Here’s a list of upcoming festivals and events in December to help you make your plans.
MOUNTAINS
Greenville Poinsettia Christmas Parade
Celebrate the Christmas spirit in downtown Greenville. This parade includes marching bands and school and community groups dressed to the theme of the season.
Roper Mountain Holiday Lights – Greenville, Dec. 1-30
Roper Mountain Holiday Lights features towering light displays depicting the holiday tradition. Composed of more than 200,000 lights, these displays are complemented by animation and landscape lighting, providing a spectacular light show.
MIDLANDS
Bojangles’ Basketball Bash– Columbia, Dec. 10-12
The Bojangles’ Basketball Bash is a top-level high school basketball event that provides a different experience for players, coaches and fans. For three nights in December, the Bojangles’ Bash will feature some of the top teams and players in the nation competing against each other.
Boykin Christmas Parade – Rembert, Dec. 20
The Boykin Christmas Parade Committee invites you to be a part of the Boykin Christmas Parade. Gather along the parade route for a unique, old-fashioned, little-bit-crazy and almost-anything-goes event done in the spirit of Boykin.
Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade – Columbia, Dec. 5
See floats, marching bands, classic and vintage vehicles, popular performing groups and, of course, Santa. The Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade will begin at the corner of Bull and Gervais streets.
Christmas in Hopelands – Aiken, Dec. 13-23, 26-27
The Annual Christmas in Hopelands light exhibit takes place at Hopelands Gardens in Aiken, South Carolina. Christmas in Hopelands is open from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm each night.
The gardens are illuminated with over 100,000 lights during this free event. This spectacular walk-through exhibit features over 1.5 miles of lighted pathways and holiday displays. In addition, many special events take place each evening.
ChristmasVille in Rock Hill – Rock Hill, Dec. 3-6
At ChristmasVille in Rock Hill, you’ll hear sleigh bells ring and children sing and gnomes giving tours of all the cultures of the world. There’ll be crafts for the making and presents worth wrapping and plenty of holiday cheer.
Elgin Catfish Stomp – Elgin, Dec. 5
Watch the Christmas parade and then enjoy lots of food (catfish, of course), live music, and arts and crafts. The Elgin Catfish Stomp will also have a carnival with rides and games for the children.
Famously Hot New Year – Columbia, Dec. 31
Set on on South Carolina's Main Street, highlighted by a live outdoor concert with the most colossal New Year’s fireworks display in the Carolinas, Famously Hot New Year offers tens of thousands of guests a comfortable, safe experience amidst the city’s historic downtown dining and shopping districts, with multiple hotels within blocks of the festivities.
Holiday Lights on the River – Columbia, Dec. 1-31
The Midlands’ largest drive-through lights display! For 37 nights this holiday season, Saluda Shoals Park will come alive in a blaze of sparkling lights. Holiday Lights on the River features more than 300 themed light displays on a two-mile loop of the park!
Lights Before Christmas – Columbia, Dec. 1-30 (Closed Dec. 24-25)
It snows every night during the holidays at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s largest and longest-running holiday tradition, Lights Before Christmas. With nearly a million twinkling lights and countless handcrafted animated images, Lights Before Christmas is a must-see for all ages.
COASTAL & ISLANDS
Beach Ball Classic – Myrtle Beach, Dec. 26-31
Come join us for two of the nation’s finest high school basketball tournaments. The Beach Ball Classic features 16 of the nation’s top teams. Past NBA players include Kenny Anderson, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton, Kobe Bryant and Rasheed Wallace.
City of North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade – North Myrtle Beach, Dec. 5
It wouldn’t be Christmas at the beach without the annual City of North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade! Join your friends and neighbors on Main Street to enjoy the lighted floats and units representing groups from all across the area.
Hilton Head Jingle Jingle 5K – Hilton Head Island, Dec. 19
The Jingle Jingle 5K Run features a colorful seasonal theme and provides participants a chance to burn off those extra holiday calories. The race features all standard male and female running divisions.
Night of a Thousand Candles – Murrells Inlet, Dec. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19
One of South Carolina’s premier holiday lights festivals! Thousands of candles and lights illuminate garden paths as musicians play and carolers sing and visitors see the enchantment Night of a Thousand Candles brings!
