Lights, cameras, hot chocolate – there’s plenty of Christmas cheer to be had this year with the Upstate’s many holiday light displays.
From Greenville and Anderson to Spartanburg, any of these events are sure to put a smile on a family member’s face. There are even opportunities for animal lovers to enjoy Christmas fun through animal interaction, like pony riding at Hollywild Animal Preserve during their “Magic of Lights” celebration, or taking an adorable Highlands Scottish baby cow to the Eudora Farms petting zoo during Heritage Park’s “Night of Light.”
Here are our top picks this holiday season to see some of the best Christmas lights in the Upstate:
∎ Anthony’s Family Lights: “I’m Dreaming of a Whitemarsh Christmas,” 902 Whitemarsh Ave., Simpsonville, Until December 25, 6-9 pm
However, check their Facebook page for weather-related adjustments. Take a candy cane from Santa’s boot and walk through the display case. Send a letter to Santa and take a selfie as an elf. This year there are lots of new props and lights for everyone to enjoy, including the all-new Grinch area.
Their 4th annual #FillTheSleigh Toys for Tots toy drive is December 6-8. Come by for free hot chocolate, popcorn and candy canes. Santa Claus will be here Saturday from 6pm to 8pm, and The Grinch, Buddy the Elf and Santa’s elves will make guest appearances throughout the weekend. Marines will be present each evening to help collect gifts.
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∎ Night of Lights at CCNB Amphitheater at Heritage Park, 861 Main Street, Simpsonville, through December. 31. Sun.-Thurs. 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat. 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Attractions in the Night of Lights include:
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Cider, cocoa and s’mores
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Immersive igloo experience
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25 meter high Christmas tree
Hollywild Animal Preserve’s Magic of Lights drive-through holiday light show on Wednesday, December 7, 2023 in Wellford, SC. Hollywild’s event is open to the public through December 31.
∎ Holiday Putt Through Lights at Takeoff Minigolf, 28 Airport Road Extension, Greenville, Through-Dec. 30, except December 24-25.
Holiday Putt Through Lights at Takeoff Mini Golf. Each mini golf hole is beautifully lit and decorated with a holiday theme – look for the candy cane hole. Each ticket includes a round of mini golf with a glowing golf ball, plus a GLOW bracelet or stick of your choice to light up your game. Santa Claus visits on special evenings on December 6, December 13, December 15 and December 22 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Tickets are for adults, $15; children (4-12), $13; children up to 3 years old play for free.
∎ Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park, 148 Crumpton Lane, Easley, through December. 31. Sun.-Thurs. 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Fri-Sat. 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Explore an illuminated winter village with 32 million dancing Christmas lights while enjoying hot chocolate and Christmas treats. As you drive through the track, you can tune your radio to 106.5 FM to hear classic Christmas songs. A pony corral and petting zoo offer exotic kangaroos, goats and donkeys. Cars, minivans, trucks and SUVs cost $35. Vans cost $75 and buses cost $100.
∎ Small Town, Easley, open daily from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
This Easley holiday product started in 1974 by Perry and Ollie Jennings. Perry built a replica of Ollie’s dream house that she had always wanted to live in, and as the house building progressed, both Jennings worked together to build a miniature version of their town. In 1977, Christmas lights became a tradition, spanning 80 buildings by 2009, after both Jennings passed away. Only 25 of those buildings survived, but Jennings’ children Pat Kelly, Bill Jennings and family member Debbie Kelly continue to expand the city with displays at 555 Latham Road.
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∎ Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, open select evenings through January 12, 5-9 p.m.
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Stroll through the zoo and discover more than 60 life-size handmade lantern displays featuring wildlife, inspired by nature. This interactive event showcases stunning lighting. Enjoy nightly snowfall, fun activities, photo opportunities and visits with Santa (through December 23). New this year: step into your winter wonderland by reserving a cozy, heated igloo for a party of six. This experience includes six Wild Lights tickets, complete with six special wristbands for easy entry. Enjoy hot chocolate, a s’mores kit, a private fire pit, bottled water and more.
∎ The Christmas House, 360 Foster Road, Inman, through New Year’s Eve, 5:30-10 p.m.
Located at 300 Foster Road, this family tradition is celebrating its 51st anniversary this year. The Christms House is a drive-thru event with approximately 130,000 lights. This year there is an all new “Grinch” display along with favorites. Although there is no charge, visitors who would like to help the owners keep up with the display’s utility bill can place a donation in the box for the manger.
∎ Anderson Lights of Hope, 150 Rose Valley Blvd., Anderson, is open daily through Christmas Day from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 864-314-8600.
At 150 Rose Valley Boulevard you can expect 400 displays with 3.5 million lights, spread over 45 hectares. Tickets for this drive-thru event are $15 per car or $30 per bus. Lights of Hopes aims to benefit charities serving disabled and disadvantaged people.
Cars drive through during the annual Anderson Lights of Hope shows on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd across from the Civic Center of Anderson, in Anderson, SC. The annual month-long drive-through show in aid of local charities, from 5:30 pm to 10 pm through Christmas.
∎ Hollywild Animal Preserve “Magic of Lights,” 2325 Hampton Road, Wellford, through December. 31, 5:30-9 p.m Some evenings close at 10pm
Magic of Lights is a drive-through holiday experience featuring holiday scenes and characters of the season. At Santa’s Village you can interact with animals with activities such as pony riding or cow feeding. Professional photo ops are available with Santa, and you can also meet the Grinch himself. Tickets are $10 per person and children under 2 are admitted to the drive-through for free; $10 per vehicle in the Deer Forest and $5 per person for Santa’s Village.
∎ North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, NC, held every evening from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM through December 31
The Arboretum’s Winter Lights is an outdoor light show made of more than a million lights. This year’s event features favorites such as the famous tall, 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden. Winter Lights is a walk-through experience in and around the gardens. Tickets cost $40-$70.
Scenes from the annual Winter Light Show at the North Carolina Arboretum.
∎ Christmas Town USA, McAdenville, NC
Here’s a timeline of the events you can expect this year when you visit Christmas Town USA.
Walk or drive through our city center from December 2 to 26 to view the mill village. There are green, red and white lights on every evening from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on December 2 at 102 Main St. at 5:30 p.m The Yule Log Paradewhich began in 1949, will take place on December 12 at 100 Main St. The singing will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
Hollywild Animal Preserve’s Magic of Lights drive-through holiday light show on Wednesday, December 7, 2023 in Wellford, SC. Hollywild’s event is open to the public through December 31.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Looking for the best Christmas lights in the Upstate? Our top picks.
