The Annual Charleston Holiday Festival of Lights returns November 10, 2023 for another memorable season

The Holiday Festival of Lights is back, starting on Nov. 10 at James Island County Park! With over two million lights, this beloved tradition offers fun for the whole family and is sure to boost your holiday spirit.

The 34^th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights is open nightly from 5:30 – 10 p.m. from Nov. 10 – Dec. 31, 2023. More than five million people have toured the Holiday Festival of Lights, which has been hosted annually by Charleston County Parks at James Island County Park since 1990. The holiday hotspot has earned many awards and mentions throughout the country.

Cruise along the three-mile display of glimmering lights throughout the park, featuring over 750 light displays. Guests can also park the car and explore additional attractions in the park including:

–       Giant holiday sand sculpture formed from over 50 tons of sand

–       Gift shops featuring unique gifts and toys, personalized items, stocking stuffers and the official collector series ornaments

–       The Festival Train

–       Amazing Dancing Light Display

–       Old-Fashioned Carousel

–       Marshmallow Roasting Pits

–       Climbing Wall

–       Giant Holiday Greeting Card Competition

–       Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, featuring hot chocolate, ice cream, fresh baked treats

–       Concessions, including kettle corn, funnel cakes, pizza, hot dogs, burgers and much more

–       Special events and entertainment on select evenings, including a New Year’s Eve fireworks display on Dec. 31

And, of course, don’t forget to visit with Santa at the festival! New this year, Santa will be at the Holiday Festival of Lights starting on opening night and every night through Dec. 23. Santa will also be available at James Island County Park for select daytime appearances. Called Mingle with Kringle, families can book private visits during the day on select Saturdays in December. People with disabilities and their families are invited to schedule inclusive visits with Santa on Dec. 3 and 10. To book a daytime visit with Santa, visit HolidayFestivalofLights.com.

This year, to enhance visitor experience and to help manage wait times, Holiday Festival of Lights organizers worked to identify each event night as being a “green” night (having historically light traffic/crowd levels), a “yellow” night (moderate traffic/crowd levels), or a “red” night (heavy traffic/crowd levels). Admission prices will vary based on the night, and guests can save money by purchasing their tickets online in advance. Green nights will be $15 per vehicle in advance or $20 at the gate; Yellow nights will be $25 per vehicle in advance or $30 at the gate; and Red nights will be $30 per vehicle in advance or $40 at the gate. A calendar denoting each night’s category is available at HolidayFestivalofLights.com. Charleston County Parks highly recommends advance ticket purchase and visiting on a green or yellow night; not only will guests save money these evenings, but traffic and crowds at the event will be lighter. Gold Pass holders receive one free vehicle admission per annual membership period (Gold Pass must be presented at the gate).

For more information on the Holiday Festival of Lights, call 843-795-4386 or visit HolidayFestivalofLights.com. This event is presented by Boeing, REV Federal Credit Union and your Charleston County Parks.

For information about employment opportunities at the Holiday Festival of Lights, please visit  https://www.ccprc.com/3719/Help-Spread-Holiday-Cheer.

Owned and managed by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC), James Island County Park is located at 871 Riverland Drive. The mission of CCPRC is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes six land parks, a skate park, three beach parks, four seasonally-lifeguarded beach areas, three dog parks, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, an interpretive center, a historic plantation site, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities.The park system also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs, and more. For more information on CCPRC, call 843-795-4386, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.