With vaccines rolling out daily and life getting back normal, Charleston is as alive as ever. Whether you are a local looking for some fun things to do, or an out-of-towner looking for things to do beyond just the stereotypical tourist activities, here are five things to do in Charleston this Memorial Day weekend. 

Beach Day 

A holiday weekend in Charleston wouldn’t be complete without a beach day. When deciding which beach to go to, it’s important to look at what is closest, traffic, parking, and what vibe you are looking for. We are obviously impartial to Folly since that’s where we call home. Folly is great for both families and active adults, alike. Folly has tons of great restaurants and obviously plenty of activities, like our surfing lessons, to do.

A few things to keep in mind if you are visiting Folly Beach (or any Charleston beach this holiday weekend):

• Leave early. Traffic can be a headache and parking can be hard to come by. Carpool if you can.

• No alcohol on the beach. Don’t even risk it. It’s not worth the ticket.

• Clean up after yourself. Don’t leave mounds of trash behind. We want our beaches to be enjoyable for everyone.

RiverDogs Game

Nothing says normalcy, like the return of live sports and nothing says summertime like baseball. The good news is the RiverDogs are home all weekend. Whether you are looking for a fun time with your family or just to kick back relax and drink some beers with friends, taking in a RiverDogs game is the perfect way to spend Memorial Day weekend.

Below is the schedule with promotions for the weekend (all games vs the Fayetteville Woodpeckers):

• ·Thursday, May 27th at 7:05 PM, Thirsty Thursday, $1 beer all night

• Friday, May 28th at 7:05 PM, Fireworks Friday, stay for fireworks after the game

• Saturday, May 29th at 6:05 PM, Saturdays Live at the Joe, stay for a light show after the game featuring state-of-the-art LED stadium lights

• Sunday, May 30th at 5:05 PM, MUSC Health Family Sunday, bring the entire family for fun activities for kids of all ages

Brewery Trolley Tour

All you craft beer lovers can take advantage of a new brewery trolley tour covering the upper Peninsula, also known as the Brewery District. The free trolley will run Saturday, May 29th from 12pm-8pm, and Sunday, May 30th from 12pm-6pm.

The Trolley starts at the Tradesman at the top of the hour and covers ten breweries before arriving back at the Tradesman five before the hour. You can check out the full schedule here: https://www.facebook.com/CHSBreweryDistrict

Live Music at the Windjammer

Just as live sports are back, live music is back too, and what better place to take in some live music than beachfront at the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms. The Windjammer is a quintessential stop for beach lovers and has been the premier live music beach venue in Charleston for the last 49 years.

Some of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend events happening on the Bud Light Beach Stage include:

• Thursday and Friday (May 27-May 28) the Futurebirds. (Note this show is currently sold out)

• Saturday, May 29th, Summer of 97 (alternative rock band based out of Nashville), show starts at 7pm

• ·Sunday, May 30th, WeirdScience, show starts at 7pm

Floating the Edisto

If you want to escape the beach traffic, but still want to enjoy time on the water, then pack your floats and head to the Edisto River. Most people choose to park at Givhans Ferry State park and float down to Boat Landing Rd. This float takes about four hours when the river is high and six hours when the river is low. There is also a sandbar in the middle to stop off at and grab a bite to eat or relax.

A few things to note if you are planning to float the Edisto: 

• Bring two cars, one to park at the start, and one to park at the finish

• Bring your own floats, drinks, and food

• Check the weather before heading out. You don’t want to get stuck in a storm while floating

If you aren’t a diy-floater or from out of town and don’t have floats, you can rent floats and purchase tickets that include shuttle access from Edisto River Adventures.

Our first post-Covid holiday weekend is upon us! Whatever you decide to do this Memorial Day weekend, we encourage you to stay safe and have fun!