Mount Pleasant's Christmas Light Parade rolls down Coleman Boulevard Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, after fireworks at 5:30 p.m. The Towne Centre tree lights up Nov. 21.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the Town of Mount Pleasant’s special events page and Experience Mount Pleasant listings, the town’s 2024 parade notice and Mount Pleasant Towne Centre.

Mount Pleasant’s holiday season runs on three dates this year: the Lights Up tree lighting at Towne Centre on Saturday, Nov. 21, the town’s Holiday Market and Craft Show on Saturday, Dec. 12, and the 31st annual Christmas Light Parade on Sunday, Dec. 13, which opens with fireworks and ends with Santa on a Mount Pleasant fire truck.

Who to call

  • Parade and market: Town of Mount Pleasant Special Events Office, events@tompsc.com, main line 843-884-8517
  • Police non-emergency, on the night: 843-884-4176
  • Emergency: 911

The 2026 dates at a glance

Date Event Where Time
Saturday, Nov. 21 Lights Up tree lighting Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, in front of Belk 6 to 8 p.m.; lighting 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22 Merry Makers Market (new) Park West Recreation Complex 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12 Holiday Market and Craft Show Farmers Market Pavilion, 645 Coleman Blvd. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 Christmas Light Parade Coleman Boulevard Fireworks 5:30 p.m.

The Christmas Light Parade

The parade starts with a fireworks show at 5:30 p.m., then leaves Live Oak Drive and runs down Coleman Boulevard to Patriots Point Road, the town says. Expect marching bands, a Mount Pleasant Police motorcycle show and lighted floats, with Santa arriving on a town fire truck. The town posts weather and status updates on its Facebook event page.

Road closures on the town’s listing for this year:

Time Closed
4 p.m. Coleman Boulevard, Whilden Street to Pherigo Street, for the lineup
5 p.m. Coleman Boulevard, Whilden Street to Patriots Point Road
5 p.m. The Ravenel Bridge off-ramp onto Coleman Boulevard; traffic goes to U.S. 17
5 p.m. Patriots Point Road from Coleman Boulevard to Harry Hallman Boulevard; Patriots Point, hotel and golf traffic uses Harry Hallman

At the 2024 parade, the town said roads typically reopened between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., earliest near the start line, and that drivers were directed north as streets reopened.

Where to watch. The town says people line both sides of West Coleman Boulevard along the whole route, and that tailgating is a parade tradition. It asks spectators not to set up in the lineup area, on Coleman Boulevard between Live Oak Drive and Pherigo Street. In 2024 it placed lighted portable toilets along the route, with public restrooms at Shem Creek Park and Memorial Waterfront Park.

Drones. The town asks drone pilots not to fly over or along the route; the FAA requires a Part 107 waiver to fly at night or over people.

Lights Up tree lighting

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre’s Lights Up is Saturday, Nov. 21, in front of Belk. Pre-lighting festivities start at 6 p.m., and the center’s 44-foot Christmas tree and a laser light show light at 7:30 p.m. Santa visits, the East Cooper Baptist Church choir and orchestra and Jared Petteys and the Headliners perform, and food trucks and dessert vendors sell treats. Camp Rise Above sells light-up items as a fundraiser.

Holiday markets

The town’s Holiday Market and Craft Show turns the Farmers Market Pavilion, 645 Coleman Blvd., into a gift market on Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: ornaments, glasswork, pottery and photography from local makers, live entertainment, balloon art and a visit from Santa. Admission and parking are free. The new Merry Makers Market of local farmers, bakers and artists comes first, on Sunday, Nov. 22, at Park West Recreation Complex.

What this means for you

  • Coleman Boulevard closes from 4 p.m. on Dec. 13; use U.S. 17 if you are crossing town.
  • Arrive early to tailgate and claim a spot; the fireworks open the parade.
  • Shop the Holiday Market the day before the parade.

Related guides: things to do this month, getting around Mount Pleasant and road construction.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Mount Pleasant Christmas parade in 2026?

The 31st annual Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade is Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026. It starts at 5:30 p.m. with fireworks, then rolls from Live Oak Drive down Coleman Boulevard to Patriots Point Road.

What roads close for the Mount Pleasant Christmas parade?

The town’s schedule closes Coleman Boulevard from Whilden Street to Pherigo Street at 4 p.m. and from Whilden Street to Patriots Point Road at 5 p.m., along with the Ravenel Bridge off-ramp onto Coleman and Patriots Point Road down to Harry Hallman Boulevard.

When is the Christmas tree lighting in Mount Pleasant?

Lights Up at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre is Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., with the lighting of the center’s 44-foot tree and a laser show at 7:30 p.m. in front of Belk.

When is the Mount Pleasant Holiday Market?

The town’s Holiday Market and Craft Show is Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Farmers Market Pavilion, 645 Coleman Blvd. Admission and parking are free.