Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade of Boats Start Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston
November 23, 2011
CHARLESTON, SC – Holiday Magic festivities officially kick off Saturday, Dec. 3, at the 25th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, when Santa Claus and several special guests help Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. light the official City of Charleston Tree, a 60-foot tree-of-lights in Marion Square. The winners of the Annual Tree Decorating Contest, featuring trees decorated by local youth and school art groups, will also be announced at the Tree Lighting Ceremony. Following the Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Parade of Boats will begin to light up the Charleston Harbor.
Presented by the City of Charleston, Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston offers family-oriented activities and performances that capture the spirit of the season for everyone in the community. For the month of December, Marion Square will be beautifully lighted and decorated for the holidays, including the 60-foot Holiday Tree of Lights, a Chanukah Menorah and a Kwanzaa Kinari. Highlights of Holiday Magic include:
Holiday Farmers Market—December 3 through 18: Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Marion Square.
25th Annual City of Charleston Tree Lighting Ceremony—December 3 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Marion Square.
31st Annual Holiday Parade of Boat—December 3: Parade begins along Mt. Pleasant waterfront at 5 p.m.; viewing from the peninsula begins at 6:30 p.m.
Holiday Entertainment and Visits with Santa—December 4 through 18: Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Sunday, December 4: 10am to 2pm). Marion Square.
31st Annual Charleston Christmas Parade—December 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. Parade route: Starts at Calhoun and Meeting Streets and proceeds down King Street to Broad Street, ending on Lockwood Blvd. Sponsored by the Tri-County Fire Chiefs Association.
Chanukah in the Square—December 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. Marion Square. Sponsored by Piggly Wiggly.
Happy New Year, Charleston!—December 31 from 4 to 10:30 p.m. Marion Square and surrounding locations.
Free parking vouchers, valid in many downtown garages, are provided as a gift to citizens from the City of Charleston. These vouchers are valid November 25 through December 31, 2011 and are available online at http://www.charleston-sc.gov/shared/docs/0/2011%20holiday%20magic%20parking%20voucher.pdf.
