A Brighter, Smoother Season at the Festival of Lights

Charleston doesn’t tiptoe into the holidays — it lights them up.
And on Nov. 14, when more than 2 million bulbs flicked on across James Island County Park, the 36th Holiday Festival of Lights officially ushered in the season.

But this year’s glow comes with a few changes meant to keep the crowds merry, the lines moving, and the magic intact.

If you’ve ever idled your way down Riverland Drive in mid-December, good news: Central Park Road is back open.

Charleston County reopened the road — closed since June for drainage improvements — for every night and weekend of the festival. The goal: unclog the annual holiday traffic jam and get families to the lights a little faster.

A small change with big impact, especially as festival attendance keeps climbing.

Last year, more than 60,000 vehicles rolled through the displays — roughly 211,770 people taking in the three-mile route, according to the Post & Courier. That’s nearly a 2 percent jump from 2023.

To keep the festival flowing, the park continues its color-coded crowd calendar:
Green (lighter), Yellow (busy), Red (peak).

Ticket prices follow suit:

Gate prices climbed $5 across all categories, giving online buyers an even stronger incentive to plan ahead.

As Charleston County Parks director Eric Stewart told the Post & Courier, “It has been successful and each year we see growth in the number of people who are buying their ticket ahead of time.” He added that early purchase and choosing a green night is “the best way to go, and they will have a less crowded experience.”

In other words: plan smart, park sooner, enjoy more glow.

The festival started small — a post-Hugo lift for the Lowcountry back in 1990, with just 18 displays over a two-mile stretch. Even then, 85,000 visitors showed up.

Now?
More than 750 displays built entirely on-site by park staff.
Landmarks like Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter, the Ravenel Bridge, the Yorktown, and St. Michael’s all rendered in lights — a sparkling love letter to Charleston’s landscape.

And guests come from everywhere. Festival staff regularly spot license plates from all 50 states, plus a healthy dose of South Carolina locals making the pilgrimage.

For families who like to linger, the festival still offers its greatest hits:
Bonfires for s’mores.
A train ride that cuts through the cold.
A carousel that pulls kids in like a magnet.
Holiday shops for last-minute gift inspiration.

And the big guy himself — Kris Kringle — appears nightly through Dec. 23.
The season closes with an 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve fireworks display on Dec. 31.

Open nightly: Now–Dec. 31
Hours: 5:30–10 p.m.
Pro tip: Save money and sanity — buy ahead and aim for a green night.

Because the Festival of Lights isn’t just a drive. It’s a Charleston tradition — one built, year after year, to shine.

This is a summary of an article published in the Post & Courier. Click here if you’d like to read that article.