what to do in charleston

How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Around Charleston

Let’s taco ‘bout Cinco de Mayo, which is coming up on Wednesday, May 5th! Here’s how you can celebrate the upcoming holiday with a fiesta of your own.

Cinco de Mayo at 3 Matadors

Cinco de Mayo wouldn’t be complete without tacos and margaritas – both of which the 3 Matadors prides themselves on. On Cinco de Mayo, 3 Matadors is having a special celebration for the holiday with live music, food and drinks!

Cinco de Mayo at Mex 1

Mex 1 is bringing out all the stops for Cinco de Mayo this year. The West Ashley location is hosting a Cinco Block Party with live music from Yellowknife and Friends. The Park West and Sullivan’s Island locations will also feature live music. In addition, each location will have $5 margaritas all day long on Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo Day Sip n’ Paint

Sip and Paint at this Cinco de Mayo themed painting class. Enjoy a variety of assorted tequilas while exploring your creative side. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 5th at the East Cooper Disco. Tickets are only $35 and include a complimentary drink, apron and painting supplies.

Events

Country Star to Headline Upcoming Outdoor Concert

Mark your calendars! On May 20th, country artist Jimmie Allen will be performing live in Charleston.

As a “platinum-selling recording artist and songwriter Jimmie Allen has already made history as the first Black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio – the first being his debut single ‘Best Shot’ – which claimed the No. 1 spot for three weeks – and second being his latest single ‘Make Me Want To.’”

Jimmie Allen also received the Country Music Awards nomination for New Artist of the Year at the 54th annual CMA Awards last year.

Allen will be headlining one of Firefly Distillery’s Safe Sounds outdoor concerts, which will also include a performance from Chase Martin.

The concert will begin at 7:00 pm and take place at Firefly Distillery (4201 Spruill Avenue in North Charleston). Tickets are $41.25 per person for general admission tickets or you can purchase a 10’x10’ square for you and three friends for only $165.

Click here to purchase your tickets before they sell out!

Eat & Drink

Popular New Orleans Restaurant Coming to Downtown Charleston

Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group, owners of the popular Louisiana-based restaurant Ruby Slipper Cafe, recently announced they will be opening a new restaurant in Charleston.

The restaurant, Ruby Sunshine, will be taking the place of Blossom, a long-standing restaurant located at 171 East Bay Street and is expected to open in the fall of 2021.

According to their website, Ruby Sunshine’s all-day brunch brings “the same Big East twist to breakfast and brunch classics.” Some of their menu items include BBQ Shrimp and Grits, Sweet Heat Chicken and French Toast Bites and Biscuits and Gravy.

Ruby Sunshine currently has a variety of restaurants throughout the South in places like Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina. This upcoming Charleston location will be the first Ruby Sunshine location in South Carolina.

Peter Gaudreau, CEO of the restaurant group, said “Charleston is a natural next step for our expansion, and we think the city captures that sense of New Orleans’ hospitality and Southern charm that Ruby Sunshine is all about.”

Events

Charleston Farmers Market Starting Back Up in “Essentials Only” Format

Marion Square is welcoming back the Charleston Farmers Market on Saturday, April 10, 2021. However, it will be following the “essentials-only” format, only allowing certain vendors to take part in the event.

The Charleston Farmers Market first began in 1989 and is a weekly showcase of local crafts and goods.

The “Charleston Essentials Market” will only include goods from farmers and growers as well as crafters and artisans. Both vendors and individuals who wish to attend must follow CDC guidelines including wearing a mask and social distancing.

The farmers market will be open every Saturday from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm until November 27, 2021. The market is not currently accepting applications for new vendors to participate but hopes to open up to allow more businesses soon.

Charleston officials are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and determine if and when it is appropriate to open the farmers market to run at full capacity.

Events

International Arts Festival Returning to Charleston in May

The 45th annual Spoleto Festival USA is returning to Charleston in May.The festival will take place from May 28 through June 13, 2021. For those seventeen days, artists, performers and musicians will be showcasing their skills in a variety of shows and performances.

Spoleto Festival USA is widely recognized as “America’s premier International Performing Arts Festival.” This year’s festival will have a variety of performances including A New Orleans Jazz Celebration, Ballet Under the Stars, Two Wings: The Music of Black America in Migration and The Wood Brothers.

According to a press release from Spoleto, “the 2021 season features a reduced number of venues and an overall capacity that is 25 percent of a typical season.” In addition, “all in-person performance tickets will be sold in safe seating pods—essentially “bubbles” of two and four seats. All seats within a pod must be purchased at the same time in the same order.”

Click here to view the full performance schedule and to purchase your tickets to this year’s festival.

Eat & Drink

Best Rooftop Bars With a View in Downtown Charleston

The weather is warming up and so is our desire to enjoy a cocktail with a view. Experience Charleston from above at one of the best rooftop bars in downtown Charleston.

Citrus Club

Citrus Club sits on top of The Dewberry hotel and just happens to be the highest rooftop bar in Charleston. Not only do they provide delicious craft cocktails and small plates for guests to enjoy but also allow you to soak in a 360-degree view of the Holy City.

Élevé

Located on the roof of the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Élevé is known for their fun and eccentric decor – perfect for a photo op with friends. Sip on one of their specialty cocktails while savoring an appetizing meal on their rooftop garden setting, where their “vibrant cuisine takes on a gypsy twist.”

Pavilion Bar

Nothing says summertime like enjoying a cocktail by the pool. The Pavilion Bar atop the Market Pavilion Hotel has got you covered. Relax by their pool with a craft cocktail in hand. Most known for their mojitos and martinis, the Pavilion Bar is the best place to spend a warm day in Charleston, taking in the views and the drinks.

Revelry Brewing

If craft cocktails aren’t your thing, check out the craft brews at Revelry Brewing. Grab a cold craft beer and soak in the sun (or catch a stunning sunset) on their dog-friendly rooftop bar at their NoMo location. They also have a food truck onsite that offers appetizing bites for patrons to enjoy.

The Rooftop Bar at Vendue

Awarded “Best Rooftop Bar” By Charleston City Paper since 2007, the Rooftop Bar at the Vendue Hotel provides guests with a two-level experience. In addition, each cocktail has a familiar base with a unique twist like their Red Moon Margarita, which includes jalapeño infused tequila with a blood orange puree.

Events

Eggstravagant Easter Events Around Charleston

Spring has sprung and Easter is coming up on April 4th. To celebrate, there are a variety of socially distant, family-friendly Easter events in and around Charleston.

Easter Egg Hunt at Alhambra Hall

Grab your Easter baskets and head to Alhambra Hall on Wednesday, March 31st for an Easter Egg Hunt. Kids can enjoy a variety of Easter-related activities and can also snag a picture with the Easter bunny.

Easter Egg Drop on Isle of Palms

In place of the annual Easter Egg Hunt, the Isle of Palms Recreation Department, Fire Department and Police Department will be hosting an Easter Egg Drop. Register online and the Easter Bunny will drop off Easter eggs to your home on Saturday, April 3rd.

Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch at Salty Dog Seabrook Island

The Salty Dog Seabrook Island/Charleston is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 4th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. There will be a different egg hunt each hour in order to keep groups small. Enjoy a delicious brunch afterwards at the Salty Dog.

Easter Egg Toss and Parade on Kiawah Island

Start your Easter morning with a parade through Kiawah Island. The parade starts at 10:00 am and will cover the East Beach Village area. Follow the parade with the annual Easter Egg Toss at Night Heron Park from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Events

Sip and Stroll Returning This Spring to Middleton Place

Beginning on Wednesday, March 24, the popular Garden Strolls and Wine Tastings event will be back at Middleton Place.

Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark and is “home to the oldest landscaped gardens in America and an enduring, vibrant, and essential part of the Charleston and American experience.”

Each Wednesday night, grab your friends and family for a night in one of America’s oldest landscaped gardens. You can sip on a variety of wine while strolling through a different garden each week. Snacks will also be provided.

The event will take place every Wednesday from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. In compliance with CDC guidelines, face masks will be required for parts of the event. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. The last night of the sip and stroll will be May 26th so be sure to reserve your spot in advance.

Click here to purchase your tickets.