The holiday season is especially merry and bright in the Palmetto State with a variety of family-oriented events that bring everyone together to celebrate the season. From a town that transforms into ChristmasVille to a holiday lights safari where you may find yourself hand-feeding a zebra from your own car - and more, this year promises to deck the halls with holiday cheer. Each year, South Carolina's number one outdoor attraction, Brookgreen Gardens delivers the best winter hike in South Carolina and it takes place at night under the glow of flickering candles and twinkling lights.

For a handful of magical nights this holiday season, Brookgreen Gardens is open at night for a spectacular lights display. The gates open at 3:00 p.m. for the event so you'll get to see the transformation from daytime to night under the glow of more lights and displays than you can imagine.

Wander freely through the many sculpture gardens and gaze in awe as the lights shine perfectly to illuminate many of the sculptures and fountains.

But Nights of a Thousand Candles isn't just about string lights and displays. Trees are expertly wrapped in thousands of lights, the fountains sparkle with reflections, and the feel of Christmas flows through the night air as visitors sip hot chocolate and wander the gardens.

Each afternoon, more than 2,700 candles are hand lit throughout the garden; some are even floating in the many reflecting pools. It's such a magical display and a wonderful setting for the best winter hike in South Carolina!

Year after year, visitors clamor to get advance tickets for the 11 nights in December when Brookgreen opens for Nights of a Thousand Candles.

Each night at 5:45 p.m. there's a ceremonial lighting of the enormous 85-foot tree bearing no less than 100,000 lights. (The photo below has the silhouette of a person standing at the base of the tree in the bottom right corner.)

Warm cider and hot chocolate are available and you can walk the paths enjoying some holiday music as you make your way through the Nights of a Thousand Candles and the positively breathtaking light displays. If you're seeking new (to you) things to do in winter in South Carolina, then this event belongs on your bucket list this year.

Nights of a Thousand Candles, the best winter hike in South Carolina, takes place on the following nights: December 5-8, December 12-15, and December 19 - 21, 2019. Tickets must be purchased in advance and they tend to sell out, so don't wait. On these special event days the gardens are open from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth. Purchase tickets at this link or by calling 1-888-718-4253.

For more ways to enjoy the season in the Palmetto State, check out some spots where you'll find the best winter hiking in South Carolina.