What is there to do in Columbia this holiday season? Where are the holiday events near me? If you’re looking for Christmas events in Columbia, SC, and holiday season activities, you have come to the right place. We’ll be updating this huge list all season long with holiday parades, seasonal live entertainment, theater, live music, crafts, Santa, tree lighting, light displays, Christmas carols, and lots more! Get ready for Christmas Day and celebrate the season with all of these fun, festive holiday events!

Season-long Holiday Things to Do

Giant List of Christmas Events

Tree Lighting Events

Holiday Theater and Performing Arts

Christmas Parades

After Christmas: Winter break and New Years

So, get that hot cocoa ready and cue up that holiday playlist. Bookmark this list and check back often so you don’t miss out on any of the festive fun this season in the Midlands.

Bonus: Our Special Columbia, SC Christmas Things to Do Lists

Holiday Shopping Events

Santa

Free Christmas Things to Do

Christmas Lights

Christmas Trees

Christmas in Columbia, SC: Video

What to see this Christmas in Columbia? Sometimes you just need a sneak peek video at holiday fun to help you decide what to do to celebrate the holiday. Check out some of the cool Christmas light shows and things we’ve seen this year!

Season-long Holiday Events in Columbia

South Carolina Railroad Museum Santa Train runs the first 3 Saturdays in December, 2024. Get your tickets online now!

See our HUGE guide to holiday lights in Columbia, with 20+ places to see lights in the Midlands! Including:

Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo has dates starting November 15th through January 12th, 2024. This is the second year for this new lights experience at Riverbanks Zoo. The experience will include visits with Santa through December 23rd.

Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park, runs November 15th through January 4th, 2025. Want to know more? Kidding Around visited the Fireflies Holiday Lights, here’s the KACOLA Fireflies Holiday Lights review.

Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park starts November 27th and runs through December 31, 2024. Check out our Kidding Around Review of Holiday Lights on the River.

The Biggest List of Christmas Events in Columbia, SC

We will be adding to this list as the holiday events in Columbia heat up. Bookmark this list and check back often!

Current Month

sat01nov10:00 amsat3:00 pmSparkle & Spice Holiday Market & Chili Cook-Off10:00 am - 3:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Brookland Baptist Church, 1066 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169Price:Free

sat15nov9:00 amsat4:00 pm2025 Midlands Christmas Arts & Crafts Market @ The SC State Farmers Market2025 Midlands Christmas Arts & Crafts Market 9:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy, West Columbia, SC 29172Price:Free

sun16nov12:00 pmsun4:00 pm2025 Midlands Christmas Arts & Crafts Market @ The SC State Farmers Market2025 Midlands Christmas Arts & Crafts Market 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy, West Columbia, SC 29172Price:Free

sat22nov8:30 pmsat2:00 pmHoliday Market @ Crooked Creek Park8:30 pm - 2:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington HighwayPrice:Free

mon24nov7:00 pmmon9:00 pmSleigh Bell Trot 20257:00 pm - 9:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212-3119Price:$35 - $45

tue25nov6:00 pmtue8:00 pmSleigh Bell Stroll 2025 @ Saluda Shoals ParkPre-registration only! 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29212-3119Price:$2 - $7

sun30nov1:00 pmsun5:00 pmSensory Santa Visit 2025 @ Saluda Shoals Park1:00 pm - 5:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River RoadPrice:$20/family

thu04dec9:30 amthu5:00 pmJunior League of Columbia Holiday Market 20259:30 am - 5:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201Price:Parking $5

thu04dec6:00 pmthu10:00 pmLadies Night Out 2025 - Junior League of Columbia Holiday Market6:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201Price:Parking $5

fri05dec9:30 amfri5:00 pmJunior League of Columbia Holiday Market 20259:30 am - 5:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201Price:Parking $5

fri05dec6:30 pmfri11:00 pmHoliday Ball 2025 - Junior League of Columbia Holiday Market6:30 pm - 11:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201Price:Parking $5

fri05dec7:00 pmfri9:00 pmFun Friday Holiday @ Crooked Creek ParkIrmo Chapin Recreation Commission7:00 pm - 9:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington HighwayPrice:$10/person w/ two slices pizza, chips, water

sat06dec9:30 amsat5:00 pmJunior League of Columbia Holiday Market 20259:30 am - 5:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201Price:Parking $5

sat06dec10:00 amsat3:00 pmChristmas Show @ AMROC10:00 am - 3:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Associated Model Railroads of Columbia, 1800 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201Price:Free

sat06dec10:00 amsat4:00 pm2nd Annual Columbia Christmas Extravaganza10:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC 29201Price:$5 ENTRY - FREE PARKING

sat06dec2:00 pmsat4:00 pmThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever - The Musical2:00 pm - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Harbison Theatre at Midland Technical CollegePrice:$15

sat06dec6:00 pmsat8:00 pmThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever - The Musical6:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Harbison Theatre at Midland Technical CollegePrice:$15

sun07dec10:00 amsun4:00 pm2nd Annual Columbia Christmas Extravaganza10:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC 29201Price:$5 ENTRY - FREE PARKING

sun07dec12:00 pmsun4:00 pmSundaes with Santa 2025 - Junior League of Columbia Holiday Market12:00 pm - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201Price:Parking $5

sun07dec12:00 pmsun4:00 pmJunior League of Columbia Holiday Market 202512:00 pm - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201Price:Parking $5

sun07dec11:00 pmsun4:00 pmFlora and Fauna's Winter's Magic Market 202511:00 pm - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Flora & Fauna Marketplace, 4773 Sunset Blvd, Lexington, SC 29072Price:Free

sat13dec9:00 amsat11:00 amAccessibility Morning - Penelope the Dinosaur9:00 am - 11:00 am(GMT-05:00) South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais StreetPrice:Admission cost

sat13dec10:00 amsat3:00 pm6th Annual Holiday Market @ Horse Sense Tack and FeedHorse Sense Tack and Feed10:00 am - 3:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Horse Sense Tack and Feed, 1407 South Lake DrivePrice:Free

fri19dec3:30 pmfri4:30 pmCandy Cane Hunt 2025 @ Crooked Creek Park3:30 pm - 4:30 pm(GMT-05:00) Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington HighwayPrice:$3/per child

mon22dec9:00 ammon4:00 pmHoliday Camp @ Kids Garden9:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Kids Garden Columbia, 4714 Forest DrivePrice:See description

tue23dec9:00 amtue4:00 pmHoliday Camp @ Kids Garden9:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Kids Garden Columbia, 4714 Forest DrivePrice:See description

mon29dec9:00 ammon4:00 pmHoliday Camp @ Kids Garden9:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Kids Garden Columbia, 4714 Forest DrivePrice:See description

tue30dec9:00 amtue4:00 pmHoliday Camp @ Kids Garden9:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Kids Garden Columbia, 4714 Forest DrivePrice:See description

wed31dec9:00 amwed4:00 pmHoliday Camp @ Kids Garden9:00 am - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Kids Garden Columbia, 4714 Forest DrivePrice:See description

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Want to see the Christmas Events happening in the Lake Murray area? Here’s our Holiday Guide to Lexington, Irmo, and Chapin.

Holiday Theater & Performing Arts

Holidays in Columbia wouldn’t be complete without holiday shows and there are so many shows and concerts to choose from! Columbia is fortunate to have the Koger Center for the Arts with a wide variety of shows for Christmas ranging from the traditional ballet The Nutcracker to holiday concerts, and more!

Current Month

sat06dec2:00 pmsat4:00 pmThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever - The Musical2:00 pm - 4:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Harbison Theatre at Midland Technical CollegePrice:$15

sat06dec6:00 pmsat8:00 pmThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever - The Musical6:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Harbison Theatre at Midland Technical CollegePrice:$15

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Where is Santa?

If you’re looking for the big man in red, you’ll want to pop over to our exclusive Santa page. The elves gave us the inside scoop on all of Santa’s visits around Columbia, including photos with Santa, and we’re passing them on to you. So, go visit Santa in Columbia, SC!

Christmas and Holiday Parades Around Columbia

Is there anything better than a Christmas parade when it comes to free, festive fun? Grab some hot chocolate, pack up some Christmas cookies, bring the kids, and enjoy some holiday season fun!

Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade

The 2024 Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade in Downtown Columbia, SC will be held on December 7th, 2024. The parade begins at the intersection of Sumter Street and Laurel Street at 9:45 am. The parade route ends at Senate Street.

Current Month

No Events

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Tree Lightings Around Columbia, SC

Current Month

October

No Events

November

No Events

December

No Events

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After Christmas! Winter Break and New Year’s

7 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s With Kids Columbia, SC

Time to celebrate the start of 2023! How will you celebrate with your family in Columbia this year? We have 7 family-friendly celebrations for New Year’s in Columbia, plus a few more ways you can ring in the New Year!