Parades, festivals and more: Things to do and see in the Midlands this holiday season – WLTX

COLUMBIA, S.C. — It’s the day after Thanksgiving… the main feast is over, so now what? If you’re not one for heading out to Black Friday sales in person but you don’t want to settle in front of the TV just yet, what is there to do?

Here are some suggestions:

Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, through-January 14, 5-9 p.m. Advanced reservations required, purchase tickets online. This year’s light display is new, featuring 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 and $14.99/child aged 2-12, children age 2 and under get in free. Tickets include a souvenir mug with first fill of hot chocolate.

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). Ticket includes 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, enjoy a variety of concessions including beer and wine, and roast marshmallows. Santa will visit Holiday Lights November 24-25, December 1-2, and December 8-9, and Dec. 15-23. Professional photos and photo packages will be available for purchase. Activities will not be offered 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 $10/person in November, $12/person in December, children age 2 and under get in free; military, first responders, seniors age 65+ receive $2 off ticket with valid ID. 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 December 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 through display also features the Pilot Club’s floating Christmas tree and Santa’s Village (the village is open 6-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays only).

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, Dec. 19 is first responders appreciation day where entry is $10/car with proper ID

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 even 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 SC State Museum website for showtimes.

The Arts Center of Kershaw County and Reggie Sullivan are proud to present A Charlie Brown Christmas, December 7 at 7 p.m. in the Wood Auditorium, 810 Lyttleton St., Camden. There are few Christmas soundtracks filled with as much warmth and nostalgia as A Charlie Brown Christmas. Composed by the great American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas blends smooth jazz, latin influences, and bossa nova to make that unmistakably unique sound fans of the classic holiday special will remember. Just one listen and you’ll realize why the album was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Tickets: $25 (Adults) $15 (Under 18)

The South Carolina Philharmonic presents Home for the Holidays on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the Koger Center for the Arts under the baton of 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 range from $10 to $40 currently, 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 [email protected]

Chitlin Strut Festival, 9am-6pm, Main Street, Salley, South Carolina. You’ll smell ’em before you see ’em during the 56th annual Chitlin’ Strut Festival. Parade starts at 9 a.m. and other activities such as hog calling contest, strut dance contest, beauty pageant, and more, start at 10 a.m. For those who don’t know, chitlin’s (or chitterlings) are fried or boiled pieces of small intestine of a pig.

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.

Blythewood Tree Lighting, 5-6 p.m. at Blythewood Town Hall, 171 Langford Rd. Enjoy music and refreshments, and visit with neighbors and friends at the annual tree lighting.

Little Mountain Tree Lighting, 4:30-6 p.m. at Brady Park and Town Hall, 204 Depot St.

Sweet Seasons in Forest Acres, 5-8 p.m. Lowes Foods Shopping Center, 4711 Forest Dr. Enjoy the Christmas tree lighting, live music, food and drinks for sale, and visit with Santa and The Grinch.

Town of Irmo Christmas Tree Lighting, 6 p.m. Irmo Town Park, 7330 Carlisle St. Free hot chocolate and cookies and a performance by the students at Nursery Road Elementary School.

Junior League Holiday Market through December 3 at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Buy admission tickets online, $10/person, allows admission for all four days of the market. Open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Sundaes with Santa tickets available at the door noon-4 p.m. on Sunday.

Cayce Tree Lighting Ceremony, 6 p.m. at Cayce City Hall, 1800 12th St. Light displays, Santa and Mrs. Claus, local school choirs and bands perform, hot chocolate and sweets.

Elgin Tree Lighting Ceremony, 6-8 p.m. at Potter Park in Elgin. Food trucks will have goodies for sale until 7 p.m. and the official tree lighting is 7-8 p.m.

Carols Along the Riverwalk, 6-8 p.m. begins at the N Avenue entrance (201 N Avenue at Axtell and N Ave.). Join in song with local musicians and choirs along the Cayce Riverwalk. Parking and free trolley rides to and from the entrance of the Riverwalk provided by Brookland Cayce High School.

Town of Springdale Christmas Tree Lighting, 6-8 p.m. at Felton C Benton Park, 2915 Platt Springs Rd. features family fun and yummy goodies…. and Santa!

Elgin Catfish Stomp Festival and Parade, begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Bowen and Main streets in Elgin. Enjoy the parade, arts and crafts, and then dig in to the delicious catfish stew and fried catfish — with all the fixings.

Lake Murray Christmas Light Boat Parade, 4:30-8 p.m. at Lake Murray Dam Public Park in Lexington. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., parade begins at 6 pm. Parking available for the first 300 vehicles. Tune into 93.1 The Lake to hear Christmas carols, have your flashlight or phone ready for “Silent Night,” and don’t forget the fireworks finale. If you have a boat and want to participate in the parade, deadline to register is noon on November 27.

Pine Ridge Christmas Parade, 4-7 p.m. at 2757 Fish Hatchery Rd. Enjoy arts and crafts, BBQ and tacos, hot chocolate, live music and more. Children can write letters to Santa

Cayce Christmas Olde and New, 6-9 p.m. at Cayce Historical Museum’s holiday open house. Santa and Mrs. Clause will be there and visitors can enjoy and outdoor market, live entertainment, holiday decorations and a historical lantern tour.

Swansea Christmas Parade, 4-6 p.m. Follow the parade along Hwy 692 and Hwy 321, concluding at Faith Baptist Church Road in Swansea.

South Congaree Tree Lighting, 5-7 p.m., corner of Ramblin and Main streets, features food trucks, special guests, and Santa

Gaston Christmas Parade, 9-11 a.m. along Gaston Street. Line-up begins in front of Francis Mack Intermediate School at 9 a.m., parade starts at 10 a.m.

Kershaw County Christmas Parade, 10 a.m. at the corner of Broad and Laurens streets in downtown Camden to the City Arena. Enjoy floats, beauty queens, classic cars, music, and Santa.

South Congaree Christmas Parade, 10 a.m.-noon, Main Street

Cayce Holiday Parade of Lights, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; parade starts at 5:30 p.m. and moves through West Columbia and Cayce. Holiday market features local vendors and foods, live entertainment until 4:30 p.m. at the designated North Pole.

Boykin Christmas, 2 p.m. in Boykin. Come early to the crossroads community and set up a tailgate, take a stroll through the town, and bring a chair to stake out a spot along the parade route. Gospel concert begins immediately following the parade. No camping overnight, no open fires, no golf carts/ATVs/motorized scooters. 

This is by no means meant to be a complete list. If we have inadvertently omitted your holiday event, please send an email to [email protected] with the details.