How to Spend A Day in Charleston, SC, in the Fall

Charleston SC The Gin Joint
Pamela Wingard Barefoot Living

The perfect fall day in Charleston

Spend a Day in Charleston in the fall when the humidity drops and the air is cooler (at least a little).The Charleston Farmer’s Market is the perfect place to start your day in Charleston in the fall. It opens every Saturday in Marion Square from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through the end of November.

Coastal Cowgirl Coffee Charleston
Coastal Cowgirl Coffee Charleston

Enjoy sipping a cup of coffee from Coastal Cowgirl Coffee while pursuing the tents. Not to be clichéd, but your day in Charleston in the fall is not complete without a pumpkin vanilla sweet cream cold brew.

Charleston Farmers Market
Charleston Farmers Market flower truck
Charleston Farmers Market flower truck Sweet Jessamine

In addition to the fresh local produce, the Charleston Farmer’s Market has art vendors, food vendors, and live music. A fall day in Charleston provides the perfect weather for browsing. 


I love the fresh sourdough bread from the Bright Light Bakery. Don’t miss building your own bouquet from The Sweet Jessamine Flower Truck. It’s super-cute too!

Beautiful South Charleston bar
Beautiful South Charleston cocktail
Beautiful South Charleston  dumplings

A day in Charleston in the fall should include lunch in a cozy spot. Sit at the bar at Beautiful South and have the bartender make you one of their specialty cocktails that pair well with the spice of the Asian food. I had the … which was served in a coupe style martini glass. My fave. I love sipping a fancy cocktail from a beautiful glass. Even if it had no alcohol in it. Which mine actually did.

Order a few appetizers or a stir-fry meal. I like the dumplings, which were served with a spicy sauce. The side of cucumbers was generous, super-hot, but really delicious with a sesame oil sauce.

Candlefish Store Charleston workshop
Candlefish Store Charleston candle making
Candlefish Store Charleston making candles
Candlefish Store Charleston

I love a little 'makers' activity on a day in Charleston in the fall. Spend a couple of hours at Candlefish, where you can create your own candles. You begin by blind smelling the featured scents to pick your favorite. If you are really curious, you can peek behind the card to see what the scent formula contains. Still, the idea behind it is that you don’t let the ingredients influence what you like; you choose it purely for the smell.

Candlefish Store Charleston tools
Candlefish Store Charleston candle

You also have the option of creating your own mix by selecting a combination of three individual scents and making it your own. That was my favorite part. The good thing is that if you smell it once it’s mixed and you don’t like it, they will let you choose a pre-made scent. Since it was fall, I chose a woodsy, pine, and an earthy scent. Not overly creative, but seasonal.Then, label and name your scent, put on your safety goggles, and measure out the hot wax. Adjust your wicks, mix your scents into the wax, and pour your candles. Leave them there for a couple of days and go back to pick them up.

The Gin Joint Charleston cocktail special
The Gin Joint Charleston cocktail menu
The Gin Joint Charleston cocktail

After candle making, end your day in Charleston with a cocktail and an appetizer at The Gin Joint. It is moody and cozy, and perfect for a fall day in Charleston. They change their menu seasonally, so in addition to classic cocktails, you’ll find something that suits your mood. If you are adventurous, try the ‘Bartender’s Choice.’ Choose two adjectives from their list that describe the drink you are looking for, and they will surprise you. Super-fun! I chose ‘botanical’ and ‘refreshing’ and received a drink that was precisely that! It was a botanical gin with lime and simple syrup, served in a coup with a spring of mint. Perfect! They make an excellent old-fashioned, so if you prefer a classic, try one of those.

The Gin Joint Charleston burger
The Gin Joint Charleston salmon

The Gin Joint offers a selection of reasonably priced food items, most of which are delicious, although some of the serving sizes are small.

The salmon was perfectly cooked but is served as an appetizer portion.

The burger was hearty and the topping change with the seasons. They also offer a seasonal salad, which is always a good choice.

The Gin Joint Charleston

The fall is the perfect time to spend a day in Charleston because fewer tourists mean the sidewalks and restaurants are less crowded.However, the weather is still pleasant, but it feels like a nice autumn day.

Barefoot Living
How to Spend A Day in Charleston in the Fall Barefoot Living Pinterest
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