Monday, March 25, 2024

8 Implausible Christmas Occasions You Don’t Wish to Miss in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2022)


When Christmas involves Columbia it arrives with one wonderful occasion after one other. Occasions centered round improbable native purchasing, lovely mild shows, and thrilling household actions occur virtually each weekend. Listed below are some improbable Christmas occasions you don’t wish to miss throughout Christmas in Columbia.

No. 01

Vista Lights

The one-night Vista Lights occasion is a wonderful alternative to discover the outlets and eating places of The Vista, one of many distinctive neighborhoods of Columbia. Stay leisure fills the cool evening air as guests mingle all through the practically sixty regionally owned outlets. Stroll alongside Gervais or Girl Streets between Meeting and Huger to search out these nice locations.

Carol Saunders Gallery is a pleasant native artwork store to browse. Metropolis Artwork is a good place to search out artwork provides to assist the artist within the household throughout Christmas.

One of many extra fascinating locations to search out nice reward concepts is The Cotton Mill Change, the 4,000 sq. foot reward store on the South Carolina State Museum. The reward store has a bevy of clothes, books, and dinnerware with a South Carolina theme, together with instructional books and toys for kids.

Admission to the occasion is free.

READ MORE: 5 Locations to Discover Stunning Christmas Lights in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2022)

On the Hampton-Preston Mansion the Christmas Tree is embellished with candles, an previous German custom.
No. 02

Historic Vacation Excursions

Annually Historic Columbia provides Historic Vacation Excursions, a sequence of guided excursions of the attractive Robert Mills Home and Hampton-Preston Mansion. Though these historic properties may be toured all year long, through the Christmas vacation season the properties are embellished with period-specific décor for the home.

The Robert Mills Home, designed by the identical
architect who designed the Washington Monument, is an interesting dwelling to
discover. The 1820s Christmas décor doesn’t embody the Christmas tree as a result of
that had not change into popularized but. Excursions embody the basement and first ground
of the home.

The Hampton-Preston Mansion is a beautiful dwelling that
is likely one of the oldest remaining constructions within the metropolis. The house is embellished
with an 1860s Christmas tree however you should definitely 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.

This attractive tree was one in every of lots of embellished on the Riverbanks Zoo for the Lights Earlier than Christmas.
No. 03

Lights at Riverbanks

One of many greatest Christmas mild shows in Columbia is discovered on the Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard. The annual Lights at Riverbanks consists of 1000’s of lights and shows across the enclosures and sidewalks of the zoo. Firepits for roasting s’mores, photographs with Santa, and a craft workshop make this among the best household occasions for Christmas in Columbia.

Purchase your tickets prematurely – admission is $12 for adults and $10 for kids – 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 Have to See the Lights at Riverbanks in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2022)

No. 04

Annual Governor’s Carolighting

On November 20, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will mild the official State Christmas Tree in entrance of the South Carolina State Home. The Annual Governor’s Carolighting kicks off Christmas in Columbia with a fun-filled evening. Mockingly, 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 may be considered from Gervais Road. There’s loads of parallel parking across the State Home so you may get out and see it.

Beauitful Christmas mild shows at Vacation Lights on the River.
No. 05

Vacation Lights on the River

The annual Vacation Lights on the River is likely one of the most improbable household Christmas occasions as a result of you may get pleasure from most of it from the consolation of your automobile! The center of the occasion is a gigantic, animated Christmas lights show alongside a self-driving tour by Saluda Shoals Park. On the exercise middle close to the tip of the driving route guests can roast marshmallows, seize some sizzling chocolate, be a part of a vacation craft workshop, and seize photographs with Santa.

Admission is $25 per automobile.

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. As soon as the gate opens, anticipate to take a seat in line exterior the gate 1-2 hours.

No. 06

Vacation Market

Annually the Junior League of Columbia organizes the Vacation Market as their greatest fundraiser of the yr. Nearly 2 hundred distributors come out with baked items, arts and crafts, clothes, jewellery, and all types of improbable Christmas reward concepts for the four-day occasion. Particular occasions embody the Preview Get together, Girls Night time out, and Sundaes with Santa.

Common admission to the market is $8 per particular person (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 Vacation Parade

The Christmas vacation will not be full with out a parade! The Carolina Carillon Vacation Parade begins at 9:45 a.m. at Sumter and Laurel Streets in downtown Columbia. The parade proceeds down Sumter Road, throughout Gervais Road and previous the South Carolina State Home, and ends at Senate Road close to the historic Horseshoe.

The parade options marching bands from native excessive colleges
and faculties, particular performers, vacation floats, cloggers, and South Carolina
celebrities.

The occasion is free to attend.

READ MORE: The whole lot You Have to Know Concerning the Vacation Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2022)

No. 08

The Nutcracker

One other annual occasion each Christmas wants is a efficiency of The Nutcracker. The Columbia Metropolis Ballet places on six performances through the week main as much as Christmas. The Nutcracker Tea earlier than every of the matinees is a good alternative to carry the children alongside for cake, cookies, and refreshments earlier than the efficiency.

Right 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 particular person.

The place to Keep

Columbia is a giant metropolis and has loads of choices for lodging (I’m fairly positive town has one in every of each kind of resort chain). Though a resort is a resort, some resorts are higher and others are in higher places. Listed below are some choices in three particular areas I feel would make a fantastic place to remain throughout Christmas in Columbia.

Funds

Microtel Inn & Suites The Microtel chain is barebones however all you want for a snug sleep. They’ve a couple of connecting rooms, rooms with two beds, and a studio suite with a sleeper couch so you may carry the household. The placement close to I-77 is on the outskirts of town however nonetheless a fantastic 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’ve 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-Vary

Hyatt Place That is the prime advisable place to remain downtown throughout Christmas in Columbia. The resort is an excellent snug and handy location for exploring downtown, The Vista, and 5 Factors throughout all of the Christmas occasions. A full-service bar and restaurant within the foyer provide an opportunity to get a meal with out having to decorate up and exit.

Aloft s a comparatively new chain of contemporary resort to brush the nation they usually’re fairly snug for a keep. Situated throughout the road from Hyatt Place it’s inside strolling distance of Primary Road so that you gained’t have to fret about discovering parking or driving again after eating at Bourbon.

Hampton Inn This resort is in a fantastic location beside the interstate to rapidly entry all of the Christmas occasions within the metropolis. They characteristic a number of rooms with a sleeper couch so you may carry the whole household. The breakfast unfold within the morning is fairly spectacular and can get your day began off proper.

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