10 Things to Do in Charleston in November

November is a very interesting month in the United States on a cultural level, so it is not unexpected to know that there are several things to do and see in Charleston if you happen to visit the city at this time of the year.

The city's tourist buzz makes it one of the favorite destinations for those looking for a place that balances the historical and architectural beauty of the Southern past with the modernity that defines today's tourism.

I invite you to continue reading this informative compilation if you want to have from this very moment a couple of ideas to keep you busy when you are visiting this corner of South Carolina.

Fall is the last season of the year for growing food crops before winter sets in and solidifies the soil across most of North America. As such, it is a time when local farmers markets, known as Farmers Markets, abound in vibrant, bustling cities like Charleston.

The most famous of all the city is the one that is set up in the vicinity of Marion Square every Saturday of the month. The hours are during the first half of the day, as vendors are usually ready to greet their clientele at about 8 am and start picking up their stalls at 2 pm.

Fresh, packaged artisan food, seasonal produce such as pumpkin and pecans, artistic crafts, fall flower arrangements and live entertainment with lots of community activities. Those are just some of the things you might find if you head to this weekly event happening right in the heart of the city's historic district.

November, within the fall season, is even more appropriate to visit this place because of the fact that Thanksgiving starts to influence the food offerings from the beginning of the month. Which can be interesting for you as a tourist if you unfortunately do not have the opportunity to have your visit coincide with this important American holiday.

The United States is a country of cultural blends. So it's not surprising to learn that a Scottish Olympics is one of the most interesting traditions to see or do in Charleston during the month of November.

It is an event where up to 8,000 people gather to drink beers, participate in games like log tossing and celebrate Scottish heritage. As well as the influence of the Scottish migrant community on the regional identity of modern Charleston.

The famous bagpipes, the festival participants dressed in Kilts and a wide gastronomic offer of traditional Scottish-style food are other distinctive features of this community event that has been held almost continuously since 1971.

It is sometimes held at special venues in Charleston County, such as the spacious grounds of Boone Hall Plantation. More commonly, however, a more accessible, urban spot is chosen, such as Riverfront Park which is located just across the Cooper River in North Charleston, off the peninsula where the city's older neighborhoods are located.

Details of interest

• Price: general admission tickets usually cost about 25 euros per person, while there are also VIP tickets that can go up to 100 euros per participant.
• Dates: almost always the first or second weekend of the month is chosen to celebrate these festivities.
• Duration: this is an activity that can take up half of your day and therefore it is advisable to look for another plan to complete the day. For example, a sightseeing bus tour of Charleston would be fun without the need to participate in physically strenuous activities.

Basketball has a significant influence when it comes to sports that are loved by the southern public in the United States. That's why it's an excellent idea to attend the Charleston Classic, which is a college league tournament held every year in late November in this important city.

It is a three-day competition with 8 teams and the TD Arena is the sports center that welcomes thousands of fans who come to the city to support their college teams.

It is a good plan to see or do in Charleston at night during the month of November because of the fact that basketball games are festive environments where you can consume alcohol, eat and have fun for a couple of hours. It's also an excellent preparation before heading out to party at some of the city's most happening bars.

Harvest Day is the term used by Americans to describe the festival celebrated by native tribes and early settlers for the cultivation of the food they had been harvesting for many months with much collective effort.

You have several alternatives to experience this holiday in the greater Charleston area. The first is at the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, which is a county park located on the area where the first English settlers settled permanently. These settlers eventually founded this state of the post-independence federal union.

In this option you will find interpreters in realistic costumes that will tell you the story of how life worked in that society that was being formed. You will also be able to eat in a traditional way and in general you will be living a once in a lifetime experience.

You also have the option of attending the Johns Island County Park, where a harvest day festival is usually held. But keep in mind that the modality is totally different, as it is more focused on the sale of crafts and food with live music and autumn decorations in the background.

Excursions to Charleston's best plantations are another alternative if you are looking to experience the Harvest Day celebrations, as many offer special tours.

Details of interest

• Price: in the case of the event held at Johns Island County Park, there are convenient rates of 8 euros per adult and free access for children under 12 years old.
• Date: all these events are usually held on different dates of the month. So it is almost certain that you will always have a choice during your visit.

Art has always been a reflection of the beauty of a place on a much deeper level than what you can perceive walking among its buildings and streets. For this reason, on the first Friday of November there is an event called Artwalk that consists of a free route planned by the city council to visit exhibitions in different galleries and museums of the city.

This is significant considering that it is a good opportunity for quality entertainment during your visit. This while at the same time it can be a source of inspiration for your life if you feel that plastic art is something you value deeply.

To continue with your day you have several alternatives taking into consideration that these routes usually take place in the historical neighborhoods of the city.

The best carriage tours in Charleston is one of those options due to the fact that they are fun, the ambient freshness of November does not make them uncomfortable and they also take you to see iconic places of the city such as the Rainbow Row or some of the 5 oldest churches in the peninsular south.

November's cultural scene is a busy one in the city of Charleston and you can check it out if you decide to attend the YALL festival. It's an event focused on young authors and stories that captivate young readers.

It takes place every year in the middle of this month and offers all kinds of activities, from conferences with experts and personalities of the literary world to autograph signings. Of course, there are also film screenings and the occasional special launch of a book that is eagerly awaited by the North American public.

At the same time, as this is a city associated with river and maritime transportation, it is logical that many of the events more oriented to socializing and celebrating these authors take place on boat rides along the shores of Charleston. Which are also a good entertainment alternative for you, even if you don't feel at all interested in attending the events of this important festival.

During Thanksgiving morning in Charleston, a 5k race with more than 100 years of history takes place.

The course is through the historic center of the city and the most interesting thing about the whole thing is that its name, the Turkey Day Run, has a direct inspiration in the main dish of the meal that all Americans have for dinner during the night of this valuable holiday.

If you wish to participate you should know that it is usual that you can register until the day before, since registration is open until the event is completely sold out. This means that even on the morning of the race there is a chance that you can try and get your participation quota.

It is one of the favorite things to see or do in Charleston for two days when it comes to a trip to visit for the Thanksgivings festivities thanks to the playfulness of the race.

Plus, you have to know that Marion Square usually celebrates the participants' efforts with all sorts of activities like live music, beers and hot food. Always along with plenty of other vendors with a wide range of local products.

Details of interest

• Price: 12 euros is the usual registration fee for a couple of two people and 20 for a family group of up to 4 people.
• Duration: the celebrations I told you about can extend throughout the afternoon in Marion Square, but the race as such usually lasts 1 or 2 hours at most depending on the number of participants.

Thanksgiving Day is undoubtedly the holiday of choice when you think of events that define American culture beyond Independence Day. So if you're visiting Charleston during the last two weeks of November you're almost certain to coincide with Thanksgiving Day Thursday.

Mashed potatoes, baked and stuffed turkeys, cornbread along with raspberry and cranberry dressing. These are some of the iconic dishes within the gastronomic universe associated with this holiday. For your convenience, the southern United States is a region that stands out from the rest of the country for the spice of its food.

So the best thing to do is to make reservations at a restaurant in the French Quarter for a multi-course Thanksgiving-style dinner. Although if your hotel has a restaurant, it is very likely that you will feel more comfortable there to experience this day focused on gratitude and family love.

This is a good day to hire some of the best guided tours in Charleston due to the fact that the streets will be relatively empty and that will allow you to live the experience in a more exclusive and private way.

As shopping is another mainstay of American culture, it's imperative that you take advantage of your stay during Thanksgiving week to shop with impressive Black Friday discounts on the shopping streets of historic downtown Charleston.

There you'll find designer boutiques with luxury apparel dropping prices at some very captivating rates. But if you're going for a more moderate investment, you can also head to some of the malls in the more residential areas of the city.

Northwoods Mall is the largest in the whole city and in it you will find more than 130 different stores dedicated to the sale of all imaginable products for human consumption and clothing. It is outdoors and this is another feature that can make it an even more interesting alternative.

The Public Market, in downtown, is another good place to take advantage of the Black Friday discounts. At least if you are interested in buying jewelry, local art and clothing from regional brands.

In the evening you can attend one of Charleston' s best ghost tours if you're interested in balancing the mysticism of the scary stories with the commercial objectivity of a day of unbridled shopping.

November is the continuation of autumn and the approach of winter, which begins just before Christmas. That's why seasonal foods, such as nuts and mushrooms, are featured in all kinds of culinary preparations. Just as it happens with the famous pumpkin pie and custard of southern gastronomy.

Starting a quest at all the coffee shops you know is one of the things you can do or see in Charleston during the fall. For your convenience, in November you will find them at much cheaper prices due to the fact that Halloween has already passed and the consumption of this vegetable has dropped a lot in the local market.

If you visit Charleston in November, it is advisable to pack warm coats and a couple of umbrellas to protect you from the rain.

This is due to the fact that this autumn month tends to have more significant rainfall than the rest of the year. In any case, temperatures will be between 20 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius and that means that the moderate cold will be felt during most of the nights of your trip.

If you like to visit a place when the influx of tourists is moderate, November is an excellent month for your trip to Charleston. This is due to the fact that the Christmas season has not yet begun, but at the same time the tourists who were excited about the southern celebrations of Halloween have already left.

Keep in mind that the panorama can change for Thanksgiving weekend, at least with the amount of people you can get in a restaurant or walking the streets of the city. Although the whole month is usually quite free of mass tourism.

You should know that Charleston is a much more economical destination than other major cities in the southern U.S. tourist industry, such as Miami or Savannah. This means that keeping a balanced budget is not a big effort if you know how to manage your pocket.