7 Things You Need to Do in Charleston This Fall

Charleston’s beautiful year-round weather makes it the perfect place for great outdoor events, no matter what time of year it is. As a coastal city, Charleston always has tons to do in the summer months, but as the sun starts to set earlier and the weather begins to change, you’ll still find plenty of exciting things to do in the fall. If you’re vacationing in Charleston this fall, research some of the best autumn events and plan your visit around these dates as you won’t want to miss out on festivals like the MacOff or Oktoberfest. We’ve pulled together this guide to fall events to give you the lowdown on our favorite things to do this autumn.

Charleston Restaurant Week

The fall season kicks off with Charleston Restaurant Week, which usually lasts for the first two weeks or so of September. A well-known culinary destination, Charleston features hundreds of outstanding restaurants to explore. And, during restaurant week, you’ll have the unique opportunity to taste multiple course menus for a discounted price. This is your chance to check out one of the upscale restaurants like Husk, Hall’s Chophouse or Circa 1886. You’ll also find great deals in more casual establishments, where you’ll enjoy an appetizer, entree and dessert for less than $30 or $40 (depending on where you go and what type of deal they’re running). Compile a list of places you’d like to try before booking your trip and make sure you can get to all of them as Charleston has some of the best cuisines in the entire Southeast.

Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

Nothing gets you into the fall spirit like spending an afternoon walking through the pumpkin patch. Even if you’re just vacationing in Charleston, you’ll still want to stop by the Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Mount Pleasant. Anyone traveling as a family can let the kids run wild on the attractions including the jump pillow, giant slide tower, rock climbing wall and King of the Mountain. You can also spend time with some animals in the goat walk and rabbit enclosure or petting zoo area. Don’t forget to hop aboard the hayride that encircles the plantation’s farm area and passes through areas of the forest with festival Halloween decorations. The event runs for the entire month of October, giving guests and locals plenty of time to enjoy the festivities.

Fright Nights

Aside from the pumpkin patch, Boone Hall also hosts an annual Fright Night event—but this nighttime excursion is not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for a creepy way to spend your evening, head out to Boone Hall to embark on one of the several haunted house-like experiences they have to offer. Again, these rides are scary and not recommended for children, so keep the young ones at home if you’re going to attend Fright Nights. Each year the attractions change, but you can walk through creepy settings like an abandoned funeral home or a zombie schoolyard. The attractions are elaborately constructed to get the most screams out of its visitors. You can also plan to ride the haunted hayride, which features just as many ghouls and goblins to keep you on the edge of your seat.

MOJA Arts Festival

A unique culture celebration, the annual MOJA Arts Festival hosts multiple events throughout the city over the course of 10 days. With dance, literary, visual, theater and cultural events, MOJA places a special emphasis on African-American and Caribbean art influences in the Lowcountry. The whole festival kicks off with a street parade as marching bands and performers strut their stuff along King Street. Then, throughout the week, you can head to venues like the Dock Street Theatre, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and Cannon Street Arts Center for performances of all kinds. 

The MacOff

By far one of the most highly anticipated food events in Charleston, the MacOff is an annual competition that takes place in November. Bringing together 25 local restaurants and cafes, this competition puts Charleston chefs to the test by evaluating each of their individual mac and cheese dishes to name one ultimate champion. Attendees can purchase tasting tickets to sample each dish that they’re interested in as well as beer, wine and other beverages. 

Oktoberfest Charleston

No list of fall events would be complete without the obligatory Oktoberfest celebration, and Charlestonians never miss an excuse to drink. Hosted at the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on King Street, this festival brings together the best of German culture for two days with beers, brats and polka music galore. The event is family-friendly, so feel free to bring the little ones along and let them get their face painted or participate in the children’s games. 

Ballpark Festival of Beers

Each October, the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park hosts a beer festival at the baseball stadium. Attendees can taste beers from more than a dozen local and regional breweries along with food from local food trucks. Throughout the event, you can explore the stadium and enjoy your beers while listening to live music.

If you’re planning on moving to Charleston, you’ll be glad to know there’s never a shortage of exciting events. This fall, be sure to attend one (or more!) of these great festivals and events centered around all things Charleston—beer, food and the arts