What Is Open for Thanksgiving in Charleston, SC?

Thanksgiving in Charleston, SC falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Several downtown restaurants serve holiday menus that day, including Church and Union, Iron Rose, The Palmetto Cafe, and Gabrielle at Hotel Bennett. The Holiday Festival of Lights stays open that night. Fort Sumter and the South Carolina Aquarium close for the holiday.

Thanksgiving week is a quieter stretch on the Charleston calendar, but the long weekend still fills up. Holiday menus are set ahead, many need a reservation, and at least one popular buffet is already sold out. Below are the confirmed 2026 menus, what closes on the day, and what to do from Sunday, Nov. 22 through Sunday, Nov. 29.

Which Charleston Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving Day 2026?

These downtown restaurants have posted 2026 Thanksgiving menus: Church and Union, Edmund's Original, Frannie and the Fox, Gabrielle and the Crown Ballroom at Hotel Bennett, Iron Rose, The Palmetto Cafe, and the Swamp Fox. Middleton Place Restaurant, outside downtown, is listed as sold out.

Menus, hours, and prices as posted in October 2026. Confirm with each restaurant before you book, and ask whether gratuity is already added.

Downtown menus

Most of the list sits on the peninsula, so you can skip the drive on Thanksgiving Day. Church and Union serves only its holiday menu that day, so do not count on ordering off the regular menu. Iron Rose and Edmund's Original add gratuity to the check, which changes how the prices compare.

Families have options at kids pricing. Gabrielle, Church and Union, Edmund's Original, Iron Rose, the Swamp Fox, and The Palmetto Cafe all list a lower children's rate.

Outside downtown

Middleton Place Restaurant is on Ashley River Road, west of the river, so plan on a car. Its buffet price includes admission, and the listing showed it sold out with a waiting list as of Oct. 20.

Looking for a regular dinner before or after the holiday? Our Charleston restaurant guide covers breakfast through late drinks.

How Far Ahead Should You Book Thanksgiving Dinner in Charleston?

Book as soon as your dates are set. Middleton Place was already sold out by Oct. 20, and most of the other restaurants ask for reservations rather than walk-ins.

Can You Get Thanksgiving Dinner To Go in Charleston?

Some Charleston restaurants and caterers offer prepared Thanksgiving meals for pickup. Menus, order deadlines, and pickup days vary by business, so confirm each one directly before you plan around it.

A prepared meal pairs well with a kitchen. Suites at The Iris have full kitchens with an induction cooktop, a full-size refrigerator, a microwave, and a dishwasher. A full oven is not listed in the published amenities, so if you plan to cook more than sides, call 843.329.2040 to confirm the equipment in your suite before you book.

What Is Closed on Thanksgiving in Charleston?

Fort Sumter and the South Carolina Aquarium close on Thanksgiving Day. The Saturday farmers market in Marion Square also takes Saturday, Nov. 28 off.

Want the Fort Sumter ferry on your trip? Book it for Wednesday or Friday instead. The National Park Service lists the fort as closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

What Is There to Do in Charleston Over Thanksgiving Weekend?

Thanksgiving weekend in Charleston runs from a pre-holiday market on Sunday, Nov. 22 to the opening of A Christmas Carol on Sunday, Nov. 29, with the Turkey Day Run and the Festival of Lights in between.

Confirm every date, time, and ticket price with the organizer before you go.

Turkey Day Run (Thanksgiving morning)

The Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K starts at 9 a.m. at Marion Square, at Meeting and Calhoun streets. The course heads south on Meeting Street, passes White Point Gardens, and comes back up King Street to finish on the west side of Marion Square. The kids run follows at 10:30 a.m.

Not running? Allow extra time for downtown travel that morning. In 2025, the City of Charleston closed the race route to traffic during the event; check for a 2026 notice the week of the race. Packet pickup is no longer downtown. The race expo is Wednesday, Nov. 25 at the Omar Shrine Auditorium in Mount Pleasant.

Holiday Festival of Lights (Thanksgiving night)

The three-mile drive-through at James Island County Park is open Thanksgiving night from 5:30 to 10 p.m., per Charleston County Parks. It makes an easy after-dinner plan if you have a car. Our Holiday Festival of Lights guide covers tickets and timing.

Aquarium Aglow and A Christmas Carol (the weekend after)

Aquarium Aglow, the South Carolina Aquarium's holiday lights event, runs Friday through Sunday, Nov. 27 to 29. Timed entry slots run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and guests can stay until 9 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 29, Charleston Stage opens A Christmas Carol at the Dock Street Theatre. For the rest of the season, see Christmas in Charleston.

Shopping and the farmers markets

The West Ashley Thanksgiving Market runs Sunday, Nov. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. at Ackerman Park. The downtown market in Marion Square holds its last regular Saturday on Nov. 21 and skips Nov. 28, per the City of Charleston farmers market page. King Street shops stay a reliable option for the long weekend; check store hours on the day.

Do You Need a Car in Charleston Over Thanksgiving?

Not for downtown dinners. Every restaurant on the list except Middleton Place is on the peninsula. You will want a car or rideshare for the Festival of Lights, Middleton Place, and the West Ashley market.

Read do you need a car in Charleston for the full picture. If you are driving in, our Charleston parking breakdown covers garages and street parking. For the rest of the month, see Charleston in November.

Where Should You Stay in Charleston for Thanksgiving?

Stay on the peninsula if you plan to eat out on the day. Most holiday menus and the Turkey Day Run are downtown, so you can walk or take a short ride instead of hunting for parking on a busy holiday.

The Iris Charleston is an apartment hotel at 84 Line Street in Cannonborough-Elliottborough, one block from King Street. Marion Square, where the Turkey Day Run starts, is within walking distance. The trade-off is that the Meeting Street restaurants near the French Quarter are a longer walk or a short ride.

Suites have full kitchens, and select suites have an in-suite washer and dryer, which helps on a long weekend with family. On-site parking uses car carousels with size limits, and you can reserve a parking spot ahead of the holiday. Browse suites at The Iris or call 843.329.2040 with questions about Thanksgiving dates.

Thanksgiving in Charleston FAQs