Are you looking for free Christmas things to do 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.
Looking for more to do during the holidays? Check out our super festive holiday guide!
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 Epic Columbia Christmas Light Driving Routes. Our 2023 lists are coming soon!
Free Holiday Events Near Columbia
Carols Along the Riverwalk
December 1, 2023, 6 pm to 8 pm
201 North Avenue, Cayce (Cayce Riverwalk)
Live music, refreshments, and festive Christmas Caroling all along the Cayce Riverwalk! Local church choirs and musicians will be spread throughout the first half-mile. Parking will be available at Brooklyn-Cayce High School.
Christmas Carolighting Ceremony
December 1, 2023, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Icehouse Amphitheater – 107 West Main Street, Lexington
Join the Town of Lexington at Icehouse Amphitheater to light the tree (6:30 pm), sing Christmas carols and take photos with Santa (4 pm – 8 pm)! Food will be available for purchase.
Icehouse Movie Night: The Grinch
December 1, 2023, 7:30 pm
Icehouse Amphitheater – 107 West Main Street, Lexington
An outdoor movie to watch The Grinch animated movie. Be sure to bring your own seating and blankets for this festive, family-friendly event.
Christmas Olde and New
December 2, 2023, 6 pm to 9 pm
Cayce Historical Museum
Take in the sights and sounds of Christmas at the Cayce Historical Museum’s “Christmas Olde and New”. Rooms of the museum will be decorated for Christmas along with live entertainment and refreshments. There will also be an outdoor Christmas market!
Snowball Festival Carnival and Movie
December 2, 2023, 1 pm – 5 pm
Icehouse Amphitheater – 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, Santa Clause, at 5:30 pm.
Pictures with Santa and His Friends (Elsa & The Grinch)
December 2, 2023, 4 pm – 7 pm
1330 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce 29033
Free fun for the whole family plus a coloring station, hot chocolate and cookies while you wait. Bring your camera and be ready to capture all the smiles!
Lexington County Museum Christmas Open House
December 10, 2023, 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!
Family Storytime: Warm and Cozy
December 14, 2023, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Richland Library Sandhills
Share winter-inspired stories, songs, and treats!
December 15, 2023, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Richland Library Main
Sing familiar holiday carols, enjoy tasty, festive treats, and more! This event is for families and children of all ages.
Movie Matinee- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
December 19, 2023, 2:30 pm – 5:15 pm
Richland Library North Main
Enjoy a screening of the holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Crafternoon: Ornament Workshop
December 21, 2023, 4 pm – 5 pm
Richland Library St. Andrews
Kids and adults of all ages can get in the holiday spirit by making ornaments! All materials will be supplied.
Storytime Songs by the Campfire
Holiday Parades Near Columbia
Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade
December 2, 2023, @ 9:45 am
Downtown Columbia
Head downtown for the 70th 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 Lexington Christmas Parade
December 3, 2023, @ 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 9, 2023, @ 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 9, 2023, @ 10 am
669 Main Street, West Columbia
Enjoy the family-friendly holiday parade with lots of sights and sounds for children to enjoy!
December 10, 2023, 2 pm – 4 pm
Main Street, Blythewood
The parade will start at the EMS Station on Main Street, travel along Blythewood Road, Langford Road, and end at Doko Meadows Park. Be sure to arrive early!
Tree Lighting and Caroling Near Columbia
Blythewood Christmas Tree Lighting
November 27, 2023, 5 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!
Carolighting Ceremony
December 1, 2023, @ 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 2, 2023, @ 4 pm – 7 pm
The Christmas parade will begin at 4 pm with a tree lighting ceremony held at Town Hall to follow.
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 26th through December 23th, 2023
All Regal Cinema Locations
Enjoy these classic holiday films at your local Regal Cinemas for only $5!
November 26, 2023- Elf
December 2nd, 2023- Polar Express
December 3rd, 2023- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 10th, 2023- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Sleigh Bell Stroll
November 21, 2023, 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. 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!
