This was such an enjoyable local activity to do for not a lot of money! The lights were great! We…read moredidn't get to stop in the village and explore, but it was a very nice drive.

We followed the directions I had written last year and it worked out perfectly! The park publishes…read morea calendar that is color coded red, yellow, and green to indicate how busy that day is expected and we chose a green day (Thursday Dec 11 which also happened to be my grandson's 2nd birthday). We arrived right at 5:30 and parked in lot B (lot A is for the mobility limited). We went to buy carousel tickets at the kettle corn stand (hot tip) but they told us that South Carolina Federal was handing them out for free! Only children need a ticket. Then we rode the carousel, headed to buy a train ticket and literally walked right on the train! Sweet! Next we bought an ornament, hot chocolate and cookies, then on to Smores. So fun!!

What a fun concept! We thoroughly enjoyed this event! The music was great, I loved that they had a…read morephoto booth to remember the night, glasses to take home. There were a ton of food options, I actually wish the portions were smaller so that we could try more things or not throw away so much. My only complaint about this whole thing was that it was difficult to figure out where to go in. As we arrived we actually connected with a small group of people wandering from Fleet Landing and then around in the parking lot next to it trying to figure out how to get in... so a little clearer signage for where to go would be helpful! Great time though, I'm super thankful we won tickets to be able to go!

I always have such a good time at this event. The food is obviously great and so are the drinks…read more The music is awesome too. Can't beat bluegrass. Although, this year I feel like it wasn't as busy as the past years. There were not as many vendors and not as crowded. Which is totally fine. More food for us!

Went back again for Jailbreak Winter edition! What I love most about Jail Break is the support for…read morelocal artists. I always love seeing the new artisans, artists, and performers come together and do what they love! The music was great as usual. Garage Cuban Band added a wonderful Cuban flare to the event! They were so good! It made me wish I was eating Cuban food while listening to their mellow vibe. The comedy line ups might have been the most popular event of the night. Before every set there was a line outside the door! Maybe it was because it was freezing outside and people needed warmth, or maybe it was because of hilarious comedians like Jeremy McLellan and Dusty Slay who filled the room with constant laughter. I really enjoyed the self-portrait exhibit. Where anyone could come in, look into a mirror and draw themselves. Although I didn't draw myself, It was really interesting to see how others perceived themselves. Simply becoming designs had some amazing original vintage inspired jewelry! My brother in law was able to buy a unique one of a kind necklace for his girlfriend. The fire pits were such a great idea for such a cold night. Everyone was able to enjoy all of the performances outside while still keeping warm. I always appreciate the Yelp Booth with their fun photo booth and check in swag. One thing I really wish is that they had more food venue options rather than the same ones every time. I know it's a small lot and you can't fit many trucks but it would be cool to have a more options. I also would like to see more places to sit outside. I still really enjoyed this event and will probably be back again!

It's not called Jail Break any more officially, but so many of us still refer to it as that! It's…read morethe Charleston Arts Festival finale now. Anyway, it's still more of the same great event in an equally awesome location. What a back drop for various forms of art. There are live performances that include dance, music, and comedians throughout the night. They are also occurring in different locations throughout the property. Stages are set-up outside, as well as in some of the private rooms in the jail itself. Live demonstrations take place and you can even join in on some of them. Bring an open mind and heart and you will be surprised at how you are moved by watch you hear and see. The creativity is astounding. This should be on the "don't miss" list!

Had so much fun! So many great vendors and even better food! They even had animals as well!read more

We went to the Lowcountry Cajun Festival in April 2024. This is a great time of year for festivals…read morein Charleston as it is not incredibly hot yet. It did rain in the days before, so the grass was a little soggy, but nothing that our tennis shoes/sneakers couldn't handle (I don't recommend flip flops). Logistics wise, this is an easy festival- especially if you have a Gold Pass. With your Gold Pass, your car gets in free, so invite friends or bring folks in the biggest van or SUV. A shuttle school bus takes you from the parking area to the festival area, or you can walk. We chose to walk back rather than waiting on the shuttle, and it was a short walk. Once inside the festival, you're responsible for your own food and beverages, but no tickets are needed- just pay at the vendors. There's a kid's area to play on inflatables for $10 with a wristband. The vendors selling crafts and items were all local and had neat items- my husband bought a hat and I got body butter. Food ranged from alligator bites and crawfish for the adventurous to fair food items (funnel cakes) to burgers or ice cream. I had a shrimp po boy, hushpuppies, and lemonade from a food truck, and it hit the spot. Plenty of picnic tables and shade are available for seating, but you can also bring chairs or picnic blankets. Be aware that the food items sell out quickly. I'm giving four stars instead of five for crowds/numbers. The festival needed more potties. The lines (both for food and potties) were long, and I only saw one group of portajohns. We missed the crawfish eating contest, and while the music was good, I didn't know who was playing or which stages. If you have a Charleston County Parks gold pass, the Cajun Festival is a fun way to spend a Spring Saturday in Charleston.

What a great little island festival even on a blustery day! Cool stuff for the kids like hooping,…read morebubbles and a very tall butterfly. Local restaurants along with food trucks. Popcorn, Mac and cheese, pizza, donuts, crab cakes, ribs, lemonade.... Local craft tents had the SC island vibe. Great to see our mayor and council members there. Even the Honorable Mark Sanford!

Great music and breathtaking views! Totally worth a visit for such a great price. Street parking…read morewas free just outside the venue. The venue was clean and the staff were friendly and welcoming at the entrance.

Soooo crowded! Music was enjoyable, but bring chairs and your patience. Inside bar has cash or…read morecredit, bot outside bars require tickets or cash: awkward system and super long line if you ask me, but sunset was nice and seemed like the thing to do on a summer Friday night.

2024- Great Chefs with Great planning, what could be better? great experience for me since I love…read moreto cook! Learned that famous chefs are just like me, working through trial and error, and enjoy the craft, and feeding people we love!!

$1500. VIP pass... I twisted 4 friends arms to join me and I am so embarrassed. Extremely…read moreunorganized, inefficient and little to no benefits for the $7500 we spent collectively. Quality of the wine, food and overall experience NOT WORTH THE PRICE. Thankful for friends who are amazing which made the drive, hotel and overall experience worth it.

Wow am I late with this review. I had a great time at the Shrimp & Grits Festival. Had some…read morereally good versions of Shrimp & Grits and some I wished I never put in my mouth. But one thing is for sure. I'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR!

Great atmosphere along with great service, it was worth the 45 min wait. Food was excellent…read moreflavored to my expectations. Being that I travel worldwide and it definitely gave me and unforgettable experience. No need to hesitate on deciding here, it's a great taste of Charleston

This market is always great to stop by when I walking king on a Saturday. They have a great variety…read moreof vendors - artisanal goods, artwork, fresh produce, and food trucks. Today I got some olive oil from Olinda's stand. They were able to give me a sample (delicious) and the owners were very nice. They also sell refillable bottles, and the price is great long term.

Really enjoyed visiting the Charleston Farmers Market. Located in Marion Square in beautiful…read moredowntown. There's a great variety of fresh produce, local food, and handmade items. The atmosphere is lively and perfect for a weekend outing. We weee visiting and picked up some great gifts to bring home. We enjoyed browsing what the has to offer & thought our coffee were delightful from Coastal Cowgirl Coffee too! My daughter got cotton candy that did t have much flavor just tasty ed of plain sure yet still a fun treat. They have the nicest set up for pets. Little doggie stations that have tents, towels, buckets of water and bowls for them to rehydrate. They go above and beyond for their furry friends visiting the market. Only downside was that it gets quite crowded, fresh produce and local crafts can be somewhat expensive & you have to pay for parking, so you may have a little further of a walk to get there.

The doors opened after 2pm, the seafood wasn't ready and I only got 1 blue crab! People were…read morejumping the line & taking 5 & 6 plates to their car to come back and get more! They only poured crabs & oysters on 3 tables were you had to actually snatch crabs out of people's hand. Shrimp arrived hours later, so I snatched 3 of those. They had 1 vendor & were not prepared for the people who brought tickets for $55. NEVER AGAIN!

I have now been to 3 Oyster Fests (2013, 2012, & 09 or 10?). I always have a great time. There…read moreare always lines. That is to be expected. Deal with it. Everyone was complaining that they ran out of oysters by 2pm this year. Honestly, it sucks but, they had 80,000lbs this year. People just went nuts on them, how could they account for that? I didn't even get any oysters and I still wasn't upset. Although I had been drinking so that may have lightened my mood. I still had a great time with all the other food and entertainment. It's a great place to run into people because everyone in town is there. Just relax and have a good time. There is no secret trick to parking or voodoo on picking the fastest moving line. Just enjoy yourself. If you really want to make the best of it... get there super early. It's the only way. If you can have a laid back time and not really care, show up whenever you want. Hell, go late and stand near the gate for a while. You won't even need to buy food and beer tix cause everyone just gives them away at the end anyway.