Featured Press Releases

Use this library of press releases written by the Charleston Area CVB media relations department to mine for story ideas, stay abreast of what is new in the destination and learn about the special events that take place throughout the year.

For additional story ideas, we invite you to visit our blog.

For Immediate Release, November 2014
South Carolina’s Cultural Jewel Launches Virtual Advent Calendar

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN CHARLESTON

South Carolina’s Cultural Jewel Launches Virtual Advent Calendar


CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (November 25, 2014) - Discover merry ways to celebrate the holidays in Charleston with ChristmasinCharleston.com, an online guide to the destination’s dining, shopping, special events, gift ideas, seasonal tours, and lodging packages.

In Charleston, the Christmas season means Gullah spirituals, a boat parade, seasonal walking tours, Lowcountry culinary traditions, and much more. See what’s in store by visiting ChristmasinCharleston.com.

HIGHLIGHTED SPECIAL EVENTS
Named one of the best places to spend Christmas by Travel + Leisure, Charleston offers beloved festive events, including Circa 1886’s Dickens Dinner, James Island County Park’s Holiday Festival of Lights, and Middleton Place Plantation’s Grand Illumination.

- Circa 1886’s Dickens Dinner, December 10 & 11, 2014
Circa1886.com, (843) 853-7828
Circa 1886 hosts a lively retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol during a four-course dinner inspired by the novel.

- James Island County Parks Holiday Festival of Lights, now – January 1, 2015
Holidayfestivaloflights.com, (843) 795-4386
A fantasia of over two million twinkling lights line the three-mile drive that weaves through James Island County Park’s winter wonderland, where life-sized greeting cards, handmade gingerbread houses, costumed elves, and a carousel evoke the magic of the holiday season.

- Middleton Place Plantation’s Grand Illumination, December 18, 19, 20, 2014
Middletonplace.org, (843) 556-0500
Embark on a walking tour of Middleton Place Plantation by candlelight as costumed actors tell the story of Christmastime in Charleston circa 1782. Following the tour, guests are invited to enjoy historic beverages fireside and a buffet dinner prepared by the Middleton Place Restaurant.

HIGHLIGHTED HOTEL PACKAGES
The trimmings of a memorable holiday getaway may be found on ChristmasinCharleston.com.
Visitors may reference the website’s range of hotel packages such as the “Merry, Happy, Joyful” package at Two Meeting Street Inn, which includes a three-day, two-night stay with a bottle of champagne, a $100 gift certificate to High Cotton or Slightly North of Broad, and two tickets for a one-hour horse drawn carriage tour. Or, choose the “Holiday Festival of Lights” package at the Francis Marion Hotel. It includes a one-night stay, breakfast for a family of four, and one vehicle pass for the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park.

MADE IN CHARLESTON GIFTS
Gift giving inspiration is a click away with the ChristmasinCharleston.com gallery of made-in-Charleston products.

A sampling of items include:

- Bulls Bay Saltworks, bullsbaysaltworks.com
Sustainably harvested from Bulls Bay, a pristine estuary in Charleston, this line of solar evaporated sea salt is designed for the discerning home and personal chef.

- Callie’s Biscuits, calliesbiscuits.com
Born in 2005 from a beloved family recipe, Callie’s Biscuits turned a cocktail party staple into a booming cottage industry. The uniquely Charleston brand now includes a variety of hand-rolled biscuits, peach basil jam, pimento cheese, and cheese crisps.

- Charleston Rice Beads by Candy Shop Vintage, candyshopvintage.com
Charleston Rice Beads pay homage to the history of rice in Charleston. Candy Shop Vintage’s inspiration came from swinging chain necklaces from the 1970’s. Their Charleston Rice Bead line of bracelets and necklaces come in silver, gold, rose gold, coral, and turquoise.

- Christophe Artisan Pattisier, christophechoclatier.com
Christophe Paum is a third generation French chocolatier. His shop features hand-painted chocolates, freshly baked French pastries, chocolate bars, and chocolate sculptures.

- Rewined Candles, rewinedcandles.com
This Charleston-based company repurposes wine bottles and creates scents inspired by the tasting notes of wine. The most popular scents include champagne, pinot noir, and mimosa.

- The Original Charleston Bedswing, originalcharlestonbedswing.com
Made by southern hands in Charleston, the Original Charleston Bedswing adds style and comfort to any front porch.

CHRISTMAS IN CHARLESTON 2014 VIRTUAL ADVENT CALENDAR
The ChristmasinCharleston.com 2014 advent calendar kicks off on December 1. Visit the site once-a-day to discover unique reveals about Christmastime in Charleston from the area’s local tastemakers, shop owners, attractions, restaurants, and tour operators.

Highlights from the calendar include:

- A festive DIY decorating tip from noted event planner Tara Guérard, named one of Vogue’s Top 5 Star Wedding Planners in 2014

- A sweet holiday recipe from Heritage, Chef Sean Brock’s first New York Times best-selling cookbook

- A downloadable complimentary parking pass to use in select downtown city-owned parking garages

- A tradition-steeped eggnog recipe from Brooks Reitz, owner of Jack Rudy Cocktail Company

# # #


The mission of the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is to unify and lead the local travel industry in marketing the Charleston area as an individual, meeting, incentive and group destination to both the domestic and international markets. Explorecharleston.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: High-resolution photography of the Charleston area and product shots may be requested via explorecharleston.com/media.

Media Contacts:
Molly Waring, Assistant Director of Media Relations
[email protected]

Julia Melvin, Media Relations Assistant
[email protected]

Explorecharleston.com
Charlestonly.com
Twitter.com/ExploreChs
Facebook.com/ExploreCharleston
Instagram.com/ExploreCharleston
Pinterest.com/ExploreChs

Request a Visitors Guide

Where should we send your visitor guide?

*We will not sell or give away your personal information. Your privacy matters to us.

Would you like to receive e-mail updates about deals and events in Charleston?
May we send you offers from our partners?
Interests










Request a Digital Visitors Guide

contact_sendemail
udf_544













udf_659