Here Are The 10 Most Enchanting, Magical Christmas Towns In South Carolina
Each year at Christmastime cities and towns all over South Carolina come alive with holiday spirit. There are many holidays throughout the year, but somehow this one brings out the best in people. We’ve narrowed down the 10 best Christmas towns in South Carolina. It wasn’t easy, but here are the best places to visit in South Carolina during Christmas.
Rock Hill brings a huge holiday season to light by kicking off the party with their annual ChristmasVille In Rock Hill festival. The festival opens in early-December. The entire Old Town is transformed into a Christmas town. What more could you ask for? For more information, check out the ChristmasVille website. You can also check out our full article on this charming Christmas festival in Connecticut.
Uptown Greenwood dresses up Main Street like you've never seen. Hundreds of thousands of lights line the bottoms of the trees in anticipation of the big tree lighting ceremony. The festive fun kicks off with the Santa on Main party, followed by a tree lighting ceremony. For more information, check out the Uptown Greenwood website.
South Carolina's own perfectly picturesque "Stars Hollow" is nothing short of magical, much like the fictional "Stars Hollow" in the "Gilmore Girls" series. There's a giant tree dressed to the nines and a colossal Christmas bulb (see above) that's the perfect size for taking family holiday photos. For more information, check out the Newberry Christmas website.
Aiken's Christmas season gets officially underway traditionally on the morning of Thanksgiving with the annual Blessing of the Hounds in Hitchcock Woods, one of the largest urban parks on the east coast. From then on, downtown becomes alive with a variety of festive events. You can view them on the City of Aiken website. Don't miss taking a carriage ride, wandering through thousands of lights at Hopeland Gardens, or seeing the Night of a Thousand Candles.
From the spirit of Christmas that's very much alive in Downtown Greenville to the holiday laser shows at Roper Mountain, Greenville is a real Christmas charmer. For more information on the town’s holiday happenings, check out the Greenville website.
From the thousands of lights in Marion Square to strolling the many historic streets and checking out the beautifully adorned homes, Charleston is a beautiful Christmas town. After, head over the bridge to James Island to check out the Holiday Festival of Lights. For more information, check out the Holiday Festival of Lights Facebook page.
Many events and much activity mark Christmas in style at Myrtle's Broadway at the Beach. Add to that the bustling activity and Christmas cheer found along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and this town in South Carolina is a Christmas hub full of holiday spirit. For more information on seasonal events, check out the Visit Myrtle Beach website.
Spartanburg kicks off its holiday season with "A Dickens of a Christmas" street festival, which offers loads of fun for the entire family. Take a carriage ride, try your luck on the ice at the ice rink in the square, and then get ready for the annual tree lighting. For more information on A Dickens of a Christmas festival, check out the Spartanburg website.
Columbia is bustling with Christmastime activities. From the annual tree lighting to the ice rink on main, the Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and the annual Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park, the Capital City is definitely a huge Christmas town in the Palmetto State and one of the best places to spend Christmas in South Carolina.
Each year, Anderson seems to find the biggest and prettiest Christmas tree in the South and they decorate it with more lights that you can imagine. There's also an annual Christmas lights show, Anderson Christmas Lights, which takes place at the park across from the Civic Center. And finally, Santa always makes a splash appearance at the annual City of Anderson Christmas Parade.
Anderson, SC, USA
So, what do you think? Are these the best Christmas towns in South Carolina or what? Did your town make the list this year? Aside from festive towns, where do you like to celebrate Christmas in South Carolina?
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Towns In South Carolina
October 27, 2022
Daniella DiRienzo
Where can I see the best light displays in South Carolina?
The best Christmas towns in South Carolina aren’t the only places you can get into the holiday spirit in the Palmetto State. There are lots of ways to experience holiday cheer, including admiring twinkling lights at one of the many light displays in South Carolina. One display that shouldn’t be missed is Nights of a Thousand Candles. During the annual event, Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet is set aglow with nearly 3,000 hand-lit candles and millions of sparkling lights. The dazzling display is paired with holiday music and warm cups of cider, making for one of the best light displays in South Carolina.
What are the best ice skating rinks in South Carolina?
Admiring holiday décor and light displays aren’t the only ways to celebrate the arrival of the winter season. There are quite a few quintessential winter activities to enjoy, including ice skating. Fortunately, there are several places you can skate figure eights in South Carolina. Among the state’s ice rinks, the Carolina Ice Palace is one of the most popular. Located in North Charleston, the state-of-the-art facility features two NHL-sized ice rinks, a full-service pro shop, concessions stand, and more. In addition to a slew of other events, Carolina Ice Palace hosts public skate sessions, giving everyone a chance to get out on the ice. Don’t know how to ice skate? Don’t worry; the facility offers “learn to skate” classes.
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Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
