Seasons greetings, Cola. ❄️ To help you get the most out of the most wonderful time of the year, we’ve compiled our Columbia winter bucket list, complete with 40+ events and activities to try. So jingle all the way through this list to make sure you don’t miss anything. ☃️
👟 Activities
Explore the yarn bombs scattered around Main Street
If you haven’t seed the many yarn bombs nestled amongst Main Street, you’re missing out. From cozy penguins to festive gingerbread men wrapped around the trees, this is perfect for a sunny afternoon stroll.
Visit the Sunday Market at the Well Collective
Bring on the holiday shopping. Browse a variety of unique finds including vintage items, home decor + more.
Weave a chunky knit tree wrap/bed runner at AR Workshop
There’s something so special and fun about handmade holiday decorations. With the guidance of an AR Workshop artist, create your next favorite piece.
Walk through the middle of the ornament on Main Street and take a photo
A little larger than life, this light up ornament sits on the First Citizens Green by Market on Main and begs to make an appearance in your holiday photos.
Bring the kids and jump in the Winter Wonderland snow pit at Second Wave Coffee and Books
Snow in South Carolina? We’re in. Enjoy snow all throughout December plus play games and even roast s’mores by the fire pit.
Enjoy a cozy dinner in an igloo at Publico
Eat an outdoor dinner without feeling the cold while bundled up in one of Publico’s igloos. We hear they also have snow on the weekends.
Grab a naked cookie decoration kit to participate in Blue Flour Bakery’s decorating contest
Snowcase your cookie decorating skills to win a bunch of delicious sugar cookies. Pick up your decorating kit and share your cookie creations online.
Visit the state Christmas tree at the State House and take a few photos
13,000 lights and 900 ornaments later, we can’t help but stare at this eye catching tree.
Grab a cookie kit from the Creative Cookery and paint holiday treats
The cookie is your canvas – an entertaining and creative way to decorate delicious cookies that the family will love.
Snap some pictures with Cola’s neighborhood Santa Claus
Bring a sense of normalcy to the holidays with Columbia’s very own. Santa Cotton was even at the Governor’s Carolighting this past year and is taking appointments.
Take a trip to visit the festival of the trees in Aiken
The annual festival of the trees is an Aiken classic and a must see for Midlanders. Trees will stay up until Jan. 2; however, the winner will be announced Dec. 20.
💡 Where to see lights
Carolina Lights | Sat., Dec. 5-Fri., Dec. 27 | SC State Fairgrounds | $20+/vehicle
Gather the family or a group of friends for a drive-thru lights show with a fun scavenger hunt to play along the way.
Lights Before Christmas | Sat., Nov. 21-Wed., Dec. 30 | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | $10+
Walk along the lights, visit Santa’s village, ride the North Pole Express and make s’mores.
Holiday Lights on the River | Fri., Nov. 27-Thurs., Dec. 31 | Saluda Shoals Park | $20+/vehicle
A magical drive-thru with more than 400 twinkling displays. Food truck concessions will be available for bites throughout the event.
Fantasy of Lights | Tues., Dec. 1-Thurs., Dec. 31 | 822 W Liberty St., Sumter | Free
Come see the floating Christmas tree and Santa’s village featured in the show with more than one million shining lights.
🎄 Christmas tree farms
Price’s Christmas Tree Farm | Opened Sat., Nov. 21 (see their hours here) | 228 Maple Rd., Lexington
Choose from a selection of pre-cut Fraser Firs from North Carolina and Virginia or cut your own Leyland Cypress, Cedar or Carolina Sapphire grown at the farm.
Bear Creek Christmas Tree Farm | Fri., Nov. 27-Sun., Dec. 20 (see their hours here) | 564 Amicks Ferry Rd., Chapin
What better way to kick off the holiday season than choosing and cutting your own Christmas tree? Bear Creek has Leyland Cypress, Virginia Pines, Carolina Sapphire, White pines, and Red Cedars available.
Hollow Creek Christmas Tree Farm | Sun., Nov. 22-Sat., Dec. 19 (see their hours here) | 228 Windmill Rd., Gilbert
Pick out your family’s Christmas tree from 12 varieties of trees at the farm. Hay rides and hot chocolate will not be available this year.
Tom Sawyer’s Christmas Trees | Opened Sun., Nov. 22 (see their hours here) | 402 Uncle Duck Rd., Monetta
Enjoy cookies and hot chocolate in the Red Door Wreath House and choose from many varieties of trees to find the perfect tree for your home.
🎟️ Winter festivals
Santa Crawl 2020 | Sat., Dec. 5 | 12 p.m. | Tin Roof | $10 | Dress up in your holiday-themed clothes and sip your way to six different bars + compete in the costume contest. 🎅
Jingle Bell Jazz with Mark Rapp | Thurs., Dec.10-Sun., Dec.13 | Times vary | Trustus Theatre | $30 | Each show has a different theme, celebrating jazz musicians in four unique holiday concerts. 🎺
The Nutcracker | Sat., Dec.12-Sun., Dec. 20 | Times vary | Koger Center for the Arts | $25+ | Eight nights of fabulous performances produced by William Starrett and performed by Columbia City Ballet. 🩰
Family Day: Historic Holidays | Sat., Dec. 12 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens | $5+ | Learn how families in Columbia celebrated the holidays with historic traditions + crafts for the kids. 🎄
Candy Cane Hunt | Fri., Dec.18 | 3:30-4 p.m. | Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington Hwy. | $2 | Santa and his elves will be hiding candy canes along the trail for a one of a kind candy adventure. 🎅
Columbia Celebrates | Sun., Dec. 20 | 3-4:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Tune into Facebook Live to hear the sweet holiday sounds presented by Palmetto Chamber Orchestra. 🎻
☕ Food + drinks
Winter-themed drinks from Indah Coffee | Two words: s’mores latte. Made with marshmallow syrup and topped with chocolate, graham crackers and a toasted marshmallow, we’re feeling warm + cozy just thinking about it.
A hot cup of Eggnog from Curiosity Coffee Bar | Warm up on a cooler morning with an espresso boost + classic holiday flavors.
Frozen Bourbon Eggnog at River Rat Brewery | Trade in your beer for a festive drink on your next brewery trip.
Holiday cookies from Blue Flour Bakery | Whether you’re bringing cookies to a party or just need to satisfy your sweet tooth, the festively decorated bites will get the job done.
Slice of Snickerdoodle Cake from Ally and Eloise Bakeshop | Indulge in the winter flavors of white cake with swirls of cinnamon and sugar + a cinnamon buttercream icing.
Red Hot Cinnamon Eggnog Latte from Drip on Main | The name says it all for this one – a little heat and a little spice combined for the perfect winter coffee.
❤️ Donating
Donate to The Salvation Army of Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties’ Virtual Red Kettle
Help grant Christmas wishes for the children at Epworth Children’s Home by participating in the Christmas Drop Off from Dec. 7-11.
Sign up for a volunteer shift at Harvest Hope Food Bank to help feed Midlands community members during the holidays
See our full roundup for more ways to give back to the community this holiday season.
🍾 NYE events
Famously Hot New Year | Thurs., Dec. 31 | 10:30 p.m.-12:15 a.m. | Virtual | Free | Ring in the new year with celebrity toasts, a national headliner + more.
New Year’s Eve Celebration | Thurs., Dec. 31 | 7 p.m.-1 a.m. | Swamp Cabbage Brewing | $60 | Celebrate the start of the new year with make-your-own s’mores, a champagne toast, fireworks, live music + more.
All night New Year’s Eve Skate | Thurs., Dec. 31-Fri., Jan. 1 | 7 p.m.-7 a.m. | Skate Station USA, 129 Oak Dr., Lexington | $10+ | Watch the ball drop and skate the year away with games, prizes and more.
Farewell 2020 Party | Thurs., Dec. 31 | 6 p.m. | The Grand on Main + Main Course | $50+ | One ticket will get you into both locations. Tickets include a champagne toast, two drink tickets and an hour at a bowling lane or golf bay.
