The City of Charleston has announced road closures in preparation for the annual Emancipation Parade, which will take place on January 1, 2026. The parade is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., beginning on Fishburne Street near Burke High School and ending near Laurens Street.
Fishburne Street will be closed between Hagood and President Streets starting at 9 a.m. for setup. The parade route will close in segments as the event progresses to avoid shutting down the entire route at once. The parade will disband on Laurens Street after its conclusion at 12:30 p.m.
Vehicle access to businesses and residences along the route will be limited during the event. Officers are set to be stationed along the parade path to assist with traffic flow and help residents access their neighborhoods.
“The annual Emancipation Parade will take place January 1, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The parade will begin on Fishburne Street near Burke Highschool, turn left on Ashley Avenue, right on Sumter Street, right on King Street, left on Calhoun Street, right on Concord Street and end near Laurens Street,” according to city officials.
The City of Charleston is known for highlighting its historical significance through sites such as the Old Slave Mart Museum, which addresses aspects of the domestic slave trade (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/160/Old-Slave-Mart-Museum). The city operates as a municipal government that oversees public services and historical preservation (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/403/Mission-Values). As part of its mission, Charleston focuses on preserving quality of life for residents while maintaining public safety and infrastructure (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/403/Mission-Values).
Charleston serves as the seat of Charleston County in South Carolina (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2010/History) and is positioned around Charleston Harbor—an Atlantic Ocean inlet formed by the Ashley and Cooper rivers (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2010/History).
For more information regarding road closures or event details, Sgt. C. Stinson can be contacted at cpdpublicinformationteam@charleston-sc.gov.
