The holidays can be a hectic time of year, and it’s often difficult to choose from the horde of holiday events the Midlands has to offer. Whether you’re looking to take your kids to see Santa + some holiday lights or looking to leave them at home for date night + a show, Cola’s got something for you.

Here’s our guide for maximizing the holidays in Columbia to help you make sense of it all + find exactly what you’re looking for this season. ⬇

Festivals, Lights + Outdoors

Go see the Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals – the Midlands’ largest drive-through lights show thanks to a partnership with Lexington Medical Center.
See nearly one million sparkling lights at Lights Before Christmas, a 30-year tradition at Riverbanks Zoo.
Go see the colorful + twinkling floats at Cayce-West Columbia’s Holiday Parade of Lights.
Possibly see Santa not on a sleigh – but on a horse(?!) – at Blythewood’s 2017 Christmas Parade.
Catch a laser light show at the planetarium, choreographed to holiday classics like “Deck the Halls.”
Bring your family + your pet to Harborside Lights at Lake Carolina.
Go ice skating at Main Street Ice on Boyd Plaza.
Take a carriage ride through the Robert Mills historic district.
Watch the city of Forest Acres’ community Christmas tree get lit at Sweet Seasons.

ForKids

Meet with Santa + read with his elves at Edventure Children’s Museum’s Annual Gingerbread Jamboree, now through Christmas Eve.
Your little one can enjoy crafts + a movie screening with Frozen’s Anna + Elsa.
Enjoy a holiday scavenger hunt, hands-on crafts + more as part of the Jingle Days Kickoff.

Santa

Spread good cheer by writing thank you notes for military troops + take photos with Santa at Virginia College’s Holiday Fest.
Snap that classic mall pic with Santa at the Columbiana Mall.
Catch a train ride with Kris Kringle.
Have coffee with Ole Saint Nick at the Robert Mills Carriage House with Victorian Santa.

Show

Experience a childhood classic – The Polar Express – in 4D.
Get transported to Jerusalem + Bethlehem to learn more about the story of the “Christmas Star.”
No Christmas would be complete without The Nutcracker, of course.
Go catch an original play centered around our very own Richland Fashion Mall.
Catch a show of Miracle on 34th Street, a holiday classic.
Go see the Singing Christmas Tree, an annual tradition featuring a 30-foot tree + a 100-person choir.
Go see another Cola Christmas classic: the 30th Annual Columbia Christmas Pageant.

Dish

Enjoy bottomless tea – we like the sound of that – at the Winter Chocolate and Tea Party.
Get in the giving spirit by providing a dish to share with local seniors in your community at the Senior Goodwill Holiday Brunch.
Enjoy a Chinese dinner + a screening of Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas.

Are we missing something major? Let us know about your favorite local holiday event.

2 min read / COLAtoday

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