Start planning for Charleston's best spring events in 2025!
There’s one particular time here in the Lowcountry when a whole slew of terrific events all converge on a single weekend.
Normally it’s toward the end of March or the beginning of April. Typically the weather is downright lovely. Carolina blue skies, warm temps and cool breezes make it a perfect time to be outside. The azaleas have awakened from winter, and all hues of flowers are in bloom.
Of course, I’m talking what’s come to be known around these parts as Bridge Run Weekend, when the Cooper River Bridge Run kicks up its heels. But it’s just one of the many fun things all happening around the same time.
The 48th Annual Cooper River Bridge Run
The Cooper River Bridge Run draws some of the best runners on the planet to Charleston, along with 30,000 or so others who just come for the fun of it. Most run the 10K, although you can walk it, too (or a combination thereof).
The race kicks off early Saturday morning, April 5th, with the awesomely speedy wheelchair racers, followed by the runners at 8:00 a.m. The elite athletes, many from Kenya and Ethiopia, line up near the front, with participants grouped in corrals according to time. They start on Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, head over the Cooper River via the Ravenel Bridge, onto the downtown Charleston peninsula, ending up at the finish line on Meeting Street. The massive afterparty takes place on Marion Square, where Meeting, King and Calhoun Streets converge.
Even if you don’t take part in the race, you can cheer on the runners from the sidelines. A great viewing spot is at the base of the Ravenel Bridge on the Mount Pleasant side; you can park at Waterfront Park and walk up the path from there. There’re usually DJs and live music along the route to help spur on the racers. Keep an eye peeled for costumes, which can get pretty creative.
Each year there’s a contest in late summer for the official design, which lands on T-shirts, hats and other merch. This year’s winner, Chuck Jones, incorporated a plethora of Lowcountry elements into the logo - the Ravenel Bridge, St. Michael’s and St Philip’s churches, the palmetto and the SC state flag, the Charleston City Market, a sweetgrass basket, and more. Read more about the Bridge Run here.
Flowertown Festival
Going on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 4th – 6th) is the ever-popular Flowertown Festival in historic Summerville, just up I-26 from Charleston.
It’s one of the largest arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast. Begun in 1973 by the Summerville Family YMCA as a fundraiser for health and wellness, this year marks the the 52nd annual incarnation.
Basically, the Flowertown Festival takes over the charming downtown area around South Main Street and Azalea Park, where the azaleas, wisteria and dogwood are usually in their full glory. Get set for vendors galore, plenty of food and live music. Hours are 9-6 Friday and Saturday, and 9-4 on Sunday. Find more about the Flowertown here.
Credit One Charleston Open
A hundred of the world’s best female tennis players come to the Lowcountry each spring for the Charleston Open. This tennis tournament has deep roots, starting in Hilton Head as the Family Circle Cup, before it moved here to Charleston, where it was known as the Volvo Car Open. All the big players - Chris, Martina, Steffi, Venus and Serena, you name it, they’ve played here.
It seems to get bigger and better each year, with Credit One coming on as the lead sponsor. They recently completed a $50 million renovation of the spiffy Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island. The Charleston Open has been named the Tournament of the Year for the past three years – a huge honor.
The tournament kicks off March 29th, with the final happening on Sunday, April 6th, the day after the Bridge Run. It’s not too early to purchase tickets. Read all about it here.
The Charleston Festival
One of Charleston’s best loved features is its historic downtown homes and gardens. The Historic Charleston Foundation has been running its very popular annual Festival of Houses and Gardens for many decades now - 78 years, to be exact. Not only has it been a fantastic fundraiser for their worthy work, but it’s also allowed the public inside to see these gems up close and personally.
Now called The Charleston Festival, it runs a full month, from March 13th through April 13th, 2025. Several neat events are happening on Bridge Run weekend, including morning history walks, Beyond the Garden Gates and Church Street Tours, Bubbles & Blooms at the Nathaniel Russell House, a luncheon lecture on Robert Smalls, Artisans at Work at the College of Building Arts, and Blues & BBQ at the Captain James Missroon House.
Read more about The Charleston Festival here.
Boone Hall’s Strawberry Festival
There’s one more popular festival which may be happening that weekend. It’s the annual Strawberry Festival at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. They haven’t announced the exact dates this year, since it depends on the strawberry crop, the weather, and how the fruit is progressing. But it’s often coincided with Bridge Run Weekend, and very well may again. Read more here.
The Big Weekend books up fast - but we still have some availability…
A luxury vacation home on the Isle of Palms makes the perfect home base for the Big Weekend - and that weekend fills up quickly on the calendar.
We do still have availability in a few Isle of Palms vacation rentals. If you’re interested, be sure to contact us ASAP.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger