10 Things to Do in Charleston in January

During the month of January, this South Carolina city is particularly quiet and somewhat chilly. Even though it's still winter, you'll find plenty of things to see and do in Charleston during this month. If you're up for it, you're sure to have a great time in one of America's most picturesque cities.

The city known as the Holy City is known for its food and art events throughout the year. January in particular is noted for offering a variety of events where you can eat and drink great food. You can also take advantage of the quietness of the month to wander the streets and museums without the hustle and bustle, as there aren't too many visitors.

If you love trying new food and enjoy flavours in general, January is the perfect month for you to visit Charleston. If you can't make it to the oyster festival, I recommend you don't miss Charleston Restaurant Week. This event is celebrated throughout South Carolina.

For eleven days you'll have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the best prices of the year. In addition, the options are very varied as you will be able to try from the most elegant to the most casual of menus. There is a wide variety of restaurants participating in this festival. This is a perfect plan if you are visiting Charleston for 4 days or more.

As it is a highly anticipated event and attracts many tourists, I recommend booking your table in advance. Unlike other festivals, you don't have to buy a ticket for this one, but research the price of the reservation at each venue you want to visit. I recommend you check this information on the official website.

On the other hand, you can take advantage of offers on accommodation in some hotels, as due to this celebration, they offer special packages to visitors. No doubt you will have a great time drinking the best and tasting good food made in Charleston.

If you love comedy shows then January is the perfect month for you to travel to Charleston. Since 2004 the city has held the Charleston Comedy Festival in the middle of the month, although the exact date varies from year to year. The festival usually takes place on a weekend starting Friday night.

The event features comedians from all over the country. Many of them have appeared on TV shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live, have shows on streaming sites like Netflix or have worked on Comedy Central or HBO.

With a variety of comedians performing, you can enjoy stand ups, improv shows, sketches and more. Each show takes place in different venues around the city so the cost of admission to the events can vary.

This is why I recommend keeping an eye on official sites such as the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Lowcountry Oyster Festival is the world's largest oyster festival and you can enjoy it if you visit Charleston at the end of January. This festival sometimes takes place in the first week of February, so keep an eye on their website. For an entire day you can sample delicious oysters and enjoy music and drinks.

The music at this festival is entirely live, so you'll be able to meet local bands. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a raw oyster eating and shucking contest. Be careful if you decide to do this, as eating too fast can cause stomach upsets. If you think you can handle it, go for it!

Wine and beer are a must. At this festival you will get the best alcoholic beverages in the country to accompany your oysters.

The average ticket price for this event is 20 €. VIP tickets can cost up to €150, but include unlimited food and drinks all day.

For details and to purchase your ticket, I recommend keeping an eye on the Lowcountry Hospitality Association's official website.

Although it may sound like a festival aimed specifically at adults, the truth is that the whole family can participate. This event is one of the things you can do with kids in Charleston as it has an area set aside for them. There they can climb walls, play on the grass, among other activities.

Practical Info

• Location: Boon Hall Plantation in Charleston, 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464.

• When to go: Late January or early February.

• Price: General admission averages €20.

• Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. If you are passing through Charleston on this date, I invite you to take the opportunity to celebrate the memory of one of the most important civil rights activists in history.

In Charleston, in particular, there is a parade sponsored by the YWCA of Charleston that is not to be missed.

The parade features floats, marching bands, beauty queens and activists. The parade usually passes through such well-known streets as President, Fishburn, Ashley, Sumter, King Street and Marion Square. This way, all citizens who come by can watch it for free.

In addition to the parade, the YWCA of Charleston organises different events during the week.

These can be forums where well-known activists are invited to discuss the current civil rights situation. There is also a tribute to the work of Martin Luther King Jr. which may be of interest to you if you like history. The location varies from year to year, however, a common site has been the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

If you want to spend an evening with friends bowling, I recommend visiting The Alley. Because of the weather this month, the best wintertime activities are indoors, where the heat is on. However, that doesn't mean they're boring.

The Alley is one of the most popular entertainment centres in the city. It has eight lanes of bowling for groups to play on, as well as three bars where you can drink the best beers and cocktails. It also offers restaurants with good burgers, pizzas and much more.

In this place you can also enjoy the sports of the moment on their TV screens distributed in several points. They also have live events for you to enjoy performances by local singers. To find out when there is an event, visit their website.

Practical information

• Location: 131 Columbus, ST. Charleston.
• When to go: All year round, but in January it is one of the best closed places to have fun and keep warm at night.
• Price: Free admission, pay-as-you-go only.
• Opening hours: Wednesday from 4pm to midnight. From Thursday to Sunday, from 11:00 h until 00:00 h.

King Street is Charleston's city centre, famous for its history, but also for its variety of shops and restaurants.

January, being a very quiet month, is a great time to stroll around and enjoy the locals and the food. During this month some shops offer discounts and special offers to attract more visitors.

In this part of the city you will find a variety of shops dedicated to fashion, antiques, home decoration, among others. In addition, the brands you will find are regional and national, so your purchase will help the local economy.

Keep an eye out for different events that might interest you.

Before exploring Street King, you should know that it is divided into three districts. The first is the Lower King Street, the Antiques District. This is the oldest district and is where you can find objects from bygone eras. It is certainly a fascinating place for collectors.

Middel King, the Fashion District, is home to a variety of fashion boutiques where you will find bags, clothes, shoes and more, made by famous designers.

Finally, Upper King Street, the Design and Food District, has the best home décor shops and restaurants in the city.

The Taste of Folly is an annual event held in Folly Beach, a town located fifteen minutes from downtown Charleston. During this festival, Center Street shuts down to become a place for great food and fun for the whole family. The whole family can attend.

This event is usually held in mid-January on a Saturday. Although admission is free, you will need to buy your own food and drink. For reference, to try the cocktails in one of the competitions you have to pay around €19.

As well as enjoying live music, you should be prepared to eat too much at this festival. One of the favourite activities is the hot dog eating competition, so you can imagine how much room you have to make in your stomach if you want to participate.

You can also buy food from vendors lining the street or buy local art. Other fun activities include carnival games and auctions. If that wasn't enough, you'll have an incredible view of the sunset from here.

Practical Info

• Location: Folly Beach, South Carolina.

• When to go: Mid-January.

• Price: Free admission, pay-as-you-go.

• Hours: 10am - 4pm.

The Charleston Half Marathon is an event that takes place every year in mid-January. It is organised by Capstone Races, America's premier running portfolio.

During this event the people of Charleston come together to cheer on the runners and to enjoy the live music that enlivens the race.

Competitors must register for the race well in advance, especially to prepare. However, you as an attendee don't need much preparation. You just need to be on site and have a good time with friends. On the event's website, the route that the runners will take is usually shared.

It is also usually indicated where the live music bands will be located. If you want to take the opportunity to attend a concert without paying admission, this is a good opportunity. Experience the joy and excitement of the contestants and their families and spend a day with a difference in Charleston.

Traveller Tip

To watch the half marathon I recommend wearing comfortable clothing and sunscreen. If possible, bring a folding chair so you can sit down and enjoy the event. Don't forget your water bottle and snacks.

Charleston is a city with a wide variety of history and art museums. In many of them you will discover the history of this picturesque South Carolina city and understand why it looks the way it does.

January seems to be the perfect month for a tour as it's not too crowded and you'll have the opportunity to take it all in at your leisure, paying attention to detail.

Among the sites you can visit is the Nathaniel Russell House, the home of a slave trader and salesman of the same name.

This site is recognised as the most important neoclassical house in the country. As soon as you enter, you'll notice that its architecture and design is from another era.

You can also visit the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, an important building in South Carolina's history. This is where the first meeting of the state's General Assembly was held.

You can also visit the Gibbes Museum of Art or The Charleston Museum, where you can enjoy artwork, galleries and exhibits.

The Charleston City Market is one market in the city that should be in all your plans when you come to Charleston.

It's a place you'll enjoy any time of the year, as you can spend hours browsing all the goods. It is usually very busy, but in January it is less crowded, so you will enjoy your time at the market even more.

At first glance the place doesn't look like a market, as the building is built in the Greek Revival style. This makes it stand out and makes it a historical site in the city. Inside the market you will find over 100 stalls offering clothes, jewellery, food, paintings and much more.

On the market's website you will find maps, a list of restaurants to visit and other useful information that you can use to plan your visit.

The market is open day and night and also offers special events from time to time. I recommend you keep an eye out for updates so you can spend a different kind of day at the market.

Practical information

• Location: 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC.
• When to go: Open year-round.
• Price: Free admission, pay-as-you-go.
• Hours: Open daily from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Closed at 5pm on Sundays.

During the month of January, Charleston is a very quiet city with a rather chilly climate. If you travel during this month, be prepared to experience temperatures ranging from 8°C to 23°C, but the average is 15°C. The coldest day may register -1 °C, but this is not very common.

Another important characteristic of this month is its cloudiness. The sky is constantly mostly cloudy, which helps the cold to be felt a bit more. Also, some days can be rainy, so I recommend having a waterproof coat or umbrella handy.

On the other hand, January's days are short, so be prepared to go to bed earlier. Sunrise is around 7 or 7:30am, while sunset is around 5 or 6pm.

The first things to pack are your jumpers and coats. January continues to be cold, so you'll want to be cautious and keep warm, especially if you're exploring the city at night. Keep in mind that you will need more changes of clothes if you are travelling to Charleston for three days or more.

Many of the activities you can do in Charleston involve eating so I think it's wise to wear comfortable clothing, no tight t-shirts or uncomfortable trousers. Enjoy all the food and drink at the festivals without overindulging, but comfortably.

It's a good idea to bring medicine for stomach aches or to improve digestion. Remember that sometimes food from other countries, even from other cities, can be heavy if you are eating it for the first time. It is best to be prepared for anything.