What’s higher than staying toasty heat within the consolation of your automotive whereas coasting via the area’s largest drive-thru vacation gentle show? Roasting marshmallows on a bonfire! The annual Vacation Lights on the River is certainly one of Columbia’s finest Christmas gentle shows – however there are some things to know earlier than you allow dwelling.
Study concerning the schedule, admission, occasions, and suggestions for profiting from the two.5-mile drive via the Vacation Lights on the River in Columbia, South Carolina.
Vacation Lights on the River Map
The best way 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 data. When you’ve got 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.
Vacation Lights on the River Schedule in 2023
The Vacation Lights on the River opens on November 23 and continues nightly till December 31, aside from Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
The drive-thru gentle show is open from 6 p.m. till 10 p.m.
The doorway gate on St. Andrews Street opens with Saluda Shoals Park earlier within the day. However shortly earlier than sundown, the highway is closed close to the large car parking zone beside the sports activities fields. The car parking zone turns into a winding loop staging space for the lengthy line of automobiles earlier than the occasion begins at 6 p.m.
Professional Journey Tip
Plan to reach an hour early to drive via the Vacation Lights on the River. Arriving later ensures a 1-2 hour wait earlier than beginning the drive via the lights.
Vacation Lights on the River Admission
Admission to the Vacation Lights on the River is $25 per car, $50 per passenger van, and $75 per bus. Guests will pay with money or a card, however a transaction price is added to all playing cards.
Vacation Lights on the River
Over one million lights are the center of the Vacation Lights on the River. The 2-lane, unmarked highway is a one-way thoroughfare in the course of the occasion. The sunshine shows are on either side of the highway and hanging within the timber.
Many shows are sports-themed as a result of the Irmo-Chapin Recreation Fee operates Saluda Shoals Park. However you’ll discover loads of Christmas shows, like Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and elves using bicycles. Animated shows like Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus enjoying tennis, snow falling over Santa in his sleigh, and indicators alongside the highway added to the wonderland.
There was quite a bit to see, with lights on either side of the highway and typically hanging over the highway. Greater than half the route was surrounded by darkish woods and profoundly peaceable.
It takes about 45 minutes to drive via the two.5-mile gentle show.
Vacation Lights Actions
The Environmental Middle is about two-thirds of the best way via the driving route. A number of actions on the public constructing are good for stretching your legs and having fun with the festive occasion.
Distributors promote marshmallows, scorching chocolate, and scorching apple cider. For those who convey your personal s’mores substances, you may roast the marshmallows on the roaring firepits.
Santa’s Claus’et Present Store is contained in the Environmental Middle. The small reward store options arts and crafts from native artisans which may make an incredible Christmas reward. Youngsters can write letters to Santa at a small crafts desk.
Catering by Tin Can Kettle Corn offers a tasty snack in the course of the respite from the drive.
Professional Journey Tip
The one restrooms on the Vacation Lights on the River are within the Environmental Middle.
Santa on the Vacation Lights on the River
Santa seems on the Vacation Lights on the River on choose nights. Skilled photographs and packages are provided in the course of the occasion.
Get photographs with Santa on Friday and Saturday nights from November 24 till December 9 after which nightly from December 15-23.
Attending to the Vacation Lights on the River
The very first thing to find out about attending to the Vacation Lights on the River is that you don’t use the Bush River Street entrance! In the course of the Christmas vacation gentle show, Bush River Street is the exit.
The doorway to the Vacation Lights on the River is on St. Andrews Street. For those who’re utilizing GPS navigation or Google Maps, use the deal with 6071 St. Andrew Street, Columbia, SC, to get the right turn-by-turn instructions.
Ideas for the Vacation Lights on the River
The Vacation Lights on the River is a simple Christmas occasion in Columbia to attend. However with some further preparation, it could possibly be the very best Christmas occasion of the 12 months. Listed below are just a few tricks to benefit from it:
- Arrive not less than an hour early, particularly on the weekends. As soon as entry begins, getting the automobiles within the ready space into the park can take as much as thirty minutes.
- Convey snacks and drinks.
- Convey money for the admission price.
- Flip off your headlights and use solely the daytime working lights or parking lights whereas driving via the show.
- Use your brakes sparingly, and the particular person behind you may be grateful.
- The highway via the park is an unmarked two-lane highway. If you wish to cease for a second, are likely to the household, or seize some photographs, pull off to the aspect so the opposite automobiles can get round.
- Cease someplace to make use of the restroom earlier than getting in line – it takes about 30-40 minutes to succeed in the Environmental Middle from the doorway.
