Gosh, there is so much going on this weekend I don’t even know what to say. Plan well, especially if you’re going to lose a whole day to drinking bourbon in a funny hat at the returning Charleston Cup like I am.

First up, it seems like the Holy City is just as eager to start the holiday season as our nation’s advertisers. The Holiday Festival of Lights officially opens with a celebration, there’s the Holiday Market in North Charleston, and the Mt. Pleasant Wonder Works hosts Elfstravaganza. It’s only going to get more Christmas-y from here.

It’s certainly a looney weekend in Charleston, or maybe lun-y is a better word. The Halsey’s From the Moon: Mapping and Exploration exhibit has its official opening on Nov. 12, which includes Moon Fest and a lecture by Dr. Carle Pieters. They’ll also host their annual Full Moon Bash, a celebration for Halsey members.  

Veterans Day is Friday. Pay respect at Tribute to Our Veterans, Trident Tech Veterans Day Celebration, Veterans Day: Soldiers Through Time, Veterans Day Weekend at Patriots Point, the Veterans Day Concert, and the Veterans Day Salute.

Hey YALLFest! Blue Bicycle Books welcomes young adult lit authors for the first run of this festival.

I keep wanting to call it Jail Break 2: Electric Boogaloo. They sure missed out on some funny branding there, but it still looks like an awesome arts event.

Speaking of awesome arts events, Tivoli has a major one on Friday night.

I don’t know what furbabies are exactly, but they sound pretty darn cute. Raise money for them at the Shih Tzus and Furbabies Rescue Fundraiser. You can also do some good this weekend at the Autism Scavenger Hunt, Charleston Tibetan Society Charitable Auction, and the Successful Charleston Women Benefit Dinner.

Two very important men will make local appearances this weekend. One is Darius Rucker. The other is SpongeBob SquarePants.

Wear your Gap khakis to the Joe Clarke Big Band’s Swing Dance Party.

Irvin-House Vineyards will bless their vines at the Blessing of the Vines.

Stop by Lambert Gray Gallery and Studios to see the results of the Oil Painters of America Paint Out.

It’s Plantation Days at Middleton Place, or maybe you’d like to take a Historical Bicycle Tour of Daniel Island.

Shuck it at the Charleston Audubon Society Holiday Fundraiser and Oyster Roast, the Exchange Club of St. Paul’s Parish Oyster Roast, the Parents Anonymous Oyster Roast, and Fall Oyster Shuckin’ on the Creek.

Ever dream of kissing the tarmac like at the end of Memphis Belle? You might be able to do that when you finish the Run the Runway 5K. There’s also the Run for the Yorktown 5K and Where the Wild Things Run 5K.

Roller derby teams from around the state will duke it out at the Black Eye Affair. It’s eight straight hours of roller derby. You might get a little dizzy watching all that circling.

If you haven’t heard by now, Eye Level Art will be closing by the end of the year, which means this may be one of your last chances to go to Holy City Artist and Fleas.

Besides Improv Smackdown, Improv Riot, and Blast Off?, Theatre 99 hosts visiting stand-up comedian Rory Scovel.

The CSO opens their Masterworks series with Beethoven’s Emperor.

Next Fall, Over the River and Through the Woods, and School for Scandal open this weekend, while The Crucible closes. The kids from South of Broadway have their show, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Art lovers will enjoy the Steampunk Art Show.

Break out the berets and baguettes for the Francophone Film Festival. Meanwhile, Park Circle Film Society has The Last Mountain.

Humane Net will have a weekend-long Community Adoption Event at the West Ashley PetSmart.

The Awendaw Green Homegrown Music Showcase moves from rural East Cooper to Patriots Point.

Local musicians will pay A Tribute to Neil Young.

Beer Olympics. Need I say more?

Head to Kiawah for Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz.

Poogan Porch’s Pig Roast and Bourbon Sip sounds kind of perfect, plus Nathalie Dupree hosts a Sunday Supper and the Woodlands has Wine and Arts Under the Pines.

And don’t forget Second Sundays on King Street.

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