Love a parade? Love the holidays?

Then the next few weeks should be perfect.

Holiday parades fill the Main Streets of towns all over South Carolina this time of year, ringing in the holidays with marching bands, floats and Santa.

Here are three different types of holiday parades, giving a taste of what you'll find in South Carolina this season:

Boykin Christmas Parade

The Boykin Christmas Parade remains at the top of our annual holiday must-do list.

Held the Sunday before Christmas (Dec. 18 this year) in the small crossroads near Camden, the parade is truly a one-of-a-kind celebration. This parade does its best to capture rural life -- with a hearty sense of humor. If you appreciate quirky, this is the parade for you.

The parade organizers look for "witty country themes that incorporate the use of native plants, crops and/or animals in the decoration of the entry." The parade started on a whim 15 years ago, and it has grown to be one of the most anticipated events of the holiday season in the Midlands.

The parade starts at 2 p.m., but get there early to scope out a viewing spot and get in some holiday tailgating. 

Take Exit 98 off Interstate 20 at Camden, and head south on U.S. 521 toward Sumter for 2 miles. Turn right on S.C. 261 for about 5 miles.

Carolina Carrillon Holiday Parade

The Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade in Columbia is the grandaddy of traditional Christmas parades in the state.

This will be the 58th year for the parade, which heads down Gervais Street on Saturday, Dec. 3, passing the South Carolina State House and continuing into the Vista.

This year's parade theme is "Winter Wonderland," and the parade is always jam packed with floats, marching bands, drill teams, local celebrities and live performances.

And Santa brings up the rear, delighting children along the parade route.

This year, the Jingle All the Way 5K run will be part of the parade fun. The race will be the official start of the Carolina Carillon, and runners are encouraged to wear their favorite holiday gear, so expect to see a few members of the Claus family along with some elves racing through the streets. The race starts at 9:45 a.m. at Lady and Main streets.

Charleston Holiday Parade of Boats

In the Lowcountry, thousands of spectators line the waterfront from Mount Pleasant to Charleston each year to watch the Charleston Holiday Parade of Boats.

The parade starts about 5 p.m. near Mount Pleasant and ends in the Ashley River, after proceeding down the Charleston side of the Cooper River, about 7:30 p.m. Viewing from the Charleston peninsula begins about 6:30 p.m.

Anyone with a boat can join in the fun (just be sure to register with the city beforehand, and decorate your boat with lights).

The parade of gleaming lights on the water is a beautiful sight to see, and the spectacular fireworks display shot from the harbor about 6:45 p.m. shouldn’t be missed.