When Christmas involves Columbia it arrives with one wonderful occasion after one other. Occasions centered round incredible native purchasing, stunning gentle shows, and thrilling household actions occur virtually each weekend. Listed below are some incredible 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 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 almost sixty regionally owned outlets. Stroll alongside Gervais or Woman Streets between Meeting and Huger to seek out these nice locations.
Carol Saunders Gallery is a pleasant native artwork store to browse. Metropolis Artwork is a superb place to seek out artwork provides to help the artist within the household throughout Christmas.
One of many extra attention-grabbing locations to seek out nice present concepts is The Cotton Mill Trade, 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 instructional books and toys for youngsters.
Admission to the occasion is free.
READ MORE: 5 Locations to Discover Lovely Christmas Lights in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2022)
No. 02
Historic Vacation Excursions
Annually Historic Columbia affords Historic Vacation Excursions, a collection of guided excursions of the attractive Robert Mills Home and Hampton-Preston Mansion. Though these historic houses may be toured all year long, in the course of the Christmas vacation season the houses are adorned with period-specific décor for the home.
The Robert Mills Home, designed by the identical
architect who designed the Washington Monument, is a captivating house to
discover. The 1820s Christmas décor doesn’t embrace the Christmas tree as a result of
that had not turn into popularized but. Excursions embrace the basement and first ground
of the home.
The Hampton-Preston Mansion is a beautiful house that
is among the oldest remaining constructions within the metropolis. The house is adorned
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 supplied 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 many largest Christmas gentle shows in Columbia is discovered on the Riverbanks Zoo & Backyard. The annual Lights at Riverbanks contains hundreds of lights and shows across the enclosures and sidewalks of the zoo. Firepits for roasting s’mores, pictures with Santa, and a craft workshop make this among the best household occasions for Christmas in Columbia.
Purchase your tickets upfront – 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 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 gentle 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. Satirically, 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 Avenue. There may be loads of parallel parking across the State Home so you may get out and see it.
No. 05
Vacation Lights on the River
The annual Vacation Lights on the River is among the most incredible household Christmas occasions as a result of you possibly can take pleasure in most of it from the consolation of your automotive! The guts of the occasion is a gigantic, animated Christmas lights show alongside a self-driving tour via Saluda Shoals Park. On the exercise middle close to the tip of the driving route guests can roast marshmallows, seize some scorching chocolate, be part of a vacation craft workshop, and seize pictures with Santa.
Admission is $25 per automotive.
Inside Tip The gate opens at 6 p.m. each evening to permit autos into the park. Arrive two hours early to be one of many first automobiles in line. As soon as the gate opens, anticipate to sit down in line outdoors the gate 1-2 hours.
No. 06
Vacation Market
Annually the Junior League of Columbia organizes the Vacation Market as their largest fundraiser of the 12 months. Virtually 2 hundred distributors come out with baked items, arts and crafts, clothes, jewellery, and all types of incredible Christmas present concepts for the four-day occasion. Particular occasions embrace the Preview Social gathering, Girls Night time out, and Sundaes with Santa.
Basic 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 shouldn’t be full with no 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 Avenue, throughout Gervais Avenue and previous the South Carolina State Home, and ends at Senate Avenue 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.
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 in the course of 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.
Right here is the whole 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 an enormous metropolis and has loads of choices for lodging (I’m fairly positive the town has one in every of each kind of lodge chain). Though a lodge is a lodge, some lodges are higher and others are in higher areas. Listed below are some choices in three particular areas I feel would make an important place to remain throughout Christmas in Columbia.
Finances
Microtel Inn & Suites The Microtel chain is barebones however all you want for a cushty sleep. They’ve 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 placement close to I-77 is on the outskirts of the town however nonetheless an important location for attending to all of the Christmas occasions.
La Quinta Inn This lodge is among the most inexpensive within the metropolis (and someday 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 lodge chain within the morning, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not a nasty begin to the day.
Mid-Vary
Hyatt Place That is the prime really helpful place to remain downtown throughout Christmas in Columbia. The lodge is a brilliant 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 supply an opportunity to get a meal with out having to decorate up and exit.
Aloft s a comparatively new chain of recent lodge to comb the nation they usually’re fairly snug for a keep. Situated throughout the road from Hyatt Place it’s inside strolling distance of Primary Avenue so that you received’t have to fret about discovering parking or driving again after eating at Bourbon.
Hampton Inn This lodge is in an important 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 the whole household. The breakfast unfold within the morning is fairly spectacular and can get your day began off proper.