Explore the Markets Around Charleston for Food, Crafts

Shop local during your Charleston vacation. Local markets are a great place to find locally made gifts and crafts and tasty eats while getting a true sense of the local community.

Charleston Farmers Market – Each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from April 14 to Nov. 24 in Marion Square, downtown Charleston. Check the website for details on additional Sunday markets during the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in May and June as well as Saturdays and Sundays in December for the Holiday Market. Peruse the more than 100 local vendors, including farmers and growers, sweet and savory food concessions, artisans and crafters plus live music and activities.

West Ashley Farmers Market – One of the area’s newest markets open 3-7 p.m. each Wednesday from April 25 to Oct. 3 at Ackerman Park, 55 Sycamore Ave. in Charleston. This market dedicated to the support and advocacy of local farmers and growers and will feature fresh seasonal produce, as well as sweet and savory foods from area vendors who source ingredients from nearby farms.

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market – Each Tuesday from 3:30-7 p.m. from April to September at the Farmers Market Pavilion, 645 Coleman Blvd. Stroll through the market to find a bounty of just-picked vegetables, fruits, and fragrant flowers along with local seafood, fresh-cooked meals, baked and canned goods, and locally produced snacks.

Summerville Farmers Market – Each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April to December in the First Citizens parking lot adjacent to Summerville Town Hall., 200 S. Main St. Browse fresh local produce, meats, seafood and baked goods while enjoying live music in the Market Café from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday Brunch Farmers Market – Local farmers and artists display their goods each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1977 Maybank Highway on James Island (behind The Pour House). The market is open year-round.

Sullivan’s Island Farmers Market – This market is open 2:30-6:30 p.m. each Thursday from April 12 to June 28 in front of Edgar Allan Poe Library, 1921 I’On Ave.

Johns Island Farmers Market – This one-stop shopping for locally sourced food. This mission of this market is to bring interactive ways to educate the community on the health and environmental benefits of making sustainable choices. The market is open year-round, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday at 2024 Academy Road on Johns Island.

Folly Beach Farmers Market – Open 4-8 p.m. each Monday at Folly River Park on Center Street. Shop local and enjoy a sustainable market, supporting local farmers and artisans. The Folly Beach Farmer’s Market is a fun event for all ages with live music, kids’ activities and food.

North Charleston Farmers Market – This market is 3-7 p.m. each Thursday from May 10 to Oct. 25 at Felix C Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Circle. The market offers an abundance of fresh, locally grown produce plus art & craft vendors, food trucks, specialty foods, kids’ activities and entertainment. Enjoy live music by groups and individuals during each market from 5-7 p.m.

Evenings in the Market – From 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday night from March to December. This street fair-style event showcases local artists, food vendors and designers the Historic Charleston City Market.

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Charleston FAQ's

Best Places to Stay and Hotels in Charleston?

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

What Beach in Charleston is Best?

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

What are some historical things to do in Charleston?

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

What to do with the family and kids in Charleston?

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

Are you a Charleston First Time Visitor? Checkout the guide

There’s so many things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Charleston things to do in the Spring season?

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Charleston things to do in the Summer season?

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info:

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Charleston things to do in the Fall season?

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

What should I not miss in Charleston?

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

How many days do I need in Charleston?

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions:

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Is Charleston a walkable city? Do I need a car?

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well:

Getting Around Charleston, SC

Is Savannah or Charleston better?

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion:

Both cities are historic and beautiful.
Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston.
Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options.
Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
Both cities have equally good tours.
Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance.
Savannah is more affordable.
TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com