54th annual Charleston Scottish Games
Don your kilts, grab your bagpipes and celebrate the Scottish community’s historical contributions to the Lowcountry this weekend. The Charleston Scottish Games and Highland Gathering is the second-oldest event of its kind in the Southeast, bringing more than 10,000 guests and immersing visitors in Scottish heritage and history.
Nov. 1. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Riverfront Park. 1061 Everglades Ave. North Charleston. charlestonscottishgames.com
Ritual & Release
This Day of the Dead celebration is part performance, part ceremony, part communal unburdening — a multisensory experience blending, sound, memory and healing. The immersive concert and dance features live music, spoken word artists and more. All proceeds from the evening will benefit local organizations Luke 4 Ministries and Yoga Is Us.
Nov. 1. 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $22. Cannon St. Arts Center. 134 Cannon St. Downtown. wecoaststudio.com/ritualrelease
BIG Buxton Book Sale
Fiction, nonfiction, and gorgeous coffee table books — nothing is off limits at the inaugural BIG Buxton Book sale this weekend. The sale includes everything from paperbacks and forgotten bestsellers to signed first editions and more. For Halloween, thrillers, horrors and other spooky reads are only $3.10. Purchase tickets online for the special Halloween sale.
No tickets necessary for Saturday and Sunday.
Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. Noon to 5 p.m. $10/ticket. Circular Congregational Church. 150 Meeting St. Downtown. buxtonbooks.com
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
Founded in 1998, the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market celebrates the hard work of local farmers and makers. Head out every Tuesday through September for a local market featuring farm goods, food vendors and live music. Pick up fresh local produce, prepared meals and plenty of other goodies to stock your kitsch.
Tuesdays. 3:30 p.m to 7 p.m. Free to attend. The Moultrie Middle School. 645 Coleman Drive. Mount Pleasant. experiencemountpleasant.com
Edisto Blackwater Boogie
Prepare for an eclectic mix of outdoor activities, performances by local musicians, delectable food and drink offerings from various trucks, kid-friendly entertainment and more. Engage in a bonfire jam session, embark on guided tours and revel in the musical prowess of our talented local artists. Guests are encouraged to camp out for the weekend to immerse themselves in the festivities.
Nov. 7 to Nov. 9. All day. $50/weekend pass; Free/ages 16 and lower. Givhans Ferry State Park. 746 County Road S-18-30. Ridgeville. edistoblackwaterboogie.com
Arts + Music
Train a keen eye on Italian cinema at Nuovo Cinema Italiano
Charleston’s 19th annual Italian film festival takes over Queen Street Playhouse on 20 Queen St. from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9 with screenings of a range contemporary films, including Follemente by Paolo Genovese, a romantic comedy revealing the inner thoughts of the two protagonists; Il tempo che ci vuole by Francesca Comencini, a drama about a father and daughter; Diciannove by Giovanni Tortorici, a coming-of-age drama; and Hey Joe by Claudio Giovannesi, a drama starring James Franco as an American in search of his son in Naples.
More: nuovocinemaitaliano.com
MAKERS MARKET
- Nov. 1, 1 p,.m. to 5 p.m.: Join Garden & Gun and Penelope Bourbon at the Dunlin in Kiawah Island for the last stop of the Maker Marché. The open-to-the-public event features shopping from Round Top Makers Market artisans and live music from The Bluestone Ramblers. These are paired with creative Penelope Bourbon cocktails served from a bespoke mobile bar. The Dunlin, 6000 Kiawah River Drive, Kiawah.
More: gardenandgun.com/events
BOOKS
- Nov. 7 to Nov. 16, various times: Charleston Literary Festival gathers today’s most talked-about authors and thinkers in a 10-day literary extravaganza of discussions, productions and more. Dock St. Theatre, 135 Church St.
More: charlestonliteraryfestival.com
MUSIC
- Nov. 1, 8 p.m.: Gregory Porter, Gaillard Center
- Nov. 1, 6 p.m.: Little Stranger, The Refinery
- Nov. 6, 9 p.m.: The New Mastersounds, Pour House
- Nov. 7, 9 p.m.: Twen, Royal American
- Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.: The Wrecks, Music Farm
- Nov. 7, 8 p.m.: Tab Benoit, Charleston Music Hall
A la carte
WHAT’S NEW
Michelin stars: Colorado-based Fonda Fina Hospitality, operators of two Michelin-starred restaurants in Denver, is opening a Charleston restaurant in the summer of 2026. Located on the ground floor of the Charlee on Cannon, the restaurant will bring Chef Johnny Curiel’s Mexican heritage to downtown Charleston. Alma Fonda Fina was named best new restaurant by Bon Appetit magazine for 2025 with sister location Mezcaleria Alma winning a spot on
The New York Times 50 Best Restaurant list.
More: fondafinahospitality.com
New tastes: The two locations of Baguette Magic have new, seasonal drinks and menu items. On weekends, pick from pastries like the fig and goat cheese danish, blackberry sage pop tart and pumpkin cinnamon roll. New drink options include pumpkin fluff latte and butter pecan latte. These join menu constants that include sourdough (available daily), pain au chocolat, almond croissant and coffee cake.
More: baguettemagic.com
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Moving slowly: The second annual Slow Fish Festival will take place Nov. 2 at Bowens Island. Organized by Slow Food Charleston, the event showcases local seafood with education about area waterways and sustainable food systems. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will provide fishing demos vendors will share their wares, and Charleston chefs will provide tasty seafood bites. There will also be educational programming and panel discussions about tangible ways to support the fishing industry. Free to attend.
More: slowfoodusa.org
Sustainable eats: The Charleston Climate Coalition will host its second annual Farm-to-Planet: A Sustainable Supper and Soirée at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Society Hall. Chef Frank Lee will return to the kitchen to prepare a four-course meal along with Chef Sam Goinsalvos, featuring fresh ingredients from Spade & Clover and Holy City Hogs. Proceeds will go to the Charleston Climate Coalition, a local climate action group currently focused on preventing a gas plant and pipeline on the Edisto River. Cost: $150 for one ticket or $250 for two tickets.
More: eventbrite.com
Check out our calendar for more events around town!
Need to sell tickets to your next event? Sale them on citypapertickets.com. Contact sales@charlestoncitypaper.com for more information.
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