Happy Valentine’s week. Between V-Day, Mardi Gras, SEWE, Darwin Week, Black History Month, and Charleston’s general bustling-ness, there is so much free stuff going on this week, we can hardly contain our gleeful cries. We’ll save the screaming, err, singing for the city’s mess of open mic nights. Leave your wallet at home (no, really, you should probably bring it) and hit the town for a load of free fun.
Monday
Drink ’til it’s funny at Neil Bansil’s stand-up open mic comedy night at the Sparrow starting at 9:30 p.m.
Get your bingo with a side of blues at Elliotborough Mini Bar from 7-10 p.m.
You’ve got one week to apply to be a volunteer at Charleston Fashion Week where your volunteering duties get you a free pass to all the backstage fun.
Tuesday
Head to Johns Island public library to hear CCPL historian Nic Butler talk about the first steps toward rights equality in Charleston at 11:15 a.m.
It’s Darwin week which means you can check out all kinds of free lectures at CofC. At 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday catch Dr. Ronald L. Numbers’ critique of the creationist movement.
A free fat Tuesday party is what the season’s all about. Head to The Alley from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. where you can enjoy NoLa style music and snag drink specials along with half-price bowling.
Grad school isn’t free but this info session about CofC’s MBA’s sure is. Check it out from 12:30-1:30 p.m. or 5:15-6:30 p.m.
Trivia at the Tin Roof on a Tuesday sounds like some fun and free alliterative action to us. Win cash starting at 8 p.m.
Sing your heart out or watch someone else do it at Palmetto’s open mic night, hosted by Jaybird and Hambone from 5-7 p.m.
Cutty’s hosts uncensored comedy on the second Tuesday of every month starting at 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Darwin week continues with a lecture from Dr. Chris Fragile who will discuss Einstein’s Theory of Relativity at 4 p.m.
Learn more about how you can help with Lowcountry Horse Preservation and the upcoming oyster roast and trail ride at the Mullet Hall Equestrian Center with a meeting at Johns Island Library at 6 p.m.
Elliotborough’s open mic night starts at 7 p.m. and brave participants are invited to sign up at the bar.
It ain’t a Wednesday without some Kickin’ Chicken trivia. Summerville and Mt. Pleasant locations kick off the fun at 8 p.m.
Thursday
Local artist Ashley Edge creates art with animal bones and teeth. Her art show at Striped Pig Distillery will be displayed from 5-9 p.m. along with pieces from residents in the memory care unit where she once worked.
Fan-girl and -boy over Connor Shaw and Aaron Murray, two football greats, as they autograph whatever it is you want them to at the Charleston Sports Pub from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Join Major Naomi Broughton of the Charleston Police Department, along with CofC’s Brandon Chapman, Reverend Joseph Darby, Pastor Thomas Dixon, and Susan Dunn of SC’s ACLU for a panel discussion on Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness at the Stern Center at 6 p.m.
Check out the film Racing Extinction at the School of Science and Mathematics from 7-8:30 p.m.
Join comedians trying out their new stuff at Theatre 99 at 7:30 p.m. For free!
Head to Elliotborough Mini Bar from 7:30-10:30 p.m. for an open mic featuring free-form poetry. Each poet is allotted five minutes.
Friday
Head out to Kiawah’s Freshfields for an art and wine walk from 4-7 p.m. The Williams Duo, a two-piece jazz group will play live music and participating stores include Lilly Pulitzer, Peyton William Jewelry, Tommy Bahama, and more.
Palmetto Pride sponsors a children’s puppet show in Marion Square at 4 p.m. — Litter Trashes Everyone. The show will also be performed on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Dog & Horse Fine Art gallery hosts Beth Carlson who will sign copies of her book, Fox Tales. Guests can also watch The Debutante Hunters, a short documentary by local artist Maria White, which will screen during the evening, from 5-8 p.m.
LePrince Fine Art gallery hosts a Southern Exposure reception to kick off a weekend-long exhibit featuring artists like Mark Bailey, John Carroll Doyle, Shannon Runquist, and more.
Whether you have a Valentine or not you’re welcome to join partiers at Bay Street Biergarten for the Bitterness Bash which kicks off at 10 p.m. with tunes by DJ NattyHeavy and drink specials. If you still have a piece of clothing from your ex bring it by to donate to Goodwill and get $5 in beer bucks in return.
Palmetto’s Loading Dock series hosts live music every Friday starting at 6 p.m.
Saturday
Check out Betty Foy Botts’ Abstract Wildlife paintings at Mitchell Hill Gallery from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. There will be a live string picker and Bloody Mary bar.
Take the kids to Johns Island library for story time and contribute to a community display in honor of Cynthia Graham Hurd as part of the I Make a Difference Initiative at 11 a.m.
The Avery Research Center commemorates the second anniversary of the installation of the Denmark Vesey monument with a screening of A House Divided: Denmark Vesey’s Rebellion from 2-4 p.m.
Are you a jilted lover? Head to Cocktail Club from 5 p.m.- 2 a.m. where the best jilted lover story could earn you $250 in cash.
Mixson Market hosts a gift market with cards from Ink Meets Paper, arrangements from Flowershop, and more at the Love Bites, A Slow Sips Happy Hour from 5-8 p.m.
Check out the poster for the 2016 Beard & Mustache competition at Rec Room from 8-10 p.m.
Mellow Mushroom downtown celebrates 15 years in Charleston with a DJ, lasers, drink specials and more from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
Johns Island hosts the only year-round farmers market from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 3546 Maybank Hwy.
Sunday
Is it love or puppy love? Who gives a woof when you can play with furry friends at Bay Street Biergarten’s puppy love brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring your friendly fido and chow down on brunch items, with part of the proceeds going to the Lowcountry Animal Rescue.
Second Sundays on King St. are always a good time. Stroll King from 1- 5 p.m. and check out vendors, food trucks, and live music.
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