SC homes with most spectacular Christmas light shows in the Upstate. Here’s how to find them

Kidding Around Greenville has posted its annual holiday driving routes of richly decorated homes and this year, besides seven Upstate communities, they’ve also included a list for Columbia.

These lists are so popular people start asking for them well before the holidays. Like months before.

They are featured on kiddingaroundggreenville.com and are generated based on homeowners contacting the organization and then they are checked out to make sure they are really all that.

The organization also has driving directions to get to each of the homes in the most efficient way.

“Throw your fuzzy jammies on, grab the tumbler of hot chocolate, popcorn, and hit the road,” the website states.

Founded 10 years ago, the website helps parents find all the cool and entertaining family stuff going on in the Upstate all year long.

In Greenville, 214 Bennett Street, is described as a “Hallmark” themed Victorian style Christmas decorated house “that will bring Greenville back into Dickens era.”

This year’s list also includes the nativity scene at Bob Jones University, which opens Dec. 6.

Many of the homes have 10,000 or more lights. One, at 17 Burriss Road in Lyman, has 28,000 lights.

Some homes have areas people can walk through. Blow up Santas and reindeer. You name it.

The Christmas House in Inman has been decorated by the Montgomery family for 50 years. Sandra Montgomery’s father started the tradition, which this year has grown to more than 130,000 lights. There are other displays like the home for misfit toys.

Nine are featured on the Greenville route, seven in Easley, seven in Simpsonville, seven in the Five Forks community, seven in Spartanburg, 12 in Greer, four in Anderson and five that aren’t on any route but are worth the drive, including Poole Light Show at 6264 Highway 92, Enoree, with 80,000 lights and Ricci’s Christmas Lights at 200 Saddlebred Drive, Pelzer, with snow machines and 10,000 lights synced to the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

There are also 10 houses featured in the Columbia area.

In Lexington, the website features 497 Sandy Point Road with large blowups, lights, and a nativity scene and 301 Southberry Way with inflatables and lights everywhere, including 11 new inflatables this year.

At 471 Bear Claw Way in West Columbia, classic Christmas songs are broadcast on 91.5 FM and synchronized with the lights.

This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 6:00 AM.