Everyone Should Take This Spectacular Holiday Trail Of Lights In South Carolina This Season

If you love Christmas lights displays, you will have no problem finding options of all kinds throughout the state. We’ve put together a route of some of the most spectacular displays along a trail of holiday lights displays in South Carolina that begins in the PeeDee region in Sumter and takes you through the state capital of Columbia and other parts of the Midlands area, then continuing through the Upstate area and ending in the small town of Inman (Spartanburg County). Buckle up, and let’s go!

We’ve prepared a map of the trail for you. Visit Google Maps for an interactive format where you can make adjustments if you wish to start at a different point on the trail or need to adapt it to better suit your situation or preferences.

1. Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter (Drive-through, FREE!)

This drive-through event is the largest free Christmas lights display in South Carolina with over a million lights. Be sure to look for the Pilot Club’s floating Christmas tree, an annual favorite. You can park your vehicle to get out for pictures with the lights, and there’s a special Santa’s Village feature at the Swan Lake Iris Gardens Heath Pavilion. Kids can write letters to Santa and take pictures with him (bring your own camera). You’ll also enjoy holiday music and entertainment, and there are holiday treats and hot cocoa for sale.

2. GOFF Lights at Goff Field Lane, Hopkins (Walk-through, FREE! Donations accepted)

This 100,000+ lights display is located at a private residence and is a walk-through, popular, and highly rated by prior guests. Some have made it an annual tradition and like the fact that there aren't long lines and big crowds. There are some great photo-ops and tributes for certain causes such as breast cancer and autism.

3. Carolina Lights, Columbia State Fairgrounds (Drive-through)

Drive through the Columbia State Fairgrounds’ Carolina Lights event featuring more than 100 displays. There is a fee to enter and you can also purchase cookies, milk, and other beverages halfway through the route. There’s a scavenger hunt activity provided on the Carolina Lights page of the South Carolina State Fair website for a fun challenge while seeing the lights. Can you complete them all?

4. Poole’s Christmas Light Show, Enoree (Walk-through, FREE!)

Stroll down Candy Cane Lane, new for 2022, at this fun private display with over 50,000 lights synchronized to music. Guests return year-after-year to experience this show and say it's worth driving miles to see.

5. Tiny Town, Easley (Walk-through, FREE! Donations accepted.)

Tiny Town is a hidden gem attraction located in the upstate town of Easley on Latham Road. It began many years ago in 1974 as an act of love by Perry Jennings for his wife Ollie. She had always wanted to live in a log cabin. He built her a small replica as a mini-version of her dream home. From there, other structures were added through the years until a "tiny town" developed. Christmas decorations became an annual festive addition beginning in 1977.

6. Magical Musical Holiday Lights Show, Seneca (Drive or Walk-through, FREE!)

This display is located at Norton-Thompson park in Seneca. Santa will be present on select nights (see the Facebook page linked below for additional details), and there will be free hot chocolate. You can purchase s'mores for a small fee.

7. Lindsey’s Christmas House, Greer (Walk-through, FREE!)

Another lovely private display of Christmas lights is located on Rotan Street in Greer. It's asked by the owners at the property to please be aware that parking on both sides of the small street will block the flow of traffic.

8. Holiday Lights Safari at Hollywild Animal Preserve, Wellford (Drive-through)

This 100-acre park transforms into a magical family-oriented experience during the holidays to benefit the preserve and animals living there. A favorite adventure of guests is driving through the Enchanted Deer Forest, where herds of animals approach the vehicles and eat right out of your hands. (An additional fee is charged to enter the deer forest.) This area has been enlarged from prior years to allow for added interaction with the herds of animals and easier navigation.

9. The Christmas House, Inman (Drive-through, FREE! Donations accepted.)

Last but not least, this final stop on our trail of our lights is located at another private residence, at Foster Road in Inman.

Be sure to visit each website or Facebook page for full details, including hours open, any entrance fees required, parking instructions, and more:

Fantasy of Lights (at Swan Lake Iris Gardens) website

Lights at Goff Field Lane Facebook page

Carolina Lights at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds page

Poole’s Light Show website

Tiny Town Facebook page

Seneca SC Events page (Magical Musical Holiday Lights Show)

The Lindsey’s Christmas House Facebook page

Hollywild Animal Preserve website

Hollywild Animal Preserve Facebook page

The Christmas House Facebook page

What’s your favorite Christmas lights display in South Carolina? Please share it with us in the comments section below.

Still looking for the perfect gift for some hard-to-shop-for special people on your Christmas list? We’ve got some great ideas for you in our list of 21 Unique Gift Ideas For Hard-To-Buy-For South Carolinians.