The three busiest Christmas weekends of 2026
Most of these events are free or cheap, and they draw people who stay the weekend. Three weekends stand out because several land at once:
Thanksgiving weekend, November 27 to 29. Savannah’s Lighted Boat Parade and the NC Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach both run Saturday the 28th, Wilmington’s parade is Sunday, and Harbour Town Lights and Brookgreen Gardens’ Nights of a Thousand Candles both open that weekend
December 5 and 6. Parades in North Charleston and Bluffton on Saturday, the Carolina Beach flotilla Saturday night, and the City of Charleston’s parade Sunday afternoon
December 11 to 13. Tybee’s Christmas Parade of Lights Friday, Savannah’s street parade Saturday, Mount Pleasant’s parade Sunday, and Brookgreen nights that sold out weeks ahead
Charleston Christmas events 2026: lights and parades
The Holiday Festival of Lights is the anchor: about three miles of more than 750 displays at James Island County Park, open nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Nov 13–Dec 31
Holiday Festival of Lights, 37th · James Island County Park
Nightly 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Santa nightly through December 23
Nov 20 & 22
Charleston Classic (men’s college basketball) · TD Arena, downtown
Dayton, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Utah and Virginia Tech
Dec 5
North Charleston Christmas parade · North Charleston
3 p.m.
Dec 6
City of Charleston Holiday Parade · Downtown
3 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at Marion Square
Dec 12
Expected, not confirmed
Charleston Harbor boat parade · Charleston Harbor
Usually the second weekend of December
Dec 13
Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade, 31st · Coleman Boulevard
5:30 p.m., with fireworks to open
Feb 28, 2027
Lowcountry Oyster Festival, 42nd · Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; later than its usual early-February date
Hilton Head and Bluffton Christmas events 2026
Nov 6–7
Hilton Head Island Oyster Festival · Hilton Head Island
Nov 14
Lantern Parade · Hilton Head Island
Evening, from about 4:45 p.m.
Nov 14–15
Hilton Head Jazz Fest · Hilton Head Island
Nov 23–Jan 7
Holiday lights and 28-foot tree · Shelter Cove Towne Centre
Listings differ on the start date
Nov 27–Jan 1
Harbour Town Lights · Harbour Town, Sea Pines
Dec 5
Bluffton Christmas Parade · Old Town Bluffton
10 a.m.
Savannah and Tybee Christmas events 2026: boat parade and market
Nov 19–Jan 3
Savannah Christmas Market · Plant Riverside District
Nov 28
Savannah Lighted Boat Parade, 25th · Savannah River
7 to 9 p.m., led by the Georgia Queen; tree lighting at Eastern Wharf the same day
Nov 28
Tybee tree lighting · The Strand, Tybee Island
Dec 5
Colonial Christmas · Wormsloe Historic Site
Dec 11
Tybee Christmas Parade of Lights · Tybee Island
6:30 to 8:30 p.m., from 4th Street; holiday market December 12
Dec 12
Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade · River Street and downtown
Myrtle Beach Christmas events 2026: Nights of a Thousand Candles
Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet lights its gardens with thousands of candles on select nights, 4 to 9 p.m. As of late October, eight nights had sold out: November 27 and 28 and December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19. Brookgreen added Wednesday dates on December 2, 9 and 16. Tickets only through Brookgreen or its authorized seller.
Nov 27–Jan 3
Nights of a Thousand Candles · Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet
Select nights; tree lighting nightly at 6 p.m.
Wilmington Christmas events 2026: the NC Holiday Flotilla and more
Nov 27
Downtown Wilmington tree lighting · Downtown Wilmington
Nov 27–Dec 21
Enchanted Airlie · Airlie Gardens
Select dates
Nov 28
NC Holiday Flotilla · Wrightsville Beach
Boat parade at 6 p.m., then fireworks; day in the park from 10 a.m.
Nov 29
City of Wilmington Holiday Parade · North Front Street to Church Street
6 p.m.
Dec 4 & 5
Carolina Beach Christmas Parade and Island of Lights Flotilla · Carolina Beach
Parade December 4, flotilla December 5
Dec 5–19
Holiday drone shows · Historic downtown Wilmington
Santa on the riverfront December 5, 12 and 19
Getting a rental ready for holiday guests
Holiday stays run longer than a summer weekend, the kitchen gets used, and checkout often lands on the same Sunday as everyone else’s. Before Thanksgiving:
Check the calendar against the three weekends above and price the stacked ones accordingly, with a minimum stay that matches the event
Expect checkouts and check-ins on the same day on the Sunday after each of those weekends, November 29, December 6 and December 13, and confirm your cleaner has the capacity
Add extra blankets and a second set of linens per bed; cooler nights and longer stays use more of both. The Linen Subscription covers linen from $35 per guest turn
For stays of a week or more, offer a mid-stay refresh: fresh sheets and towels halfway through
Put the event dates and parking notes in the guidebook; parade routes close streets downtown
The dishes are covered
From November 20, Airbnb hosts can no longer require guests to wash dishes at checkout. Every Fluffy turnover already washes and puts away dishes left behind, which matters most after a holiday dinner. What the November 20 rules allow.
Sources
Dates as announced by organizers, or reported by local news, as of October 31, 2026. Events move, so confirm a date before setting prices or minimum stays.
