South Carolina events › Midlands › Columbia in December
Columbia things to do in December 2026 include Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo (select nights, tickets on sale Nov 2), Brew Lights on Dec 4, the Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade on Dec 5, the Snowball Festival in Lexington on Dec 3 to 6, the South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Koger Center on Dec 12 to 20 ($35 to $60), and five Gamecocks home basketball games.
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Lights | Select nights, Nov 20-Jan 10, 5-9 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, 500 Wildlife Pkwy. | Not shown yet; tickets on sale Nov 2 |
| Snowball Festival | Thu, Dec 3 to Sun, Dec 6 | Lexington (mostly Icehouse Amphitheater) | Not published |
| Brew Lights | Fri, Dec 4, 7-9:30 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Not shown |
| Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade (74th) | Sat, Dec 5 | Downtown Columbia | Not published; start time not posted |
| Gamecocks basketball vs. UT Martin | Sun, Dec 6 | Colonial Life Arena | Not published; tip time TBA |
| Gamecocks basketball vs. Clemson | Tue, Dec 15 | Colonial Life Arena | Not published; tip time TBA |
| The Nutcracker (South Carolina Ballet) | Dec 12-13 and Dec 19-20 | Koger Center for the Arts | $35-$60 |
| North Pole Nights, Newberry | Fri, Dec 4, 11 and 18, 6-8 p.m. | Community Hall and Memorial Park, Newberry | Free craft; other admission not published |
Week by week
Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, December 6
The Snowball Festival in Lexington starts with a craft fair on Dec 3 and 4 from 4 to 8 p.m., the tree lighting on Friday, Dec 4 at 6:30 p.m. followed by the movie Elf at 7:30 p.m., a carnival on Saturday, Dec 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (face painting, balloon art, pictures with Santa, rides and free cookies while supplies last) and a parade on Sunday, Dec 6 at 3 p.m. See the town’s Snowball page. On Friday, Dec 4 Riverbanks lists Brew Lights from 7 to 9:30 p.m.; its page shows no prices or age rule. On Saturday, Dec 5 the 74th Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade, themed “Light Up the Holidays!”, rolls through downtown Columbia rain or shine with more than 125 entries and William Starrett, CEO and artistic director of South Carolina Ballet, as grand marshal. No start time or route is posted, so call 803-814-4255 or email info@carolinacarillon.com. On Sunday, Dec 6, the Gamecocks host UT Martin at Colonial Life Arena.
Saturday, December 12 to Sunday, December 13
The South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker opens at the Koger Center on Saturday, Dec 12 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday, Dec 13 matinee at 3 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $60, with live music from the South Carolina Ballet Orchestra. Gamecocks basketball hosts Youngstown State on Saturday, Dec 12; no tip time has been released. See the Nutcracker page and the basketball schedule report.
Tuesday, December 15 to Tuesday, December 29
Clemson visits Colonial Life Arena on Tuesday, Dec 15. The Nutcracker returns Saturday, Dec 19 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec 20 at 3 p.m. North Carolina Central plays at Colonial Life Arena on Tuesday, Dec 22, and South Carolina State on Tuesday, Dec 29. Santa visits at Riverbanks Wild Lights end Dec 23, though the lights continue on select nights to Jan 10. See the Nutcracker page, the basketball schedule report and Wild Lights.
Near Columbia
North Pole Nights in Newberry. On Dec 4, 11 and 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Community Hall and Memorial Park, with faux snow, story time from the library and a mailbox for letters to Santa. The city lists a free children’s craft and a free movie at the Ritz Theater on the Nov 20 tree-lighting night; other admission is not published. See the Newberry events page.
Looking for more? See Midlands events, concerts and sports and festivals and fairs.
Frequently asked questions
When is Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo?
Wild Lights runs on select nights from Nov 20 to Jan 10, 5 to 9 p.m., with visits with Santa through Dec 23. Tickets go on sale Nov 2 and the page shows no prices yet; its calendar does not list which nights are open, so check the calendar or call 803-779-8717.
When is the Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade?
Saturday, Dec 5, rain or shine, in downtown Columbia. The 74th parade is themed “Light Up the Holidays!” and has more than 125 entries; the organizer page does not list a start time, route or parking, and gives 803-814-4255 for questions.
How much are Nutcracker tickets in Columbia?
$35 to $60 for the South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene Street, with live music from the South Carolina Ballet Orchestra. The page we read is a legacy Columbia City Ballet listing, so confirm dates and prices at the Koger Center before buying.
Are there Gamecocks basketball games in December?
Yes, at Colonial Life Arena: Sun, Dec 6 vs. UT Martin, Sat, Dec 12 vs. Youngstown State, Tue, Dec 15 vs. Clemson, Tue, Dec 22 vs. North Carolina Central and Tue, Dec 29 vs. South Carolina State, per a Fox Carolina report of the schedule. Tip times and TV were not released.
Is there a Christmas festival near Columbia?
The Snowball Festival in Lexington runs Dec 3 to 6, with a craft fair, tree lighting, carnival and parade; the Very Berry Christmas in Newberry has North Pole Nights on Dec 4, 11 and 18 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Keep planning
- Midlands events
- Columbia events in November
- Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo
- South Carolina concerts and sports
- Charleston events in December
- Greenville events in December
- Myrtle Beach events in December
- All South Carolina events
Sources
Everything above was read at the organizers’ own pages and last checked 2026-10-19 (Snowball and Newberry pages on Oct 17; basketball dates from a news report). Dates, hours and prices change, so confirm on the linked page before you go. See our editorial standards.
Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Things to Do in Columbia SC in December 2026”, itssouthcarolina.com/columbia-things-to-do-in-december/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.