Keeping Up With King Street: Five Cool Holiday Shopping Events on King St.

I know, I know. We barely finished Halloween and the December holidays are in our faces. Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa… are you stressed yet? There’s good news from King Street; no less than five events are planned to make genuine holiday magic. Why would you spend your shopping hours on the Internet or in a mall when downtown Charleston is the place where memories are made and shopping chores are a delight.

There’s a website, www.christmasonkingstreet.com where you’ll find all the details and purchase event tickets where applicable. You can also sign up to receive updates without worrying that your email will be shared with anyone. You can also pick up tickets at 2nd Sunday on King StreetNovember 9.

Here’s the lineup:

Black Tie Optional Friday, November 28

Start your holiday shopping the best way ever, on King Street, where Black Friday is more classy than crazy, and specials are really quite special. Hours and promotions will be published on the Christmas on King Street website.

A Night in Wine Country: Taste, Shop, Stroll King Street Friday, December 5

Start the celebration early. Come to King Street for an exclusive, ticketed wine tasting and shopping event in a dozen of your favorite stores. You’ll pair holiday shopping with reserve wines and gourmet hors d’oeuvres for a fabulous spree. Think Duckhorn, Ferrari Carano, Chateau St. Jean, Trefethen and Stags Leap. Treats will be from Caviar & Bananas, Ted’s Butcherblock, Persimmon Café and Halls Chophouse to name a few. From 4:00 to 7:00 PM on King Street, where else? Sponsored by Spoleto Festival USA, and the souvenir wine glass is yours to keep. Tickets are on sale on the Christmas on King Street site. They are limited and sure to go fast.

King Street Holiday Shop & Stroll Friday, December 12

Another ticketed event, where more than 80 retailers will offer a night of shopping, holiday celebration and fun with complimentary refreshments, makeovers, trunk shows, specials and gifts. It’s from 5:00 - 8:00 PM with an after-party sponsored by the Francis Marion Hotel and held at the cool corner bar in their beautiful, festive holiday lobby. Ticket sales benefit the Charleston Animal Society and they are available now on the Christmas on King Street site.

2nd Sunday on King Street December 14

Charleston’s favorite monthly event has a special holiday edition with shopping, dining, carolers, decorations, holiday promotions and Santa. From 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. The newsletter goes out the Friday before, so be sure you sign up for the list and know what’s happening where. There won’t be three Sunday street closings like last year, but wouldn’t you rather have one great day and four creative, special events?

Men's Shopping Night Thursday, December 18

Refreshments and shopping tailored for men on the Thursday before Christmas. Don’t you guys always wait until the week before? Guilt counseling, personal shopping and ideas for the women in your lives from 5:00 - 8:00 PM. It’s not a ticketed event, just watch the site for details, show up and enjoy yourself. I bet there will be gift-wrapping to make your life even easier. Locations and promotions will be published on the Christmas on King Street website.

The City of Charleston has a great holiday schedule planned too. Parades, the great Holiday Market, Santa and those popular two hour free parking vouchers that are good every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. And Lowcountry Local First does their Buy Local month in the middle of shopping season to help our local businesses thrive.

Are you excited yet?