20+ Jolly Places for Christmas Lights In Columbia, SC (2025)

Several of these displays offer more than just beautiful twinkling lights. You might also have the chance to take pictures with Santa, enjoy delicious seasonal treats, or even park and explore some displays and activities on foot! 

The Top Drive-Thru Christmas Lights: Columbia, SC 

Holiday Lights on the River: Saluda Shoals

About: With more than 3 miles of lights and fascinating displays, Holiday Lights on the River is sure to be a magical treat! Along with lights, you can also enjoy s’mores, hot chocolate, a gift shop, letters to Santa, and more! Santa will also be making his appearance at the light show.
Check out our review of Holiday Lights on the River.

When: Every evening from November 26 through December 31, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Cost: Varies from $25-$35 per car depending on the date

• For November 26th – November 27th, November 29th – 30th, December 1st – 5th, December 7th – 11th, December 15th – 17th, December 25th – 31st the cost is $25 per car / $50 per 12+ passenger van / $75 per bus.
• For November 28th, December 12th, 14th, 18th, and 24th the cost is $30 per car / $50 per 12+ passenger van / $75 per bus.
• For December 6th, 13th, and 19th – 23rd the cost is $35 per car / $50 per 12+ passenger van / $75 per bus.

Address: 6071 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC
Holiday Lights on the River

Columbia Christmas Lights You Can Walk-Thru 

Wild Lights: Riverbanks Zoo

About: Find the magic of Christmas right here at our local zoo! There will be nearly 60 handcrafted, nature-inspired lanterns all around. There will be fun photo opportunities throughout as well as interactive activities, a nightly snowfall and visit with Santa (through December 23). Keep in mind that because this event occurs in the evenings, the chance of seeing zoo animals is low. Ticket price varies, please see calendar for Value and Standard ticket pricing date/time.

When: Select evenings from November 21, 2025 through January 11, 2025
Time: 5 pm to 9 pm
Cost: $15.99-$20.99 children, $20.99-$25.99 adults (price varies depending on night and whether or not you have a membership)

Address: 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 

Check out our Kidding Around Review of Wild Lights.

Wild Lights at Riverbanks

Fireflies Holiday Lights 2025

About: The Fireflies Holiday Lights is returning for the third year here in Columbia, SC, and is all the rave this year, boasting an even bigger and brighter experience than last year! The Segra Park baseball stadium, home of the Fireflies, is decked out in tons of twinkling lights and interactive displays, there are several “stations” for families to stop and enjoy seasonal treats and kid-friendly crafts, and much more! Santa will make his appearance each night from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm.

When: November 21st, 2025 through January 3rd, 2025
Time:  Nightly from 6 pm to 9 pm, last entry at 8:30 pm. The lights will operate under different hours on December 31st, with special New Years Eve hours of 5 pm to 8 pm. They will be CLOSED Thanksgiving Day (11/27), Christmas Day (12/25), and New Year’s Day (1/1). 
Cost: $10 per person for November
$12 per person for December/January, age 2 and under is free
*All tickets will increase $2 in price on the day of the event.

Address: Segra Park, 1640 Freed Street, Columbia

Here’s our Kidding Around Review of Fireflies Holiday Lights

Sleigh Bell Trot: November 24, 2025

About: See the lights at Saluda Shoals while running this four-mile nighttime run! Awards will be given to 1st-3rd place runners in multiple age categories and all registrants receive a t-shirt, refreshments and finishers medal. T-shirt can only be guaranteed for the first 1,150 early bird registrants so be sure to register by 11/3. The event is rain or shine with a non-refundable registration and dogs are not allowed at the Sleigh Bell Trot.

When: November 24, 2025
Time: Trot: Begins at 7 pm, Check-in: 5 pm- 6:50 pm
Cost: $35 – $45 per person
Address: 6071 St. Andrews Road, Columbia

Sleigh Bell Trot

Sleigh Bell Stroll: November 25, 2025

About: The Sleigh Bell Stroll also leads guests through the Holiday Lights on the River display by foot, but this a family fun walk rather than a timed race! The stroll is only 2 miles long. Pre-registration is required for this event and must be complete by 11/24/25. There will be bus transportation back to the parking lot available.

When: November 25, 2025
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Cost: $7/person ages 3+
$2/child ages 2 and under
Address: 6071 St. Andrews Road, Saluda Shoals Park (Park at East Entrance)
Sleigh Bell Stroll

Sara’s Farm Adventure: Santa’s Southern Lights

About: Come and enjoy a lighted trail, farm attractions, and delicious, seasonal treats! There will be live music, photo opportunities, and so much more! Don’t forget to say hi to Santa while you’re there!

When: November 20, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Time: Thursdays 5 pm – 9 pm, Friday – Sunday 1 pm – 9 pm
Cost: Ranges from $15.99 – $38.99 (They run a pre-season sale. Be sure to check out their website for more information.)
Address: 100 Greenhouse Road, Trenton, SC 29847

Sara’s Farm Adventure: Santa’s Southern Lights

Adventure Farms: Holly Jolly Christmas Festival

About: Come see some beautiful lights, enjoy yummy treats, roast marshmallows, cozy up next to a warm campfire rental (Fridays – Sundays), and pick out the perfect tree to take home.

When: November 28, 2025 – December 23, 2025 (Monday – Thursday are tree and snack stand only.)
Time: Monday – Thursday 1 pm – 8 pm
Friday – Sunday: 12 pm – 8:30 pm
Cost: $6-$8/person (online price)
Address: 4593 SC-70, Barnwell, SC 29812

Adventure Farms: Holly Jolly Christmas Festival

FREE Christmas Light Displays Around Columbia, SC 

Fantasy of Lights: Swan Lake Gardens

About: South Carolina’s LARGEST free Christmas light display is back for another year! Drive through this winter wonderland to see more than 1 million twinkling lights. You can also make a quick stop at “Santa’s Village” where kiddos can write letters to and take photos with Santa and enjoy sweet treats. 
When: December 1 through December 31, 2025
*Santa’s Village is open December 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, and 20th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

Time: Sunday – Thursday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Friday and Saturday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm 
Cost: FREE
Address: 822 West Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 
Fantasy of Lights

Drive-Thru Christmas Lights From Further Away 

Maybe you’re looking to take a quick family trip this winter. If that’s you, there are two fantastic drive-thru light shows in the Charleston, SC area that would make for the perfect weekend getaway. Create a new family tradition, use this as part of your children’s Christmas present, or even just go to see something exciting and new!

Here are two great options for drive-thru light shows that are around 2 hours from Columbia. 

Holiday Festival of Lights – James Island County Park 

About: This is an incredible holiday festival that you won’t want to miss out on! With so much holiday magic and festive activities, you and your family are sure to make memories that will last a lifetime. Here, you can drive through the lights as many times as you’d like! Along with the thousands of fantastic light displays to drive through, there is also a chance to park and get out of your car to enjoy more Christmas magic on foot. 
Between November 14 through December 31, your children will have the chance to meet Santa! You will also find rock wall climbing, holiday artwork, a carousel, a “reindeer workshop,” delicious holiday treats, and more! 
Check out our Kidding Around Review of Holiday Festival of Lights.

When: November 14 through December 31, 2025
Time: 5:30 pm until 10:00 pm 
Cost: “Green Nights” – Lighter Traffic & Crowds – $15 Online, $20 at gate
“Yellow Nights” – Moderate Traffic & Crowds – $25 Online, $35 at gate
“Red Nights” – Heavy Traffic & Crowds – $30 Online, $45 at gate
See Calendar for details.

Address: 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston, SC  

Holiday Festival of Lights

Want more lights? Head to the Upstate!
Here’s where to see Christmas Lights near Greenville, SC.

Celebrate the Season – Santee Cooper

About: For the 15th consecutive year, Celebrate the Season is back! Bundle up in the car with your loved ones and drive-thru this great holiday light display. You will see thousands of beautiful lights and interactive displays all along the route. Holiday In The Park is included with paid admission to the Holiday Lights Driving Tour and includes free visits with Santa, food, crafts and holiday activities. Holiday In The Park is open Dec. 13-14, 20-21 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

When: November 28 through December 30, 2025 – CLOSED Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $10/vehicle (cash or credit card accepted)
Address: 1 Riverwood Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 

Celebrate the Season

Columbia Homes, Neighborhoods, and More with Great Christmas Lights: Free Holiday Lights to Enjoy

Private homes with huge holiday light displays

Check out beautiful displays throughout the Columbia and Midlands community! Remember that these are private homes and are the result of a lot of hard work and expense. Please don’t enter the property unless invited to walk through. Do not block roads.

Remember that these displays are often dependent on the weather. Many cannot operate in the rain or on wet ground.

The below list is based off last season. Houses will be updated throughout the 2025 season.

Lisznyai House

Lisznyai House, 725 Formby Drive, Columbia in the Spring Valley Subdivision. Synchronized display, tune to 88.7 and enjoy the lights from your car or you are welcome to walk the lighted paths!
Hours: 5:30-10:30 pm nightly Thanksgiving through December 31st. Please use the North Springs Road or Two Notch Road entrances (Flora Drive gate is closed).

Yinzer Yuletide

Yinzer Yuletide, 137 Timber Knoll Drive, Irmo Lights started December 3rd! Hours are 7 to 10 pm on weekdays and 7 to 11 pm on weekends.

McFarland Lights

McFarland Lights 133 Autumn Oaks Lane, Lexington

Gallery Cliffs Drive

Gallery Cliffs Drive, Chapin Exceptionally large static display

Nesbitt House

740 Martin Smith Road, Gilbert SC 29054
This display gets bigger and bigger every year. View the lights from 5:30 pm to 9 pm nightly. If the gates are open, visitors are welcome to pull into the driveway and view the display from their cars. Please stay inside your vehicle. There is a parking area where vehicles can turn around to exit.

Visitors are also welcome to park along the road and view the display from the fence. Please do not walk inside the fence.

Home in Lexington

497 Sandy Point Road, Lexington, SC
Large static display with the nativity, inflatable Rudolph characters, large tree, and more!

Lexington Home With Singing Light Bulbs

318 Shetland Lane, Lexington 29073
One reader reports singing light bulbs and a dancing tree at this house. Tune your radio to 89.1.

Multiple Homes in Irmo

Waterford Neighborhood in Irmo, SC. Turn left after the pool. Tune in to 92.7 to watch this synchronized display.

Danger Zone House in Irmo (Woomer Family Christmas)

6 Marway Court, Irmo, SC 29063, These lights are rocking out to Top Gun, Danger Zone, plus a few holiday tunes.

Check them out on You Tube at Woomer Family Light Show.

Johnstone Lights in Blythewood

419 Mt Valley Road, Blythewood, This is the 10th year for these lights. The show runs from 5:30 to 10 pm nightly through New Year’s Eve. Donations are being collected for Make a Wish if guests would like to donate.

Loaded with Decorations in Pineridge, SC

Corner Dogwood Road & Fish Hatchery Road, this yard is full of decorations including a very large inflatable Santa.

Home in Camden

1678 Brewer Spring Road, Camden
This home is a little farther from Columbia than the others, but it has roughly 22,000 lights and a huge display including reindeer and even a Minnie mouse.

Is your home totally decked out with lights? Want us to add your home to our list? Complete this form and attach a picture of your lights! Holiday Lights Form

Neighborhoods With Christmas Lights to Drive Through

Spring Valley Subdivision, 100 Spring Valley Road, Columbia
Lake Carolina, North East Columbia
Long Creek Plantation, Blythewood

Help us out! Do you have a favorite neighborhood with amazing Christmas lights that you like to visit? Let us know in the comments!

Downtown Columbia Christmas Lights

Head to Downtown Columbia for festive holiday displays and lights, especially around the Captial Building to Blanding Street.

Tips for Drive-Thru Christmas Lights: Stay Jolly, Be Prepared!

Drive-thru light displays are a VERY popular seasonal event each and every year. Something about the twinkling, colorful lights, festive music, and seasonal treats get everyone into the holiday spirit – It’s all just part of the magic of Christmas! We do want to warn you, however, that because these events are so popular, you might find yourself waiting in lines longer than what you were hoping for. Here are our best tips for being prepared and keeping everyone jolly while you wait: 

• Extra snacks and drinks – or maybe even pack an easy dinner and eat together while in line
• Tablets/iPads
• Books for reading Christmas stories as a family 
• Fidget toys
• Homework – if you’ve got older kids 
• PATIENCE . . . remember Santa is still making his naughty and nice list! 

All the Lights! Christmas Lights in Columbia, SC

Holiday Lights Driving Routes for Columbia: 2025 Routes are coming soon!

We have driving routes linking some of the best-decorated homes with awesome synchronized lights set to music, huge static displays of lights, inflatables, and more! These are the Christmas homes you don’t want to miss!

2025 Holiday Light Displays: Do you want your light display included in our list? Fill out our Holiday Light Display form and be sure to include a photo of your display!

Where is your family’s favorite place to see Christmas lights around Columbia, SC?

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