Labor Day Weekend Events in Charleston, SC

If you are looking for something fun to do in Charleston, South Carolina over the 2010 Labor Day weekend, you are in luck. In addition to the fabulous beaches and delightful restaurants the city always has to offer, several special events highlighting music, food, and drink are planned for September 4-6, 2010.

Start the weekend early with an evening of music and dancing at the beach. On Friday, September 3, Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission hosts Moonlight Mixers "Shaggin' on the Pier" @7:00 p.m. at the Folly Beach pier. The Shag, the state dance of South Carolina, is easy to learn and easier to watch. Tickets are $10 for non-residents and $8 for residents in advance. Tickets are available for purchase online through the CCPRC website. The popular event is limited to 600 participants so tickets sell out quickly.

The Low Country Jazz Festival begins on Friday, September 3 with a jazz social starting at 7:00 p.m. at the North Charleston Aloft Hotel. On Saturday, September 4, jazz legend Spiro Gyra joins saxophonists Euge Groove and Paul "Shilts" Weimar and local trumpet player, Charlton Singleton for an evening of jazz celebration at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in North Charleston, SC. Tickets for the 7:30 show are $45-$55 and are available through Ticketmaster.

On Sunday, September 5, 2010, Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, SC again plays host to the BBQ & Bluegrass Festival. This annual event is great for kids and adults with plenty of entertainment for each. This year's musical guests are The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Dillards. The judged BBQ completion is open to professional and amateur "smokers." Vendors will be on hand to offer BBQ of all sorts, beer, wine and soft drinks. Folding chairs are okay to bring but leave the cooler and the pets behind. Adult admission to the festival is $20 for advanced tickets and $25 at the gate, children 6-12 are $8 and $10. The day long fun begins at noon.

Also on Sunday, is the 4th Annual Lowcountry Wine & Beer Festival. The event is held at Freshfields Village near the resort islands of Kiawah and Seabrook located about an hour from downtown Charleston. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., the two and half hour celebration features craft beers, wines, and regional food along with a performance by area jazz favorites, Cobblestone Quartette with George Kenny. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate and include food, beer and wine tasting and a commemorative glass.

Presented at Charleston's historic Dock Street Theater, Charleston Stage is performing the musical "Hairspray," September 2-19, 2010. Advanced tickets go on sale August 2 and run $38-$52 for adults with discounts available for seniors and students. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Sept. 3) and Saturday (Sept 4) and at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday (Sept 5). No shows are planned for Labor Day.

Mark Twain's comedic script for "Is He Dead" was adapted for the stage by playwright David Ives. The piece was written in 1898 but went unpublished until its rediscovery in 2002 by Twain expert, Shelley Fisher Fishkin. The Footlight Players Theater Company presents the 2-act play at 8:00 p.m., Sept. 2-4, 2010. Single tickets go on sale mid-August and will be available for purchase online.

Walking tours, carriage rides, art galleries, and antique stores round out the distractions available to visitors and residents alike in Charleston, SC over the Labor Day weekend.

Sources: http://www.charlestoncvb.com/visitors/events_news/charleston-events/2nd_annual_lowcountry_jazz_festival_-6431; http://www.charlestonarts.sc/?m=201009&cat=6;http://www.charlestonmag.com/events/lowcountry_wine_beer_festival;http://www.charlestonlowcountry.com/specialpages/moonlightmixers.html