At 7:30 on the evening of Saturday, November 21, a 44-foot Christmas tree in front of Belk at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre will light up, and a laser show will run alongside it. Just up Highway 17, the fields at Boone Hall Farms will have been selling fresh-cut trees and handmade wreaths since 10 that morning. The next day, the Town of Mount Pleasant opens a holiday market it has never held before on the football field at Park West.
So the north end of town has a full holiday opening weekend of its own, and it falls five days before Thanksgiving. The Town's long-standing December traditions are still on the calendar for the south end, but by the time they arrive, Highway 17 North will have had a three-week head start.
The new market went to Park West
Two of the Town's holiday events go back decades. In December 2026 the Holiday Market & Craft Show reaches its 27th year at the Farmers Market Pavilion, and the Christmas Light Parade reaches its 31st along W. Coleman Boulevard. For 2026 the Town added a third event, and it chose the Park West Recreation Complex. The Town's August announcement calls the Merry Makers Market "new to the East Cooper area."
In the same announcement, Events Coordinator Tracy Richter put it plainly:
"We are excited to add a new market to kick off the holiday season."
The new market is set for November 22, nearly three weeks before the December 12 craft show, and it lands on the same weekend as the north end's two established holiday events. Those two events share a backer. Starling Chevrolet is a presenting sponsor of Lights Up at Towne Centre and one of the two partners covering free admission at Boone Hall's festival.
Here is the whole weekend in order:
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m.: The Christmas Tree Festival opens at Boone Hall Farms, 2434 N. Hwy. 17.
- Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.: Santa visits at Boone Hall.
- Saturday, 6 p.m.: Pre-lighting festivities begin at Towne Centre, in front of Belk.
- Saturday, 7 p.m.: Boone Hall closes for the day.
- Saturday, 7:30 p.m.: The tree lighting and laser light show at Towne Centre.
- Sunday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Boone Hall's festival runs again, with Santa from noon to 6.
- Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The Merry Makers Market at Park West, 1251 Park West Blvd.
Saturday at Boone Hall Farms, before the tree lighting
Boone Hall describes the festival as the start of its holiday season, held "the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving." On the official event page, admission is free for 2026 with no ticket required, "courtesy of partners Starling Chevrolet and Beacon Community Bank."
Several things cost nothing:
- Christmas crafts and decorations
- The photo booth and holiday photo ops
- Live music
- Photos with Santa, noon to 6 p.m. both days, taken on your own phone or camera, as many as you like
Other things are for sale. Christmas cookies are baked on site, and there are other holiday foods. Face painting and body art carry a fee. So are the fresh-cut trees, handmade wreaths and other Christmas decorations. The Experience Mount Pleasant listing also names a Ferris wheel and a holiday slide. Dogs should stay home this time. Boone Hall's special-event policy allows only ADA-compliant service animals.
The hours changed this year. When Count on 2 covered the 2025 festival, it ran 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. In 2026 it closes at 7. On Saturday, that leaves half an hour between Boone Hall's last tree sale and the 7:30 lighting at Towne Centre, so the farm works best in daylight with the tree lighting saved for evening.
Saturday night in front of Belk
According to Mount Pleasant Towne Centre's event page, Lights Up runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and is presented by Starling Chevrolet, Roper St. Francis Healthcare and AV Connections. Brian Cleary of 92.5 Kickin' Country hosts. The East Cooper Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra and Jared Petteys & The Headliners perform before the lighting. Santa visits, and the page promises "a very special surprise" to go with the 44-foot tree.
The food is mostly local. Visiting vendors include Zimos Gyros & Lobster, Madrigal Tacos, Holy City Popcorn, Delights Desserts & Coffee, Holy City Homemade Italian Ice, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Pure Fluff Co. Towne Centre's own restaurants take part too: Malika, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, Burtons Grill & Bar, Sweet Julep's, The Wine Cellar, SAVI Cucina & Wine Bar and Jon Smith Subs. For kids there is face painting by Faces by Faith, balloon animals by Carol's Balloon Art and fairy hair by The Sparkle Bar. Volunteers from Camp Rise Above, which runs camp programs for children facing serious challenges, will sell light-up items as a fundraiser so the crowd can glow along with the tree.
For a sit-down dinner before or after, Towne Centre has a newer option. Revolving Sushi Kingdom opened in September at 1594 Palmetto Grande Drive. The Post and Courier reported that it uses a conveyor-belt format, with Anna Chen as owner and Hang Li as chef. Further south on the highway, Loong Yan held its grand opening on November 4 at 341 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. The Town's ribbon-cutting announcement names Emely Yan and Yupeng Lin as owners and describes a menu of Shanghai soup dumplings and Cantonese dim sum, plus wok dishes such as dan dan noodles and Yangzhou fried rice. It is the sister restaurant to Chef Loong Dim Sum & Soup Dumplings in West Ashley.
Sunday on the Park West football field
The Merry Makers Market runs Sunday, November 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1251 Park West Blvd. The Morning Mount Pleasant calendar puts it on the Park West Recreation football field, lists live music, and says admission and parking are free.
The vendor rules follow the Town's December craft show. Vendors include local growers selling fresh produce, makers of homemade preserves and baked goods, hot-food sellers, and craftspeople offering ornaments, glasswork, woodwork, clothing and original art. The Town says it chose a varied mix "to ensure balanced shows." Commercial and mass-produced items are not accepted. The Experience Mount Pleasant listing adds food trucks and local artists.
Since Boone Hall's festival runs until 7 on Sunday, the market's 4 p.m. close leaves time to bring a tree home the same afternoon.
Where the weekend hands off to December
After Thanksgiving, the season's calendar continues into December. The main dates:
- Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 to 5 p.m.: Wine Under the Oaks at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, with wine tastings, complimentary oysters and desserts, and cooking demonstrations.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The 27th annual Holiday Market & Craft Show at the Farmers Market Pavilion, with free admission and parking and a visit from Santa.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 to 6 p.m.: Oysters on the Point at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, with Sol Driven Train. Tickets are $15 online and $18 at the door, and kids 12 and under get in free.
- Sunday, Dec. 13: The 31st annual Christmas Light Parade along W. Coleman Boulevard. Every entry must be fully lit.
The new market on the Park West field opens on November 22, and the 27th-year craft show at the Farmers Market Pavilion follows on December 12.
If the holiday weekend has you looking at Park West, Carolina Park or anywhere else along North Highway 17, Kim Meyer would be glad to tell you what she knows about life on the north end of town. Let's Connect.
