🌴 Early Holiday Fun Around Charleston

Welcome back Palmetto Parents!

We went to the fair last weekend and had such a fun time! Lots of fresh air, unhealthy food and fun memories made!

At one point a section of the fair lost power for about five to ten minutes. It wasn’t a big deal at first, until we noticed one of the taller rides had also stopped. About four to eight people were paused at the top and had to wait patiently for it to restart. It was scary to see, but everything appeared to resolve safely and calmly.

I talked with the team in charge of the fair, and they explained that the ride lost power because of routine maintenance earlier in the day. Even if a ride were to completely lose power, they’re able to operate it mechanically, which means they can bring everyone down safely. We are happy everyone is safe and grateful for the oversight of the staff!

This week we are sharing a few things we are loving right now. The Festival of Lights is best enjoyed early in the season when the crowds are lighter and you have time to explore the Christmas village. WaterFest on Daniel Island offers an easy family afternoon by the water with music, food, and activities for kids. Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop continues to be one of the most special pastry spots in Charleston and is perfect to pick up and take to a nearby park. And our Gratitude Pumpkin tradition is a small, meaningful way to help everyone slow down and notice the good.

And based on our poll last week, most of us are still very firmly in the wait-until-after-Thanksgiving group for Christmas decorating. After Thanksgiving won with 40 out of 57 votes which is just over 70 percent of our community. I love that. November gets to be its own season here.

When do you put up your Christmas decorations?
The results were so fun to see.

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Before Thanksgiving (17)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 After Thanksgiving (40)

After Thanksgiving won by a landslide:
40 out of 57 votes — 70.18% of you!

So yes, Charleston is still a place where we celebrate Thanksgiving before we deck the halls.

We love it here! 🎅

The first year we went to the Festival of Lights, we made a few rookie mistakes. We went too close to Christmas and the line to get into the park was about an hour long. We had no idea the line would be that long, and we didn’t know that the real magic happens at the end when you park and walk through the Christmas village.

Our second year was a completely different story. We went earlier in the season, before Thanksgiving, and it was magic. Fewer crowds, less stress, and the room to enjoy every part of the evening. November 14 (opening night) through November 26 are great nights to go with less traffic. You can see full details here, including which dates are typically really busy vs. a bit lighter traffic.

It’s one of our absolute favorite family traditions and it is surprisingly affordable, especially if you have a Charleston County Park Pass. If you do, your vehicle gets in at no additional charge. Just show your pass at the gate.

This tradition feels special without being overwhelming or expensive, which is rare and wonderful. So here is all the information you need to make the Festival of Lights the best it can be!

The Festival of Lights is typically thought of as a Christmas-season outing, but going before Thanksgiving is one of the best-kept secrets. There are fewer people, shorter lines, and more time to enjoy the magic without the rush. It truly makes the whole experience feel slower, sweeter, and more enjoyable for the whole family.

The festival is open nightly from 5:30-10pm, and the experience begins with a slow drive through the Christmas light displays while listening to the matching holiday station on your car radio. After the drive, you can park and walk through the most charming Christmas Town setup. There is so much to do:

There is even a climbing wall for the bold and adventurous children in the group. Two climbs are $4. The wall is open nightly from 6-10pm and tickets can be purchased anywhere inside the festival until 9:40pm.

Yes, you may bring your own marshmallows and roasting sticks. Just don’t break branches from the park to use as sticks.

Santa is there too, but we haven’t caught him yet. I suggest seeing if you can find him once you’re there, without promising anything. The magic stays that way.

Pro tip: If your car has a moonroof, let your kids look up at the lights as you drive. Safely, of course. It adds a little wonder. Also, if you go when the lines are longer, don’t worry! Just make sure to bring food for your car and having a toilet for toddlers who are potty training worked well for our first year. Just don’t forget the Clorox wipes!

And yes, people do rent party buses. Charleston takes Christmas seriously. And don’t forget the unofficial rule is to make sure your kids are in their Christmas PJs!

Bundle up, bring the marshmallows, and make a night of it. You’ll be glad you did.

If you’re looking for something fun and easy to do with the family this weekend, WaterFest is back at The Waterfront on Daniel Island, and it’s one of our favorite Fall community events. It’s beautiful, relaxed, totally kid-friendly, and all for a good cause benefiting Charleston Waterkeeper, a nonprofit that protects and restores our local waterways. The fest will start at 1pm and end at 4pm on November 15th.

Spend the afternoon by the Wando River enjoying live music, great food, and activities for kids that actually keep them happy and engaged. Think: face painting, arts and crafts, nature touch-and-learn exhibits, and even a bubble play zone. There will also be scenic boat cruises running throughout the afternoon on the Daniel Island Ferry (sign-ups are first come, first served, so arrive a little early if those are on your list).

Parents will appreciate the oyster roast, chili bar, and drinks from Swig & Swine, plus plenty of space to mingle, sit back, and relax by the water. And for anyone keeping up with Saturday football, there’s a designated Game Day Corner streaming the live games so you won’t miss your team.

There will also be live music by Dallas Baker & Friends, a kids art station by Wee Little Arts, a reptile interactive station with the South Carolina Aquarium, Face painting by Peachy Palette, a photobooth with Mermaid Elise & Pirate Rob, and bubble play therapy with Good Clean Fun. There will also be tours of the newly finished marshfront model home at The Waterfront!

Kids two and under are free and getting tickets ahead of time is highly recommended. You can get them here!

It’s the kind of event where both kids and adults get to have a great afternoon. It’s outside, near the water, and an opportunity to do something fun together as a community. There’s no pressure for the day to be perfect. Just show up, explore, enjoy, and let the fresh air do what it does.

Charleston has always had a vibrant food scene, but last month brought a new level of attention when three Michelin Stars came to Charleston (Vern’s, Wild Common and Malagon Mercado y Taperia). Suddenly the national spotlight is turning this way and it is becoming clear to the rest of the country that Charleston is a true food hub. And while some of the names making headlines are splashy and big, there are smaller local gems quietly earning loyal followings one perfect bite at a time.

One of those spots is Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop. They have not made national news just yet, but they are most definitely on the way. I am actually surprised they are not on the Michelin Guide list for South Carolina. This the official petition! Their menu is thoughtful and rotating, the craftsmanship is next level, and they recently expanded their space which means more room for pastries that are almost too beautiful to eat. They are open 7 days a week from 8am–1pm, making it one of the rare bakeries you can count on any day.

There is usually a line, but it moves with good energy and is part of the charm. If you do wait, they’ve created a surprisingly sweet setup: there are a handful of outdoor tables tucked between the two buildings where you can sit and enjoy your pastries, and they also have a single bathroom equipped with a real baby changing table. The owners are parents of a little one themselves, and they intentionally added the changing table for families just like theirs. (And yes, they told us we were actually the first ones to use it. I know, I am famous!)

We bought the bakers half dozen and it was the perfect amount for just the two of us! I said what I said. We ordered a cinnamon roll, chocolate chip cookie, apple and cheddar turnover, olive oil cake, honey pie, and a pecan praline croissant. This may sound simple but the chocolate chip cookie was amazing and one of my favorite. They also sell sourdough loaves and sandwiches.

That said, this is still not the place where your toddler is running free while you sip a latte in the middle of errands. It has more of a slow morning with intention kind of feel. But it absolutely needs to be on your list. If you want to make it work with kids, I suggest having the foodie in the family swing by to pick up coffee and pastries to go, then heading to a Hampton Park (55 Cleveland St. a half mile walk away) where the little ones can run while you actually taste your breakfast in peace. One quiet bite and you will be speechless.

Find Welton’s at 682 King Street. Your future self will thank you.

This is one of those small traditions that makes an ordinary weeknight dinner feel a little more special. After dinner, invite everyone at the table to share one thing they are grateful for. Then write each person’s gratitude right on a pumpkin that sits in the center of the table. It becomes a visual reminder of the goodness in your home and something the kids will see throughout the day. They get to remember what matters, even when the day feels big or loud or messy.

And to quote my husband who recently won an unofficial Parenting Award in our house, while walking with our daughter he said, “Gratitude gives us a great attitude.” He said it so simply, and it stuck. Our kids remembered it. I remembered it. And honestly, practicing gratitude does shift the mood in our home.

The pumpkin works because it slows us down. Kids love seeing their words written down. They love knowing that what they say matters. And it truly helps us as parents too. The more we look for the good, the more of it we find.

Adults should join the ritual as well. It is powerful for your children to hear what you are grateful for in real time. It teaches that gratitude is not something we grow out of, but something we grow into.

So as you read this, take a moment to think about what made you smile this past week. A conversation, a quiet minute, a warm cup of coffee, a small win, or a silly moment. Those tiny things count. They are the things worth remembering and naming out loud.

Your gratitude pumpkin is just the place to keep them.

That’s all for this week. Happy November and thank you for reading all the way to the end! We see you!

Love, Jenna