Greenville, South Carolina Makes for an Evergreen Christmas This Holiday Season
If you are looking to get away from it all this holiday season, Greenville, SC makes the perfect escape.
Greenville, SC has a terrific vibe that earned it a spot on the Best Places to Live as voted by Livability.com. The city offers many attractions including the Greenville Museum of Art and the Upcountry History Museum. You can also enjoy nature by visiting Falls Park and Paris Mountain State Park.
The city is great to visit any time of year, but it may be at its best during the holiday season. It offers so many fun things to see and do. Here are a few you won’t want to miss.
United Community Bank Ice on Main
This is Greenville’s only outdoor ice rink. It offers a variety of events over the course of the holiday season. Rent skates or bring your own to enjoy a spin around the ice.
If you prefer to skate indoors, Holiday Ice Skating at the Pavilion may be more your speed.
Poinsettia Christmas Parade
The Poinsettia Christmas Parade is an annual tradition that kicks off the Greenville holiday season. It takes place on the first Saturday in December in the downtown section of the city. People gather to check out the lovely floats and engage in seasonal activities. There are also awards given out for the best floats in several categories.
Poinsettia Postcards
Every year, schools and local organizations in Greenville get together to create unique postcards which are then hung in the Main St. plazas. You can walk around town to view them all. You can also vote for your favorite giving the artists a chance to win some terrific prizes.
TD Saturday Market- Holiday Edition
The TD Saturday Market happens every Saturday morning from May through October. But it briefly returns in December for a great holiday edition. People can come by to get terrific gifts, seasonal produce, and more.
Night of Lights
Night of Lights happens in early December. The mayor will be on hand to light up Main St. including the official tree of Greenville which stands 30 feet tall and is adorned by over 25,000 LED lights. The free event includes food trucks, vendors, live entertainment, and a visit from Santa Claus. Local news crews are typically on hand to broadcast the festivities.
Window Wonderland
Shop owners on Main St. get into the spirit by decorating their windows with all sorts of unique displays. Stroll through the area to check out what they are up to this year. You can also vote for your favorite. It’s also a great way to get your holiday shopping done.
Escape Artists Yuletide Magic
If you like escape rooms, you won’t want to miss out on an opportunity to visit Escape Artist’s Yuletide Magic Seasonal Adventure. The one-hour activity is a great way to get the most out of the holiday season. It accommodates groups of 4 – 8.
Norman Rockwell’s Home for the Holidays
The Upcountry Museum is a great place to learn about Greenville’s history. During the holiday season, they host Norman Rockwell’s Home for the Holidays event. Guests can come by to check out over 40 Rockwell paintings including 4 originals.
Santa’s Sleigh Rides
Santa’s Sleigh Rides takes groups of 15 on a 15-minute ride through downtown Greenville. Be sure to sign up in advance. They tend to sell out quickly.
The Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees is an annual event that happens in multiple locations including the Hyatt Regency Downtown, the Courtyard Greenville Downtown, and the Hampton Inn & Suites River Place. It kicks off in late November and ends just after Christmas. Guests can visit the hotels to see the spectacularly decorated trees that line the buildings’ entryways and lobbies.
Fountain Inn Carriage Rides
Fountain Inn is a charming town in Greenville. They do Christmas right with a holiday event that lasts just over a week starting in early December and ending in mid-December. It includes hot chocolate, carriage rides and lots of cheer.
Other events in the town include the Fountain Inn Rudolf Run, a 5K event that happens in early December. Participants run through a decorated route wearing a Rudolf nose (optional). It’s a great way to get in shape while helping a good cause.
The Fountain Inn Christmas Parade is an early December event which features lots of floats and fun activities.
The Christmas tree lighting kicks off Fountain Inn’s holiday season. It takes place at the Depot, and it’s followed by a fireworks display.
Animal lovers won’t want to miss out on an animal exhibit that happens in Commerce Park over the course of a weekend in mid-December. There is a feeding area and guests can pet the animals for free. Camels and goats have previously been included in the menagerie.
You can also travel through the town on the Polar Express trolley ride. Each child who rides will get a hot chocolate and a souvenir bell. The train takes off at City Hall. Travelers are entertained by a reading of the classic story while on their journey. Then they are dropped off at Santa’s workshop.
Rides are available on select dates in December.
You can also visit Santa’s workshop separately. It’s free to enter.
Don’t miss out on a visit to the Yuletide Unicorn Festival which takes place at the Yuletide Unicorn Farm. You will get to make a wish on a unicorn, visit with Santa, hear stories, listen to music, play with animals, roast marshmallows, and ride on the train. A magical time will be had by all.
If you are thinking of getting out of town for the holidays, Greenville is the place to be. The city offers a wide variety of seasonal fun. Which of these activities will you be checking out when you’re in town?
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