When Christmas involves Columbia it arrives with one wonderful occasion after one other. Events centered round unbelievable native buying, lovely gentle shows, and thrilling household actions occur virtually each weekend. Here are some unbelievable Christmas occasions you don’t wish to miss throughout Christmas in Columbia.
No. 01
Vista Lights
The one-night Vista Lights occasion is a superb alternative to discover the retailers and eating places of The Vista, one of many distinctive neighborhoods of Columbia. Live leisure fills the cool evening air as guests mingle all through the almost sixty domestically owned retailers. Stroll alongside Gervais or Lady Streets between Assembly and Huger to seek out these nice locations.
Carol Saunders Gallery is a pleasant native artwork store to browse. City Art is a superb place to seek out artwork provides to help the artist within the household throughout Christmas.
One of the extra attention-grabbing locations to seek out nice present concepts is The Cotton Mill Exchange, the 4,000 sq. foot present store on the South Carolina State Museum. The present store has a bevy of clothes, books, and dinnerware with a South Carolina theme, together with academic books and toys for youngsters.
Admission to the occasion is free.
READ MORE: 5 Places to Find Beautiful Christmas Lights in Columbia, SC (Updated for 2022)
No. 02
Historic Holiday Tours
Each yr Historic Columbia affords Historic Holiday Tours, a sequence of guided excursions of the attractive Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion. Although these historic houses will be toured all year long, through the Christmas vacation season the houses are adorned with period-specific décor for the home.
The Robert Mills House, designed by the identical
architect who designed the Washington Monument, is an enchanting house to
discover. The 1820s Christmas décor doesn’t embrace the Christmas tree as a result of
that had not develop into popularized but. Tours embrace the basement and first ground
of the home.
The Hampton-Preston Mansion is a beautiful house that
is likely one of the oldest remaining buildings within the metropolis. The house is adorned
with an 1860s Christmas tree however make sure to pay attention to the candles, a German
custom, hanging on the tree as a substitute of electrical lights.
Guided excursions are provided Wednesdays – Saturdays at 12 p.m. and three p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and three p.m. Admission is free for members, $18 for grownup non-members, and $15 for youth.
No. 03
Lights at Riverbanks
One of the largest Christmas gentle shows in Columbia is discovered on the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. The annual Lights at Riverbanks contains hundreds of lights and shows across the enclosures and sidewalks of the zoo. Firepits for roasting s’mores, images with Santa, and a craft workshop make this top-of-the-line household occasions for Christmas in Columbia.
Buy your tickets prematurely – admission is $12 for adults and $10 for youngsters – and spend one of many following evenings on the Riverbanks Zoo.
- Saturday, November 19 – Sunday, November 20, 2022
- Wednesday, November 23, 2022
- Friday, November 25 – Sunday, November 27, 2022
- Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – Sunday, December 4, 2022
- Wednesday, December 7 – Sunday, December 11, 2022
- Wednesday, December 14 – Friday, December 23, 2022
- Monday, December 26 – Friday, December 30, 2022
READ MORE: Why You Need to See the Lights at Riverbanks in Columbia, SC (Updated for 2022)
No. 04
Annual Governor’s Carolighting
On November 20, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will gentle the official State Christmas Tree in entrance of the South Carolina State House. The Annual Governor’s Carolighting kicks off Christmas in Columbia with a fun-filled evening. Ironically, the 35-foot-tall tree doesn’t come from South Carolina – as a substitute, it’s delivered instantly from Henderson Tree Farm in Morganton, North Carolina.
The State Christmas Tree stays lit every evening all through the vacation season. The tree will be considered from Gervais Street. There is loads of parallel parking across the State House so you will get out and see it.
No. 05
Holiday Lights on the River
The annual Holiday Lights on the River is likely one of the most unbelievable household Christmas occasions as a result of you possibly can take pleasure in most of it from the consolation of your automotive! The coronary heart of the occasion is a gigantic, animated Christmas lights show alongside a self-driving tour by means of Saluda Shoals Park. At the exercise middle close to the tip of the driving route guests can roast marshmallows, seize some scorching chocolate, be a part of a vacation craft workshop, and seize images with Santa.
Admission is $25 per automotive.
Inside Tip The gate opens at 6 p.m. each evening to permit automobiles into the park. Arrive two hours early to be one of many first vehicles in line. Once the gate opens, anticipate to sit down in line outdoors the gate 1-2 hours.
No. 06
Holiday Market
Each yr the Junior League of Columbia organizes the Holiday Market as their greatest fundraiser of the yr. Almost 200 distributors come out with baked items, arts and crafts, clothes, jewellery, and all types of unbelievable Christmas present concepts for the four-day occasion. Special occasions embrace the Preview Party, Ladies Night out, and Sundaes with Santa.
General admission to the market is $8 per individual (covers all 4 days). The market is held from 9:30 a.m. till 5 p.m. every day of the occasion
No. 07
Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade
The Christmas vacation just isn’t full and not using a parade! The Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade begins at 9:45 a.m. at Sumter and Laurel Streets in downtown Columbia. The parade proceeds down Sumter Street, throughout Gervais Street and previous the South Carolina State House, and ends at Senate Street close to the historic Horseshoe.
The parade options marching bands from native excessive faculties
and schools, particular performers, vacation floats, cloggers, and South Carolina
celebrities.
The occasion is free to attend.
No. 08
The Nutcracker
Another annual occasion each Christmas wants is a efficiency of The Nutcracker. The Columbia City Ballet places on six performances through the week main as much as Christmas. The Nutcracker Tea earlier than every of the matinees is a superb alternative to deliver the children alongside for cake, cookies, and refreshments earlier than the efficiency.
Here is the entire schedule for 2021 The Nutcracker performances in Columbia:
- Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 3 p.m. and seven:30 p.m.
- Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 3 p.m.
- Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 3 p.m. and seven:30 p.m.
- Sunday, December 18, 2022 at 3 p.m.
Admission ranges from $35-$60 per individual.
Where to Stay
Columbia is an enormous metropolis and has loads of choices for lodging (I’m fairly positive town has one in all each sort of resort chain). Although a resort is a resort, some inns are higher and others are in higher places. Here are some choices in three particular areas I feel would make an amazing place to remain throughout Christmas in Columbia.
Budget
Microtel Inn & Suites The Microtel chain is barebones however all you want for a cushty sleep. They have a couple of connecting rooms, rooms with two beds, and a studio suite with a sleeper couch so you possibly can deliver the household. The location close to I-77 is on the outskirts of town however nonetheless an amazing location for attending to all of the Christmas occasions.
La Quinta Inn This resort is likely one of the most inexpensive within the metropolis (and sooner or later I’d let you know about how I stayed right here when my camper van broke down). They have connecting rooms and a Deluxe Suite with a sleeper couch for the households. The breakfast is typical of a resort chain within the morning, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not a foul begin to the day.
Mid-Range
Hyatt Place This is the high really helpful place to remain downtown throughout Christmas in Columbia. The resort is a brilliant comfy and handy location for exploring downtown, The Vista, and Five Points throughout all of the Christmas occasions. A full-service bar and restaurant within the foyer supply an opportunity to get a meal with out having to decorate up and exit.
Aloft s a comparatively new chain of contemporary resort to comb the nation they usually’re fairly comfy for a keep. Located throughout the road from Hyatt Place it’s inside strolling distance of Main Street so that you received’t have to fret about discovering parking or driving again after eating at Bourbon.
Hampton Inn This resort is in an amazing location beside the interstate to shortly entry all of the Christmas occasions within the metropolis. They characteristic a number of rooms with a sleeper couch so you possibly can deliver your entire household. The breakfast unfold within the morning is fairly spectacular and can get your day began off proper.