The winter season is the perfect time to warm up the heart with festive lights and comforting festivals. Whether people enjoy going to see brightly colored Christmas lights or walking around a holiday bash on the Square, there is something nearby for everyone to enjoy.
The Festival of Trees is a display of dozens of decorated Christmas trees in the Laurens County Museum at 116 S. Public Square, Laurens. The display is open now – Jan 10.
Laurens Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Market will be held on the Historic Public Square Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. It offers a tree-lighting ceremony, children’s activities, Santa’s Village and vendors.
Dec. 6 from 10 a.m – 2. p.m. the Laurens Christmas Market on the Courthouse Square will happen, offering vendors and food. The same day, the Laurens Christmas Parade will happen in Downtown Laurens at 4 p.m.
Clinton Christmas Tree Lighting and Carriage Rides are happening Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at 211 N. Broad St., Clinton. Dec. 6 the Clinton Christmas Parade will happen at 10 a.m. in Downtown Clinton and includes floats and music.
The Enoree Christmas Parade happens Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. It starts at the Enoree Post Office and ends at the old Enoree Fire Station.
Fountain Inn’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Main St. Fountain Inn, Dec. 2, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Shopping, Santa visits, local performances and children’s activities will all be offered. Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. the Fountain Inn Christmas Parade will happen on Main Street, Fountain Inn.
Joanna Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held in Blalock Memorial Veterans Park, Joanna, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. Joanna Christmas Parade will happen on N. Main Street, Joanna Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.
Poole’s Christmas Light Show is a free cozy music and light show set up at 6264 Highway 92 Enoree. Visitors tune into 97.7FM on the radio to listen to Christmas music that is synchronized to the light display. They are open Thanksgiving through Dec. 26, running from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday; on Fridays and Saturdays, the show runs from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. The light show typically lasts 25 to 30 minutes and repeats throughout the night. Visitors are welcome to stay in their cars to watch the display or to get out and walk around. Poole’s offers popcorn and cotton candy, with select nights having free popcorn.
Holiday Christmas Lights is a free light show put on at 2753 Trinity Church Rd., Laurens. Holiday Christmas Lights opens Thanksgiving night at 5:30 p.m. and should run every night from then throughout December unless there are high winds. The family who owns the property sets up Christmas lights for people to come see each year at its home. The owners spend weeks setting up these lights with love. They accept donations; a box is located in the light show. This could potentially be the last year they put on this display after 30 years of putting them on.
Christmas Inn Our Town is a month-long Christmas festival in Fountain Inn. The festival features a variety of events including carriage rides, photos with Santa and shopping. Fountain Inn is hosting other events such as Christmas Music Bingo Dec. 15 and People’s Choice Awards Dec. 19 – 31 on the decorated businesses downtown, voted on by visitors. Carriage rides are $15 a ticket, and they last 30 minutes; they are running the rides until Dec. 18. On Dec. 19, 20, 22 and 23, businesses in downtown Fountain Inn are staying open late until 9 p.m. On Dec. 19, they are having the Midnight Madness Sale from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., where products from participating stores around downtown will be on sale. Additional random festivities could happen throughout the festival as it goes on during the month.
Nights of Lights is a walk-through light show that offers a variety of attractions beyond the light show, such as a petting zoo, full carnival and warm holiday food. Its location in Heritage Park Simpsonville will be open Nov. 21 – Dec. 31, running from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., staying open during the holidays. Tickets can be purchased at the CCNB Amphitheatre in Heritage Park for $12 for ages 5-15 and for $15 for ages 16 and up; children 4 and under get free admission. Night of Lights offers admission specials like Senior Citizens Day on Sundays with free admission for senior citizens aged 65 or older. Canned Food Drive Mondays offer free admission for bringing five non-perishable items. Every five items equal one free admission ticket. Tail Waggin’ Tuesdays provide free admission for bringing one new item for the local animal shelter; one item gives visitors one free admission ticket. Military Appreciation Wednesdays allow for free admission for active military personnel or veterans. Hero Day Thursdays offer free admission for all first responders. TGIF! Teachers Day Friday offers free admission to teachers. On these special offer days, a valid ID will be required for the free admission.
Hollywild Animal Preserve is hosting its annual Music of Lights show Nov. 21 – Jan. 3. The park is open Sunday – Thursday from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Hollywild offers nearly two miles of Christmas decorations and lights for people to drive through, which costs $10 per person. They have an Enchanted Deer Forest that allows visitors to drive around and pet all sorts of animals ranging from deer to donkeys to emus. The Enchanted Deer Forest cost an additional $10 per car, animal feed is not included in the entrance fee. There is also a Santa Village where visitors can see more animals, get photos with Santa and visit the Grinch. Holiday foods and drinks will be available for purchase in the Village. Tickets to get into Santa Village are $5. All children 2 and under have free admission in all areas.
So whether festivity-goers enjoy taking in the lights, downing holiday foods or catching seasonal sales, there is something nearby to put them in the holiday spirit.
