It’s beginning to look a lot like… the busiest time of year. The State House tree is lit, the baby animals at the Zoo have their Santa hats on, the Koger Center is filled with Nutcracker ballerinas… and we have your guide to the must-do holiday events in Columbia this season.
Where to see lights
○ Holiday Lights on the River | daily through Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd. | $20-60 depending on vehicle | Drive-through light show with 400+ light displays.
○ Carolina Lights Holiday Light Display | Dec. 7-28 | 6-9 p.m. (Mon.-Thurs.), 6-10 p.m. (Fri.-Sun.) | S.C. State Fairgrounds | $20-70 depending on vehicle | First drive-through light show at the fairgrounds with 100+ light displays.
○ Holiday Parade of Lights | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 5:30 p.m. | Cayce Municipal Complex, 1800 12th St. | Free | One of the most anticipated holiday parades in the Midlands.
Where to take photos with Santa
○ Breakfast with Santa | Saturday, Dec. 7 | 9-11 a.m. | Liberty Tap Room in the Vista | $12.95 for adults; $7.95 for kids | Price includes breakfast buffet, cookie decorating with Kaminsky’s + photos with Santa.
○ Santa Train | Saturday, Dec. 7, 14, + 21 | multiple time options | South Carolina Railroad Museum, Winnsboro, SC | $15-20 | Train ride is ~1.5 hours. Santa will ride on the train, visit with all the children + pose for photos. To assure seating, tickets should be purchased in advance.
○ PJs with Santa | Monday, Dec. 9 | 6-8 p.m. | Chick-fil-a at Bush River Rd., 229 Bush River Rd. | Free | Grab some nugs, meet santa + enjoy Christmas fun with the whole family.
○ Breakfast with Santa | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 8-11 a.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1616 Blanding St. | $20 or $15 for youth + $15 or $7 for HC members | Eat breakfast with Santa + take photos with him afterward. Then, make holiday crafts + explore the decorated halls of the Mansion.
○ Santa Photos | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 3-5 p.m. | Columbia Fire Department Museum, 1800 Laurel St. | Free, donations suggested | Santa is coming to visit the First Responders + take photos with anyone who wants one.
○ Breakfast with Santa | Saturday, Dec. 21 | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | Lake Murray Visitor Center, 2184 N Lake Dr. | $21-35 | Ticket includes breakfast provided by The Blended Bakery, photos with Santa + building a pal in his workshop.
○ Meet Santa at Tiffany’s | Saturday, Dec. 21 | 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Tiffany’s Eats + Sweets, 9704 Two Notch Rd. | $20 | In addition to meeting Santa, you’ll get a printed photo, an edited digital photo + a Santa cupcake.
Family-friendly events + shows
○ A Starry Night in Five Points | Friday, Dec. 13 | 4-8 p.m. | Five Points | Free | Visit with Santa, enjoy specials at your favorite Five Points stores, take part in the pet costume contest + listen to the holiday performances.
○ Gingerbread House Workshop | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 3-5 p.m. | Tiffany’s Eats + Sweets, 9704 Two Notch Rd. | $75 | The price includes a full gingerbread house kit, icing + all the decorations. Each member of your house-building team also gets a free beverage.
○ Candlelight Tours + Carriage Rides | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1616 Blanding St. | $15; $8 for youth; $5 for HC members | Enjoy live music, entertainment, children’s activities, hot chocolate + carriage rides through the Robert Mills Historic District.
○ The Night Before Christmas | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 6-9 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum | Free | Ynotu2, WFMV and Edventure are all partnering to offer disadvantaged kids a night of fun with special guests, vendors + exhibits.
○ The Nutcracker | Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 14-15 and 21-22 | 3-5 p.m (Saturday), 7:30-9:30 p.m. (Sunday) | Koger Center for the Arts | $22-54 | The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies is back for the season. Don’t miss your opportunity to see the Christmas classic this year.
○ Winter Fest | Saturday, Dec. 21-Sunday, Jan. 5 | 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. | S.C. State Museum | Free with museum admission | Visits from Santa, live performances, igloo building, snowball fights, crafts, scavenger hunts + more.
○ It’s a Wonderful Life | Sunday, Dec. 15 + Monday, Dec. 16 | 2 p.m. (Sunday), 6 p.m (Monday) | Nickelodeon Theatre | $9-11; $5 for children under 12 | It’s a wonderful time for this classic Christmas movie.
For adults
○ Patti O’Furniture’s Holiday Ham Show | Friday, Dec. 6 | 9 p.m.-1 a.m. | PT’s, 1109 Assembly St. | $10 at the door | Pattu O’s annual night of unusual drag to raise funds for the Sue Kuhlen Camp For Kids.
○ Jingle Bell Jazz | Tuesday, Dec. 10 + 17 | 8-10:30 p.m. | Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St. | $35 | Groovy, funky show to help you swing into the Christmas spirit.
○ Annual Ugly Sweater Crawl | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 4-11 p.m. | Tin Roof | $17-23 | Don your best ugly holiday sweater + enjoy a Christmas-themed night out with your friends.○ Christmas Wonderland Holiday Spectacular | Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 17-18 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Broadway in Columbia, 1051 Greene St. | $39-69 | Featuring glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus line this side of the North Pole.
