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August 2026 Festivals & Events
Lincoln Recreation Center Back to School Kickoff
Saturday, Aug. 1, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Lincoln Recreation Center in McClellanville
Everyone is invited! Charleston County Parks and Lincoln Recreation Center come together to provide a day of fun. School supplies giveaway, food for purchase, live DJ, jump castles, face painting and more. Free to the public.
Free event
All ages
https://www.ccprc.com/event/lincoln-back-to-school-kickoff/367
Reggae Nights Summer Concert
Friday, Aug. 7, 7:30 – 11 p.m.
James Island County Park
Relax and enjoy traditional old school roots reggae with a new school attitude in the beautiful outdoor setting of James Island County Park. Bring your chair or blanket and rock the night away! Food, beverages, and souvenirs will be available for purchase. Music begins at 8 p.m. Visit our website at ccprc.com or call (843) 795-4386 for more information.
Fee: $30 per vehicle or free with the Gold Pass
Ages: Any
https://www.ccprc.com/event/reggae-nights-summer-concert/309
Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series Championship Race
Sunday, Aug. 9, 7:15 – 11:15 a.m.
James Island County Park
This landmark series includes a 600 yard swim, a 12-mile bike ride, and a 5K run. Participants are divided into: Open / Elite, Masters Open / Elite (Open/Elite competitors over the age of 40), Age Group, Clydesdale (men 220 pounds or greater) and Athena (women 165 pounds or greater). Registration includes one t-shirt for the series. For information and to register visit Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series | Charleston County Parks Spaces are limited and event is expected to sell out. Open to all abilities and fitness levels. This race is open to triathletes of all levels, including beginners. Open water swim. The swim starts in the water from a wading position. The bike route is inside and outside the park on city roads. The run course is 2 loops inside the park on paved trails and roads. Charleston County officers will be in position for on-road safety. Charleston County Parks Emergency Services team will be in position on the water and the lake bank.
Fee: $70
Ages: 12 and up
https://www.ccprc.com/event/charleston-sprint-triathlon-series/328
Inclusive Prom
Saturday, Aug. 15, 5 – 7 p.m.
Mount Pleasant Town Hall Gym (100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC)
People with disabilities and their families and friends are invited to an unforgettable prom! This year’s theme will be Royal Masquerade. Come dressed in your favorite formal attire. Music will be provided by a DJ.
Fee: $4
Any ages
https://www.ccprc.com/event/inclusive-prom/398
Dog Day Afternoon: Splash Island
Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Splash Island Waterpark in Mount Pleasant
It’s your dogs’ turn to cool off and enjoy Splash Island for a day at the end of the summer. Registration is available for a 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. session, or a 1 – 3 p.m. session. Select water attractions will open to cool down dogs from the summer heat; owners and children should not enter the water past knee depth. Concessions will be available for purchase on-site. Be sure to bring a collar, leash, waste bags, and verify vaccinations are up to date. Visit charlestoncountyparks.com or call (843) 795-4386 for more information.
Fee: $15 in advance
Any ages
https://www.ccprc.com/event/dog-day-afternoon%3a-mount-pleasant/461
Dog Day Afternoon: Splash Zone
Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Splash Zone Waterpark on James Island
It’s your dogs’ turn to cool off and enjoy Splash Zone for a day at the end of the summer. Registration is available for a 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. session, or a 1 – 3 p.m. session. Select water attractions will open to cool down dogs from the summer heat; owners and children should not enter the water past knee depth. Concessions will be available for purchase on-site. Be sure to bring a collar, leash, waste bags, and verify vaccinations are up to date. Visit charlestoncountyparks.com or call (843) 795-4386 for more information.
Fee: $15 in advance
Any ages
https://www.ccprc.com/event/dog-day-afternoon%3a-james-island/462
Moonlight Mixer
Friday, Aug. 21, 7 – 10 p.m.
Folly Beach Pier
Moonlight Mixers are back on the Folly Beach Pier! Music starts at 7 p.m. Children 3 and under are free, and a registered and paid chaperone is required for all participants ages 15 and under.
Fee: $10 in advance; $15 on site
Ages: 4 and up
https://www.ccprc.com/events/pier-dances
Sunrise Yoga
Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 a.m.
Mount Pleasant Pier
Stretch your body, awaken your mind, and fuel your spirit in this uplifting, intention-setting yoga class to enhance your day ahead. What to expect: This class is open to all levels, including beginners. Accessible parking and restrooms available. Class is held at the end of the pier with cement tabby surface.
Fee: $10 in advance; $12 at the event
Ages 10 and up
https://www.ccprc.com/event/sunrise-yoga/299
Wine Down Wednesday
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5 – 7 p.m.
Old Towne Creek County Park
Come Wine Down your Wednesday and explore Old Towne Creek County Park, one of West Ashley’s hidden gems. Guests will enjoy wine and live music, while experiencing the beauty of this natural site. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site.
Ages 21 and up
Fee: $20 per person in advance; $25 day-of
https://www.ccprc.com/event/wine-down-wednesday/467
August 2026 Programs
Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw
Ongoing, Wednesdays and Saturdays, Aug. 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, & 29, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Join us on one or more of our regular bird walks. Our trek through many distinct habitats will allow us to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available at this location. The program route is a flat, loop and benches are available along the trail route. The trails are unpaved. The program speed is moderately slow and will require periods of standing and gazing upwards.
Fee: $12
Ages: Any
Renewal by Flame
Saturday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Explore the powerful role of fire in restoring and protecting our native landscapes with a trained naturalist. This program reveals how carefully managed burns reduce wildfire risk, recycle nutrients, and create healthier habitats for native plants and wildlife. Discover how fire can be a vital tool for renewal, resilience, and balance in our ecosystems. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available at this location. The program route is a flat, loop and benches are available along the trail route. The program speed is moderately slow.
Fee: $12
Ages: 15 and up
Belay Basics
Palmetto Peaks Climbing at Outdoor Adventure Center at James Island County Park
Sunday, Aug. 2, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
New to belaying? This class will teach you the essential skills to belay safely and confidently on top rope. We’ll cover proper setup, communication, catching falls, and gear handling – all broken down step by step. No experience required, just a willingness to learn. By the end, you’ll be ready to belay a climbing partner outdoors or indoors. Gear is provided; feel free to bring your own.
Fee: $25
Ages: 14 and up
Beginners Night at the Climbing Wall
Palmetto Peaks Climbing at Outdoor Adventure Center at James Island County Park
Thursday, Aug. 6, 5 – 7 p.m.
New to climbing? This is the perfect place to start. Join us for a relaxed, staff-supported session designed to help you learn the basics, meet other beginners, and enjoy the experience at your own pace. Free gear rental is included, and you’re welcome to stay and climb until close. No experience needed; just show up ready to try something new.
Fee: $15
Ages: 18 and up
Wee Wild Ones: Pond Ponderers
Friday, Aug. 7, 9-10 a.m.
Palmetto Islands County Park
Young children will channel their inner explorers while enjoying nature through hands-on activities, games, music, and art. Explore the plants and animals that live in freshwater ponds. Little ones use dip nets to observe insects, fish, amphibians, and plants before releasing them. Join us for some pond poking fun! Ages: 18 months to 6 years old. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible water fountains are available at this park. This program will take place at picnic tables and near a freshwater pond. Short periods of walking and standing to observe nature are part of this program. Seating at benches and picnic tables is available where this program takes place.
Fee: $10
Ages: 1.5 – 6
Wee Wild Ones: Pond Ponderers
Friday, Aug. 7, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Palmetto Islands County Park
Young children will channel their inner explorers while enjoying nature through hands-on activities, games, music, and art. Explore the plants and animals that live in freshwater ponds. Little ones use dip nets to observe insects, fish, amphibians, and plants before releasing them. Join us for some pond poking fun! Ages: 18 months to 6 years old. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible water fountains are available at this park. This program will take place at picnic tables and near a freshwater pond. Short periods of walking and standing to observe nature are part of this program. Seating at benches and picnic tables is available where this program takes place.
Fee: $10
Ages: 1.5 – 6
Early Birding
Saturday, Aug. 8, 6 – 8 a.m.
Old Towne Creek County Park
If the early bird gets the worm, the early birdwatchers get both! We can leave the worms for the avian life and enjoy finding birds at dawn. A birding professional will help you find the birds and understand their strategies for success in the natural world. What to expect: This program is open to birders of all levels, including beginners. Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available at this location. The program route is a flat, loop and benches are available along the trail route. The trails are mostly unpaved. The program speed is moderately slow and contains periods of standing and gazing upwards.
Fee: $12
Ages: 12 and up
Intro to Lead Climbing
Sunday, Aug. 9, 1 – 4 p.m.
Palmetto Peaks Climbing at Outdoor Adventure Center at James Island County Park
Ready to take your climbing to the next level? This class covers the basics of lead climbing in the gym: how to clip safely, manage rope drag, belay a lead climber, and fall safely with confidence. We’ll walk you through key techniques and safety protocols, with plenty of hands-on practice. No prior lead experience needed, but participants should be comfortable top rope belaying and able to climb at a 5.9 level or higher. All gear provided; bring your own if you prefer.
Fee: $40
Ages: 14 and up
Lighthouse Inlet Bird Walk
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
Friday, Aug. 14, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
This walk focuses on the incredibly diverse northeast end of Folly Island. Once the home of a Coast Guard station, this Heritage Preserve protects maritime forest, beach, dune, and marsh habitats for wildlife. This site boasts one of the largest bird lists in South Carolina. At this time of year, we hope to see Painted Buntings and Wilson’s Plovers, plus much more.What to expect: This program is open to birders of all levels, including beginners. No accessible parking available. No restrooms available. The park includes paved surface that leads to natural, unimproved surface out to a sandy beach. The program route is out and back and is approximately one mile long total. The program route is flat leading to moderate elevation when crossing sand dunes and no benches are available along the trail. The program speed is moderately slow and requires periods of standing and gazing upwards.
Fee: $12
Ages: 12 and up
Gator Tales
Friday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Join us as we search for alligators and separate fact from fiction to learn why these large reptiles carry the special title of “keystone species.” Alligators captivate us with their ancient features, remarkable survival skills, and dangerous potential. Join us to learn about many of their fascinating behaviors and features while learning how you can keep yourself and alligators safe!What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible water fountains are available at this park. The trails are composed of a natural surface and flat and the program speed is moderate to slow. Benches are located along the program route.
Fee: $12
Ages: 12 and up
Homeschool in the Parks: Wondrous Water
Friday, Aug. 14, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Palmetto Islands County Park
Water is one of Earth’s most valuable resources! Dive into the wonderous world of water with us by participating in fun, hands-on activities that teach us about weather and its connection to the water cycle. What to Expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available at this location. The program route is a loop, and a couple of benches are available along the trail. The program speed is moderately slow to medium. The trails at this park are flat and paved and consist of natural, unimproved surfaces.
Fee: $7
Ages: 7 – 12
Rooted Knowledge: Community Healers
Saturday, Aug. 15, 12 – 2 p.m.
McLeod Plantation Historic Site
The survival of the enslaved community relied on the deep ancestral wisdom of midwives, root doctors, and community healers. As part of the Rooted Knowledge series with Cultural History Interpretive Lead Aide Kat Cutting, this program explores the vital role these healers played in the Lowcountry and how their work served as acts of resistance and cultural preservation. Participants will explore how enslaved healers used the natural landscape to provide medicine and care to their community. Discussion will center on how these practitioners maintained the health of their people and kept spiritual traditions alive across generations. Join us to honor the legacy of those who carried the secrets of the earth to heal and sustain the Gullah Geechee community. This program will take place at the McLeod Plantation Historic Site Pavilion. The Pavilion has accessible parking, restrooms, and picnic tables. The park contains paved and unpaved trails where benches are placed alongside the trails.
Fee: $12
Ages: 16 and up
Seashore Exploration
Thursday, Aug. 20, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Kiawah Beachwalker Park
Summer is a great time to explore the beach. Join an experienced naturalist to familiarize yourself with many species that may be found there. We’ll search for artifacts and living creatures along the beach such as molluscs, sponges, corals, and more. Share in the discovery by learning intriguing stories about adaptations that allow for life near the ocean. Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible water fountains are available near where the program begins and ends. An accessible route to a natural sand beach is present and beach wheelchairs are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis. This program takes place on a sandy beach and requires periods of slow walking, standing, and gazing upwards or downwards to observe wildlife.
Fee: $12
Ages: 9 and up
The Water’s Edge: Old Towne Creek County Park
Friday, Aug. 21, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Old Towne Creek County Park
Join Cultural History Interpretation Coordinator Georgette Rivera for a historic overview of the newly opened Old Towne Creek County Park. Participants will walk the park grounds to the water’s edge, discussing stories of resistance and endurance embedded within the soil. From Old Towne’s colonial beginnings to its Gullah Geechee legacies, we will explore the layered histories of this unique Lowcountry landscape. Old Towne Creek County Park has accessible parking, restrooms, and picnic tables. The park contains paved and unpaved trails where benches are placed alongside trails.
Fee: $12
Ages: 16 and up
Shark Tooth Sleuthing
Monday, Aug. 24, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Folly Beach County Park
Summer is a great time to explore the beach. Join an experienced naturalist to search for shark teeth and other beach artifacts. We’ll discuss shark adaptations and biology while learning the secrets to searching for shark teeth. Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible water fountains are available near the Dunes House where the program begins and ends. An accessible route to a natural sand beach is present and beach wheelchairs are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis. This program takes place on a sandy beach and requires periods of slow walking, standing, and gazing upwards or downwards to observe wildlife.
Fee: $12
Ages: 9 and up
Hawk Watch Advanced Training
Thursday, Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Volunteers play a vital role in the success of citizen science programs. Several entities across the state are seeking hawkwatch volunteers. A hawkwatch is an organized effort to witness one of the most amazing spectacles in all of nature and collect standardized migration count data about diurnal raptors. If you have not participated in hawk watching before, and have an interest, NOW IS THE TIME to try it out! Do not fret about knowing all the species – this training will help get you comfortable, and there are plenty of resources to help. Learning new skills and contributing to migration research is the BEST WIN-WIN! This course will be taught by Kristina Wheeler and Dr. Sidney A. Gauthreaux. Kristina Wheeler is the Natural History Interpretation Specialist for the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. Kristina is also a co-instructor for the Charleston Master Naturalist course. She will offer an introduction to some of the common raptors of coastal South Carolina and provide tips on how to identify these birds in flight to help you expand your skills as a hawk-watcher. Dr. Sidney A. Gauthreaux is a pioneer in the use of radar to study bird movements in the atmosphere and has a particular interested in bird migration over the eastern United States. Over the past several decades, Dr. Gauthreaux’s research efforts have yielded over 125 academic publications, and his career has yielded him many honors, among them being named fellow of several other societies including the American Ornithologists Union and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Fee: $30
Ages: 18 and up
Seashore Exploration
Friday, Aug. 28, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Isle of Palms County Park
Summer is a great time to explore the beach, and a trained naturalist will help familiarize you with several species. Share in the discovery by learning intriguing stories about adaptations that allow for life near the ocean.What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible water fountains are available near the Park Center where the program begins and ends. An accessible route to a natural sand beach is present and beach wheelchairs are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis. This program takes place on a sandy beach and requires periods of slow walking, standing, and gazing upwards or downwards to observe wildlife.
Fee: $12
Ages: 9 and up
Family Archery
Saturday, Aug. 29, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Johns Island County Park
Get your bull’s-eye! Bring the family, get a brief orientation, and fling some arrows at Johns Island County Park’s target archery range. Equipment will be provided. Each family member wishing to participate must register.
Fee: $20
Ages 8 and up
Intro to Archery
Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Johns Island County Park
Enhance your archery skills on our six-target archery range and 3D course at Johns Island County Park. Bring the kids, enjoy basic instruction, and we’ll explore both ranges. Equipment will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under.
Fee: $30
Ages: 10 and up
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