COLUMBIA, S.C. — It's officially the holiday season... the Thanksgiving main feast is over, and Christmas is right around the corner. If you're one who doesn't like to get out and shop but isn't one to settle in front of the TV just yet, what is there to do in the Columbia area?
Here are some suggestions:
HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAYS
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, through January 14, 5–9 p.m. Advanced reservations are required; purchase tickets online. This year's new light display features nearly 60 larger-than-life nature-inspired lanterns depicting animals and plants. Interactive activities, photo ops, nightly snowfall and visits with Santa. Prices range from $19.99/adult to $14.99/child aged 2-12; children aged 2 and under get in free.
Holiday Lights on the River, through December 23, 6–10 p.m. at Saluda Shoals Park. Guests enter the lights at 6071 St. Andrews Road and exit the park at Bush River Road, following a 3-mile route along a curved road featuring well over a million lights and hundreds of animated displays with themed areas like the 12 days of Christmas, Lake Murray Country, and the patriotic area. Admission: $25/car; $50/12-15 passenger van, truck with trailer or limousine; $75/bus (16+ passengers). The ticket includes a hayride, train ride, tube slide, laser light show on the Wetland Walking Trail, and Letters to Santa. In addition, visit Santa's Claus'et Gift shop and enjoy a variety of concessions, including beer and wine and roast marshmallows. Santa will visit Holiday Lights November 24-25, December 1-2, December 8-9, and Dec. 15-23. Professional photos and photo packages will be available for purchase. Activities will not be offered on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day; however, the light show will be open for drive-through guests.
Fireflies Holiday Lights through December 31, 6–9 p.m. at Segra Park. Tickets are $10 per person in November and $12 per person in December. Children aged 2 and under get in free; military, first responders and seniors aged 65+ receive $2 off tickets with valid IDs. Purchase tickets online and check out the different nightly activities (free cocoa, pet nights, craft nights, ugly sweater nights, etc.). All tickets are general admission, food and drinks will be available for purchase, and Santa will be there through Dec. 23. Attendees remember there is a clear bag policy in effect.
Fantasy of Lights, December 1-31, Sunday through Thursday until 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. at Swan Lake Gardens, 822 W Liberty St., Sumter. This free drive-thru display also features the Pilot Club's floating Christmas tree and Santa's Village (open only 6–8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, bring your own camera for a photo with Santa). The Opening Night Ceremony will be held Friday, December 1 at 6 PM, where the countdown to Christmas begins! Entertainment by the Francis Marion University Choir and Santa will be there to take photos. The City of Sumter Christmas Card Art Contest Winners will also be announced at the event with a special presentation for the two two prize winners.
Carolina Lights, December 8-24; Sunday, Tuesday through Thursday, 6–9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 6–10 p.m. at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia. Drive through a display of holiday-themed lights and enjoy cookies and milk. Passes can be purchased at the gate or online at scstatefair.org/carolina-lights for $15/car ($20/car after Dec. 7), $35/mini-buses (9-25 passengers), $70/vehicles with over 25 passengers. Dec. 13 is Military Appreciation Day, and Dec. 19 is First Responders Appreciation Day, where entry is $10 per car with proper ID.
HOLIDAY SHOWS
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D at SC State Museum features visually brilliant, high-definition 3-D and interactive effects such as seat vibration and snow! Guests are invited to join Rudolph, Hermey the Elf and their friends on an epic adventure in this limited-run holiday experience in the museum's 4D theater. Also, Arora is a new planetarium experience focusing on the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) in 4K resolution. Learn about the science behind these colorful lights as you journey across remote Icelandic landscapes and into space. Check the SC State Museum website for showtimes.
The South Carolina Philharmonic presents Home for the Holidays on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Koger Center for the Arts under Music Director Morihiko Nakahara. After years of sold-out holiday concerts at Harbison Theatre, The SC Philharmonic is bringing their holiday-themed event to the Koger Center this year for one night only. Concert ticket prices currently range from $10 to $40, and they can be purchased at scphilharmonic.com or by calling the Koger Center Box Office (803) 251-2222. Student Rush tickets are available for $10 starting thirty minutes before the concert, and group rates for 10 or more are available by writing kathryn@scphilharmonic.com
Historic Columbia Holiday Tours of the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion through Dec. 30. Visitors can experience what Christmas might have looked like in the 1820s to 1850s. Guests can view artifacts and learn about holiday traditions involving Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year celebrations. Tours are noon-3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Robert Mills Gift Shop, 1616 Blanding St. Guided tours last 75 minutes, and visitors are asked to arrive 10 minutes before scheduled tour time.
FESTIVALS & MORE
THURSDAY, Dec. 21
Winter Solstice Lantern Parade through Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park, 5-7:30 p.m. Riverfront Park South, 312 Laurel St, Columbia. Bring your own lantern, battery-operated light strings or flashlight and meet park rangers at the entrance for poles to hoist them high in the air for the parade. Parade is free; hot cocoa and goodies for sale from Indah Coffee.
FRIDAY, Dec. 22
NOMA Holiday Weekend Market, 6-9 p.m. at NOMA Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St. Enjoy local vendors, great food, hot chocolate, live music and more... including photos with Santa.
Winter Wonderland on Main, 6-9 p.m. in the 1600 block of Main Street, Columbia. Snow will fall every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in December
SATURDAY, Dec. 23
Meeting Street Artisan Holiday Market, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 425 Meeting St., West Columbia. Unique, handmade treasures crafted by talented local artisans just in time for the holiday season.
Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) noon-10 p.m. (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday) at Bierkeller Columbia, 600 Canalside. Experience a German Christmas market along the banks of the Congaree River with local vendors, specialty seasonal foods, warm mulled Gluhwein (spiced red wine), hot chocolate, and Bierkeller-brewed beers.
NOMA Holiday Weekend Market, 3-6 p.m. at NOMA Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St. Enjoy local vendors, great food, hot chocolate, live music and more... including photos with Santa.
Winter Wonderland on Main, 6-9 p.m. in the 1600 block of Main Street, Columbia. Snow will fall every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in December
SUNDAY, Dec. 24
Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) noon-10 p.m. (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday) at Bierkeller Columbia, 600 Canalside. Experience a German Christmas market along the banks of the Congaree River with local vendors, specialty seasonal foods, warm mulled Gluhwein (spiced red wine), hot chocolate, and Bierkeller-brewed beers.
NOMA Holiday Weekend Market, noon-3 p.m. at NOMA Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St. Enjoy local vendors, great food, hot chocolate, live music and more... including photos with Santa.
Winter Wonderland on Main, 6-9 p.m. in the 1600 block of Main Street, Columbia. Snow will fall every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in December
NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS
SUNDAY, Dec. 31
Capital City Fireworks, midnight at the State House in Columbia. Several roads around the State House will be closed to motorized traffic beginning around 11 p.m. for the fireworks display. Visitors are encouraged to plan an evening out to celebrate the coming New Year and to take advantage of free on-street parking or complimentary parking in Columbia's parking garages. Check out Columbia's hospitality districts for dining and entertainment options:
Fireflies New Years Eve Celebration, 5-8 p.m. at Segra Park, 1640 Freed St. It's a special kids' New Years Eve party with an early ball drop and vouchers for free hot dog and soda for kids ages 12 and under. Tickets, $12 per person (ages and up) and $10 for military, first responders and seniors (age and older) are available online. Consider bringing children's books for donation to EdVenture Children's Museum.
This is by no means meant to be a complete list. If we have inadvertently omitted your holiday event, please email news19@wltx.com with the details.