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Paintings, nativity sets, masks, t-shirts, Pandora charms…
All things I might choose as a memento!
When I visit a cool city, I am always looking to find a souvenir that’s equally as cool as the city it comes from, that will bring to mind the great time that I had or add to one of my existing collections.
In Charleston, the place to go and find those mementos is the City Market, a historic market complex in the downtown area. Covering four city blocks, the market, established in the early 1800’s, is one of the oldest public markets in the nation and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Since this awesome shopping arcade was located across the street from my hotel, I spent quite a bit of time wandering through the sheds and the Great Hall. There was no shortage of things to buy or eat and sometimes the whole experience was one of entertainment, watching the painters paint and jewelry makers craft their pieces. The basket weavers were of special interest to me as their pieces reminded me of the ones I have seen in Africa. This particular style, however, was originally made to winnow rice in the plantations. The sweetgrass basket tradition was passed down over time and now highly sought after as a piece of art from Charleston.
And if entertainment is what you seek, between the months of March and December, you can visit the Night Market on Friday and Saturday evenings where more than a hundred talented artists and craftsmen exhibit their wares amidst live entertainment.
City Market is home to more than 300 industrialists and is open every day of the year except December 25th. Keep in mind, however, that weekends are busier than weekdays and summer livelier than winter, where you might find a larger number of empty tables.
So if you find yourself in Charleston, enjoy being outdoors, love shopping for locally made items and appreciate meeting locals, this is your place! And when you are done with your shopping, take a climb to the top floor of the front of the market for a visit to the Confederate museum!
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The Charleston City Market
- https://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com/
- Address: 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
- Hours: Open Air Shed, 0930-1700. Great Hall, 0930-1800. Night market, March to December, 1830-2230, Friday and Saturday
- Admission: free