Park Circle: the planned 1910s neighborhood with the inclusive playground, East Montague Avenue's restaurants and shops, the gallery and the city's festivals.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the City of North Charleston’s history page, its Cultural Arts Department and special events pages, Visit North Charleston and each business’s own website. We do not rank businesses.
Park Circle is where North Charleston began. Investors led by Charleston Mayor R. Goodwyn Rhett bought the land in the 1910s, and W.B. Marquis of the Olmsted Brothers firm designed a town around a round central park, according to the city’s history. The first residents moved in in 1914. Today the circle holds the city’s showpiece playground, and East Montague Avenue, the “Olde Village” next to it, is North Charleston’s main street for restaurants, bars and shops.
Who to call
- Cultural Arts Department (gallery, festivals, community building): 843-740-5854
- Parks and Recreation: 843-740-5809
- Park Circle Community Building: 4800 Park Circle, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
The circle
The inner circle at 4800 Park Circle was rebuilt around what the city calls the world’s largest inclusive playground, 55,000 square feet for ages 6 months into adulthood, plus an inclusive turf baseball field, an open-air pavilion and the Park Circle Community Building, home of the city’s Cultural Arts Department. The playground is open dawn to dusk daily, and an 8-foot-wide sidewalk rings the park. Pavilion restrooms are open dawn to dusk. Details are on our kids’ activities page.
East Montague Avenue and the Olde Village
The few blocks of East Montague Avenue between the circle and Virginia Avenue hold most of Park Circle’s restaurants, bars and shops, with more on Spruill Avenue to the south. Visit North Charleston’s Park Circle listing includes:
Eat and drink
- EVO Pizzeria and EVO Craft Bakery, 1075 E. Montague Ave.; the pizzeria opened in 2005, its site says
- Madra Rua Irish Pub, 1034 E. Montague Ave.
- Jackrabbit Filly, 1083 E. Montague Ave.
- Stems and Skins, a wine bar at 1070 E. Montague Ave.
- Odd Duck Market, cafe and market, 1082 E. Montague Ave.
- The Junction Kitchen and Provisions, 4438 Spruill Ave.
- LoLA, 4830 O’Hear Ave., and Commonhouse Aleworks, 4831 O’Hear Ave.
- The Tattooed Moose, 4845 Chateau Ave.
Shop
- Itinerant Literate Bookstop, 4824 Chateau Ave.
- Black Octopus Mercantile, 1061 E. Montague Ave.
- Neighborly Park Circle, 1042 E. Montague Ave.
- Gray Cat Music, 1021 E. Montague Ave.
- Roadside Blooms, 4491 Durant Ave.
More on where to eat is on our brunch, date night and live music and nightlife pages.
Art
Park Circle Gallery, 4820 Jenkins Ave., in the former Olde Village Community Building, shows work by local and regional artists in exhibits that change monthly and sells prints, cards and jewelry by local artists. It is free and open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, the Cultural Arts Department says. Free street parking is on Jenkins Avenue.
Events through the year
| When | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Thursdays, May to October, 3 to 7 p.m. | North Charleston Farmers Market at the Park Circle Pavilion (2026 season May 7 to Oct. 29) | city page |
| March | St. Patrick’s Day Block Party and Parade on East Montague Avenue (March 14 in 2026, noon to 5 p.m.) | city page |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 | Harvest Festival, 4 to 7 p.m. | city page |
| Friday, Dec. 4, 2026 | Christmas tree lighting, 6 p.m. | city page |
| Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 | Christmas Festival and Parade, 2 to 6 p.m. | city page |
The city calls the St. Patrick’s Day party “the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Lowcountry.” The Park Circle Business Collective presents it with the city’s support, and the party, parade and parking are free. Our farmers markets page, Halloween events page and Christmas parade page carry the details.
Getting there and parking
The circle’s address is 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405. Street parking is free on East Montague Avenue, Jenkins Avenue and the side streets. On festival days East Montague closes between Virginia and Jenkins avenues; for the St. Patrick’s party the city warned that “parking is very limited,” asked people to carpool or use rideshare and set aside disabled parking at Virginia and Empire avenues. CARTA routes are on our getting around page.
What this means for you
- Visit on a weekday afternoon for easy parking; on festival days, walk or rideshare.
- Pair the free gallery with lunch on East Montague; the gallery is closed Sunday to Tuesday.
- The playground, sidewalk loop and pavilion restrooms are open dawn to dusk every day.
More: history and landmarks, free things to do and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
What is Park Circle in North Charleston?
Park Circle is the neighborhood built around a round central park in the planned town that W.B. Marquis of the Olmsted Brothers firm designed for North Charleston in the 1910s. Today the circle holds an inclusive playground, and East Montague Avenue next to it is the city’s main strip of restaurants, bars and shops.
Where do I park in Park Circle?
There is free street parking on East Montague Avenue, Jenkins Avenue and the side streets, plus lots near the circle. On festival days East Montague closes to cars, and the city asks visitors to carpool, use rideshare or walk.
What events are held in Park Circle?
The city’s Harvest Festival in October, the Christmas tree lighting and Christmas Festival and Parade in December, the St. Patrick’s Day Block Party and Parade in March and the Thursday farmers market from May to October.
Is the Park Circle Gallery free?
Yes. The city-run gallery at 4820 Jenkins Ave. is free and open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Exhibits change monthly.
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