Christmas Towns in South Carolina: Lights, Parades, Markets

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These are 17 South Carolina towns that put on a real Christmas season, across Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry, Pee Dee and Grand Strand: parades, light shows, candlelight tours of historic homes and holiday markets. 8 have posted their 2026 dates; the others are marked not published for 2026 until the town posts them.

Towns17on this page
Regions5Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry…
Free3as the operator states
CheckedOct 262026

The Short Answer

Charleston County Parks' Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park runs every night from November 13 through December 31, 2026, 5:30-10 p.m. source
Historic Charleston Foundation holds holiday candlelight tours of the Nathaniel Russell House (November 20-21, 2026) and the Aiken-Rhett House (December 4-5, 2026), $45 per person. source
ChristmasVille fills Old Town Rock Hill December 3-6, 2026 with nearly 70 events. source
Several towns hold Christmas parades on Saturday, December 5, 2026, including Bluffton, Georgetown, Walhalla and Hartsville. source

Every Towns on Our List

Search this list17 of 17

Name	Where	What	When	Cost	Good to know	Source
Holiday Hop & Christmas Market	Travelers Rest Upstate	The City of Travelers Rest holds a downtown Holiday Hop with a Christmas Market along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a tree lighting with carols, a Jingle Paws dog parade, a train ride and Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Spring Park Inn.	Saturday, November 28 – 3:00-7:00 pm (page titled '2026 Holiday Hop & Christmas Market'). Christmas Market 3:00-7:00 pm; Jingle Paws Parade 5:00 pm; tree lighting 6:45 pm	Not listed	Dogs: Jingle Paws Parade for dressed-up dogs on the Swamp Rabbit Trail; judging at 5:30 pm.	source
Walhalla Christmas Parade	Walhalla Upstate	The City of Walhalla runs an evening Christmas parade judged at the City Green, plus a tree lighting, window contest, Cookies with Santa and a night ride at Stumphouse Mountain Park.	Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 5 (2026) at 5 PM, theme 'Christmas Traditions Through the Decades'. Frosty's Night Ride: the city says to come back in December 2026 for the second annual ride (date not published). Tree lighting: not published for 2026. Parade 5 PM	Not listed	Not listed	source
Aiken: Downtown Christmas Parade and Christmas in Hopelands	Aiken Midlands	Aiken's Christmas in Hopelands lights Hopelands Gardens with 100,000+ lights and free cocoa, cider and cookies, and the Aiken Downtown Development Association hosts a downtown Christmas parade; Aiken also has the Hoofbeats Christmas Parade with horses and carriages.	2026 Downtown Aiken Christmas Parade: Sunday, December 6th at 2:00PM. Christmas in Hopelands and Hoofbeats parade: not published for 2026 (2025 dates were December 13-23 for Hopelands and December 14 for Hoofbeats). Hopelands (2025): 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm; no parking or entry after 9:00 PM	Free	Kids: Hopelands: all ages, children must be accompanied by an adult. Access: Hopelands (2025): handicap parking at Hopelands Gardens, 135 Dupree Place. Dogs: Hopelands (2025): no dogs or other animals on shuttles; dogs must be on leashes. Parking: Hopelands (2025): event parking at 1060 Banks Mill Road, Citizens Park, with shuttles; last shuttle 8:45 P.M.	source
Christmas in Camden	Camden Midlands	Camden's tourism office lists a city tree lighting at Broad Street Park, the Kershaw County Tinsel Trail of lighted displays, holiday snow nights downtown, the Kershaw County Christmas Parade and the nighttime Lights of Lugoff Christmas Parade.	not published for 2026 (the 2025 guide listed the tree lighting Dec 4, Tinsel Trail Nov 26 – Dec 31, Kershaw County Christmas Parade Dec 13 at 10 AM and Lights of Lugoff parade Dec 13 at 6:30 PM)	Not listed	Not listed	source
Christmas in Newberry: Main Street Lights	Newberry Midlands	The City of Newberry lights a downtown display of lighted garland, figures and a Community Christmas Tree, starting with the Main Street Lights tree lighting, then North Pole Nights on December Fridays with faux snow in Memorial Park.	Begins November 20, 2026 with the Community Christmas Tree Lighting (Friday, November 20, 2026, 5:00-8:00 pm). North Pole Nights: Friday nights, December 4, 11 & 18, 5:00-8:00 pm. Tree lighting ceremony 6:00 pm; festivities until 8:00 pm	Free	Kids: Trackless train rides, snow globe photo booth, balloon artists, Santa photos inside the Newberry Opera House. Access: ASL interpretation by the Newberry College ASL Club for the ceremony portion.	source
ChristmasVille	Rock Hill Midlands	ChristmasVille turns Old Town Rock Hill into a holiday village and outdoor art festival with nearly 70 events, including horse-drawn carriage rides, historic tours, Dickens carolers, a gingerbread house contest, Santa activities and an ice skating rink.	December 3-6, 2026 (Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, December 6). Contests run November 1 – December 2.	Not listed	Not listed	source
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden	Columbia Midlands	Riverbanks Zoo and Garden holds Wild Lights, a walk through the zoo past over 60 lantern displays, with s'mores, hot chocolate and visits with Santa; the zoo's site also lists Brew Lights, a new 21+ holiday event.	Select Nights November 20 – January 10, 5:00-9:00 PM; the page calendar covers November 2026 through January 2027. Tickets go on sale November 2. 5:00 – 9:00 PM	not published yet (tickets go on sale November 2)	Kids: Visits with Santa through December 23; family-friendly interactive activities.	source
Bluffton Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting	Bluffton Lowcountry	The Town of Bluffton holds its 55th annual tree lighting at Martin Family Park, then a Christmas parade through the Historic District the next morning.	Friday, December 4, 2026: Tree Lighting 5:30 p.m. Saturday, December 5, 2026: parade steps off 10 a.m. Tree lighting 5:30 p.m.; movie 6:30 p.m.; parade 10 a.m.	Not listed	Kids: Santa's Workshop; throwing candy from floats is prohibited. Access: Both events are scheduled rain or shine.	source
Charleston: candlelight house tours and Holiday Festival of Lights	Charleston Lowcountry	Historic Charleston Foundation runs holiday candlelight tours of the Nathaniel Russell House and the Aiken-Rhett House, Drayton Hall runs candlelight tours of its 18th-century house, and Charleston County Parks runs the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park with more than 750 illuminated displays.	Nathaniel Russell House candlelight tours: Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, 2026. Aiken-Rhett House candlelight tours: Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2026. Drayton Hall Candlelight Tours: November 28, 2026. Holiday Festival of Lights: every night from November 13 through December 31, 2026, 5:30-10 p.m. City holiday parade and boat parade: not published for 2026. HCF tours depart 5:30, 6:00, 6:30 and 7:00 pm each night and last approximately 45 minutes. Holiday Festival of Lights 5:30-10 p.m.	HCF candlelight tours: $45 per person. Holiday Festival of Lights: prices listed per vehicle, set by Green, Yellow and Red nights (amounts not shown in page text); gift passes 1-9 tickets = $25 each, each valid for 1-15 guests per vehicle.	Kids: HCF candlelight tours recommended for ages 12 and above. Festival of Lights has a holiday train ride, marshmallow roasting and visits with Santa. Access: Aiken-Rhett House: 'The House Museum is not handicap accessible or stroller friendly.'	source
Deck the Hulls Christmas Boat Parade	Hilton Head Island Lowcountry	America's Boating Club Hilton Head presents Deck the Hulls, a waterfront Christmas boat parade of decorated boats along Skull Creek.	not published for 2026 (the organizer page, updated 10/17/2026, still shows the 3rd annual parade on December 14, 2024, 6 – 8 PM) 6 – 8 PM (2024 listing)	Not listed	Not listed	source
Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade	Mount Pleasant Lowcountry	The Town of Mount Pleasant holds its 31st annual night parade down Coleman Boulevard with fireworks, marching bands, a police motorcycle show, lighted floats and Santa on a town fire truck.	Dec 13, 2026, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Fireworks 5:30 p.m.; parade runs Live Oak Drive down Coleman Boulevard to Patriots Point Road	Not listed	Kids: Santa arrives aboard a Mount Pleasant firetruck. Parking: Coleman Blvd road closures from 4:00 p.m. (Whilden St. to Pherigo St.) and 5:00 p.m. (Whilden St. to Patriots Point Rd.; Ravenel Bridge off-ramp onto Coleman Blvd.).	source
Summerville Christmas Parade	Summerville Lowcountry	Summerville DREAM runs the Summerville Christmas Parade, a family-friendly parade of decorated cars, trucks, floats and walking groups chosen by committee.	Parade: December 13, 2026 (per the 2026 application form). Start time and route not published.	Entry fees for participants only (e.g. standard business entry $200, nonprofit $100); spectator price not stated.	Not listed	source
City-County Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Music & Light Show	Florence Pee Dee	The City and County of Florence light the city Christmas tree at Andrew H. Griffin Plaza, followed by the Downtown Development Corporation's Downtown Christmas Magic, and a Holiday Music & Light Show runs nightly through December 31.	not published for 2026 (2025: tree lighting Friday, December 5, 2025 at 5:30 pm; light show through December 31st, 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm each evening, weather permitting)	Not listed	Not listed	source
Heart of the Holidays, Hartsville	Hartsville Pee Dee	Hartsville holds a three-day Heart of the Holidays celebration with a downtown open house and tree lighting, a Family Jingle Jam, a kids carnival and craft show, and a night Christmas parade in which every unit must be lit.	Heart of the Holidays: November 19-21, 2026. Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM. Nov 19 tree lighting 6:00-9:00 PM; Nov 20 Jingle Jam 6:00-9:00 PM; Nov 21 carnival and craft show 10:00 AM-4:00 PM; parade 5:30 PM	Free	Kids: Kids Carnival; visit from Santa at the Family Jingle Jam. Parking: Visit Hartsville lists Free Public Parking & EV Charging.	source
Christmas in Downtown Conway	Conway Grand Strand	The City of Conway is taking vendors for Christmas 2026 for Santa's Village on the Town Green and a new Lower Laurel Market at 104 Laurel Street with a Christmas train station, aiming for 'a festive, traditional Christmas market experience'.	not published for 2026 (Visit Myrtle Beach listed the 2025 Rivertown Christmas Celebration on Thursdays, December 4 – December 18, 2025, 6 to 8 pm, and the 2025 Conway tree lighting on December 4, 2025 at 6 pm, 200 Laurel Street)	2025 Rivertown Christmas Celebration: 'All of the events are free.' (2026 not stated)	Kids: Visits with Santa at Santa's Village.	source
Georgetown Christmas Parade	Georgetown Grand Strand	Georgetown's Christmas Parade on Front Street features decorated floats, marching bands, community groups, Christmas music and Santa Claus; the 12 Days of Christmas Kringle Krawl follows the same evening on Front Street.	Christmas Parade: December 5 (event data shows 2026-12-05), 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Front Street. Kringle Krawl: December 5, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm.	Not listed	Not listed	source
Winter Wonderland at The Beach	Myrtle Beach Grand Strand	Visit Myrtle Beach lists Winter Wonderland at The Beach, a free lights display along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and downtown, opened by a tree lighting in Plyler Park.	not published for 2026 (2025: lights nightly from November 28, 2025 to January 3, 2026; tree lighting November 29, 2025 at 6:15 pm)	Described as a free lights display (2025 listing).	Not listed	source

Hours, dates and prices are copied from each operator’s own page on the date shown; check before you go.

Big Lights Displays

The Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park runs every night from November 13 through December 31, 2026, 5:30-10 p.m., with more than 750 illuminated displays, a holiday train ride and visits with Santa. source
Holiday Festival of Lights tickets are priced per vehicle, can be bought in advance or at the gate, and nights are rated Green, Yellow or Red by expected crowds. source
A Holiday Festival of Lights Fun Run & Walk sneak peek is on November 12, 2026, 6:45PM-8:45PM, at James Island County Park. source
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden runs select nights November 20 – January 10, 5:00-9:00 PM, with over 60 lantern displays; tickets go on sale November 2. source
Newberry's Christmas season begins November 20, 2026 with Main Street Lights, and faux snow falls in Memorial Park on North Pole Nights (December 4, 11 and 18). source
Christmas in Hopelands in Aiken (2025) lit Hopelands Gardens with 100,000+ lights, with free admission and donations accepted; 2026 dates are not yet posted. source

Parades

Bluffton's 55th annual Christmas Parade steps off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2026, after the Town Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4. source
The Walhalla Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 5th at 5 PM (2026). source
Hartsville's 2026 Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM, and every parade unit must be lit. source
The Georgetown Christmas Parade is December 5, 2026, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, on Front Street. source
The 2026 Downtown Aiken Christmas Parade is Sunday, December 6th at 2:00PM, hosted by the Aiken Downtown Development Association. source
The 31st Annual Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade is Dec 13, 2026, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm, starting with fireworks. source
The 2026 Summerville Christmas Parade application lists the parade as December 13th with the theme 'Christmas Stories'. source

Candlelight and Historic Homes

Historic Charleston Foundation's Nathaniel Russell House candlelight tours are Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21 (2026), $45 per person, recommended for ages 12 and above. source
Historic Charleston Foundation's Aiken-Rhett House candlelight tours are Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 (2026), four tours a night from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, $45 per person; the house is not handicap accessible or stroller friendly. source
Drayton Hall lists Candlelight Tours of Drayton Hall on November 28, 2026. source

Christmas Markets and Festivals

ChristmasVille in Old Town Rock Hill runs December 3-6, 2026, with nearly 70 events and activities. source
The Travelers Rest Holiday Hop & Christmas Market is Saturday, November 28, 3:00-7:00 pm, with the tree lighting at 6:45 pm. source
The City of Conway is accepting Christmas 2026 vendors for Santa's Village on the Town Green and a new Lower Laurel Market. source

Boat Parades

The City of Charleston's 2025 Holiday Parade of Boats ran Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., from the Cooper River through Charleston Harbor into the Ashley River; the 2026 date is not yet posted. source
Deck the Hulls on Hilton Head Island is a Christmas boat parade along Skull Creek presented by America's Boating Club Hilton Head; the organizer page still shows the 2024 date. source

FAQ

When does the Holiday Festival of Lights open in 2026?

Charleston County Parks says it runs every night from November 13 through December 31, 2026, 5:30-10 p.m., at James Island County Park. source

How much is the Holiday Festival of Lights?

Prices are per vehicle and depend on whether the night is a Green, Yellow or Red night; tickets can be bought in advance or at the gate. Gift passes are $25 each for 1-9 tickets, each good for 1-15 guests in one vehicle. source

Are the Charleston candlelight house tours good for young children?

Historic Charleston Foundation recommends its holiday candlelight tours for ages 12 and above, and says the Aiken-Rhett House is not handicap accessible or stroller friendly. source

Which South Carolina Christmas parades are on the first weekend of December 2026?

Bluffton (Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m.), Georgetown (December 5, 11 am), Walhalla (Saturday, December 5, 5 PM), Hartsville (Saturday, December 5, 5:30 PM) and downtown Aiken (Sunday, December 6, 2:00 PM). source

When do Wild Lights tickets go on sale at Riverbanks Zoo?

Riverbanks says tickets go on sale November 2; Wild Lights runs select nights November 20 – January 10, 5:00-9:00 PM. source

When is ChristmasVille in Rock Hill in 2026?

Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, December 6, 2026, in Old Town Rock Hill. source

What We Could Not Confirm

Not confirmed: we looked for these on official pages and did not find them. Check with the town or operator before you rely on them.

Beaufort (Night on the Town, Light Up the Night lighted boat parade, Christmas parade): no 2026 dates found on cityofbeaufort.org (calendar, news), beaufortsc.org/events/holidays (images only, no text) or downtownbeaufort.com (empty page). explorebeaufortsc.com is a private media site, not used. Beaufort left out of items.
Georgetown lighted boat parade on the Sampit River: not on discovergeorgetownsc.com or georgetownsc.gov; only in older Post and Courier unofficial summary. Georgetown is tagged 'small-town parade' because only the Front Street parade is confirmed.
Greenville Poinsettia Christmas Parade and Ice on Main: greenvillesc.gov pages load their content by script, so no date or price could be read; visitgreenvillesc.com event URL did not load for us. Greenville left out of items.
2026 dates (Nov. 27, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027) and prices appear only in a WMBF news report, so not used. Left out of items.
City of Charleston Holy City Holiday Parade and Holiday Parade of Boats: only 2025 city notices found (parade December 7, 2025; boats December 13, 2025); 2026 not published.
Historic Charleston Foundation 2026 candlelight event pages show 'This event has passed' next to the 2026 dates; likely a page template error, but dates should be rechecked.
Drayton Hall Candlelight Tours: page lists November 28, 2026 but no price or times in the page text.
Riverbanks Wild Lights 2026 ticket prices: not published (tickets on sale November 2). Riverbanks county left blank (zoo spans the Richland/Lexington area).
Rock Hill region left blank (York County does not fit the five-region list cleanly); ChristmasVille prices not shown on the home page.
Aiken: Christmas in Hopelands and Hoofbeats Christmas Parade 2026 dates not posted on visitaikensc.com (pages still show 2025). Downtown parade date comes from the organizer's (ADDA) entry form.
Summerville: parade date from Summerville DREAM's 2026 entry application (jotform); no start time, route or tree lighting date found on summervillesc.gov or visitsummerville.com.
Camden, Florence, Myrtle Beach, Conway: official pages show only 2025 dates; 2026 schedules not yet published.
Abbeville, Cheraw: no official holiday pages found (abbevillecitysc.com/christmas 404; cheraw.com has no holiday text). Left out.
Hilton Head Deck the Hulls: organizer page shows the 2024 date; hiltonheadisland.org listing for a later edition blocked (403).
lat/lon left null for all items: no coordinates given on the source pages.

Sources

Read on October 26, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Christmas Towns in South Carolina”, itssouthcarolina.com/destinations/christmas-towns-in-south-carolina/ (updated 2026-10-26). 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.