The weekend round-up: Holiday extravaganza edition

Image by Flickr user artolog

Brace yourselves for a big weekend, Charleston. Last weekend was mighty slow, but our Events Calendar is so full this time around that it's about to pop!

The Charleston area Holiday celebrations kick into high gear on Saturday with parades, festivities, celebrations, markets and more. Here's our handy guide to the parades, festivals and events. 

As for the rest of the weekend, I'll go ahead and make things easier for you and list off our favorite upcoming events on a day-by-day basis.

Friday

Dog shows and fashion shows and book signings, oh my! That's right, Friday's got it all from the College of Charleston Dog Show, the Fire and Ice Fashion Show a very special book signing with Pat Conroy at the Mount Pleasant Barnes & Noble.

King Street is getting a new kid on the block: Niche Interiors. The interior design boutique will kick off with an event of grand proportions from 5 to 8 p.m. with ‘Landscapes and Mindscapes: Paintings, Buildings and Words of Five Southern Artists.’ After you swing by the opening, make your way to downtown Charleston's historic French Quarter to stroll the streets during this evening's French Quarter Art Walk. If you're single and ready to mingle, don't forget to swing by the Blind Tiger Pub for Face to Face Charleston's 'Cocktails and Connections' event - the perfect meeting place before and after the French Quarter Art Walk.

The South Carolina Aquarium's newest group, the Aquarium Alliance, is hosting an evening of great food, music, silent and live auctions at the first ever "Sea Life by Starlight" event. Tickets are $60 per person.

My last pick for Friday is 'That Holiday Book Sale' at the Mt. Pleasant Regional Library. Scoop up some books, CDs, DVDs, and books at unbeatable prices.

Saturday

As listed above, here's our handy guide to the parades, festivals and events that take place today.

For some extra holiday cheer on the cheap, the Hippodrome is offering a 99¢ noon showing of 'The Polar Express.'

If you're looking for a unique event for the weekend, I'm going to point you toward the Rick Hendrick Toyota Scion and Chucktown Scikotics All Scion Show. With competition categories like Best Paint/Graphics, Best Mods, Loudest Stereo, Loudest Exhaust and Glow Off you can't go wrong.

Love chili and oysters? Love dogs too? Well then the Charleston Animals Society's 11th Annual Celebrity Chili Cook-off & Oyster Roast will be your little slice of heaven. However, if you're a ruffian with a heart of gold, you'll probably enjoy taking part in the South Carolina Stingrays' Teddy Bear Toss.

If one round of dog-themed fun isn't enough for one day, hit up the 'Howliday at the Beach' basset hound gathering on Folly.

Sunday

On Sunday afternoon, head out to Boone Hall Plantation for an early taste of the Wine + Food Festival at 'Wine Under the Oaks.' Select wine and gourmet food from a slew of Charleston's top restaurants will be the focus of the event.

The Lowcountry Soul Food Expo is back this Sunday at the North Charleston's Village Hall.

Chanukah in the Square is back again with music, free food and a candle lighting from 4 to 6 p.m. in Marion Square.

If you want to knock out some holiday shopping, head out to the Family Circle Stadium for the exciting outdoor Holiday Festival. Charleston's finest vendors including your favorite retailers and best-kept secrets will be offering gift selections in every category.

Want a second opinion? Check out the Charleston City Paper's weekend roundup.

  • For even more great events that are taking place this weekend, be sure to take a look at our complete Event Calendar.