Shine bright with the lights

• Carolina Lights | Saturday, Dec. 3-Monday, Dec. 26, closed Christmas Day | 6-10 p.m. | South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr. | $20+ | Drive through over 100 individual LED light displays through the SC Fairgrounds.
• Holiday Lights on the River | Now-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St. Andrews Rd. | $25+ | Journey through over three miles of lights featuring colorful, animated light displays of all shapes and sizes
• Lights Before Christmas | Now-Friday, Dec. 30 | 5-9 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, 500 Wildlife Pkwy. | $12+ | Take your photo with Santa, and roast marshmallows at the Jingle Bell Bonfire.

Get all fired up

• Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St. | We love the beer pairings it recommends with its menu offerings — like a Juicy Hazy IPA with your fried shrimp basket.
• The War Mouth, 1209 Franklin St. | Warm up with a cocktail or try the bartender’s choice mocktail to go with your Carolina Heritage Farm whole hog barbecue.
• Hendrix, 1649 Main St. | Toast the skyline view with a house-made cocktail and shared plate. We fire it up with pan-blistered shishito peppers.

Winter Activities

• Catch A Christmas Story at Town Theatre (1012 Sumter St.) from Thursday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 18. This nostalgic show captures all the funny and heartwarming moments from the original holiday film.
• If you’re catching cabin fever, bundle up and take a hike at Congaree National Park. We recommend the Boardwalk Loop which is lined with loblolly pines.

• Christmas in Cayce | Thursday., Dec. 1 | 6 p.m. | Cayce City Hall, 1800 12th St, Cayce | Free | Experience thousands of lights, performances from local musicians, and a visit from Santa at this drive-thru holiday event — all from the warmth of your car.*
• Christmas Craft Fair - Town of Lexington | Thursday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 2 | 4-8 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater Pavilion, Lexington | Visitors can experience fresh produce, unique gifts, local vendors, food, and more
• Holiday Planetarium Lighting | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 5-7 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | Holiday fun returns to the State Museum with extended operating hours, the planetarium’s “Winter Stars Live Sky” experience, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D,” crafts, local food truck + more.*
• A Christmas Story: The Musical | Thursday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Town Theatre, 1012 Sumter St., Columbia | $15-$25 | Don’t miss this nostalgic show that follows the holiday adventures of Ralphie, who knows exactly what he wants for Christmas and will do whatever he can to get it.

• City of West Columbia Tree Lighting Ceremony | Friday, Dec. 2 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | City of West Columbia City Hall, 200 12th St., West, Columbia | Let the Christmas fun begin in the City of West Columbia as the Mayor and Council light the City’s Christmas Tree at Town Hall.

• Santa Saturdays at the State Museum | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $6.95-$8.95 | Santa will be at the museum to meet with guests and members so you can take holiday photos.*
• Steel Hands Brewing 4 Year Anniversary Party | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 12-10 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | $0-$90 | Celebrate with giveaways and live music all day in the outdoor beer garden — VIP tickets include five beer tickets, a logo anniversary glass, a case of Steel Hands Beer + more.

• Homes for the Holidays | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 1-5 p.m. | Hollywood-Rose Hill, 2818 Devine St., Columbia | Join the Shandon Hollywood-Rose Hill Homes for the Holidays Tour of homes to kick off your holiday season.

• Gallery Talk with Wendell Brown | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free | Join artist and educator Wendell Brown for a tour highlighting works in “The Art of Elizabeth Catlett: From the Collection of Samella Lewis.”

• More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 6 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia | Free | Violinist, arranger, composer, conductor, and Cola native Nicole Neely is bringing her string quartet, The Black Exchange, to the CMA.

• 57º | Mostly sunny | 0% chance of rain

• A new indoor 24-Hour Pickleball facility is coming to the Midlands, possibly by June 2023, and it could be the largest facility in the state. A sign located at 4590 Augusta Hwy. in Lexington teases that the facility will have coaching, tournaments, leagues, and more. (The State)
• Another Crumbl cookies location is coming, this one to Columbiana Station (150 Harbison Blvd.). This will be the third location in the Midlands for the popular cookie company and is set to open in early 2023. 🍪 (The Post and Courier)

• NoMa Flea is hosting a holiday market on Fri., Dec.16 from 6-9 p.m. The market will run again on Sat., Dec. 17 from 3-6 p.m. and Sun., Dec.18 from 12-3 p.m. Bring the family to take free photos with Santa, and enjoy live music, food trucks, crafts, hot cocoa, and more. 🎅

• This year’s “Official City Ornament” was unveiled and features the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. This is the 30th ornament in the collectors’ series costs $20, and is 24-karat gold on brass. All proceeds from the sales of the ornament benefit the Babcock Center Foundation.
• The perfect gift doesn’t exi— meet our local makers gift guide. Browse unique, handmade gifts crafted right here in Columbia by sellers on Etsy. We’re talking custom-engraved kitchen spoons, wooden bathtub trays, and personalized yoga mats. Get shopping.

• The South Carolina Philharmonic will perform its second concert of the Chamber Crawl Series on Sun., Dec. 4 at Loveland Coffee (7475 Carlisle St., Irmo) beginning at 3 p.m. The performance will cost $20 and consist of instrumental holiday favorites. 🎻

• Every year, Lexington Medical Center produces its own Christmas commercial — this year’s “Let Your Love Show” commercial, which aired during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, features the iconic train from the hospital’s North Tower Atrium. See the significance of the train and get a behind-the-scenes look at the production. 🚂 *

• Open enrollment for individual and family health insurance is now. Enrollment events are happening this week at Mega Insurance at 1004 Cermack St. in Columbia on Fri., Dec. 2 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m. and HealthMarkets at The Flight Deck Shoppes at 109 Old Chapin Rd. in Lexington on Sat., Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.*

• Wilson Kibler Brokers Brooks Owings + Mike Edwards represented the developer in the purchase of the old Jim Moore Cadillac dealership site at 2222 Main St. in the North Main/Cottotown area. The new development will include 250 high-end luxury apartments. 🏢 *

• If you work from home like us, you’ve likely become accustomed to having stiff muscles at the end of a workday due to prolonged sitting. Combat this with a little office upgrade — an electric standing desk paired with a sleek under desk treadmill. Oh, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.*