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Christmas Lights

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Saluda Shoals

Holiday Festival of Lights | Nov 11 – Jan 1

Each year, thousands of families create lasting memories at the Holiday Festival of Lights, where millions of multicolored lights illuminate the sky throughout 52 enchanting nights. Journey through three miles of over 700 magical light displays of all shapes and sizes. Park your car and enjoy family activities, shopping, food, entertainment, and so much more! More here.

Main Street Lights | Nov 18 – Dec 31

Newberry claims to have more lights than any other downtown in South Carolina! Take a drive through downtown any evening this holiday season and be dazzled by the amazing light displays, especially around the old courthouse.  And on the Friday before Thanksgiving, November 18th, 2016, begining at 6:00 pm, the downtown area will be transformed into a mini-festival. Local vendors will be selling and giving away a variety of goods, from fresh wreaths and garlands, to free hot chocolate and popcorn. We’ll have new additions to our Downtown décor including a new ornament “sculpture” in Astwood Park as well as old favorites like our faux snow machines in Memorial Park. The Official Tree Lighting Ceremony of Main St. Lights begins at 6:30 pm, accompanied by local choruses and a special guest from WISTV News. Help us light our Community Christmas Tree, located in front of Community Hall, through festive song and fellowship. More here.
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Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks | Nov 19 – Dec 30

From 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The zoo will sparkle with nearly 1 million lights, countless animated images, visits with Santa (on-site beginning at 6pm each night through Dec 23), holiday cheer around the Jingle Bell Bonfire & more! Tickets are $11 for adults and $9 for children ages 2 to 12 and went on sale November 1st, so get yours now. Visit for  More Info . *Closed Nov. 24, Dec. 24, and Dec. 25th.

Holiday Lights on the River | Nov 23 – Dec 31

Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park is the largest drive-through lights show in the Midlands. This dazzling light show will be open from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and will feature over 400 animated displays.  Look for our Merry Christmas Columbia light display this year!

Holiday Lights Activities Every Night! (except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas)
Fun-filled family activities offered at Holiday Lights on the River include:

  • Hayride shuttle to the Wetland Walking trail
  • Saluda Shoals train
  • A laser light show along the wetland trail
  • Tube slide
  • New! Ice skating rink
  • Crafts
  • Santa’s Claus’et Gift Shop
  • Roast marshmallows

Enjoy the  walking trail along the boardwalk (purchase hot chocolate, hot cider, or other concessions for your stroll) that hosts a laser light show, and of course don’t miss the opportunity to get a photo with Santa (fees apply) from December 9 – 23. Holiday Lights on the River

NEW ENTRANCE for 2016!  
There’s a brand new Holiday Lights entrance off St. Andrews Road! All Holiday Lights traffic will enter Saluda Shoals Park at the east entrance located between Wendy’s and Aldi Foods at 6071 St. Andrews Road and exit onto Bush River Road. Holiday Lights visitors will enjoy an all new route this year.  There will be no Holiday Light entrance on Bush River Road.  

Holiday lights admission is $15 for cars, $25 for 15 passenger vans, and $40 for buses. For more information, More Info or call (803) 772-3903.

Roper Mountain Holiday Lights | Nov 24 – Dec 30

Roper Mountain Holiday Lights is the only not-for-profit holiday lights event in the Upstate, and 2016 marks the 25th year of this great event! Open Thanksgiving night through December 30, enjoy strolling through WinterWonderland, with its lighted walking trails, Santa Claus, balloon artist, concessions, giant holiday greeting cards created by local area students, see team mascots and performances by school groups, and drive through displays like Candy Cane Lane, Santa’s Sleigh and the Caterpillar. More here.

50th Annual Governor’s Carolighting | Dec 1

The Governor’s Carolighting will be held from 7-9pm and will feature a variety of musical groups prior to the lighting of the SC State Christmas tree, including Fort Jackson’s own 282nd Army Band. This year’s Carolighting event will correspond with First Thursday on Main, creating an entire evening of holiday activities in the capital city! More here.

Fantasy of Lights

Fantasy of Lights in Sumter | Dec 1 – Dec 31
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Part of Sumter’s annual Poinsettia Festival, this is one of South Carolina’s largest Christmas light displays! The Fantasy of Lights takes place at beautiful Swan Lake Iris Gardens, one of the finest botanical gardens in the United States. Over 1 million lights and 150 twinkling figures light up the 150 acres of gardens! The gardens will be open from dusk until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and from dusk until 9pm Sunday – Thursday throughout the entire month of December. You will be amazed as the sun goes down and the gardens come alive with breathtaking light displays symbolizing the holiday season, as well as seeing some of your favorite cartoon characters: Blues Clues, Barney, Bob the Builder, Sponge Bob, Dora the Explorer, and more. The Pilot Club’s floating Christmas tree is an annual favorite, along with Santa, angels, and characters of song and story. Santa’s Village will be at the Heath Pavilion on Friday and Saturday nights (through December 10) with entertainment and refreshments. Kids can bring letters to Santa, and the Santa Express will send them straight to the North Pole! Opening ceremony on Dec 1 at 6pm. Drive-thru the Gardens; park and walk areas available. Admission is free. For more information visit website or call 803-436-2640.

Night of a Thousand Candles | Dec 1-3, 8-10, 15-18

See Brookgreen Gardens come to life amid the soft glow of more than 5,500 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights from 3 – 10 p.m. Walk the paths with a warm cup of cider, hear the sounds of hand bells ringing, carolers singing, and celebrate the season with family and friends.The 80-foot-tall fir tree decorated with 70,000 lights will be lighted in ceremonial fashion at 5:45 p.m. every night. More Info.

Summerville

Florence Festival of Lights | Dec 9-10, 16-18

Beginning at 5:30pm at Hoffmeyer Place. Join us for the third annual Florence Festival of Lights to be held on December 9th and 10th and December 16th, 17th, and 18th.  This premiere light display and holiday event will be fun for the whole family.  After you drive through these stunning holiday lights, stroll through Santa’s Village to spread more holiday cheer with a cup of hot chocolate, a visit with Santa himself,  or a balloon animal from Todd’s Twisted Balloons. More Info.
SC Farmers Market

Christmas In Hopelands | Dec 10, 11, 15-23, 26

The 25th Annual Christmas in Hopelands is an enchanting walk-through exhibit that features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and holiday displays. There is no admission charge. Over 100,000 twinkling lights are a must-see during the Christmas season. Santa or Mrs. Claus will be inside the Rye Patch for photos. Be sure to purchase your s’mores kit for $5.00 at Citizens Park before you hop on the shuttle. Once you get to the gardens, head to the Rye Patch to roast your marshmallows. Parents must accompany children at all times. Shuttle departs from Citizens Park: 1060 Banks Mill Rd  More Info.

Harborside Lights | Dec 12

See the Village Green and Town Center glow with thousands of twinkling lights and luminaries. Lake Carolina’s Harborside Lights celebration brings holiday tradition and family fun together. Enjoy musical entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa, holiday treats, millions of twinkling lights, over sixteen hundred luminaries and dozens of decorated trees at this annual holiday celebration! If you can’t make it for Harborside Lights, the community is lovely and decorated beautifully throughout the season. More Info.

Essex

Elgin LightsElgin Lights | Dec 15 – 24

From 6-9PM. Truly a labor of love by the Towns family of Elgin. See hundreds of antique tractors including a 1909 working steam engine, miniature trains and memorabilia and forty thousand lights. Families are invited to get out of their cars and walk around and/or take a hayride through the woods. Working blacksmith. Take pictures on 1939 John Deere tractor and Christmas-themed photo props. Four buildings – known as the “Elgin Smithsonian”! Free admission; donations appreciated with all proceeds given to Camp Kemo. The farm is located at 2433 Charlie House Circle in Elgin, SC. (803) 408-0131. Website Info.