Nutcracker and holiday shows in North Charleston 2026

Last checked Oct. 24, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates and times come from each venue’s own event page, linked below.

The Nutcracker comes to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, the day after Christmas. Before that, the PAC’s holiday run starts with Mannheim Steamroller on Nov. 24 and packs five holiday shows into Nov. 28 to Dec. 6. South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker plays three nights at the Charleston Music Hall, about eight miles south, from Nov. 30.

Box offices

• North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center: 843-529-5000, 5001 Coliseum Drive
• Charleston Music Hall: 843-853-2252, 37 John St., Charleston

The Nutcracker

• Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, Saturday, Dec. 26, 3 p.m. At the North Charleston Performing Arts Center; doors open at 2 p.m. (event page).
• South Carolina Ballet: The Nutcracker, Monday, Nov. 30, to Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. The company dances William Starrett’s Nutcracker to Tchaikovsky’s score in three evening performances at the Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St., with doors at 6 p.m. (Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 2).
• Rat King: The Untold and Twisted Tail of a Nutcracker Christmas, Sunday, Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m. A South Carolina Ballet show at the Charleston Music Hall, doors at 5:30 p.m. (event page).

Holiday shows at the Performing Arts Center

From the Coliseum and Performing Arts Center calendar:

Parking and getting there

• The Coliseum and Performing Arts Center lists $10 parking for its events, in the lots around 5001 Coliseum Drive.
• Two big nights share the campus: the Stingrays play at the Coliseum at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, the night the city lights its tree at Park Circle, so allow extra time that evening.
• For the Charleston Music Hall, downtown Charleston parking applies; the hall’s event pages list its box office hours, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Current work zones are on our road construction and closures page.

Buying tickets

Buy through the venue’s own event page, which links to its official Ticketmaster listing. Resale sites post the same shows, often above face value. Prices were not listed on the venues’ pages when we checked; we will add them when they are.

What this means for you

• The Nutcracker at the PAC is the day after Christmas, a 3 p.m. matinee.
• Dec. 1 to 3 has a holiday show at the PAC every night.
• Budget $10 for parking at the Coliseum campus.

More holiday plans: holiday lights and Christmas events, the Christmas parade and tree lighting and New Year’s Eve.

Frequently asked questions

When is The Nutcracker in North Charleston in 2026?

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet is at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026, with doors at 2 p.m. South Carolina Ballet also dances William Starrett’s Nutcracker at the Charleston Music Hall at 7 p.m. Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.

What Christmas shows are at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center?

The PAC calendar lists Mannheim Steamroller Nov. 24, Lindsey Stirling’s Snow Waltz Tour Nov. 28, Cirque Dreams Holidaze Dec. 1, A Motown Christmas Dec. 2, Christmas with Chris Tomlin Dec. 3, the North Charleston POPS’ Sounds of the Season Dec. 6 and the Nutcracker ballet Dec. 26.

How much is parking at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center?

The Coliseum and Performing Arts Center lists parking at $10 for its events, in the lots on Coliseum Drive.

Where should I buy tickets?

From the venue’s own event page, which links to its official Ticketmaster listing. Resale sites often charge more than face value.