Ask a Charlestonian to name the best month to be here and a lot of us will say November: oysters have been legal since October 1, the average high is 69°F, the spring crowds are gone, and hurricane season ends on the 30th. The things to do in Charleston in November are the stuff locals actually plan around, from oyster roasts and a 63-year-old charity turkey shoot to the Food & Wine Classic and the first night of the Festival of Lights. Here's every 2026 date I could confirm, plus what to skip and what to pack.

The Short Answer: The best things to do in Charleston, South Carolina in November 2026 are the oyster roasts (Shellabration on November 8 is the big one), the Goldbug Island Turkey Shoot in Mt. Pleasant (select nights November 4 to 25), the Food & Wine Classic (November 13 to 15), the Holiday Festival of Lights (opens November 13), and the Turkey Day Run on Thanksgiving morning, November 26.

 

Best For	Couples, oyster lovers, anglers, anyone who hates crowds and heat
Top Highlights	Shellabration at Bowens Island, Goldbug Island Turkey Shoot, Food & Wine Classic, Holiday Festival of Lights, sasanqua camellias at Magnolia
Time Needed	A long weekend, Friday to Sunday
Best Time to Visit	November 13 to 22, when festivals, roasts, and holiday lights overlap before Thanksgiving week
Getting Around	Walk the peninsula. Drive to Mt. Pleasant, Bowens Island, Kiawah, and the plantations
Weather Alert	Average high 69°F, low 47°F. Clocks fall back November 1, so sunset is around 5:15 p.m.

Table of Contents

1. Is November a Good Time to Visit Charleston?
2. What Is the Weather Like in Charleston in November?
3. Things to Do in Charleston in November 2026: The Big Events
4. The Turkey Shoot on Goldbug Island, Sponsored by StoMo
5. What Is a Turkey Shoot?
6. Where Are the Best Oyster Roasts Near Charleston in November 2026?
7. Outdoor Things to Do in Charleston in November
8. What's in Season in Charleston in November?
9. Thanksgiving in Charleston
10. November 2026 Week by Week
11. A Perfect November Weekend in Charleston
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Related Guides

Is November a Good Time to Visit Charleston?

Yes. November is one of the best months to visit Charleston, South Carolina, because the weather is mild and dry, oyster season is open, and crowds and room rates drop after October. It's also the driest month of the year here, with about 2.66 inches of rain, per the SC State Climatology Office.

 

• Smaller crowds. U.S. News calls late fall the quieter, cheaper window compared with spring, when Easter and garden tours push rates to the top.
• Hurricane season wraps up. It runs June 1 through November 30, per NOAA's Climate.gov.
• Oysters. The state's recreational shellfish season opened October 1, 2026.
• No summer sweat. You can walk South of Broad at 2 p.m. in one shirt.

 

The exception is Thanksgiving week, which books like April. Plan that week months ahead.

What Is the Weather Like in Charleston in November?

Charleston, South Carolina averages a November high of about 69°F and a low of about 47°F, based on NOAA's 1991 to 2020 U.S. Climate Normals for Charleston International Airport. Early November can still hit the upper 70s.

 

	Early November	Late November
Ocean temperature	About 65°F (Nov. 1, 2025)	About 60°F (Nov. 30, 2025)
Sunset	5:27 p.m. after clocks fall back	5:13 p.m.

 

Ocean readings are from SeaTemperature.info; sunsets from timeanddate.com (2025, within a minute of 2026).

What to Pack for Charleston in November

• Layers: a T-shirt, a fleece, and a light rain jacket.
• A warm coat for night events by the water.
• Old clothes for oyster roasts. You'll smell like wood smoke.
• Shoes for cobblestones. Chalmers Street eats thin soles.
• Bug spray. No-see-ums still bite at dusk near the marsh.

Things to Do in Charleston in November 2026: The Big Events

The biggest things to do in Charleston in November 2026 are the Food & Wine Classic (November 13 to 15), the Charleston Literary Festival (November 6 to 15), and the opening of the Holiday Festival of Lights on November 13. Checked October 2026; confirm tickets with each organizer.

Festivals and Shows

• Food & Wine Classic, November 13 to 15. Grand Tastings with 100+ winemakers, distillers, and restaurants, plus demos from Carla Hall, Eric Ripert, and Charleston's own Mike Lata. The add-on events were listed sold out; passes were still on sale.
• Charleston Literary Festival, November 6 to 15, at the Dock Street Theatre, with Barbara Kingsolver and Roxane Gay.
• YALLFest, November 13 and 14, the young-adult book festival at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King Street. Mostly free.
• Coastal Carolina Fair, through November 8, at Exchange Park in Ladson, with 80+ rides. Bring a clear bag.
• Harvest Festival, Saturday, November 7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Johns Island County Park.
• Charleston Symphony, November 20 and 21, Brahms and Bartók at the Gaillard Center.
• The Citadel homecoming, November 7, 2 p.m., vs. Furman, the Bulldogs' only November home game.

 

Two corrections to other lists. The Charleston Scottish Games are canceled for 2026. And the Southern Christmas Show is in Charlotte, not Ladson. The local equivalent is the Charleston Holiday Market, November 20 to 22, at the North Charleston Convention Center. Exchange Park's craft show, Christmas Made in the South, is December 4 to 6.

Veterans Day in Charleston

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026, an NPS fee-free day, so visit Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. The city's Veterans Day Parade ran Sunday, November 2, in 2025, at 1 p.m. from Concord and Market Streets to Broad Street [CONFIRM 2026 DATE with the City of Charleston].

The Holiday Kickoff

• Holiday Festival of Lights opens Friday, November 13, at James Island County Park, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Buy online for a green night.
• Nathaniel Russell House candlelight tours, November 20 and 21, 51 Meeting Street, $45. They sell out.
• Aquarium Aglow opens November 20, select nights, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
• Sippin' Santa opens November 27 at Prohibition, 547 King Street.
• Small Business Saturday is November 28. Shop King Street.

The Turkey Shoot on Goldbug Island, Sponsored by StoMo

The Goldbug Island Turkey Shoot is a charity shotgun contest run by the East Cooper Outboard Motor Club (ECOMC) at 1560 Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant, and 2026 is its 63rd year. You fire one shell at a paper target, and the pellet closest to the crosshairs wins a Harris Teeter gift card. Take the last left before the Ben Sawyer Bridge.

 

From the official site, goldbugturkeyshoot.com (checked October 2026):

 

Week	2026 Shooting Nights
Week 1	Wed. to Sat., Nov. 4, 5, 6 and 7
Week 2	Wed. to Sat., Nov. 11, 12, 13 and 14
Week 3	Wed. to Sat., Nov. 18, 19, 20 and 21
Thanksgiving week	Mon. to Wed., Nov. 23, 24 and 25

 

• Time: About 6:30 to 10 p.m.
• Format: Ten lanes, one shell per shooter, with turkey rounds, 50/50 rounds, kids-only rounds, and ladies' rounds.
• Guns and ammo: House shotguns provided, or bring your own 12-gauge or .410 with a barrel of 36 inches or less. No optics. Shells provided; do not bring ammo.
• Food: Hot dogs and boiled peanuts from the Ladies Auxiliary.
• Price per shot: [CONFIRM 2026 PRICE WITH ORGANIZER at 843-991-2626]. It was $5 in 2019. The club takes Venmo (@ECOMC).

 

The shoot has raised more than $725,800 for local charities, per the club's 2026 sponsor package, including East Cooper Community Outreach and Fisher House Charleston.

A Thank-You to StoMo

This year's shoot is sponsored by StoMo, the family-owned portable storage company on Atkins Street in North Charleston, and its moving service, MoveMo. That's the kind of quiet local support that keeps a 63-year tradition going. If you're moving, renovating, or between houses this winter, give StoMo a call and tell them the turkey shoot sent you.

 

💡 Local Tip: Go on a Wednesday or Thursday in the first two weeks. Thanksgiving week is the busiest stretch, since everybody home from college wants a turn. Get there at 6:30, buy boiled peanuts while you wait for your round, and bring a real jacket. The wind off the waterway at night is no joke.

What Is a Turkey Shoot?

A turkey shoot is a marksmanship contest, usually held around Thanksgiving, where shooters pay per shot and the most accurate shooter wins a turkey or another prize. Most modern turkey shoots use shotguns at paper targets about 25 to 35 yards away, and the pellet closest to the center wins.

 

James Fenimore Cooper called it an "ancient amusement" in his 1823 novel The Pioneers. The original, per a 1953 American Rifleman article reprinted by the NRA, used a live turkey tied behind a log about 60 yards out. Shoots later moved to paper targets and frozen birds.

 

Why a shotgun makes it fair: Mount Pleasant Magazine reported the Goldbug shells carry 300 to 400 pellets at an 8 by 10 inch target. One lucky pellet wins, so a first-timer can beat a deer hunter.

 

First time? Listen to the range officers, use the house gun, and bring eye and ear protection [CONFIRM whether ECOMC supplies them].

Where Are the Best Oyster Roasts Near Charleston in November 2026?

The best oyster roasts near Charleston in November 2026 are Shellabration at Bowens Island on November 8, A Very Merry Oyster Roast at James Island County Park on November 14, and the Mingo Point Thanksgiving Oyster Roast on Kiawah Island on November 27. They're the single best reason to come this month.

What Is an Oyster Roast?

An oyster roast is a Lowcountry party where clusters of local oysters are steamed under wet burlap on a steel sheet over a fire, shoveled onto a long table, and shucked by hand while hot. They cook 8 to 10 minutes. The etiquette:

 

• One glove, one knife. Glove the oyster hand.
• The hole in the table is for shells only. Cups and napkins go in the trash.
• Saltines and cocktail sauce. Oyster on a cracker, repeat.
• Recycle the shells so SCDNR can rebuild reefs.

 

Why the "R months"? Oysters spawn in summer, so SCDNR sets the season for fall to spring: October 1, 2026, to May 15, 2027.

The 2026 Roasts

Roast	Date and Time	Where	Price	Included
Habitat for Humanity Oyster Roast & BBQ	Sat., Nov. 7, from 1 p.m.	Citadel Beach Club, 4700 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms	$75	Oysters, barbecue
Shellabration	Sun., Nov. 8, 3 to 7 p.m. (VIP 1:30)	Bowens Island Restaurant, 1870 Bowens Island Rd.	$100, VIP $200	Oysters from five farms, chef plates, beer, wine. 21+
A Very Merry Oyster Roast	Sat., Nov. 14, 5:30 to 8 p.m.	Wando Shelter, James Island County Park	$65	Oysters, chili, beer, wine, Festival of Lights admission [CONFIRM 2026 at ccprc.com]
Fins and Flippers Fundraiser	Sun., Nov. 22, 1 to 4 p.m.	Bowens Island Dockhouse	$65, or $40 without the boil	Benefits marine mammal rescue
Mingo Point Thanksgiving Roast & BBQ	Fri., Nov. 27, 4 to 6 or 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.	Mingo Point, Kiawah Island	$65 adults, $32 ages 4 to 12	Buffet, all-you-can-eat oysters [CONFIRM SEATINGS]
Black Friday Oyster Roast	Fri., Nov. 27, from 11 a.m.	Holy City Brewing, 1021 Aragon Ave., North Charleston	$30	[CONFIRM 2026 DETAILS]

 

Also mark Drayton Hall's Deck the Hall Oyster Roast, Sunday, December 6, 2026, 2 to 5 p.m., about $85.

 

💡 Local Tip: Leave the good jacket in the car. You'll smell like wood smoke and pluff mud by the second shovelful, and that's the point. Bring an old fleece, a cheap hardware-store glove, your own knife, and eat lunch first. The starving folks are always the ones elbowing in.

Outdoor Things to Do in Charleston in November

November is the best month for outdoor things to do in Charleston, because the heat and the summer crowds are gone and the fish and birds are moving.

 

Beach days: Walking, yes. Swimming, only in a wetsuit. A sunny afternoon on Sullivan's Island is perfect for a long walk, and from October 1 to April 30 leashed dogs are welcome any time at Folly Beach County Park.

 

Fishing: November and December are two of the best months for redfish and speckled trout, which feed hard in the creeks before winter, per the Folly Beach November fishing report. Anglers 16 and up need a saltwater license; a nonresident 14-day license is $11, per SCDNR.

 

Birding: Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge sees peregrine falcons and merlins in fall, plus migrating shorebirds and ducks arriving late in the season, per the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Bulls Island ferry leaves Garris Landing in Awendaw on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays [CONFIRM 2026 TIMES AND FARE]. Closer in, Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel is $2, Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Kayaking: No gnats, no heat. Coastal Expeditions' guided kayak tour is $58, with Monday departures from Shem Creek [CONFIRM NOVEMBER SCHEDULE].

 

Gardens: Fall is camellia time, and nobody tells visitors. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens has 6,500+ sasanqua camellias that bloom in November and December, per the American Camellia Society. It's open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Thanksgiving. Middleton Place's big camellia show waits until February.

 

Angel Oak and Wadmalaw: The Angel Oak on Johns Island is free, closed holidays. The Charleston Tea Garden harvest ends in early October, though the free factory tour runs year-round.

What's in Season in Charleston in November?

In November, Charleston's local seafood is oysters and the tail end of fall white shrimp, and farm stands have collards, sweet potatoes, turnip greens, and pecans. Best eating month of the year, if you ask me.

 

• Shrimp: SCDNR says fall white shrimp peak in September and October and usually run through December. Ask for local at the counter.
• Greens, roots, and pecans: All in season, per Certified SC Grown's 2026 harvest chart.

 

The Charleston Farmers Market runs Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Marion Square, through about November 21 [CONFIRM FINAL DATE].

Thanksgiving in Charleston

Thanksgiving in Charleston, South Carolina is Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the big events are the Turkey Day Run downtown, the last three nights of the Goldbug turkey shoot, and Black Friday oyster roasts.

Is There a Turkey Trot in Charleston?

Yes. The Turkey Day Run & Gobble Wobble 5K starts at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2026, at Marion Square. It's the 49th annual edition, and more than 9,500 runners and walkers registered in 2025. "We're third largest in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day," race director Patrick Tivnan told ABC News 4.

 

The 5K is $40 (rising Nov. 2), the 10:30 a.m. Kids Fun Run is $10, and there's no race-day registration or packet pickup; the expo is Wednesday, Nov. 25 [CONFIRM LOCATION: listed at the Omar Shrine Center, Mt. Pleasant]. Strollers yes, pets no. Details at turkeydayrun.com. The free Daniel Island Turkey Trot is Saturday, November 21.

 

💡 Local Tip: Don't drive to the start at 8:45. Park by 7:30 in a garage on the upper peninsula, like the Charleston Visitor Center garage on Meeting Street, and walk over. If you're cheering, stand on King Street south of Calhoun with a coffee and catch your runner on the way to the finish.

What Do Locals Eat at Thanksgiving in the Lowcountry?

A Lowcountry Thanksgiving table usually has turkey plus oyster dressing, red rice, collard greens, sweet potatoes, and pecan pie, often with she-crab soup first. Pick up benne wafers at Olde Colony Bakery in Mt. Pleasant.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner Out or To Go

Book early, because many independent Charleston restaurants close on Thanksgiving Day. Posted for 2026:

 

Where	2026 Details	Price
Gabrielle at Hotel Bennett, 404 King St.	Multi-course dinner, 3 to 9 p.m.	Reported $115 adults [CONFIRM at 843-203-0922]
The Restaurant at Middleton Place	Buffet, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.	Reported $119 adults [CONFIRM]
Jasmine Porch, Kiawah Island Golf Resort	Buffet, noon to 8 p.m.	$184 adults, $98 ages 4 to 12

 

To go: Hamby Catering (909 St. Andrews Blvd.) sells a feast for $289 for 8; order by 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, pick up Wednesday, Nov. 25.

How Can You Give Back at Thanksgiving in Charleston?

The best ways to give back at Thanksgiving in Charleston are volunteering or donating at the Lowcountry Food Bank, One80 Place, and East Cooper Community Outreach. The Lowcountry Food Bank reports it distributed 42.5 million pounds of food in 2025 and serves about 204,000 people. Holiday shifts fill fast, so sign up early.

November 2026 Week by Week

Week	What's On
Nov. 1 to 7	Clocks fall back (1); turkey shoot opens (4); Literary Festival (6); Habitat roast, Harvest Festival, Citadel homecoming (7)
Nov. 8 to 14	Shellabration (8); Veterans Day (11); Festival of Lights, Food & Wine Classic, YALLFest (13); Very Merry Oyster Roast (14)
Nov. 15 to 21	Aquarium Aglow, candlelight tours, Symphony, Holiday Market (20); Daniel Island Turkey Trot (21)
Nov. 22 to 28	Fins and Flippers roast (22); last shoot nights (23 to 25); Turkey Day Run (26); Mingo Point roast, Sippin' Santa (27); Small Business Saturday (28)

 

💡 Local Tip: Book November 13 to 15 or November 20 to 22. Either gets you a turkey shoot night, an oyster roast, and the Festival of Lights without Thanksgiving rates. Food & Wine weekend fills downtown hotels, so look in Mt. Pleasant.

A Perfect November Weekend in Charleston

Here's my mid-November Friday to Sunday for visiting friends (rooms: our places to stay in Charleston guide).

 

1. Friday, 4 p.m.: Walk the Battery before the 5:15 sunset.
2. Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Turkey shoot on Goldbug Island, then dinner in Mt. Pleasant (picks in our Charleston eat and drink guide).
3. Saturday, 8 a.m.: Charleston Farmers Market in Marion Square, if it's still running.
4. Saturday, 10:30 a.m.: Sasanqua camellias at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.
5. Saturday, 5:30 p.m.: Whichever oyster roast is on your weekend.
6. Saturday, 8 p.m.: Drive the Holiday Festival of Lights (from November 13).
7. Sunday, 9 a.m.: Kayak Shem Creek, or drive to the Angel Oak.
8. Sunday, 1 p.m.: A long beach walk on Sullivan's Island, then home.

 

Thanksgiving weekend? Add the Turkey Day Run Thursday and Mingo Point on Friday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is November a good time to visit Charleston? 

Yes. November is one of the best months to visit Charleston, South Carolina. Highs average about 69°F, it's the driest month of the year, oyster season is open, and crowds and room rates drop after October. The exception is Thanksgiving week, which books up like spring, so reserve that week early.

 

What is the weather like in Charleston in November? 

Charleston, South Carolina averages a November high of about 69°F and a low of about 47°F, with roughly 2.7 inches of rain, according to NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals. Days are mild enough for a T-shirt, but nights get cool, so pack a jacket for oyster roasts and evening events.

 

Can you swim in Charleston in November?

 Most people don't. The ocean off Charleston, South Carolina starts November around 65°F and cools toward 60°F by the end of the month, which feels cold without a wetsuit. November is still great for beach walks on Sullivan's Island and Folly Beach, and leashed dogs are allowed at Folly Beach County Park in the off-season.

 

What is a turkey shoot? 

A turkey shoot is a marksmanship contest where shooters pay per shot and the most accurate wins a turkey or another prize. Modern versions use shotguns at paper targets, and the pellet closest to the center wins. In Mt. Pleasant, the East Cooper Outboard Motor Club has run a charity turkey shoot on Goldbug Island since 1963.

 

Is there a turkey trot in Charleston? 

Yes. The Turkey Day Run & Gobble Wobble 5K starts at Marion Square in downtown Charleston, South Carolina at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving, November 26, 2026. It's one of the largest Thanksgiving races in the country, with more than 9,500 entrants in 2025. There's no race-day registration or packet pickup, so plan ahead.

 

Where can I go to an oyster roast near Charleston in November? 

Top November 2026 oyster roasts near Charleston include Shellabration at Bowens Island on November 8, A Very Merry Oyster Roast at James Island County Park on November 14, and the Mingo Point Thanksgiving Oyster Roast on Kiawah Island on November 27. Most cost $65 to $100 and include all-you-can-eat oysters.

 

What events are in Charleston in November 2026? 

Major November 2026 events in Charleston, South Carolina include the Food & Wine Classic (November 13 to 15), the Charleston Literary Festival (November 6 to 15), the Goldbug Island Turkey Shoot (select nights November 4 to 25), the Holiday Festival of Lights opening November 13, and the Turkey Day Run on Thanksgiving morning.

About the Author

Robert Smith is the owner of Charleston.com and the founder of The Chart Group, a Johns Island media company that has spent years producing photography, video, and web work for Lowcountry businesses. He writes from first-hand experience: the restaurants he has eaten at, the shows he has seen, and the trips he has actually taken.

 

Charleston.com is a local destination guide in Charleston, South Carolina that helps visitors and residents find the best things to do, eat, drink, and see across the Lowcountry, written by people who live here.

Related Guides

• Plan the rest of your trip with our complete guide to things to do in Charleston, SC
• Find oysters and shrimp and grits in our Charleston eat and drink guide
• Explore Shem Creek, Sullivan's Island, and the road to Goldbug Island in our Mt. Pleasant area guide
• Plan an off-season beach walk with our Folly Beach guide
• See what's on each November weekend with Weekend Buzz

 

Planning the rest of your trip? Start with our things to do in Charleston, SC guide.