South Carolina is way faraway from the North Pole, however Columbia’s residents know methods to have a good time the Christmas vacation season. From mid-November by means of the New Yr, guests can take pleasure in spectacular gentle shows, entertaining reveals, and native purchasing extravaganzas. It’s straightforward to seek out Christmas occasions in Columbia – the laborious half is discovering room for them in your schedule.
Columbia was based after the Revolutionary Struggle to offer a centrally situated capital metropolis – it was beforehand in Charleston. Fortuitously, that makes it straightforward to get to Columbia as we speak, particularly because it’s on the intersection of Interstates 26, 20, and 77.
Browse the listing of Christmas lights in Columbia, nightly occasions, particular one-night performances, and vacation markets.
Christmas Occasions in Columbia Map
Easy methods to use this map: Click on the icon within the top-left nook to open the Map Legend, then click on on any of the legend gadgets to show extra info. When you have a Google account, click on the (very faint) star on the finish of the map’s title to save lots of this map to your account, then entry the map out of your smartphone throughout your journey.
Vista Lights
The Vista is considered one of Columbia’s charming neighborhoods. The 48-block neighborhood round Gervais and Huger Streets is an official South Carolina Cultural District due to its cultural, architectural, and historic heritage.
Vista Lights is an annual celebration kicking off the Christmas vacation season within the capital metropolis. Celebrated for 38 years, the occasion is an open home introduction to greater than 60 native retail outlets, artwork galleries, and eating places. It’s a wonderful alternative to seek out Christmas presents made by native artisans and uncover a brand new favourite restaurant.
The occasion begins at 6 p.m. with dwell music and Santa Claus on Lincoln Avenue. A tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. retains the night going.
The occasion is free, however you’ll be tempted to spend cash on the retail outlets and eating places.
Fireflies Vacation Lights
For the second time, Segra Stadium – dwelling of the Columbia Fireflies Minor League Baseball group – is remodeled right into a spectacular Christmas gentle show in Columbia.
Fireflies Vacation Lights options a couple of million LED lights all through the stadium and baseball discipline. Shows cowl the diamond, fill the seats, and wrap across the stadium.
Though guests should not allowed onto the baseball discipline, it’s a uncommon alternative to stroll alongside the warning observe surrounding the sector. However the easiest way to expertise the spectacular gentle present is to stroll the stadium’s perimeter across the outfield seats.
The occasion additionally consists of the Richardson Tree Farm, visits with Santa Claus, and marshmallow roasting on firepits.
Fireflies Vacation Lights is held from Thursday, November 16 till Sunday, December 31 – apart from November 20, November 23, November 27, and December 25. The sunshine show is open from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m.
Tickets to the occasion begin at $10 per individual in November and improve to $12 in December. Parking is free on the Freed Avenue Parking Storage.
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard
Lengthy after the animals fall asleep, issues get wild on the Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard. Wild Lights is an annual Christmas vacation gentle show that includes greater than 60 larger-than-life 3D shows, bonfires, and images with Santa.
READ MORE: Easy methods to Expertise the Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard in Columbia, SC
The 3D shows tower over the visitors whereas meandering the concrete paths by means of the zoo. Go for a nighttime experience on the carousel, take a photograph with Santa, and roast marshmallows on the bonfires throughout this spectacular Columbia occasion.
Wild Lights is open from 5 p.m. till 9 p.m. on choose dates from mid-November by means of mid-January. Tickets differ in worth from $20-$25 for adults and $15-$20 for kids.
Governor’s Carolighting
South Carolina’s Christmas vacation season begins with the Governor’s Carolighting. Throughout the annual occasion, Governor Henry McMaster lights the State Christmas Tree on the north facet of the State Home going through Foremost Avenue. The tree stays lit each night time by means of the top of December.
The free occasion begins at 6 p.m.
Sleigh Bell Stroll
One in every of Columbia’s hallmarks and most fun household Christmas occasions is the Vacation Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park. The dazzling show of Christmas lights, from static shows to animated wonderlands, strains the paved street by means of the park so guests can admire the shows from the consolation of their automobiles.
The Sleigh Bell Stroll is a captivating one-time alternative to see the spectacular lights with none automobiles. Individuals park on the east entrance close to St. Andrews Highway and stroll the 2-mile route by means of Saluda Shoals Park.
You’ll have two hours to expertise the Christmas gentle show in peacefulness. Then, a bus brings everybody again to the parking zone.
Registration is required by November 20 for this occasion. It prices $7 per grownup and $2 per little one.
Vacation Lights on the River
The Vacation Lights on the River is Columbia’s longest drive-thru Christmas gentle show. The two.5-mile route options dozens of sports-themed gentle shows, animated shows, and shows hanging from bushes.
On the Environmental Middle, guests can roast marshmallows on firepits, discover the Santa Claus’et Reward Store, and go for a hayride. Get knowledgeable picture with Santa after which choose up a Tin Can Kettle Corn bag. Go for a brief stroll on the Wetlands Path to expertise a surprising laser gentle present.
The Vacation Lights on the River is held nightly from November 23 till December 31, apart from Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Admission is $25 per automobile. It takes about an hour to drive by means of the sunshine show casually.
Bierkeller Weihnachtsmarkt
“Bierkeller Weihnachtsmarkt” is German for “beer cellar Christmas market.” The particular occasion is hosted by Bierkeller Brewing Firm, the one genuine German brewery in Columbia.
The Christmas market is modeled after the spectacular Bavarian markets, permitting guests to expertise the distinctive festive environment with out flying throughout the large pond. The market options native arts and crafts distributors, traditional vacation music, festive lights, and Glühwein – a German mulled wine.
It’s additionally an excellent probability to attempt genuine German beer, Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese, and Bratwursts.
The free occasion is at The Esplanade at CanalSide, a waterfront public park overlooking the Columbia Canal and Congaree River. Parking is out there on the close by parking storage.
The occasion runs every weekend from November 25 till December 17. The market is open from 12 p.m. till 10 p.m. on Saturdays and from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Pictures with Santa at Ho-Ho-Resort Trundle
Expertise a Nineteen Twenties Artwork Deco Christmas on the 41-room boutique Resort Trundle with the particular Pictures with Santa on the Ho-Ho-Resort Trundle occasion. Guests arrive on a first-come, first-served foundation for 10-minute picture periods with Santa. Seize as many images as you want together with your smartphone or digital camera. Then, benefit from the complimentary scorching chocolate and vacation actions!
The one-day occasion is from 1 p.m. till 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 27, 2023.
Vacation Planetarium Lighting
The South Carolina State Museum begins Christmas with the Vacation Planetarium Lighting. The one-night occasion options prolonged hours so guests can discover the exhibition galleries. Rudolph the Crimson-Nosed Reindeer performs within the 4D Theater. Guests can peek on the stars within the Boeing Observatory. And Santa makes an look for images.
The occasion makes use of a “pay-as-you-may” normal admission worth – you may pay $10 per individual or enter the occasion without spending a dime. Nonetheless, the 4D Theater and Planetarium reveals are $5 per individual.
Junior League of Columbia Vacation Market
Annually, the Junior League of Columbia organizes the Vacation Market as their largest fundraiser of the yr. Nearly 200 retailers show arts and crafts, clothes, jewellery, and baked items. It’s a incredible alternative to discover a memorable Christmas present.
The four-day occasion is held on the South Carolina State Fairgrounds from Thursday, November 30, till Sunday, December 3. Normal admission to the marketplace for all 4 days is $10 per individual. The vacation market is open from 9:30 a.m. till 5 p.m. each day besides Sunday when it’s open from 12 P.M. till 4 p.m.
Women Evening Out is a particular occasion in the course of the vacation market. Held on Thursday, the occasion for visitors 21 and up is a chance to “deliver your girlfriends and store the night time away.”
The Vacation Ball is 6:30 p.m. till 11 p.m. on Friday. The black-tie non-obligatory occasion options dwell music, personal purchasing, and cocktails.
Sundaes with Santa is a chance to get images with Santa and revel in kids’s crafts and video games. The occasion is held from 12 p.m. till 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Carols Alongside the Riverwalk
Expertise a “reverse caroling occasion” in the course of the Carols Alongside the Riverwalk in Cayce. The occasion begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 1, on the Cayce Riverwalk Picnic Shelter. Dwell music and treats begin the night. However you’ll must stroll about half a mile on the riverwalk alongside the Congaree River to seek out the assorted highschool and church choirs caroling within the forest.
The occasion is free to attend. Parking is out there at close by Brookland Cayce Excessive College, and a shuttle bus offers transport to the riverwalk.
Columbia Classical Ballet Co.’s The Nutcracker
Watch the spectacular Columbia Classical Ballet Co.’s The Nutcracker throughout Christmas. Directed by Brooklyn Mack, the play is held nightly on the Koger Middle for the Arts on the College of South Carolina from Friday, December 1, till Sunday, December 3.
Tickets for the play vary from $10-$25.
December 1 – 17, 2023
The Nice American Trailer Park Christmas Musical
Spend a night on the Trustus Theatre watching an exciting efficiency of The Nice American Trailer Park Christmas Musical. Directed by Robin Gottlieb, the play follows a trailer park Scrooge struck by amnesia in a north Florida neighborhood.
Attendees are invited to put on their finest ugly Christmas sweat, purchase a bucket of PBR, and benefit from the two-hour present. It’s definitely an attention-grabbing technique to benefit from the Christmas vacation in Columbia.
Reveals start at 8 p.m. on the next dates:
- December 1, 2023
- December 2, 2023
- December 6, 2023
- December 7, 2023
- December 8, 2023
- December 9, 2023
- December 10, 2023
- December 14, 2023
- December 15, 2023
- December 16, 2023
- December 17, 2023
twentieth Annual St. Nicholas Pageant
The Holy Apostle Orthodox Church hosts the annual St. Nicholas Pageant in West Columbia. The one-day occasion options native craft distributors, selfmade cookies, vocal ensembles, Jap European and American meals, and church excursions.
The pageant is free to attend, however the delicious meals and native arts and crafts may tempt you. All of the income from the pageant are donated to native charities. The pageant begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, and ends at 4 p.m.
Lake Murray’s Christmas Lights Boat Parade
When you’ve ever visited Lake Murray in the summertime, you recognize folks love boating the 50,000-acre lake. The 1.5-mile-long earthen dam is fascinating to journey throughout. Lake Murray Public Park is on the south finish of the dam – the proper place to observe Lake Murray’s Christmas Lights Boat Parade.
The gates to the small public park open at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 2. There’s ample room for guests with a 300-vehicle capability, however the gates shut as soon as the parking capability is reached.
The boat parade begins at 6 p.m. Boats should be at the very least 21 toes lengthy, and boat captains comply with type a single line for the casual parade route previous the general public park. Shortly after the final boat passes the park, fireworks fill the sky, and the attention-grabbing occasion is over.
Admission to the boat parade is free.
Snowball Pageant Carnival and Film
The Snowball Pageant Carnival and Film is without doubt one of the finest free Christmas occasions within the Columbia space. The carnival is on Saturday, December 2, from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. on the Icehouse Amphitheater in Lexington.
The occasion begins with face portray, carnival rides, and meals distributors. Santa makes an look for images with households. At 5:30 p.m., an out of doors screening of The Santa Clause brings the festive occasion to an finish. The 1 hour, 37-minute comedy film options Tim Allen as a hapless home-owner who by chance turns into the brand new Santa.
Carolina Carillon Vacation Parade
The Christmas vacation shouldn’t be full with out a grand parade. And the Carolina Carillon Vacation Parade is without doubt one of the finest Christmas parades in South Carolina.
The parade begins at 9:45 a.m. at Sumter and Laurel Streets, proceeds down Sumter Avenue, crosses Gervais Avenue, passes the South Carolina State Home, and ends at Senate Avenue.
The parade options marching bands from native excessive faculties and schools, particular performers, vacation floats, cloggers, and South Carolina celebrities.
The occasion is free to attend.
Christmas Olde and New
Expertise a historic Christmas in the course of the annual Cayce Historic Museum’s Christmas Traditions Vacation Open Home. Throughout the Saturday occasion from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m., guests can take a guided lantern tour by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, store on the outside Christmas market, and discover Christmas bushes all through the museum.
Santa Saturday on the South Carolina State Museum
Santa will get round in the course of the Holidays. However he’s assured to seem on the South Carolina State Museum each Saturday in December.
Throughout Santa Saturday, guests who pay the overall admission payment to the museum can take pleasure in a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, watch Rudolph the Crimson-Nosed Reindeer on the 4D Theater (further value), and store for distinctive vacation presents within the museum’s retailer.
Santa seems on the museum each Saturday from December 2 till December 23 from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. Normal admission is required, and present tickets are additional.
The Columbia Christmas Extravaganza Vacation Market is an appropriately named two-day Christmas occasion. The vacation market options over 150 native distributors, contemporary fudge, footage with Santa, and Christmas crafts. The occasion organizers boast that it’s “the proper technique to skip out on large field shops this vacation season and select to help small.”
The indoor occasion is held on the Columbia Conference Middle on Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3. Doorways open from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. every day of the occasion.
Admission to the market is $7 per individual. Free parking is out there on the conference middle’s parking zone.
Carolina Lights
Expertise the Carolina Lights drive-through vacation gentle present from the consolation of your automotive. The drive-through expertise options over 100 LED gentle shows alongside a circuitous route by means of the South Carolina State Fairgrounds.
Concessions midway by means of the present promote chocolate chip cookies, milk, water, and soda. However the easiest way to take pleasure in this occasion is to deliver your snacks.
Carolina Lights is completely a drive-through expertise with no different occasions. The gates open at 6 p.m. each night time from December 8 by means of December 24, apart from Mondays. Value is $20 per automotive.
After exiting the sunshine present, guests can request a re-entry go to expertise the drive-through gentle present once more on the identical night time.
Candlelight Excursions with Historic Columbia
Discover Christmas of the previous throughout Candlelight Excursions with Historic Columbia. Throughout the particular one-night occasion, guests can discover interval Christmas décor on the historic Hampton-Preston Mansion and Robert Mills Home.
The occasion additionally options interval costumes, Nineteenth-century dwell Christmas music, and a vacation market with native distributors.
Admission to the occasion is $20 for adults and $8 for kids. Historic Columbia members get a reduction on admission. The occasion is from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023.
South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker
Get pleasure from a fascinating night whereas attending the annual efficiency of the South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker. Directed by William Starrett, the efficiency options new backdrops and excellent performances.
Catch the present on the Koger Middle for the Arts on the College of South Carolina on Friday and Saturday nights, December 9-10, or on Friday and Saturday nights, December 16-17, 2023. Admission ranges from $35-$60 per individual.
Lexington County Museum Christmas Open Home
The Lexington County Museum Christmas Open Home is a captivating probability to expertise a Christmas of the previous on the distinctive outside museum campus. Guests can discover lots of the 30 historic buildings in the course of the occasion and see interval Christmas decorations.
Scorching apple cider and gingerbread cookies can be found for a lightweight snack in the course of the occasion. Dwell music performs on the historic Fox Home.
The free occasion is from 1 p.m. till 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 10.
River Rat’s Annual Cookie Beer Pairing
River Rat Brewery was based in 2013 to “fulfill anybody’s thirst after an extended day’s work.” And in the course of the Christmas vacation season, the native brewery pairs their craft beer with selfmade cookies.
River Rats Annual Cookie Beer Pairing is an attention-grabbing alternative to seek out out which type of Christmas cookies completely pairs with a River Rats craft beer. Benefit from the two-hour occasion with rooftop seating and loads of garden video games to entertain you.
The occasion is from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, 2023.
Celtic Girl: A Christmas Symphony
Expertise a singular occasion in the course of the Holidays in Columbia with Celtic Girl: A Christmas Symphony. The feminine-led group performs conventional Irish Christmas carols throughout an uplifting night on the Koger Middle for the Arts on the College of South Carolina.
The one-night occasion begins at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.
December 21, 2023
House for the Holidays
Settle into a cushty seat on the Koger Middle for the Arts for House for the Holidays, a particular efficiency by the South Carolina Philharmonic, The Columbia Repertory Dance Co., and a number of other solo artists. Even Santa Claus makes an look in the course of the efficiency.
Catch the spectacular occasion at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2023.
