azaleas, and snapdragons. Your senses are captivated by abundant hues of red, yellow, and orange, flourishing in the autumnal shade.
Keep a keen eye out and spot various wildlife species like alligators, black crowned night herons, and river otters before they retreat for the winter.
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Drayton Hall
Fall is the perfect time to visit America’s oldest public, historic home, Drayton Hall. This 18th-century home was built in 1738 by John Drayton. It neighbored his family’s estate, now known as Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. In October and November, Drayton Hall opens in the evening with a unique opportunity to take a candlelight tour.
Drayton Hall remains in original, non-modernized condition. It is an unparalleled example of the period.
Visitors are welcome to tour the main home and gardens offering a glimpse of the architectural style of the 18th century. Book a guided tour, or just enjoy a self-paced tour.
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Charleston Fall Tour of Homes
If you are visiting Charleston in the fall, you don’t want to miss the Preservation Society of Charleston’s Fall Tours and Masters Series. This highly anticipated annual series offers an intimate peek at some of Charleston’s grand gardens, and piazzas.
The rich history of Charleston’s culture, architecture, and hospitality comes alive through guided, interpretive tours.
Join a preservation society member, or local expert on Thursdays for a deeper, behind the scenes tour. Guests may be invited into some homes for a rare interior glimpse of historic Charleston.
Learn about the families who settled the Charleston peninsula whose descendants continue to live here. It’s the perfect way to get to know our charming city!
Charleston Fall Festivals and Tours
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Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
This family-friendly annual event runs through October 31st and offers a corn maze, hay rides, hay mountain, play areas, a rock climbing wall, and plenty of pumpkins by the pound for carving!
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Spooky Night Tours
Fall is the best time to experience Charleston After Dark, which involves touring historic haunted buildings, dark alleyways, and centuries-old cemeteries in the dark. Our favorite spooky tours include Bulldog Tours, Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Walking, The Haunted Jail, and USS Yorktown Ghost Tours.
Find information on all tours here!
Magnolia Cemetery is a historic Victorian cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina. Originally a rice plantation, it was established in 1849 and is now home to over 35,000 people. The cemetery has a rich history, serving as a Confederate encampment during the Civil War. Notable residents include socialites, bootleggers, authors, and politicians.
More Local Things to Do in Charleston, SC in the Fall
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Charleston Farmers Markets
Located in Marion Square in the heart of Charleston, SC’s Historic District the Charleston Farmers Market is open each Saturday, from April through the end of November, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays in December for a special Holiday Market.
The Charleston Farmers Market is a popular Saturday morning stop for locals and visitors. The air is filled with yummy aromas from the breakfast and lunch food truck vendors.
The Crepe Station is legendary for their Nutella crepe! Stroll through booths featuring a variety of local produce, plants, fresh flowers, and juried arts and crafts from local artisans.
A small stage hosts live music, and the large lawn is the perfect setting for a picnic with your family and dog. Feel like a local by attending the CFM, which brings together people from all over for a real community connection.
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Charleston Fall Dining
Enjoy Outdoor Dining: Charleston is renowned for its food scene, and in the fall, you can take advantage of the city's many outdoor dining options. Whether looking for fresh seafood, Southern comfort food, or international cuisine, you'll find plenty of delicious options to enjoy al fresco in the pleasant fall weather. Visit our Charleston Dining Guide for recommendations.
Charleston is recognized as one of the top food cities in the world. Whether you are craving fresh local shrimp and grits, smoky BBQ, the best she-crab soup, or your sweet tooth calling for pralines, the Holy City has it all.
Johns Island Fall Events
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Harvest Festival at Johns Island County Park
It is an annual tradition on Johns Island that is fun for the whole family. Come to Mullet Hall at Johns Island County Park in November and celebrate with us! The Johns Island Harvest Fall Festival celebrates the bountiful harvest and gives thanks for all our blessings. Hayrides, pumpkin decorating, live bluegrass music, and delicious food are all a part of the fun. Mouthwatering Carolina-style barbecue, kettle corn, and other festival foods will be available. Get a jump on holiday shopping with a stop at the craft booths. Many local artisans offer unique and special crafts that make great holiday gifts!
Kiawah Island in the Fall
Kiawah Island is a gated, oceanfront resort community featuring world-class golf, verdant fairways and greens, 8 miles of pristine, sandy beach, and a coastal lifestyle unmatched on the eastern seaboard. The cool fall breeze off the Atlantic Ocean inspires a day of outdoor fun!
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Hit the Sand
Kiawah Island is perhaps the best place to visit during the fall. The temperatures stay around 75 degrees, the water is still warm, and it’s just you, the sand, and the surf. Trade-in your typical summer vacation for a relaxing holiday on the coast this fall.
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Fishing
Whether you’re chartering a boat or casting out from the shore, tons of fish are in the water during the change of seasons. Fall fishing on Kiawah Island is an angler’s paradise - and Tarpon season! From Beachwalker Park to The Kiawah River, we have everything you need to know about tossing out your next line.
Are you considering a charter? Contact Lil Darlin Charters for a guaranteed good time on the water.
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Dogtoberfest
Head up to Freshfields for the annual Dogtoberfest taking place in late October. The family-friendly pet expo offers various activities including beer tasting, live music, adoptable meet and greets with local rescues, pet vendors, and a pet costume contest! Visit Freshfields website for details.
Dogtoberfest at Freshfields Village is a free event; Participating rescues include the Charleston Animal Society, Pet Helpers, Grateful Goldens Rescue, Lowcountry Lab Rescue and many more!
Seabrook Island in the Fall
Neighboring Seabrook Island, nestled along the Atlantic Ocean, welcomes fall island visitors to enjoy their two luxury resort golf courses, a nationally renowned tennis complex, private sandy beaches, and even a full-service equestrian center.
Did you know Seabrook Island is one of the few places on the eastern seaboard where you can ride a horse on the beach? Saddle up for those fall ocean breezes! Seabrook Island is recognized as an Audubon Certified Sustainable Community. Fall on Seabrook Island is the perfect time to explore and learn more about how Seabrook Island leaders and residents work together to create a harmonious community for all!
Tennis players from around the Southeastern US and beyond come to Seabrook Island in early October for the Alan Fleming Senior Clay Court Championship Tournament. The Seabrook Island Racquet Club is the perfect host site for this prestigious Level One event. Read more about this highly attended event. Spectators are welcome.
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Birding and Nature
Witness the magic of bird migration in the tranquility of the Lowcountry this fall. Mild winters and a diverse habitat make Seabrook Island a premier birding destination. Expect to see a variety of warblers, herons, finches, and shorebirds. Is there a better way to relax than admiring the Yellow Warblers, Northern Cardinals, or the Carolina Wrens? Seabrook Island is an Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community and an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary. In 2017, Seabrook Island became the first private community in South Carolina to receive this award, which recognizes communities that demonstrate leadership in sustainability.
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Tennis
Did you know Seabrook Island is home to one of the top resort tennis centers in the eastern U.S.? In addition to being home to the annual Alan Fleming Senior Clay Court Championships in October, tennis players flock to Seabrook Island for a fall tennis vacation at the beach. The full-service tennis center offers 15 Har-Tru clay courts, a full-time teaching professional, and a full-service clubhouse with equipment sales and rentals. With beautiful, cool fall mornings and milder afternoons, you won’t want to leave!
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Biking
Grab a beach cruiser and explore the island on two wheels. Fall is the ideal time to meander through Seabrook’s moss-draped private roads. Perfect temperatures and quiet streets offer the best way to explore the island. Breathe in the ocean air from the seat of your bike this fall.
Become a Charleston Local with Pam Harrington Exclusives
If you plan to vacation in Charleston, SC in the fall and want to make our city your permanent residence, Pam Harrington Exclusives has you covered!
From Kiawah Island’s beaches to the cobblestone streets downtown, our skilled and experienced real estate team will help you purchase the perfect vacation home or permanent residence for you and your family.