When Christmas involves Columbia it arrives with one wonderful match after every other. Occasions targeted round improbable native buying groceries, stunning mild presentations, and thrilling circle of relatives actions occur nearly each weekend. Listed here are some improbable Christmas occasions you don’t need to pass over right through Christmas in Columbia.
No. 01
Vista Lighting fixtures
The only-night Vista Lighting fixtures match is a superb alternative to discover the malls and eating places of The Vista, one of the vital unique neighborhoods of Columbia. Are living leisure fills the cool evening air as guests mingle all through the just about sixty in the neighborhood owned retail outlets. Walk alongside Gervais or Girl Streets between Meeting and Huger to search out those nice puts.
Carol Saunders Gallery is a pleasant native artwork store to browse. Town Artwork is a brilliant position to search out artwork provides to fortify the artist within the circle of relatives right through Christmas.
One of the most extra fascinating puts to search out superb present concepts is The Cotton Mill Alternate, 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, at the side of instructional books and toys for youngsters.
Admission to the development is loose.
READ MORE: 5 Puts to To find Gorgeous Christmas Lighting fixtures in Columbia, SC (Up to date for 2022)

No. 02
Ancient Vacation Excursions
Every yr Ancient Columbia gives Ancient Vacation Excursions, a chain of guided excursions of the pretty Robert Turbines Area and Hampton-Preston Mansion. Even if those historical houses can also be toured all through the yr, right through the Christmas vacation season the houses are embellished with period-specific décor for the home.
The Robert Turbines Area, designed via the similar
architect who designed the Washington Monument, is an engaging house to
discover. The 1820s Christmas décor does no longer come with the Christmas tree as a result of
that had no longer turn into popularized but. Excursions come with the basement and primary ground
of the home.
The Hampton-Preston Mansion is a beautiful house that
is among the oldest last buildings within the town. The house is embellished
with an 1860s Christmas tree however you’ll want to have in mind of the candles, a German
custom, placing at the tree as an alternative of electrical lighting.
Guided excursions are presented Wednesdays – Saturdays at 12 p.m. and three p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and three p.m. Admission is loose for contributors, $18 for grownup non-members, and $15 for early life.

No. 03
Lighting fixtures at Riverbanks
One of the most largest Christmas mild presentations in Columbia is located on the Riverbanks Zoo & Lawn. The yearly Lighting fixtures at Riverbanks contains 1000’s of lighting and presentations across the enclosures and sidewalks of the zoo. Firepits for roasting s’mores, footage with Santa, and a craft workshop make this one of the vital highest circle of relatives occasions for Christmas in Columbia.
Purchase your tickets prematurely – admission is $12 for adults and $10 for youngsters – and spend one of the vital 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 Wish to See the Lighting fixtures 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 authentic State Christmas Tree in entrance of the South Carolina State Area. The Annual Governor’s Carolighting kicks off Christmas in Columbia with a fun-packed evening. Satirically, the 35-foot-tall tree doesn’t come from South Carolina – as an alternative, it’s delivered at once from Henderson Tree Farm in Morganton, North Carolina.
The State Christmas Tree stays lit every evening all through the vacation season. The tree can also be seen from Gervais Side road. There’s numerous parallel parking across the State Area so you’ll get out and spot it.

No. 05
Vacation Lighting fixtures at the River
The yearly Vacation Lighting fixtures at the River is among the maximum improbable circle of relatives Christmas occasions as a result of you’ll experience maximum of it from the relief of your automobile! The guts of the development is a gigantic, animated Christmas lighting show alongside a self-driving excursion via Saluda Shoals Park. On the process heart close to the tip of the using direction guests can roast marshmallows, clutch some sizzling chocolate, sign up for a vacation craft workshop, and seize footage with Santa.
Admission is $25 in line with automobile.
Within Tip The gate opens at 6 p.m. each evening to permit cars into the park. Arrive two hours early to be one of the vital first vehicles in line. As soon as the gate opens, be expecting to take a seat in line outdoor the gate 1-2 hours.
No. 06
Vacation Marketplace
Every yr the Junior League of Columbia organizes the Vacation Marketplace as their largest fundraiser of the yr. Nearly 2 hundred distributors pop out with baked items, arts and crafts, clothes, jewellery, and a wide variety of improbable Christmas reward concepts for the four-day match. Particular occasions come with the Preview Birthday party, Women Night time out, and Sundaes with Santa.
Common admission to the marketplace is $8 in line with individual (covers all 4 days). The marketplace is held from 9:30 a.m. till 5 p.m. on a daily basis of the development
No. 07
Carolina Carillon Vacation Parade
The Christmas vacation isn’t whole with out a parade! The Carolina Carillon Vacation Parade starts at 9:45 a.m. at Sumter and Laurel Streets in downtown Columbia. The parade proceeds down Sumter Side road, throughout Gervais Side road and previous the South Carolina State Area, and ends at Senate Side road close to the historical Horseshoe.
The parade options marching bands from native top colleges
and faculties, particular performers, vacation floats, cloggers, and South Carolina
celebrities.
The development is loose to wait.
No. 08
The Nutcracker
Some other annual match each Christmas wishes is a efficiency of The Nutcracker. The Columbia Town Ballet places on six performances right through the week main as much as Christmas. The Nutcracker Tea prior to every of the matinees is a brilliant alternative to deliver the youngsters alongside for cake, cookies, and refreshments prior to the efficiency.
This is your entire agenda 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 levels from $35-$60 in line with individual.
The place to Keep
Columbia is a huge town and has numerous choices for accommodation (I’m lovely positive town has one in all each form of lodge chain). Even if a lodge is a lodge, some lodges are higher and others are in higher places. Listed here are some choices in 3 particular spaces I believe would make an excellent spot to stick right through Christmas in Columbia.
Price range
Microtel Inn & Suites The Microtel chain is barebones however all you want for a at ease sleep. They’ve a couple of connecting rooms, rooms with two beds, and a studio suite with a sleeper settee so you’ll deliver the circle of relatives. The positioning close to I-77 is at the outskirts of town however nonetheless an excellent location for buying to the entire Christmas occasions.
L. a. Quinta Inn This lodge is among the maximum inexpensive within the town (and at some point I would possibly inform you about how I stayed right here when my camper van broke down). They’ve connecting rooms and a Deluxe Suite with a sleeper settee for the households. The breakfast is conventional of a lodge chain within the morning, but it surely’s nonetheless no longer a nasty begin to the day.
Mid-Vary
Hyatt Position That is the best advisable position to stick downtown right through Christmas in Columbia. The lodge is a perfect at ease and handy location for exploring downtown, The Vista, and 5 Issues right through the entire Christmas occasions. A full-service bar and eating place within the foyer be offering a possibility to get a meal with no need to decorate up and move out.
Aloft s a slightly new chain of recent lodge to brush the rustic and so they’re lovely at ease for a keep. Situated around the side road from Hyatt Position it’s inside strolling distance of Major Side road so that you gained’t have to fret about discovering parking or using again after eating at Bourbon.
Hampton Inn This lodge is in an excellent location beside the interstate to temporarily get admission to the entire Christmas occasions within the town. They characteristic a number of rooms with a sleeper settee so you’ll deliver all of the circle of relatives. The breakfast unfold within the morning is lovely spectacular and can get your day began off proper.