It’s Friday again, which means it’s time for the Friday Five, our weekly roundup of five fun events taking place in the Charleston area over the weekend. Get a special view of a boat parade, have cookies with Santa Claus, view a holiday parade, and more! As always, no matter what you choose to do, the staff and agents at Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Company hope you have a very happy and safe weekend!

Board the USS Yorktown this Saturday evening for the inaugural Lights on the Harbor: A Boat Parade Watch Party from 6pm until 9pm. Join Live 5 News WCSC and Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum for the best-ever view of the Charleston Boat Parade high above the harbor. Along with the can’t-be-beat views, you’ll enjoy holiday music, a cash bar operated by Special Ops Events’ Top Shelf Catering, and all your favorite holiday snacks and sweets available for purchase. Pose for photos with Santa as well as Scrappy, the Patriots Point mascot. Access to the Yorktown’s flight deck opens at 6pm, and the first boat of the parade is due to pass by at 6:20pm. Dress warmly and bring a chair. Coolers, food items, and wagons are not permitted on the ship. 

Still not finished with your Christmas shopping? Don’t fret; we’re not done either. Thank goodness for the 5th Annual Holy City Holiday Market this Saturday from noon until 5pm, held at Holy City Brewing’s original taproom (4155 Dorchester Avenue). Sip and shop local with more than forty vendors available to help you find the absolute perfect gift for those loved ones left on your list, featuring the likes of 138 Woodworks, Apis Mercantile, Bootlegger Soap Company, Carolina Clutches, Lowcountry Candle Company, Modern Apothecary, and many more! Don your holiday best and strike a pose for BadJon’s Big Shot camera, the same style of camera Andy Warhol used for his famous portraits. Then spread the holiday cheer with a donation to Camp Rise Above, which provides fun, life-changing camp experiences to children with serious illnesses, life challenges, and disabilities. The Holy City Holiday Market is a rain-or-shine, family-friendly event. Bring the kiddos and snap a selfie with Santa! 

Haven’t had your fill of holiday parades yet? Head down to Folly on Saturday for the 29th Annual Folly Beach Christmas Parade! Line up along Center Street and enjoy creative floats and festive community groups as they march down the street in hopes to win prizes for Most Original, Best Band/Music Group, and Best Christmas Spirit. The parade begins at noon and is immediately followed by Santa at Folly River Park and cocoa at the church across the street. The best viewing points are both sides of Center Street, south of Indian. Come early to snag your favorite spot, and don’t forget to bring bags for collecting all the candy passed out by the parade’s participants! 

Make your Sunday a festive one at the 5th Annual Cookies with Santa celebration at Mercantile and Mash. Santa and Mrs. Claus are back for this fun family event! Enjoy a homemade cookie decorating station, festive balloon artists, and food and drink specials for purchase, such as Mercantile & Mash’s famous hot chocolate with marshmallows for the kiddos, as well as spiked hot chocolate, mimosas, and Bloody Marys for the adults. Tickets for this event include one photo with Santa. (To keep the line moving along, each ticket allows for two total snapshots and one printed photo.) The cost is $15 per child. Please note that purchasing your tickets in advance does not determine line placement for photos. 

For even more holiday fun, gather up your family and get down to The Joe this Sunday afternoon for Charlie Claus at the Joe from 2pm until 5pm. Hang out with Santa Claus, Charlie Claus the RiverDog, and other beloved characters at the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Ballpark. Participate in arts and crafts, hop in a jump castle, shop the vendor village and more before A Muppet Christmas Carol starts at 3pm. Photos with Santa are free, so bring the fam and snap a pic from 2pm until 4pm. Admission is $5 (3 and under free), OR you can get in free with an unopened toy donation to The Salvation Army Charleston Angel Tree.