11/18/2024 to 12/07/2024
Get DirectionsThe immensely popular festival helps usher in the holiday season.
Mepkin Abbey, located on the scenic banks of the Cooper River in Moncks Corner, is a Lowcountry treasure. Home to a functioning Trappist monastery, the brothers welcome guests and host events throughout the year, including Spoleto.
Their most popular event is their annual Crèche Festival, which takes place around Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent. The Abbey has a massive, world class collection of crèches, or nativity scenes. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the head of a pin to life-sized, in all different media, and from different countries across the globe.
Each year they carefully select a large number to display to the public. Over 80 volunteers help out, transforming the library into a forest-like setting that makes an enchanting backdrop for the nativities, and situating others outdoors around the lush grounds of Mepkin.
The Crèche Festival grown in popularity and now hosts well over 10,000 visitors per year. There is no charge (donations are welcome and appreciated)… but you must reserve a spot in advance. Word to the wise – they book up very quickly.
The dates for 2024’s Crèche Festival are Nov. 18th - 23rd and Nov. 29th - Dec. 7th. Online registration begins October 1st.