As soon as recognized by the phrase jumble Lights Earlier than Christmas – though they stayed lit previous the vacation – the newly christened Lights at Riverbanks is without doubt one of the most uncommon Christmas mild shows in South Carolina. And once I say uncommon, I imply that you might want to head into the capital metropolis subsequent weekend and see these lights.
Lights at Riverbanks is a uncommon alternative to discover the Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard at evening. However don’t go anticipating to see all kinds of wildlife swinging from bushes and growling atop fake rocks. The animals are asleep. And also you’re there to see the a million lights, hearth pits, and get an image taken with Santa.
Discover out the whole lot you might want to find out about attending the Lights at Riverbanks.
When Can I See the Lights at Riverbanks?
The Lights at Riverbanks is held on choose dates from 5-9 p.m. You’ll want to test the schedule twice.
2020 Lights at Riverbanks Schedule
- 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
How A lot Does Lights at Riverbanks Price?
Admission to the Lights at Riverbanks is $15 for adults, $12 for kids age 2-12, and free for kids beneath 2.
Christmas Lights
I attempted counting the variety of Christmas lights on show
on the zoo however like several slacker I gave up after 100. There’s lots.
In all probability about one million.
The Lights at Riverbanks was one of the spectacular shows of Christmas lights I had ever seen. Strings of lights wrapped across the trunks of palm bushes and highlighted particular person branches of bushes. There have been so many lights they forged shadows of inexperienced, pink, and pink throughout the sidewalk and mirrored within the water of ponds.
Quirky mild shows sat on each nook and tucked into
each alcove. Twinkling lights dangled from the tree branches overhead. A whole
tunnel of lights awaited guests to Ndoki Village in a far nook of the zoo.
I walked by means of the zoo 5 occasions the one evening I went. If I had been a neighborhood I might have gone at the least two separate nights. However at the least I’ve loads of fairly footage to recollect it by though I’m sure I might always remember that occasion.
READ MORE: 4 Locations to Discover Stunning Christmas Lights in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2021)
Animated Story Tree
I didn’t get it at first. I stood again watching lights
dancing round a towering Christmas tree in the course of the zoo. Patterns.
Shapes.
Then I understood: it was a narrative tree! Animals traveled throughout the tree as tales unfolded. Households stopped in awe to look at the show. It was definitely one of many extra fascinating sights on the zoo throughout Lights at Riverbanks.
Images with Santa
What Christmas occasion is full with out Santa Claus? Every evening till December 23 Santa might be discovered on the Safari Camp coated shelter after 6 p.m. Images with Santa are free since you convey your personal digicam. The road moved fairly fast and I used to be shocked at how effectively it was managed contemplating there was no pesky photographer directing site visitors (full disclosure: I’ve been that pesky photographer up to now).
READ MORE: 9 Unbelievable Christmas Occasions You Don’t Need to Miss in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2021)
Jingle Bell Bonfire
If I had been to select a favourite second of my favourite evening throughout Christmas in Columbia, it will have been the half hour I spent making s’mores on the Jingle Bell Bonfire. An infinite propane hearth pit between the ocean lions and aquarium lit up the evening.
A close-by vendor bought the substances wanted to make excellent s’mores. A pair minutes of roasting a marshmallow on the open flame and also you had been prepared for a scrumptious deal with throughout the Lights Earlier than Christmas.
Trip the Carousel
Have you ever ever ridden a carousel at evening? I don’t know if it’s actually any completely different than driving throughout the day nevertheless it regarded like a neat factor to do throughout the Lights at Riverbanks. A protracted line of households eagerly waited for the prospect to hop onboard and take a number of spins.
There have been a few hearth pits within the massive pavilion beside the carousel. It was an opportunity for folks to heat their fingers or simply have a great chat beside an open hearth. It was definitely a spot I loved taking a load off my ft for a couple of minutes (I circled the zoo 5 occasions, bear in mind?).
Getting There & Parking
There is just one strategy to get to the Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard
however happily it’s a straightforward method. The Greystone Boulevard exit on Interstate
126 leads on to the zoo. Simple off, simple on once you’re prepared to go away.
Virtually as quickly as you flip down Rivermont Drive you’ll see
the doorway to the zoo on the correct. There was a gentleman standing on the market
once I arrived directing site visitors to the parking heaps.
There’s loads of parking on the Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard.
The higher parking is to show left after getting into the zoo parking zone, drive beneath
the footbridge, and park on the different finish. That is the closest you’ll get to
the principle entrance.
Simply in case all this parking is full, that footbridge
crosses the railroad tracks to an unlimited parking zone on the opposite aspect. That
parking zone is accessed from Rivermont Drive earlier than turning into the zoo. There
is an elevator at both finish of the footbridge to help with accessibility.