Marion Square

Marion Square, once the proud home of the Citadel College is now the center piece for all things Charleston. With an aerial view of the Confederate Flag on the grassy field, Marion Square has become home some of the most heralded events in Charleston from Fashion Week to Food and Wine Festival to Movies in the Park to the Farmers Market. Its strategic location in the heart of the peninsula and spacious square framework makes it a perfect home for events, laying out, playing ball, having a picnic or just relaxing.
Each holiday season, it becomes the symbol of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
Of course thousands seek recovery after the Cooper River Run and Turkey Day Run. No matter what the occasion, expect to find Marion Square at the Center.
It has moments of quiet and hectic crowds so you have to plan accordingly.
One last high five to the city and the park… Free Wifi.

We’re so lucky in Charleston to have this beautiful park right in the middle of downtown. On any given (warm) day, you’ll find people laying out, hanging out, and generally enjoying the weather. Most of the year, you’ll find the Charleston Farmers Market here on Saturdays. It’s the perfect place to have breakfast or lunch and take home some fresh local food for dinner. The square is home to numerous events throughout the year including Fashion Week, SEWE, Wine & Food Festival, and Piccolo Spoleto. There’s plenty of smaller events such as holiday markets, movie nights, and more that make this park the place to be all year round.

Christmas time in Charleston, you have to stop by and see the spectacle. What a beautiful walkthrough the Christmas tree and all the lights in the trees make it even more fabulous. We were on our way back from Fish Happy Hour and it just made for a great ending of the night. HEck, this park is great all year round for the Farmer’s market, different shows, events, etc. but nothing needs to be going on to walk through and enjoy the scenery.

I’ve been to Marion Square numerous times to walk around the farmer’s market, attend Charleston Fashion Week or to just hang out and people watch. It is a large green space centrally located between Meeting and King streets on Calhoun.
My husband and I were here the other night to check out the Christmas lights. We had never been before and were so impressed with the tree of lights. Great photo opportunities!

Charming little square in the heart of Charleston! When we were there, it was set up for the holidays — with a tree of Christmas lights in the center of the park that you can walk through (or spin around in)! I’d love to check out a Farmers Market or other event in the park next time I’m in Charleston!

If you’re exploring downtown Charleston, there’s a high probability that you’ll happen upon Marion Square. And, WHEN you do, stop! Marion Square is not only a divider between King Street and Bay Street, but it’s packed with history, perfect for people watching, pets and you might even happen upon a festival or farmers market here on the weekends.
Not only does it house a remnant of the city’s defensive wall, but also shows tribute to one of our nations heroes: John C. Calhoun. Whether you choose to take a seat at the beautiful fountain on the corner of King and Calhoun Street or gaze up at the beautifully restored, PINK fortress-​style building, previously housing a military college, but currently an Embassy Suites. Also, I highly recommend a moment to enjoy the newly renovated St. Matthews Lutheran Church steeple and stain glass! Enjoy a moment of peace as you pass through this central landmark in downtown Charleston. TIP: visit Marion Square during Spoleto Festival (last week of May-​first week of June) for an incredible, outdoor art fair, with vendors as far as the eye can see!

I’ve been to Marion Square for a number of events. My most recent Charleston trip took me there twice; first for the New Belgium CLIPS festival and then for the Farmer’s Market.
This is a great central point to meet friends or greet strangers, watch street performers (mostly singing and dancing) or to adopt a new pet. I love the mix of the vendors at the Farmer’s Market — antique jewelry, fresh pasta, waffles on a stick, organic pet food, spices, and handmade soap all in a row.
The people in the Square do their part to keep it clean, picking up after themselves and their pets, which is a rare sight where I’m from.

We were there briefly as we walked through town but it’s a great open space for those who want to picnic or just relax and read a book, there are also some nice shady spots breaking from the sun; lots to do around the perimeter, including the Charleston Museum.

Sweet little park int he middle of downtown. Lots of college students hang out and sun bathe, play catch, play instruments and just plain hang out. My husband was a little bothered by seeing topless laying women when our kids were walking around. LOL The grass is nice no weeds great to walk barefoot. Parking can be difficult to look for. Not a bad place to relax and enjoy time with the family.

Marion Square is a great green space in the middle of the city… but not just as an unused space — you’ll see live music out there or a farmer’s market, depending on the time of year or the weather.
The most important part of the square is the looming and proud column on the top of which is a statue of one of our national heroes: John C. Calhoun, former Vice-​President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Senator of the United States and one of the champions of secession.
Unilocal is hardly the place to wax poetically about the genius and character of a man, but it was Calhoun’s perspicacious (and originalist) insights into the Constitution and his speeches and writings that helped give a contemporary voice (in the 1850s) to the earlier objections of Thomas Jefferson to oppressive Federal rule competently outlined in the Notes on the State of Virginia and the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.
Seeing Calhoun’s stern visage looking proudly ahead reminds of Stonewall Jackson’s statue at Manassas… firmly facing the enemy… it’s a challenge to those of us who *think* we know about our history or what really happened from 1860 – 1865 in our country to maybe do a bit more reading than the Yankee brainwashing most of us were given in high school.

Marion Square is a nice open space in beautiful downtown Charleston. It’s a cool spot to hang out on any given day, but there are always events going on there during the weekends. These include live music, City Paper events, food trucks, the farmers market, and just about anything else that such a space would be needed and utilized for downtown. Stop and sit in the grass for a while.