Charleston County Parks January 2025 Special Events and Festivals Guide
Off Road Duathlon
Saturday, Jan. 11, 8:30 a.m. race start
Laurel Hill County Park
Traverse the scenic trails of Laurel Hill County Park during the Off Road Duathlon, presented in partnership with Anne Moore Endurance Coaching. This three-part beginner-friendly course begins with a 2-mile run, then includes a 7-mile bike, and finishes with another 2-mile run. The bike leg is best suited for knobby, wide-tired bikes. A transition area will be used for set-up between legs. Finisher medals will be given out, and awards will be given to the top three male/female finishers overall and age group, and first place masters. Participants ages 14-15 can register but must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Pre-registration is required and ends on Wednesday, Jan. 8. On-site registration is not available. This race is open to bikers and runners of all levels, including beginners. Accessible parking is not available. Accessible port-a-let at the event site. All trails are of a natural, unimproved surface.
Fee: $55
Ages: 12 and up
https://ccprc.com/3263/Off-Road-Duathlon
Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (two sessions: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12 – 2 p.m.)
Palmetto Islands County Park
Kids of all ages are invited to join us for the greatest, tiniest building project ever! Fairy houses are made from non-living, natural items, such as twigs and leaves, and the fairies of Palmetto Islands County Park once again need your help to build their abodes. This year’s festival celebrates fairies, gnomes, nature discovery, creative expression, and family fun. Highlights include the chance to build a fairy house, story time, and a kid’s nature craft. Children are encouraged to come dressed as a fairy or gnome for extra fun. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Face painting will also be available for an additional fee. A limited number of building permits are available and pre-registration is required to reserve your spot. On-site registration will not be available. All family members must register in order to attend the festival.
Fee: $7
https://ccprc.com/3558/Fairy-House-Festival
January 2025 Programs
Belay Basics
Sunday, Jan. 5, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
James Island County Park – Climbing Wall at Outdoor Zone
Learn the ropes with our “Belay Basics” class, a comprehensive guide to the essential skill of top rope belaying in rock climbing. In this hands-on session, our experienced instructors will walk you through the fundamentals of belaying techniques, equipment usage, and safety protocols. Whether you’re a novice or looking to refresh your skills, this class is designed to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to securely manage the rope for your climbing partner. Join us for a practical and engaging session, where you’ll master the art of belaying.
Fee: $25
Ages: 14 and up
Nature Rx: Forest Bathing Fridays
Fridays, Jan. 10, 17, 24, and 31, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Join a naturalist for some ecotherapy in a county park. Warning: potential side effects may include improved mood, improved circulation, interest in something new, and spontaneous euphoria. This program will not include heavy-duty exercise, or actual bathing. It is simply being in nature and connecting with it through the senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. The practice of forest bathing is called shinrin-yoku in Japanese. Shinrin means forest, and yoku means bath. So shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere or taking in the forest through our senses. Through the practice of shinrin-yoku, we may bridge the gap between us and the natural world. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available. The program route is a flat, loop and benches are available along the trail route. The program speed is moderately slow.
Fee: $9
Ages: 15 and up
Lighthouse Inlet Bird Walk
Friday, Jan. 10, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
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 is a leader in the number of bird species seen in South Carolina. At this time of year, we hope to see a variety of seabirds, sea ducks, and shorebirds such as Northern Gannet, Black Scoters, Piping Plover, and much more. What to expect: This program is open to birders of all levels, including beginners. No accessible parking 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. For additional details, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
Fee: $9
Ages 12 and up (chaperone required for ages 15 and under)
Secrets of the Swamp
Wannamaker County Park – Park Center
Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Experience the beauty of a bottomland hardwood forest with a trained naturalist. Beneath the towering cypress trees, we’ll uncover some secrets of the plants and animals that inhabit this uniquely southern ecosystem.
Fee: $12
Ages: 12 and up
Caw Caw: Walking on History
Saturday, Jan. 11, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
The Stono Rebellion, the largest uprising of people who were enslaved in the British colonies, took place in 1739 within a 15-mile radius of the Caw Caw Interpretive Center. Come and walk on the actual ground where a key event in the rebellion occurred. After the tour, a discussion of the event and the implications will be held. The Stono Rebellion changed the face of slavery and the consequences of the uprising centered the Gullah Geechee community. Join us for this very special walk. 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.
Fee: $9 per person
Ages 15 and up
Homeschool in the Parks: Navigating Nutrients
Friday, Jan. 17, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Food is an essential ingredient for all living things to survive. Our nutritional choices can impact our physical and mental health, as well as the health of the environment around us. Work up an appetite as we investigate local foods, how they relate to the geography and culture of the low country, and the benefits of eating seasonally. Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available. The program route is a loop, and benches are available along the trail route. The trails are unpaved. Program speed is moderately slow to medium. A portion of this program will be spent in a climate-controlled classroom.
Fee: $7
Ages: 7 to 12 years
Seabirding at Folly Beach Pier
Friday, Jan. 17, 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Folly Beach Pier
In South Carolina, winter months bring a variety of oceangoing birds that can be hard to find during other times of year. The newly reconstructed Folly Beach Pier extends over 1,000 feet out over the ocean, an amazing vantage point for spotting sea ducks, seabirds, loons, grebes, and more that overwinter on the Atlantic. Bring your binoculars and join our experts as we look for the tell-tale shapes and flight patterns of species such as Black Scoter, Northern Gannet, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, and much more. What to expect: This program is open to birders of all levels, including beginners. Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, changing rooms, and water fountains are available at this park. There is an accessible ramp to the park office/gift shop and an accessible route to a natural sand beach. Accessible picnic tables are available. Program speed is moderately slow and requires periods of gazing upwards.
Fee: $7
Ages 12 and up
Owl Prowl
Saturday, Jan. 18, 5 – 7 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Owls have long captivated humans with their majestic appearance and enchanting sounds. This evening excursion will give you a greater understanding of the nocturnal predators that may be found in your backyard, the sounds they make, and the adaptations that aid them in successfully navigating the natural world. 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 and will require periods of standing and gazing upwards.
Fee: $9
Ages 12 and up. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under.
Adaptive Climbing Day
Sunday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
James Island County Park – Climbing Wall at Outdoor Zone
Join The Climbing Wall adaptive climbing monthly meetup, a supportive space designed for climbers of all abilities. Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned climber, our community focuses on overcoming obstacles together, fostering personal growth, and building resilience. Adaptive climbers will find an encouraging environment that emphasizes individual strengths while embracing the thrill of climbing. Empower yourself, reach new heights, and be part of a community where every accomplishment is celebrated, and everyone’s journey is valued.
Fee: $10
Ages: 6 and up
Junior Naturalist: Naturally Nocturnal
Saturday, Jan. 25, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Bring your curiosity and engage all of your senses while exploring natural habitats at your county parks! Led by Charleston County Park’s Education staff, the multi-seasonal Junior Naturalist program series offers a wide variety of fun and educational nature-based activities focused around a central theme. Children who attend 8 classes earn the title of a Certified Junior Naturalist! Discover Caw Caw’s wildlife when the moon rises and the sun sets. Learn about nocturnal animals in a fun way! What to expect: Accessible parking, restrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables are available where the program begins and ends. The park includes natural, unpaved trails that are mostly flat. The program route is a loop and benches are available; program speed is moderately slow to medium.
Fee: $10
Ages 8 -12 years.
Youth Sports
Kids on the Go: Balance Bike Demo Day
Schroder – Cafeteria at Schroder Community Center
Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Let the kids go! Foundations for bike riding start with balance. Have your little one join in to learn the basics on a balance bike. This is a walk-up event for kids ages 2-4 and their parents.
Fee: $10
Ages: 2 – 4 years
Kids on the Go: Balance Bike Demo Day
Lincoln – Basketball Gymnasium at Lincoln Regional Center
Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Let the kids go! Foundations for bike riding start with balance. Have your little one join in to learn the basics on a balance bike. This is a walk-up event for kids ages 2-4 and their parents.
Fee: $10
Ages: 2 – 4 years
Johns Island Basketball Education: Ages 7 -12
Basketball Gymnasium at St John’s High School
Saturday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Basketball Education Served Up by the DAE Foundation. Basketball Skill Development led by Jermel President. Learn and execute basketball techniques and develop skills while learning about the importance of Nutrition.
Fee: FREE
Ages 7 – 12 years
Baptist Hill Basketball Education Ages 8 -12
Basketball Gymnasium at Baptist Hill High School
Saturday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Basketball Education Served Up by the DAE Foundation. Basketball Skill Development led by Jermel President. Learn and execute basketball techniques and develop skills while learning about the importance of Nutrition.
Fee: FREE
Ages 7 – 12 years
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