No city seems to do holidays quite like Beaufort: From Christmas tree and menorah lightings in Waterfront Park to a unique musical depicting the last Christmas on a Civil War-era plantation to a parade featuring boats bedecked in lights to spectacular fireworks over the Beaufort River, the historic city on the coast of South Carolina throws out all the stops.
The holiday spectacle begins Saturday.
Here’s a sampling of some of the larger and most popular traditions in the city you don’t want to miss throughout December.
Santa, Saturday, Nov. 30
Santa will be outside the Beaufort Candy Shoppe, 103 West St. Ext., from 1-5 p.m.
Pop-up market at the Arsenal, Sunday, Dec. 1
It’s Artists Sunday from noon- 4 p.m. in downtown Beaufort. Enjoy a pop-up market at The Arsenal on Craven Street. Food trucks and street musicians are part of the fun and local artists will be selling holiday gifts. The Arsenal was built in 1798 to house the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery after it fought with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Today, it is home to the Beaufort History Museum and Visitor Center.
Last Christmas before the Civil War, Thursday-Friday, Dec. 5-6
The Gullah Kinfolk Christmas Wish is an interactive musical depicting the last Christmas before the beginning of the Civil War among the enslaved at a South Carolina plantation. 7 p.m., USCB Center for the Arts. Tickets: https://www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org/christmas. “It’s the last Christmas before the Civil War ... South Carolina has just seceded from the Union ... Master’s in the Big House talking war, servants in the Quarters talking freedom coming.” The play is performed by the Gullah Kinfolk Traveling Theater.
Tree lighting, Friday, Dec. 6
Celebrate Night on the Town as streets close at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Merchants will be open, most offering complimentary food and drinks. On Bay Street, there will be plenty of food and activity booths hosted by non-profit organizations, and downtown restaurants will be open. The Parris Island Marine Corps Band will perform and there will be a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” The evening concludes with the popular tree lighting at 8:30 p.m. —and there will be snow, the city promises.
Christmas lights hung on Palmetto trees in downtown Beaufort Lana Ferguson Staff photo
Gullah traditions and boat parade, Saturday, Dec. 7
▪ Celebrate and honor Gullah holiday traditions from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with the Gullah Taste of Christmas and Rice Cook-off.
▪ Santa photos outside Beaufort Candy Shoppe, 103 West St. Ext., 1-5 p.m.
▪ The Lighted Boat Parade, hosted by the Beaufort Water festival, begins at 5:30 p.m. Grab a seat along the seawall at Waterfront Park.
Boats covered in Christmas lights ride by the seawall at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in 2016. This years lighted boat parade is Dec. 7. Delayna Earley dearley@islandpacket.com
Santa on a fire truck, Sunday, Dec. 8
The annual Christmas parade begins at 3 p.m. and typically concludes about 5 p.m. Santa will be riding atop a Beaufort-Port Royal fire truck.
150 nativity displays, Dec. 6-8
View more than 150 Nativity displays from around the world will be displayed at First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort, 1201 North St. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and from noon-3 p.m. Dec. 8.
Wreaths Across America, Saturday, Dec. 14
▪ Wreaths Across America at Beaufort National Cemetery at noon.
▪ Santa photos outside Beaufort Candy Shoppe, 103 West St. Ext., 1-4 p.m.
The Beaufort National Cemetery decorated with Wreaths Across America remembrance wreaths. Submitted
More Santa photos, Saturday, Dec. 21
Santa photos outside Beaufort Candy Shoppe, 103 West St. Ext., 1-4 p.m.
Menorah lighting, Thursday, Dec. 26
Chabad Greater Hilton Head will hold the Chanukah menorah lighting, 5-6:30 p.m., Waterfront Park.
Karl Puckett covers the city of Beaufort, town of Port Royal and other communities north of the Broad River for The Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet. The Minnesota native also has worked at newspapers in his home state, Alaska, Wisconsin and Montana.
