Image by Flickr user cobalt123 Save some scratch -- you can use it on your gifts.
Why spend the money if you don’t have to? There are plenty of things going on this week in Charleston that you can do for free!
Monday, December 7
W+F Festival Featured Winemaker 5-7 p.m.
The BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival has partnered with Whole Foods to offer an early taste of the 2010 featured wineries.
The featured winemaker for the week of December 7 is Sara Floyd, Jorge Ordonez Wines. High Cotton will offer a Jorge Ordonez wine tasting. No RSVP required. To receive the weekly winemaker news sign-up online, charlestonwineandfood.com.
High Cotton, 199 East Bay St., Downtown
Franke Concert Series: Charleston Music Club 7 p.m.
Franke at Seaside and the Charleston Music Club presents their annual Christmas Program.
Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant
Jorge Ordonez Wine Tasting 5-7 p.m.
The BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival has partnered with Whole Foods Market, the official wine retailer, to offer an early taste of the 2010 featured Festival wineries. Look for a new featured winemaker's wines every week from now until the Festival at Whole Foods Market. The featured winemaker for the week of Dec. 7 is Sara Floyd, Jorge Ordonez Wines. High Cotton will offer a free Jorge Ordonez wine tasting. No RSVP required.
High Cotton, 199 East Bay St., Downtown
Monday Night Concert Series: Candlelight at the College 8 p.m.
College of Charleston Concert Choir, sponsored by Department of Music/School of the Arts/College of Charleston. $10, free/CofC student
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 405 King St., Downtown
Health Nuts Auditions 7 p.m.
Tail Wagger Productions, the Lowcountry’s newest community theater company, is holding auditions for Health Nuts, an original musical comedy. Health Nuts will open Feb. 12, 2010, with 11 performances.
American Theater, 446 King St., Downtown
Tuesday, December 8
Fiction Writing Group 7-9 p.m.
For all those closet novelists out there: bring your favorite pen and paper, your works-in-progress, your fictive mind. During the recurring fiction workshop series you'll learn new approaches to infuse our work with specifics, action and sensory images. Led by Jonathan Sanchez, the two hours will be split with instruction and interactive exercises, questions and answers, and sharing of writing. The workshop will be a great chance to meet other writers and breakout critique groups are encouraged. Designed to help writers at all levels, from beginning to professional.
Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., Downtown
Franke Chorus Holiday Concert 3 p.m.
The Franke Chorus will kick off the holiday season at Franke with their Christmas Concert.Musicians in The Franke Chorus include residents from the entire Franke at Seaside campus as well as members of the larger Mount Pleasant community.
Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant
St. Luke's Recital Series: George Hubbard 12:15 p.m.
Organist sponsored by Charleston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists/College of Charleston.
St. Luke's Chapel, 184 Ashley Ave., Downtown
Health Nuts Auditions 7 p.m.
Tail Wagger Productions, the Lowcountry’s newest community theater company, is holding auditions for Health Nuts, an original musical comedy. Health Nuts will open Feb. 12, 2010, with 11 performances.
American Theater, 446 King St., Downtown
Kayaking around 9 a.m.
(Open water) Guinea pigs needed! Err, I mean to say, practice students are needed for Coastal Kayak Instructor candidates. Day to be spent on the ocean. We expect that you have some open water skills. This all translates into some free training and a chance to paddle with Tom Nickels. -- Contact Scott Szczepaniak directly if interested or if you have any questions. (843) 327-9655
1731 Signal Point Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
Wednesday, December 9
Park Activities and Planting 9-11 am
Morning activities to include garden clean up activities in this entire park space. The yearly maintenance of this park will be taken on by the Charleston Parks Conservancy and the Park Angels in 2009. Learn about the park, the horticulture in this historic park and assist in making this a beautiful place to be in Charleston! Bring: Pruners, garden gloves, weeder and a garden bucket. Let them know you are coming by e-mailing Paul Wentz or call the Charleston Parks Conservancy office at 843-724-5003.
Chapel Street Fountain Park Chapel Street Fountain Park-Garden in the Parks
Thursday, December 10
Relieve some stress by going for a run around this beautiul city, or cartweeling through Marion Square.
All day, wherever you want. (Other squares or fields can be substitued for the suggested Marion Square.)
Friday, December 11
Jason Ricci & New Blood 9 p.m.
Nashville-based blues singer and harmonica player Ricci returns in support of fine new album titled Done with the Devil.
A Dough Re Mi Pizzeria, 1220 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mt. Pleasant
Vanishing Light: Opening and Book Signing with Photographer Benjamin Ham 5-8 p.m.
Join Martin Gallery for an incredible evening, dedicated to the incredible photography of Ben Ham, to celebrate the release of his first book, Vanishing Light.
Martin Gallery, 18 Broad St., Downtown
Saturday, December 12
Off the Grid: An Acoustic Hootenanny, 2-5 p.m.
The Media Services department's new monthly acoustic concert series continues this week local singer-songwriters Becca & Daniel (Becca Bessinger and Daniel Crawford), Mac Leaphart, and Jason Brewer (of Explorers Club). All concerts will be archived on CCPL's website).
Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., Downtown
Charleston Sea Kayaking Meetup Group Holiday Social 5 p.m.
Pot-luck event.
Sea Kayak Carolina, 1731 Signal Point Road, James Island
Free Day at the Gibbes Museum 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Gibbes Museum of Art hosts a holiday-themed Community Day with complimentary admission and family activities. Junior League of Charleston Community Days are held quarterly to offer visitors the opportunity to experience the Gibbes’ dynamic programming free of charge. It will include holiday art-making activities for children as well as holiday performances by Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church Children’s Choir, Ashley Hall Caroline’s Carolers and Ashley Hall Lower School Strings.
Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St., Downtown
Mirror the Mirror, Reflections and Ruins Opening reception, 2-6 p.m.
Meet artist, James Christopher Hill, for his opening of Mirror the Mirror, Reflections and Ruins. Refreshments will be served as Hill showcases his latest works of ultra-vibrant and dramatic skyscapes along with paintings of dilapidated ruins exploring a darker theme.
Rick Rhodes Photography Studio, 1842 Belgrade Ave., Downtown
Mt. Pleasant Holiday Farmers Market 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The festival is a combination of locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, hot food, and homemade preserves. Hand crafted gifts by more than 75 local artisans will include Christmas ornaments, glass work, lighthouses, whimsical holiday crafts, doll clothing, and original art by locally recognized potters, painters and photographers. Live entertainment with a holiday twist will flow through the market. Children activities will include face painting, a jump castle and a visit with Santa Claus. Santa will listen to Christmas wishes and hand out candy canes.
Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant
Step into Change Annual Surf Auction 12-4 p.m.
Step into Change Annual Surf Auction to benefit Kiva. This will be a silent auction with live music and plenty of giveaways. The winning bidder can either donate winning bid amount to Surfaid, Save the Waves or make KIVA loans. The idea is to spread the word about KIVA and other micro-loan organizations. Remember you are making a loan so in 6 to 9 months, you'll have some autographed surf memorabilia signed by the top surfers in the world and your money back. You lose nothing but give someone a chance and a new life.
Daily Dose, 1622 Highland Ave., James Island
Charleston Farmers Market 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Farmers Market offers a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans.
Marion Square, Calhoun and King, Downtown
Holiday Craft Fair 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Page's Thieves Market hosts a Holiday Craft Fair where local artists will be selling anything and everything handmade. Purchase your cheap and unique holiday gifts early. The fair will be held every Saturday from Halloween until Christmas, except for Dec. 12 (Mt. Pleasant's Holiday Fair). Everything is handmade including jewelry, candles, baked goods, etc. Any interested artists are welcome to e-mail primoduds@usa.com
Page's Thieves Market, 1460 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mt. Pleasant
Sunday, December 13
Chanukah in the Square 4-6 p.m.
Piggly Wiggly Carolina and the College of Charleston Jewish Studies Program present this Chanukah celebration. Expect jump castles, face painting and latkas.
Marion Square, Calhoun and King, Downtown
900
Strides for Autism
Charleston-area residents walk in support of South Carolina families affected by autism in the Strides for Autism event to benefit the South Carolina Autism Society. Strides for Autism is SCAS’s signature fund-raising and awareness walk. Supporters unable to participate in an actual walk can participate virtually through the event’s web site, by forming a team, joining a team, or simply making a donation to the virtual event.
Hampton Park, 30 Mary Murray Blvd., Downtown
Town of Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade 5:45 p.m.
Join Town dignitaries for an exciting fireworks display sure to rocket viewers into the holiday spirit. Following the fireworks will be the 14th Annual Christmas Light Parade. This lighted nighttime parade will begin at Shem Creek and end at Sea Island Shopping Center on Coleman Boulevard.
And, as always, if there’s something else, share in the comments below.
