Looking for great holiday light displays? Here’s where to find them in the Midlands
If you still need to get into the holiday spirit in the week leading up to Christmas, there are several big seasonal displays around the Midlands that can help you fill up your cheer wagon.
Here are some of the highlights of this time of year in Columbia’s capital city.
▪ Carolina Lights at the S.C. State Fairgrounds
For the first time this year, the S.C. State Fairgrounds are hosting Carolina Lights, a display of more than 100 individual LED light displays along a mile-plus stretch of the grounds off George Rogers Boulevard. Cars can navigate through a Twelve Days of Christmas display, the dancing field of Christmas trees, a 25-foot-tall Frosty with dancing arches and presents.
The lights are open to traffic from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday until Dec. 28. Admission is $20 for cars, $35 for mini-buses (9-24 passengers) and $70 for vehicles with 25 or more passengers.
▪ Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo
The 32nd holiday show at the zoo features a million twinkling lights and other ornaments, plus a 30-foot animated story tree and a Jingle Bell Bonfire for roasting s’mores. Visitors have the chance for some close-up animal encounters on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and a Christmas parade is held every Friday through Sunday. Santa Claus himself will be meeting with visitors.
The light show runs nightly between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day through Dec. 30. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 2 to 12. Members get one visit free.
▪ Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park
Billing itself as the largest lights show in the Midlands, this drive-through display in the park attracts 90,000 visitors a year. The 2.5-mile course takes in a million lights and hundreds of animated displays. This year’s route includes a 34-foot Christmas tree and a student-built erupting volcano in the dinosaur area.
On the Winter Walking Trail, guests can take in a musical light show, plus activities such as a holiday maze and hayrides, and photos with Santa until Monday.
The light show runs nightly from 6 to 10 until Dec. 31. Admission is $20 per car, $40 for vehicles with 12 or more passengers and $60 per bus. The entrance is at 6071 St. Andrews Road.
▪ Lights of Cayce
If you’re looking for something to do for free before the holidays, the city of Cayce offers a free ride through its city hall complex at 1800 12th St., featuring thousands of lights and holiday music. Lights are up until Dec. 31.
▪ On your block
Closer to home, many neighborhood drives feature decorated houses with some pretty elaborate displays of their own. The website Nextdoor features a “Cheer Map” of home holiday displays around the Columbia area if you want to explore what your area has to offer.
▪ Tell us about your favorite neighborhood display
Do you know of a Midlands home with a particularly impressive lights display? Send information about it to posmundson@thestate.com. We’ll publish a list of the most popular displays.
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