Ways to Celebrate July 4th in Charleston

South Carolinians are extremely patriotic, which means every Fourth of July in Charleston is filled with stars, stripes and fireworks. This year’s celebrations are predicted to be some of the biggest and brightest known to the area. No matter what your style or preference, you’re sure to find a celebration perfect for you.

The following is a full list of events in the Tri-County area broken up by city/area:

Charleston:
Independence Day Tea Party and Town Hall Celebration: 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Location: Calhoun St. and Rutledge Ave., Downtown Charleston
Cost: Free
Tips: Bring lawn chairs and cash for street vendors.

Check out live music, citizens speaking, and prize giveaways. Following the program, barbecue, kettle corn, and other food vendors will be set up in the park along with activities for kids.

Fourth of July Dinner Cruise: Board at 7 p.m. Cruise 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Location: Fountain Walk Dock at Aquarium Wharf, 360 Concord Street, Charleston
Cost: $75/person
Tips: Pre-paid reservations only. Call (843) 722-BOAT (2628) or 1-800-789-3678

Enjoy the best views in Charleston of the fireworks aboard the Spirit of Carolina dinner cruise. Includes live entertainment, a four-course meal and all taxes and gratuities included. Full service cash bar onboard.

Folly Beach:
July 4th at Folly Beach: All day. Fireworks start at approx. 9 p.m.
Location: Folly Beach
Cost: Pay for parking. Beach access free.
Tips: Arrive early. Bring lawn chairs and towels. No pets.

Enjoy playing on the beach before the fireworks. Fish off the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier. Restaurants and restrooms will be available.

Isle of Palm:
July 4th on Isle of Palm: All day regular beach access. Firework show at approx. 8:30
Location: Isle of Palm Beach near 14th Ave.
Cost: Free beach access. Pay to park.
Tips: Arrive early; bring lawn chairs and blankets; no pets.

The IOP fireworks display is one of the most popular. Huge crowds are expected, so show up early and be patient when leaving. There is absolutely no alcohol or littering on the beach. No personal fireworks are allowed either.

The fireworks will be displayed over the ocean starting at around 9:15 p.m. near 14th Ave.

Kiawah Island:
The Sanctuary Grand Lawn on Kiawah Island: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah
Cost: Free beach access
Tips: Arrive early; bring chairs and blankets. No pets or alcohol on beach.

Celebrate your 4th with beach music, island drinks, great food, and an ever-popular fireworks display. Everyone is welcome to attend. The fireworks display will promptly light up the sky at 9:30 p.m. on the beach by The Sanctuary. In case of inclement weather, fireworks will be displayed on the next clear evening.

Mount Pleasant:
Fourth of July Blast: 4 p.m. to midnight
Location: Patriot’s Point in Mt. Pleasant
Cost: Free parking and admission.
Tips: No pets or personal coolers. Bring a Piggly Wiggly brand canned food to donate.

Food and beverage village: 4 p.m. to midnight
Kidz Zone: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Ferris wheel: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Live music: 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Fireworks: 10:05 p.m.

See and hear the heroic stories of our bravest soldiers with special admission to the USS Yorktown for only $5 after 5 PM (for those over the age of 5). Volunteer veterans from the WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq Wars will be present to share their tales of honor and triumph.

To cap the night off, watch the spectacular fireworks blasted from the flight deck out over the Charleston harbor. Set to songs of liberty, the show promises to live up to its reputation as one of the ‘Top 5 Independence Day Celebrations’ as recognized by The New York Times.

July 4th Booze Cruise: 4 p.m.
Location: Departs on the Osprey from the dock at Vickery’s in Mt. Pleasant
Cost: $85/person
Tips: Bring extra money to donate to the Tanzanian Education Foundation!

The Tanzanian Education Foundation hosts its first July 4th Booze Cruise. The cruise departs on the Osprey from the dock at Vickery’s in Mt. Pleasant. The cruise will go to Morris Island for chilling and relaxing followed by Pinckney Island for fireworks. Live music will be provided all day by Dub Island. The Tanzanian Education Foundation is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 by Nicole Miller and Erica Oblinger of Charleston, SC.

North Charleston:
July 4th Festival: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Riverfront Park, 1001 Everglades Drive
Cost: Free parking and admission
Tips: No alcohol; bring lawn chairs and blankets

Come see performances by Charleston Capoeira, Crowfield, The Blue Dogs, and headliner Mary Wilson of the Supremes. Fun activities will be available for the kids, and food vendors will be present also. The Celebration will conclude with a spectacular show of fireworks over the Cooper River.

Summerville:
Red, White & Blue on the Green: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Fireworks show: 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Town Square in downtown Summerville and Gahagan Sport Complex
Cost: Free
Tip: The public is encouraged to bring a beach blanket or lawn chairs. Coolers or alcoholic beverages are not permitted.

Enjoy an old fashioned Independence Day Celebration with music, food, a fun parade and spectacular fireworks display! This old fashioned 4th of July celebration focuses on families and is hosted by Summerville D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management). The event includes games and activities for all ages, live contests, patriotic face painting, music, jump castles, hotdogs, apple pie and more!

You can be in the parade, too! Registration for the non-motorized parade begins at 4 p.m. and the actual parade, led by Grand Marshal Mayor Berlin G. Myers, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their patriotically decorated little red wagons, carriages, roller blades, bicycles, tricycles and anything else non-motorized as well as themselves and their pets! Prizes will be awarded for Most Patriotic, Most Original and Most Patriotic Pet.

After a day of fun, head over to the Gahagan Sports Complex to enjoy music, hot dogs and hamburgers while watching the exciting fireworks display. Food and fun starts at 7 p.m. Fireworks shoot off at 9 p.m.

West Ashley:
California Dreaming’s Fourth of July Blow-out: 2 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Location: 1 Ashley Pointe Dr. in West Ashley
Cost: No cover.
Tip: Bring a designated driver or plan on catching a cab.

See all the fireworks from everyone else’s show – North Charleston to Folly Beach to Isle of Palm. There will be live music, a DJ, drink specials, and boat access.

Independence Day at Middleton Place : July 4 and 5
Location: 4300 Ashley River Rd., West Ashley
Cost: $25 per adult
Tips: Bring your camera!

All weekend long, visitors will be able to interact with re-enactors from the Second South Carolina Regiment. Walk through an 18th century military camp and examine uniforms and equipment of the period. See how the troops lived, including cooking and musket firing demonstrations.

A formal wreath-laying by the Daughters of the American Revolution and salute at the tomb of Arthur Middleton will take place at noon on Saturday, and on Sunday at noon, the Regiment will march to the Middleton Inn for a wreath-laying ceremony and salute to the 200 American soldiers who died there during the American Revolution. At 3 p.m. both days, visitors can hear formal readings of the Declaration of Independence. Most activities are complimentary with regular admission.