White water balloons, festive cocktails create a bit of Christmas in July in Columbia
Engulfed by stifling summer heat and humidity, it’s easy to long for chillier temperatures and try to remember what it’s like to need a cup of hot chocolate or a cozy fire to warm you up.
It’s easy to dream of a “white Christmas.”
Christmas in July is a thing. To some, it’s a marketing thing, a catchy and zany way to hold a sale. To others, it’s a fun theme for a summer camp event.
And to some, it’s just something crazy to do to forget about that stifling heat.
Britton’s on Devine Street has a Christmas in July sale event each summer. The Hallmark Channel just finished its Christmas Keepsake Holiday Preview, when it airs Christmas movies to coincide with the release of its holiday ornaments.
There are a few days left in this month, which means there’s still time to celebrate Christmas in July. Here are some simple, or almost simple, ways to do that:
Eat peppermint
Order a peppermint pie or a peppermint cake from Chocolate Nirvana. Or crunch up some peppermints and sprinkle them on a s’more. www.chocolatenirvanacafe.com
Ice skating
What better way to feel the chill of Christmas than to go ice skating? The rink is open at The Plex in Irmo year-round. www.plexhiwire.com/irmo/schedule/#publicskate
Go Christmas shopping
Why wait until Black Friday? Take some of the pressure off of holiday shopping and scratch off some on your list now. (Just don’t forget where you hide the gifts – or forget you bought them.) If you want to buy some Christmas decorations or craft supplies? Go to Hobby Lobby, which already has stocked up for Christmas.
Wear those Christmas shirts
Remember how you complain about only getting to wear your cute Christmas shirts or tacky sweaters a few days a year? Well, add another day or two. Face it, you’re spending all day in the AC any way. So wear your favorite Christmas attire. Make people wonder. Or roll their eyes. Same thing.
Drink like it’s Christmas
Many bars can’t re-create favorite holiday drinks because they have certain ingredients only stocked at Christmas – like egg nog. We’re dreaming of the white chocolate peppermint-ini, featuring vanilla vodka, peppermint Schnapps and heavy cream, in a glass lined with chocolate and crushed peppermint on the rim (Bistro on the Boulevard). If you want something nonalcoholic, order hot chocolate at places like Wired Goat, Starbucks, Loveland, Indah and Drip.
Snowball fight, Famously Hot-style
While having snow drip down your face may sound wonderfully refreshing, there are a couple of challenges with that: Finding snow in July, and even if you do find snow, being able to toss it before it melts. So fill up white balloons with water and turn a water balloon fight into a Famously Hot snowball fight.
Sand snowman
Build a snowman out of sand at the Lake Murray beach, at SCE&G’s park on the Lexington side of the dam. Rather than coal for eyes, this sand Frosty may prefer sunglasses. And maybe a floppy hat? Don’t forget the sunscreen.
Hang up mistletoe
Surprise the significant other by hanging mistletoe around the house – or something green that looks like mistletoe from a distance or in the dark. Really, does anyone know what mistletoe looks like? And if it means getting a kiss, do they care?
Take the family Christmas photo
Be daring, be different! Dig out the Santa hats and send “warm holiday wishes” from the pool or lake. Send them now to be really different, or send them at Christmas. Believe it or not, when friends and family get the card in December, they will longingly wish for the warm, summer day in the photo.