Are you looking for free things to do this holiday season in Columbia, SC? The holidays may drain your pockets when it comes to gift-buying and hosting parties, but these free events, parades, and tree-lighting ceremonies will help you feel a little more jolly, merry, and bright! There is also the added bonus of your kid getting to see Santa around town. Check out our list of the best free events in the Columbia area to get the holiday season started.
This article includes:
Free Holiday Events Near Columbia
Christmas & Holiday Parades Near Columbia
Tree Lighting Ceremonies & Caroling Near Columbia
Bonus: Cheap Holiday Things to do for $5 or less
Bonus: Free Holiday Things to Do Worth the Drive
Free Christmas Lights Driving Routes
Go see some awesome lights for free! We took some of the very best decorated homes in the Columbia area and put them together into 3 epic Columbia Christmas Light Driving Routes.
Photo Credit: Missy Porth 
Photo Credit: Lisznyai Lights 
Photo Credit: Tonya Nesbitt
Free Holiday Events Near Columbia
Seasons Greetings in Five Points
November 20, 2022, @ 1 pm
532 Congaree Avenue, Columbia
There will be photos with Santa by the fountain from 1 pm to 3 pm, holiday music, from 3:30 pm to 5 pm, and the Holiday Lighting of the Fountain from 5 pm to 5:30 pm. The event will also have giveaways, Santas Elves will be attending, and lots of cookies and cocoa!
Photos with Santa at Hotel Trundle
November 27, 2022, 1 pm to 3 pm
1224 Taylor Street, Columbia
Totally free, visit Santa at Hotel Trundle. You’ll get 10 minutes with Santa to take as many photos as you’d like, plus enjoy hot cocoa, games, and other holiday fun while you’re there. The event is first come, first served, so plan to arrive early! FREE admission.
Photos With Santa at Ho-Ho-Hotel Trundle
Looking for more places to see Santa in Columbia? Here’s our list of Where to See Santa in Columbia, SC.
Christmas in Cayce Drive Through
December 1, 2022, 6 pm to 8 pm
1800 12th Street, Cayce (Cayce City Hall)
A drive-thru event with thousands of lights, animated displays, musical performances, and a visit from Santa! You are invited to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the “Cayce Cares” food drive in co-op with The Women’s Club of Cayce.
Cayce Historical Museum’s Annual Christmas Traditions Open House
December 3, 2022, 6 pm to 9 pm
1800 12th Street, Cayce (Cayce City Hall)
This annual event features live entertainment, refreshments, and an all-around essence of the Christmas spirit. There will be docents dressed in 18th-century period attire while the Hall will showcase decorated trees and historical crafts.
Snowball Festival Carnival and Movie
December 3, 2022, 1 pm – 5 pm
107 West Main Street, Lexington
Enjoy the annual festival with face painting, letters to Santa, balloon art, and rides to enjoy. The carnival will also feature a showing of the movie Elf at 6 pm.
Holiday Cookie Decorating with Embellished Dough LLC
December 5, 2022
Richland Library Northeast, 3 pm – 4 pm or 6 pm – 7 pm
Ages 12 and older can learn to decorate holiday cookies with professional bakers! You will get to take home 3-4 decorated cookies Registration is required.
Lexington County Museum Christmas Open House
December 11, 2022, 1 pm to 4 pm
Experience historic Christmas decor, with period decorations and demonstrations. There will be light refreshments that are historically accurate to the 19th century, such as hot cider and gingerbread. There will be blacksmithing on-site, cooking demonstrations, and more!
Movie Matinee- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 16, 2022, 3 pm – 5 pm
Richland Library North Main
Enjoy a screening of the holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Storytime Songs by the Campfire
December 20, 2022, @ 6 pm
Richland Library Southeast
Enjoy holiday sing-a-longs, stories, and more family-filled fun to usher in the week before Christmas.
Holiday Parades Near Columbia
Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade
December 3rd, 2022, @ 9:45 am
Downtown Columbia
Head downtown for the 69th annual Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade to enjoy the state-broadcasted parade! There will be marching bands, local churches, drill teams, and decorated floats before Santa Claus comes to town! The parade will start at the intersection of Sumter Street and Laurel Street and will head toward the USC Horseshoe and Senate Street.
Town of Pine Ridge Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 3, 2022, @ 4 pm
Along with the parade, there will be a tree-lighting ceremony, lots of festive activities to enjoy, and a visit from Santa. The parade will start at Congaree Baptist Church and move toward Town Hall.
Town of Lexington Christmas Parade
December 4, 2022, @ 3 pm
Main Street, Lexington
The Town of Lexington and the Lexington Jaycees will host the annual Christmas Parade, featuring floats and more. The parade will begin promptly at 3 pm.
Holiday Parade of Lights
December 10th, 2022, @ 5:30 pm
Cayce, SC
This wildly popular parade features ANYTHING, as long as it’s covered in lights! The parade starts at 5:30 sharp at the front of the Cayce Municipal Complex and will travel down 12th Street until ending at Highway 1 and 12th Street in West Columbia. Crowds are large, so arrive early and plan ahead!
Christmas Parade – Town of South Congaree
December 10th, 2022, @ 10 am
669 Main Street, West Columbia
Enjoy the family-friendly holiday parade with lots of sights and sounds for children to enjoy!
Tree Lighting and Caroling Near Columbia
Vista Lights
November 17, 2022, @ 6 pm
807 Gervais Street, Columbia
Along with the tree lighting at the corner of Gervais and Lincoln Street, over 60 galleries, restaurants, and local shops will be open and in the holiday spirit! There will be live entertainment and performances at the River Runner Outdoor Center, live music, and a toy drive for Toys for Tots. The event starts around 6 pm, with the tree lighting ceremony at 7 pm.
Governor’s Carolighting
November 20, 2022, @ 6 pm
1100 Gervais Street, Columbia (South Carolina State House)
Join Governor Henry McMaster and his family for the 56th annual lighting of the state Christmas tree, along with a message from the Governor, special performances, and more.
Blythewood Christmas Tree Lighting
November 27, 2022, 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Blythewood Town Hall
Join the town of Blythewood for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. There will be food, lots of fun, and the opportunity to meet Santa!
Carols Along the Riverwalk
December 2, 2022, 6 pm to 8 pm
201 North Avenue Entrance of the Cayce Riverwalk
Holiday music will fill the air as you walk through the trees. This “reverse caroling” event will feature local musicians and church choirs that will be at various points throughout the half-mile walk. There will be a free trolley from Brookland Cayce High School.
Carolighting Ceremony
December 2, 2022, @ 6:30 pm
107 West Main Street, Lexington
Enjoy a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, listen to Christmas carols, and get your photo with Santa at the annual Carolighting Ceremony at Icehouse Amphitheater.
Town of Pine Ridge Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 3, 2022, @ 7 pm
Following the Christmas parade, there will be a tree-lighting ceremony held at Town Hall at approximately 7 pm.
Cheap Holiday Things to do for $5 or less
Coffee Shop Hot Cocoa and Festive Treats
Visit one of our favorite coffee shops in Columbia for a cup of hot cocoa or maybe a peppermint mocha. Much cheaper than going out for a meal, but still loaded with all the holiday cheer.
$5 Holiday Classics at Regal
Select Saturdays and Sundays from November 27th through December 24th, 2022
All Regal Cinema Locations
Enjoy these classic holiday films at your local Regal Cinemas for only $5!
November 27, 2022- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 3rd & 4th, 2022- The Grinch
December 10th & 11th, 2022- Elf
December 17th & 18th, 2022- Polar Express
December 24th- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Sleigh Bell Stroll
November 22, 2022, from 6 pm to 8 pm
Saluda Shoals Park East
6071 St Andrews Road, Columbia
For $5 per person, you can explore the park on a 2-mile nighttime walk as it is decorated in festive light displays along the river. You can register for the event. Children 2 and under are free.
Totally Free Christmas Activities Worth the Drive
Day trips are sweeter when they are filled with free things to do. If the free Christmas events and things to do we already listed aren’t enough for you, try one of these awesome, and totally free, holiday events within just an hour or two of Columbia.
- See Santa at Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. You’ll leave with a totally free 4×6 professional quality photo and some fun treats, plus enjoy some activities while you’re there! Head up to Greenville, SC for the nearest Cabela’s.
- Greenville’s Festival of Trees is a not-to-miss Upstate event. Visit beautifully decorated trees throughout Downtown Greenville hotel lobbies, especially the Hyatt on Main Street. It’s totally free.
- Watch Free Holiday Movies at NCG Cinemas. The nearest NCG Cinema is in Spartanburg, SC. So, if you’re heading up to the Upstate for one of the previously mentioned events, catch a movie while you’re there!
- Check out the totally free walk-through light display at Village Park in Kannapolis, NC.
After Christmas! Winter Break and New Year’s
The fun continues with many free and low-cost options in Columbia!
Time to celebrate the start of 2023! We have lots of ideas to help you celebrate and stay busy. Some of them are totally free!
Stay Busy! Columbia’s
Winter Break Bucket List
Don’t be bored over winter break! This bucket list has 20 ways to have fun over winter break in Columbia, SC and some of them are totally free, too!
