For a unique and completely charming holiday experience, Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries in Western NC is a place the whole family will love.
It’s just two hours from Upstate, SC and three hours from Charlotte, NC. Go make some magical Christmas memories in Dillsboro, NC.
Thank you to Discover Jackson NC, Jackson County for inviting us to experience Lights & Luminaries.
Watch! Take a peek at Lights & Luminaries in Dillsboro
Taking time to slow down during the weeks leading up to Christmas can seem like an impossible task. When you make the decision to do so and really experience the joy of the magical season, that’s when special memories happen. And those moments await you and your family in the small, mountain town of Dillsboro, North Carolina, just a beautiful two-hour drive from the Upstate in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Dates for the 2025 Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries are December 5-6 and December 12-13.
Lights & Luminaries in Dillsboro
Dillsboro’s Lights & Luminaries is the Hallmark experience you’ve been searching for. The quaint town twinkling by the light of sparkling radiance. The candles along the streets. The shops that carry all kinds of unique, locally made goods only available in Dillsboro. The kindest people you’ll ever meet who are happy to see you.
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries encompasses all of that and more. The festival started in 1983 as a way to celebrate the holidays and has been going strong for 40 years.
There is a calming, magical ambiance at this festival. There are white lights Christmas lights everywhere, plus 2,500 candles in white paper bags along every street. It’s like you stepped out of your life and into a time from many years ago. The bagged lights are taken from a Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ Child.
There are carolers and horse and buggy rides. Santa & Mrs. Claus are available for timeless Dillsboro, NC Christmas photos. Nearly every shop sells handmade goods from local artists or vintage items like cast iron cooking pans, antique furniture, and iron-wrought bed frames.
There are shops that look like the North Pole exploded inside. Think cookies, hot apple cider, and candy. I finally had to put a stop to my kids eating their monthly allotment of cookies all in one night.
And for myself, I was elated to find a grown-up nativity set while browsing at one of the Christmas-themed shops. Everyone was so kind and helpful and wishing us “Merry Christmas”.
It all felt authentic and genuine and just lovely.
Where to Eat During Lights & Luminaries
There are a handful of restaurants in the small town that have everything from BBQ to pub grub to Greek and Italian cuisine. We chose the Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro because it looked really cute. We walked into a very cozy dining room with friendly employees. We had nachos, vegetarian chili, pizza, and grilled cheese. It was great! The nachos were my favorite as they had guacamole, cheese, chili, and sour cream. I thought the prices were reasonable, around $7-$12/person.
Dillsboro is small but mighty when it comes to food. Haywood Smokehouse is one of the Top 25 BBQ Restaurants in the country. We weren’t able to try it, but it looks amazing. Next time!
Be sure to stop by the Dillsboro Chocolate Factory where you’ll be greeted by an array of handmade chocolates, fudge, and coffee.
Where to Enjoy the Outdoors in Dillsboro
Dillsboro is close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, home to nearly 900 miles of hiking trails. It’s also only a 20-minute drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you get to places like Waterrock Knob, the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States.
Cashiers, the Land of the Waterfalls, and a big favorite of us at Kidding Around, is about 40 minutes from Dillsboro. There are no shortage of gorgeous hikes and waterfalls to explore there.
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
As we pulled into our hotel, the Best Western Plus River, we saw the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad train, and it was so cool! It was chugging along right in front of us, smoke billowing out from the top. It turns out the railroad is only 20 minutes away in Bryson City.
If your family goes on the Polar Express ride during November and December, Dillsboro is the perfect spot to enjoy time together, especially if you make the trip during the Lights & Luminaries festival.
Where to Stay in Dillsboro
Make it a weekend getaway! Use the map from Stay22 below to find great lodging options for your family. Through an affiliate relationship, Kidding Around earns when you book through this map.
Discover Jackson NC put us up in the Best Western Plus River Escape right on Tuckasegee River. Our room overlooked the river, and it was so calming and peaceful.
The hotel is beautiful, and you could walk to the town of Dillsboro if you wanted to. They have a heated indoor pool and hot tub, which we made good use of after eating all those cookies at the festival.
They also have a free, hot breakfast in the morning, which is pretty much equal to Christmas for my kids. They have eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, yogurt, and oatmeal. They also have a coffee maker that will make pretty much anything you want, juices, pastries, and our favorite: a pancake maker that looks like it came from The Jetsons. The rooms are spacious and clean, and the lobby has a beautiful fireplace and cozy chairs.
Planning Your Own Trip to Dillsboro
Lights & Luminaries takes place the first two weekends of December every year, each Friday and Saturday from 5-8 pm. The dates for 2025 are December 5-6 and December 12-13.
There is no cost to attend Lights & Luminaries, which makes it a wonderful Christmastime adventure with your family.
I think the thing I loved most about Lights & Luminaries was that it was the perfect opportunity to slow down, enjoy the magical season, and spend that quality time with my kids that I strive and long for. As I’m sure many parents can relate, the time we have with them goes so quickly. I want to make the most of that time, and this was a weekend well-spent.
Thinking about planning a getaway this winter? Winterfest in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee offers celebrates the Christmas season and wintertime. You’ll find winter-themed shows, holiday lights, amusement rides and so much more!
KAG Contributor Kristina traveled to Pigeon Forge with her daughters during Winterfest. In this review, she’s sharing the many activities they enjoyed and many more that are available for Pigeon Forge visitors during Winterfest.
❤️Quick Look: Meaningful ways for your family to volunteer in Greenville, SC, including soup kitchens, food rescue, donation sorting, holiday volunteering with your family, and more.
Looking for meaningful ways to get involved with volunteering in Greenville, SC? Giving back is a powerful way to teach kids kindness, compassion, and generosity, while making real impact in our community. To make it easier, KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez rounded up family-friendly volunteer opportunities, from preparing meals to donating toys and delivering essentials. Dive in, get inspired, and thank you for choosing to serve your community!
If you are dreaming about a carriage ride, Greenville, SC has a couple of magical events to check out this holiday season! There are few things as exciting for little kids or as romantic for grown-ups as cozying up in a horse-drawn carriage during Christmastime.
We wanted to make sure our readers have every opportunity to hear that clickety-clock of hooves on pavement and feel the magic of this experience during the holiday season so here are all the places around Greenville to ride in a horse & carriage.
These South Carolina towns are hosting some of the most magical holiday events during the month of December, including carriage rides through the holiday lights of the downtown areas of their cities. We also included one North Carolina destination that will take the horse-drawn carriage ride to another level of magic!
Depot Street in Fountain Inn December 4th-18th, 2025 6:30-9:30 pm
Tickets for Holiday Carriage Rides are $15/person and free for kids three and under if they ride on your lap. Rides are about 40 minutes long and start at Commerce Park on Depot Street.
One of the many holiday activities to enjoy at Spartanburg’s Victorian Christmas Celebration is Dickens of a Christmas is a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.
The event is on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 from 6-9 pm in Downtown Spartanburg.
Tryon Equestrian Center Shadrack’s Christmas Lightshow
You can take a carriage ride through the holiday lights at Shadrack’s Christmas Lightshow at the Tryon Equestrian Center on Fridays through Sundays from December 5th – January 4th, 2025. Tickets are $35 – $45 per person. Children 2 and under are free. The carriage rides depart from the General Store which is located beside the petting zoo.
Yes, we know this isn’t Greenville but it’s so awesome we had to include it. You can ride in a carriage drawn by Belgian draft horses around the Biltmore for about 30 minutes and it’s so beautiful and romantic and memorable. The cost is $40/person and one child five years old or younger is free if they sit on an adult’s lap for the duration of the ride. They have an hour-long carriage ride for $95/guest as well. The carriage rides are on the estate so you need to purchase an admission ticket.
Again, yes, we know this isn’t in Greenville but is so worth the drive AND it’s FREE. Get into the holiday spirit with carriage rides on Hendersonville’s beautiful Main Street. Experience the twinkling Christmas lights and decorations of downtown Hendersonville at the leisurely pace of a horse-drawn carriage. The schedule can be found on the Carolina Horse & Carriages social media page. They will be in Downtown Hendersonville on Dec 5th 5 pm – 7 pm, Dec 12th 4 pm – 6 pm, Dec 14th 5 pm- 8 pm, and December 20-21st, 2025, 5 pm -8 pm.
Carriage rides begin in front of the Historic Courthouse. They are free on a first-come, first-serve basis. The rides are part of the Olde Fashioned Christmas celebration by downtown merchants. Stores, shops and boutiques stay open late and Ol’ St. Nick makes an appearance.
Looking to hit the slopes this winter? Head north for skiing and snow tubing in North Carolina. You’ll find many great ski and snow tube options including huge North Carolina ski resorts and super family-friendly North Carolina snow tubing parks. Of course, there are some great spots throughout the mountains for skiing and snow tubing in Tennessee and Georgia, too. Use our guide to find the best snow tubing near you, or a great ski slope closest to you. We’ve visited lots of these ski and snow tube places and you’ll find our reviews linked in each listing.
Are there places to go snow tubing in South Carolina? Are there any South Carolina ski resorts? Where are the ski slopes near me?
The short answer is “No.” If you want to ski, snow tube, or snowboard you’ll need to head out of South Carolina. But, the good news is that there is most definitely skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing very near South Carolina. You’ll just need to head up to North Carolina for most of it.
There are some great spots just an hour or two from Upstate, SC, and two to three hours from the Midlands, SC.
Blackbear Snow Tubing
Snow Tubing North Carolina
Check out this video of our trip to Blackbear Snow Tubing.
Quick Guide: Ski and Snow Tube Near You!
Here’s a quick list of locations by activity. Scroll down for a description of each park and resort! *Tubing Only Parks
Some resorts have closings when the weather gets too warm. Be sure you check the resort website before planning your trip.
Our visit to Moonshine Mountain
Ski, Snowboard, and Snow Tube: North Carolina
Western North Carolina Ski Slopes and Best Snow Tubing in NC
Looking for the closest ski slopes to Greenville, SC? The ski resorts and slopes in Western North Carolina are nearest to Greenville, SC. You’ll find several options in the Asheville, Hendersonville, and Sapphire Valley areas. Here are the nearest ski slopes to Upstate, SC.
Hatley Pointe Resort
Hatley Pointe, formerly Wolf Ridge Snow Tubing Park and Ski Resort, in Mars Hill, NC brands itself as a boutique mountain resort with slopes, restaurants, and bars. 2025/2026 season opens in December.
Hatley Pointe 578 Valley View Circle, Mars Hill, NC 828.689.4111
Moonshine Mountain
Moonshine Mountain in Hendersonville, NC was mentioned by several Kidding Around Greenville readers when we asked you where to go tubing. Located just over an hour from Greenville, this snow tubing-only park offers 1 hour and 45 minutes of tubing for $40 per person. Be sure to check their current hours before making the trip. Minimum height is 36″. Note: This is a cash-only business, with an ATM on site. Reservations are required. Read our Moonshine Mountain review for special tips on making the most of your time there. Opening date is December 19th, 2025.
Sapphire Valley, North Carolina was also mentioned as one reader’s go-to for fun in the snow. Sapphire Valley offers ski school, Frozen Falls Tube Park, The Vordach Zipline Experience, and, of course, snow skiing. Plus Sapphire Valley is under two hours from Greenville so it makes for an easy day trip. There are no height or weight restrictions. There target open day is December 13th, 2025. Read our Sapphire Valley review here.
Sapphire Valley 127 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire Valley, NC 828.743.7663
Our snow tubing trip to Sapphire Valley
Zip n Slip
Located just outside Asheville in Mars Hill, NC, Zip-n-Slip is open daily starting on December 18th, 2025, and running until January 6th, 2025. They will be closed on Christmas Day. They are open weekends through Presidents’ Day. They’ve got a fire pit, hot chocolate, nachos, and hot dogs on-site.
Prices start at $35/pp for an hour (it’s $27.50 for military, police, fire, and EMS persons), go up to $50/pp for two hours, and $65 for 3 hours. . Unlike other snow tubing places, Zip-n-Slip allows kids ages 3-5 to ride in the same tube as an adult. Kids must be at least 3 years old for tubing. Kids 5 and under are free. You can easily book your ticket online.
Check their website or Facebook page for the latest info on weather and hours.
Zip n Slip 10725 US Highway 23 North, Mars Hill, NC 828.689.8444
Tubing at Zip ‘N Slip
Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center
About two hours from the Upstate, the Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center has snow tubing all winter long for $35-40 per person for two hours for adults and kids. Snow tubing is open now as of November 28th, 2025.
Kids must be at least 5 years old and 42 inches tall to ride. Scaly Mountain has a kiddie snow tube area for two hours for $20. Scaly Mountain is near Highlands, NC and they also have ice skating available. A combo two-hour tubing ticket plus one hour of ice skating is $50/person. Snow tubing is open now.
Cataloochee Ski Area and Tube World in Maggie Valley, NC is another reader favorite. Also offering tubing, ski school, and skiing, this is a great option for families who don’t want to drive that far. Kids must be 42″ tall to snow tube. They do offer an area where kids under that height can pay to play with tubes but not go down the slopes. They are open as of November 30th, 2025.
Tubing costs around $40 per person.
Cataloochee 1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley, NC 828.926.0285
Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing
Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing is also a two-hour drive from Greenville and offers snow tubing that even the little ones will love. This snow tubing destination has staff photographers to capture action shots of your family so you can remember your fun day long after it’s over. They open on December 19th, 2025, and require reservations.
Rates are $30/ages 7+ and $25/age 6 and under for an hour of tubing or $45/person and $40/age 6 and under for two hours of tubing. Kids must be able to sit up on their own to go down in a tube. No lap riding.
Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing 9472 Highway 181, Jonas Ridge, NC 828.733.4155
Black Bear Snow Tubing
Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville is pretty close to home and a lot of fun. Check out our Black Bear Tubing review for all the details. Tickets are $40 per 2 hours of tubing or $30 for one hour. Children under 4 or under 40 lbs are not permitted to tube and kids ages 4-6 must be accompanied by an adult but every tuber gets their own tubes, even kids. They accept cash and credit cards and, to save time, sign your waiver online. Opening day is December 20th, 2025.
Check out our Kidding Around review of Black Bear Tubing for all the information.
Hours vary so check their Facebook page or website before you go. You can reserve tickets online (which we recommend).
Hear us out: this place has snowless snow tubing at their camp, which they call Chutes. It looks really fun and is only an hour and 20 minutes from Greenville. They have four lanes, which are 225 feet long and you can go pretty fast, up to 15 mph. You need to make reservations in advance, which you can do through their website. The tubing is all outdoors so dress accordingly.
Each ticket includes 3 hours of tubing time and proceeds support the camp. There is no official age limit but they suggest kids need to be at least five years old (younger kids can tube at the discretion of their parents). Tickets are $25/person. Hours are Friday & Saturday nights with slots at 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 pm.
Skiing and Snow Tubing in North Carolina High Country
Looking for a great ski resort in North Carolina? Head to the North Carolina High Country where you’ll find a variety of resorts offering all kinds of winter fun. You will have no trouble finding someplace great to ski, tube or even ice skate. If you’re ambitious, you could even hit more than one ski resort in a single weekend.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Appalachian Ski Mountain is located just outside downtown Blowing Rock and offers a little bit of everything. Not only can you ski or snowboard, but you can also ice skate too! Appalachian Ski Mountain is open for the 2025 season as of November 29th, 2025.
Appalachian Ski offers three different ski school options for kids. Choose either Ski Wee for kids as young as 4 or Cruiser Camp for kids 7 – 12 who want to give snowboarding a try. Both of these camps offer 2 and 4-hour sessions. The newest program, Mountain Challengers, is for kids who are a bit more experienced and want to try intermediate terrain.
While App Ski Mountain has a rustic lodge with dining and shopping inside, there is no inn so you’ll have to head down the mountain after your day on the slopes is over. The slopes end very close to the ski school area so parents can check in on kids at ski school every so often.
Hawksnest Snow Tubing is 2.5 hours from Greenville and worth the drive. There is no hiking up the slopes here as they have magic carpets that allow you to save your energy for the tubing. Hawksnest Snow Tubing is planning to open December 5th, 2025.
Hawksnest is the largest snow tubing park in the east with 30 lanes of fun. You can make online reservations here and they are open now. Tubers must be at least three years old and tickets are $42/person for an hour and 45 minutes of tubing on Mon-Thurs, Friday is $50, Saturday and Sunday is $56.
Hawksnest Tubing Park 2058 Skyland Drive, Seven Devils, NC 828.963.6561
Sugar Mountain
With 20 slopes and trails, plus four tubing runs many think of Sugar Mountainfirst when planning a ski trip close to home. Sugar Mountain also offers multiple lodging options, some slope side, so you don’t have to pack up the car when you’re done skiing for the day.
Tickets are $37-51 per person during weekdays and weekends are $44-99 per person. Ages three and four are free with a ticketed adult. Sessions are an hour and 45 minutes long. Kids must be ages 3 and up to tube. Tickets are sold first come first serve and will likely sell out.
They also offer half or full-day ski or snowboard school for kids as young as five years old. Kidding Around Greenville reader Kim warned that holiday weekends can get pretty crowded so be prepared if you’re planning a trip to Sugar over Presidents’ Day Weekend this year. They are open but snow tubing will be opening early December 2025.
Sugar Mountain Resort is just 10 minutes from Banner Elk, NC.
Just up the road from Sugar Mountain is Beech Mountain Resort, the highest ski resort in the Eastern United States. Beech Mountain Resort offers skiing, snowboarding, a terrain park, tubing, and ice skating. Their opening day is early December 2025 due to warmer weather than usual in November.
Little ones as young as 3 can get in on ski school at Beech so the whole family can ski! Ski school students are placed into groups based on age and skill levels. Like Sugar, Beech Mountain offers multiple lodging options if you prefer to ski right out the door and onto the slopes.
Tubing guests must be at least 42″ tall and tickets are $40/weekdays and $48/weekends and holidays. Tickets are sold the day of starting at 9 am on a first come first serve basis.
There is also a free sledding hill right in the center of town. You can’t miss it as it’s on the main road that goes through the small town.
Margaritaville at Lanier Islandsin Georgia has fast and high runs on Parrot Mountain for snow tubing. They are tentatively open for the 2025 season, but check their website because they regularly close due to weather.. The slide is eight stories high and 575 feet long. The minimum height for snow tubing is 42″ inches tall and one person per tube is allowed.
Tickets are sold to the entire “License to Chill” area which includes snow tubing, ice skating, the snow play area, and amusement rides. They offer day and winter passes. There are also discounts when purchasing online.
This snow tubing place is open all year round because it’s indoors! This place has real snow for the tubing lanes plus a snow area where kids can build forts and snowmen. Plus, it’s always around 60-70 degrees inside so you aren’t freezing. Kids must be 38″ tall to tube. If not, you can buy them a ticket just to play in the snow.
Tickets start at $29.99 for an hour of snow tubing and at $36.99 for tubing plus 30 minutes of snow play. No reservations are needed.
Ober is one of the oldest entertainment areas in Gatlinburg that gets mixed reviews. They have snow tubing, skiing, and snowboarding over the winter. Book online because they do sell out. Also note that parking is an extra fee. Kids need to be at least 3 years old to tube.
Tubing sessions are 90 minutes long and start at $35/person. Prices are higher on weekends.
Ober Gatlinburg 1001 Parkway Suite 2, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 865.436.5423
Ski Vacations on the East Coast
So, you’re looking for a serious ski vacation without having to book a flight?Snowshoe Mountainin West Virginia offers 251 acres of fun and a total of 57 trails! Snowshoe offers everything you’ll need for a fantastic ski vacation, all at the top of the mountain!
This West Virginia hot spot offers a lot; everything from ski school to a tube park, snowmobiling, shopping, dining, entertainment, lots of lodging options, and even an inn and spa. Snowshoe offers some pretty great package deals on skiing.
Looking for ice skating in Greenville, SC? Don’t miss Skating on the Big Ice at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
I love ice skating , and I stay on my feet most of the time. I just can’t stop. That’s why I’m eternally grateful for the wide open space (and the sideboards) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. My kids and I have had plenty of chances to practice at Skating on the Big Ice in December. We loved it, and so will you. This year’s dates are December 22 and 23 and December 29 and 30, 2025.
What will you see when you head to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for ice skating this December? Take a look at this video for a sneak peek.
Skating on the Big Ice
The Bon Secours Wellness Arena has offered Skating on the Big Ice for several years, and I’ve always had such a great time with my family. The ice rink is enormous. It’s the same rink the Swamp Rabbits use for hockey games. And there is plenty of space no matter how many people are skating.
The atmosphere is quite festive with Christmas music pumped into the arena. Feel free to sing along to the tunes. It’s fun! Even if you are awful at ice skating, you can use a complimentary ice walker to push along in front of you as you skate. Or you know, cling to the sides as you test your skating skills.
There are also fun sleds you can use to pull younger kids along the ice. I tried this solely for the reason of writing about it. It looked hard because you can’t fall while dragging a kid along. It wasn’t exactly easy, but it wasn’t hard either. The sled slid easily along the ice, and the hardest thing was trying to make sure I didn’t hit anyone else while dragging the sled along (mission accomplished).
Two Hours of Skating + Skate Rentals
Admission to Skating on the Big Ice is $16.88 and includes two hours of skating time and skate rentals. The employees at the arena are incredibly kind and helpful. We had to switch out our skates a few times to find the right size, and they were accommodating and patient.
The woman at the rink helping people with the ice walkers was totally on top of her game, switching them out quickly and helping people on and off the ice. I cut my finger while tying the skates onto one of my kids, and an employee quickly got me a Band-Aid. Everyone was wonderful and I want to give a shout-out to all the employees helping to make thae experience a good one for all the people participating.
Parking at the Arena for Bon Secours Ice Skating
You get to be a VIP when you go skating at the arena because you can park in the VIP lot right off Church Street. It’s exciting, I promise. And parking is free, so even better.
Entry to public skating is located in the loading dock below the VIP lot. When you pull into the lot, park all the way to the left near the fence and look for signs pointing to the back entrance of the arena. Don’t go up the stairs like you would for an event. You’ll walk down a ramp on the left into the back entrance and begin your adventure.
Skate, Roll & Stroll Sessions
The arena also offers Skate, Roll & Stroll sessions with accommodations for people of all ages with disabilities. These sessions are totally free, and equipment is provided. The 2025 dates are December 22 and 29 from noon-2 PM both days.
Santa at Skating on the Big Ice
Not only can you go ice skating, you can also get photos with Santa. He’ll be ready to pose for free photos (bring your own camera) next to a pretty Christmas tree. Santa will be onsite for the December 22 and December 23 sessions.
There are also concessions available for purchase like hot chocolate and soft pretzels. Yum.
Tickets and Skates
Tickets are $15 per person ($16.88 with fees) and include skate rentals. You can also bring your own skates. We saw plenty of expert skaters whizzing past us on their own skates.
You can purchase Skating on the Big Ice Tickets online, or just buy them when you arrive. Spectators do not need tickets. You’ve got two full hours of skating per session, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the ice. Ice walkers and sleds are first come, first serve. Tickets are card only. Cash is not accepted.
Tips to Enjoy Skating on the Big Ice
Here are a few ways to get the most out of your time at Skating on the Big Ice:
Wear socks that go way above your ankle. Skates go up high and need to be tied tight. To keep the skates from rubbing against skin, be sure to wear crew socks or the like.
Go to the bathroom before you start skating. They have restrooms onsite.
It’s chilly at the rink. Wear layers. Bring a hat and gloves, and maybe a scarf. I hate being cold, so I brought all the things just in case I needed them!
Parents/non-skaters can sit and watch in the stands if they don’t want to skate. This is great if you’ve got grandparents in town that aren’t that active. It’s still fun since they can hang out and watch their grandkids attempt to skate.
Get there around 10 minutes early before your session so you can pay and get your skates on. That way, you’ll get the most out of your two hours skate time.
2025 Skating on the Big Ice Dates
Monday, December 22: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday, December 23: 12:00 – 2:00 PM and 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Monday, December 29: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday, December 30: 12:00 – 2:00 PM and 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Are you searching for “Santa mailboxes near me”? Or a place where you can drop off your letter to Santa in Greenville, SC? We’ve gathered up the information for all of Santa’s mailbox locations near Greenville.
For places to see Santa, don’t miss our Santa Sightings List full of places to see Santa this year.
Where to Find a Santa Mailbox Near Greenville, SC
Writing letters to Santa is such a joy for kids and their parents. The innocence they have at those ages is precious, isn’t it? After they are done writing, there are places here in the Greenville, SC area where kids can drop their finished masterpiece and send it on to the North Pole.
If he’s able, Santa will respond to these letters as long as they have a legible return address on them. So, don’t forget that important part!
Bass Pro Shops (Formerly Cabela’s) in Greenville Head to Cabela’s where you can visit with Santa and get a free photo (reservation required). You will also find a letterbox at Santa’s Wonderland to send your list. You can pop in any time the store is open to mail your letter.
Easley Fire Department Station One – 1089 South Pendleton St.
Lilies on Main 100 N Main Street, Fountain Inn This mailbox is in front of Lilies on Main in Fountain Inn. The mailbox is up from November 30th – December 19th, and all letters will receive a reply within three business days (this is a pretty efficient Santa we must say). Be sure to put your child’s name on the letter and you can pick up a response at the flower shop through December 22nd, 2025.
Residence Inn/SpringHill Suites, Downtown Greenville Greenville’s holiday gingerbread exhibit at the Residence Inn actually has an entry this year imitating a Santa mailbox – all made of gingerbread! While you won’t be able to put your letters in the gingerbread house, head to the lobby to find a real mailbox for your children to drop off their requests.
Residence Inn Gingerbread House and Santa Mail Drop Off
Anthony’s Family Lights 902 Whitemarsh Ave, Simpsonville (34.6944731, -82.2951430) This is the big Anthony’s Family Lights annual home display. They have a Santa mailbox and a big holiday light display.
Legacy Square Legacy Square at Hollingsworth Park (Across from Legacy Park and in front of the UPS Store) Hand painted by a local artist, the custom design on this mailbox was inspired by the neighborhood and bit of Christmas nostalgia.
PKL Park The beloved outdoor gathering place to play pickleball, watch football games, drink, and be merry has a mailbox for letters to Santa this year by the courts!
Prisma Pediatrics on Mills Ave. While we haven’t been able to confirm if all pediatric locations have a Santa mailbox, the offices at Mills Avenue do have one this year. Call your doctors office to see if you’ll be able to drop off a letter at your children’s next well check!
Local Greenville, SC Airbnb will blow you away with its comfort, beauty, and net loft. Plus, a cabin on the same property is perfect for family that comes to visit. We have all the details!
Thanks to Kaye and her family for inviting us to try their beautiful Airbnb!
As someone who adores adding cool Airbnbs to my wishlists when I can’t sleep at 3 am, my goals are simple: stay at amazing and unique spots because you only live once. I got to realize one of those dream goals at the Treehouse A-Frame in Greenville, literally 20 minutes from my house.
It was honestly the perfect getaway because it took me a half hour to pack and get there. Yet, it felt a world away. If you’re looking for a relaxing, private retreat in the woods but don’t want to travel, this is where you need to go.
Comfy rope net loft
About the Treehouse
You know when you pull up to a place and take that deep breath because you cannot believe what you’re looking at? That’s this place.
The treehouse was constructed by the owner himself, Ben Creasman, and his construction company, Owners Choice. Ben works with several realtors to get homes ready to sell and he came across the property a few years ago when he was asked to do repairs on one of the homes on the land, which Ben and his wife, Kaye, currently rent out as their second AirBnB. He fell in love with that cabin and envisioned a treehouse in the back of the lot. They bought it and he was able to design and build the A-frame.
Outside view
Everything you experience in the treehouse came about because of Ben’s own ingenuity and thoughtfulness. I absolutely loved this place and wanted to move there!
Inside of the Treehouse
The A-frame is massive and sits atop a two-story deck. Another deck was constructed on top of the A-frame for even more cool spots to sit and enjoy the view but I’ll get to that later. The treehouse is nestled in the back of a two-acre wooded lot. It’s very private, sitting next to a little creek and surrounded by trees. Even in the winter when all the leaves have dropped, there is still privacy and serenity – all within a ten-minute drive of downtown Greenville.
Living space
The treehouse has a small kitchenette with hot plate, Keurig, sink, full-size refrigerator, toaster oven, and dishwasher. There’s a big enclosed deck with a heater and massive television to one side and another, open-air deck on the other side. The living space is very comfortable with a couch and huge television. The downstairs also has a half bath.
A Suspended Rope Net, Rooftop Deck, and Outdoor Shower
But then there’s the upstairs and here’s where the fun begins. There is a set of built-in bunk beds at the top of the stairs and a rope net that you can hang out in. The net is suspended over part of the living area downstairs and it is just the coolest. I considered sleeping in it instead of the bed. And the net is framed by massive windows that overlook the back of the treehouse into the woods. It’s truly stunning.
Next to the rope net is a ladder leading up to a trap door that goes out to the rooftop deck. It’s strung with lights and gives a beautiful view of the property. You will need to go slow up and down those stairs since they are steep.
Loft
But wait, there’s more! In the primary bedroom, which is gorgeous and has huge windows (with blackout blinds), there are two showers in the bathroom: an indoor one and an outdoor one. You have to walk through the indoor one to get to the outdoor one. It’s mostly enclosed but you’ll get the full feel of the weather. I had to test this out because when will I get to do this again? It was quite chilly the night we stayed here but the hot water felt amazing. For sure an experience you won’t want to miss.
Children ages 12 and under are (mostly) restricted at the A-frame for reasons like the rooftop deck but if you really want to stay and have a younger child, you can message Kaye from the AirBnB app and see what she says.
The Family/Girls Night/Guys Trip Cabin
Kaye and Ben also own an adorable cabin that sits on the property as well that can easily hold visiting family members or be home base for a fun girls weekend or guys trip.
The cabin has a fully stocked kitchen, living area, beautiful outdoor space with seating, a firepit, an enclosed bedroom, a wood-burning stove, and an upstairs loft that can fit four people in a combination of standalone beds and bunk beds. It also has laundry facilities.
Living space inside of the cabin
It’s on the same property as the A-frame so it’s also only 10 minutes from downtown Greenville. The cabin could even serve as a great staycation spot for a few days playing tourist where you live.
Honest Mom Review
I’ve stayed in some pretty incredible places due to my job here at Kidding Around but can honestly say this treehouse is at or near the top of all those places. It was so relaxing to enjoy time with my daughters here. We picked up pizza from nearby Pebble Street Pizza and watched a cheesy movie, hung out in the rope net, and then slept in and had coffee (for me) and bagels the next morning. I didn’t even need to drive more than 20 minutes to get back home.
Bedroom and shower
I love how thoughtful the construction was on the treehouse – from the decks to the bunk beds and outdoor shower. I wanted to move in.
And the cabin next door was just as thoughtful in providing for the needs of guests. I think it’s especially unique that we have these two spots to enjoy literally right here in Greenville.
Booking Your Stay
Both properties are available on AirBnB and both have near perfect – 4.99 to be exact – ratings. Prices depend on days of the week and times of year. The cabin is a little less to rent than the treehouse.
No parties or pets are allowed at either property. The property is not really suited for kids under age 12. If you have kids under that age, contact the host to ask about the situation directly. If you want to snag the treehouse, book ahead as that calendar fills up quickly.
Ready for a Christmas date night with your love? Date night this time of year has a little extra magic involved. With Twinkly lights, holiday music, and some unique events to attend, sneaking away for a date night is worth it. We’ve come up with some great ideas to make that special night even more memorable during this time of the year.
For even more holiday fun, don’t miss the Ultimate Holiday Guide to Greenville, SC. It’s packed full of things to do, gift ideas, events, and more!
Have you heard about how spectacular the Greenville Zoo lights are during the holidays? It includes music, Christmas decorations, and enchanting light displays that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face this holiday season.
Holidays at the Zoo is a must-see in Greenville, SC for families and anyone looking to experience a bit of Christmas magic this holiday season. I tried it out and absolutely loved it for its amazing lights, relaxed and festive atmosphere, and great Christmas music.
This article has been updated with 2025 dates and details.
Want more holiday lights? Check out our big Holiday Lights List for the best displays in our area!
Holidays at the Zoo: The Greenville Zoo Lights You Can Walk Through!
This amazing event has only been going on for a few years, but it is quickly becoming a holiday staple. If you haven’t heard about it yet, let us introduce you to this awesome show of Christmas lights!
The lights are strewn throughout the entire zoo, right from the entrance gate all along the paved paths. There are two huge light tunnels which are fantastic. One of them, the one nearest the farm animals, is synchronized to music. I’ll be the first to tell you that yes, I was a hundred percent dancing through this tunnel to the music. It was so much fun, and my kids thought it was hilarious. I don’t know why they didn’t join me.
I did get to talk to the guy who is responsible for the programming of the lights and a lot of the setup. He confirmed my suspicion that this display was no easy job to create. I really think the Greenville Zoo did a fantastic job with this display.
Santa and (Some) Sleeping Animals
The lights continue on throughout the zoo once you enter and stroll past the reptile house, which is open if you’d like to stop in to see the creepy crawlers, and up to the concession area where you can buy hot chocolate or popcorn and browse the zoo shop. They have really cute stuffed animals, ornaments, and other gifts.
Santa’s workshop is near there as well, and guests are invited to take photos. Santa will be at the zoo on December 19-23, 2025 from 4 pm – 7 pm.
Keep on strolling through the zoo, past the birds (you may see a huge owl like we did!), and around the small play area, which is closed for this special event. But don’t worry, because once you round that curve, you’ll see a huge Holidays at the Zoo sign that you can use for pictures. You then get to walk through the big musical light tunnel, my favorite. Tag us in videos where you dance. Please.
We went at 6 pm, and most of the animals were already sleeping, so you probably won’t see many if you go in the evening. If you go during an earlier slot, you should be able to see the animals. One of our readers said she went a little before 5 pm and got to see them. When it got dark, she went through again to see all of the lights without exiting the zoo (your ticket does not include readmission). This way you can enjoy the Christmas decorations and the animals as well!
The experience is such fun and absolutely worth it. It’s obvious how much work and effort the zoo went through to make this an incredible experience for their guests.
Yummy Concessions
I definitely recommend getting a cup of hot chocolate while you’re at Holidays at the Zoo. I love hot chocolate, and it’s even tastier on a chilly winter night.
You can also purchase tokens at the concession stand for milk and cookies, which you can eat while sitting at a little fire on some couches or pretty white wicker chairs that are very cozy and picturesque. There’s also a mechanical reindeer, and really, who doesn’t love that?
Best Ages for Holidays at the Zoo
My kids are 8 and 11 years old, and they loved this light display. I loved it as an adult. The tunnels and lights and music were my favorite, and it made me feel like a kid again. It was fantastic.
The Greenville Zoo is stroller-friendly, and I saw lots of families making use of them while walking throughout the light display. If your kids are smaller, this is a great option to see some holiday lights and have that fun, family experience together.
I’ve always thought that the Greenville Zoo is such a manageable adventure for families with smaller kids, and this event is no different. We spent about 45 minutes, maybe a little longer, going through the whole zoo, stopping to take photos and videos, and just to soak it all in. This is such a perfect excursion because it’s local, so you aren’t driving far, and also because it will easily capture the attention of kids at any age.
Tips on Enjoying the Greenville Zoo Christmas Lights
Here are a few tips to make your experience even more enjoyable at the Greenville Zoo during Holidays at the Zoo:
The zoo is pretty much all outdoors, so definitely plan your wardrobe accordingly. Be sure to have hats, gloves, scarves, and a warm jacket, especially when you go at night.
I’d recommend going around sunset or later so you can get the whole light show experience.
Bathrooms are conveniently located near the concession and shop area right in the middle of the zoo. It’s always good to know where the bathrooms are!
The play areas inside the zoo are closed during Holidays at the Zoo so just plan for that, especially if you know your kids love to play there.
If you have a stroller, you’re welcome to use it. There’s plenty of space during this event.
Pets are not allowed on zoo grounds so leave your furry friend home when visiting the light show.
Your tickets are one-time entry only so you can’t leave and then come back later.
Holidays at the Zoo Dates & Tickets
Tickets to Holidays at the Zoo are $12/adult members and $9/child members; $14/adult non-members and $11/child non-members (online prices). If you choose to purchase tickets at the gate, the cost is $16/adults and $13/kids for non-members. The zoo is encouraging guests to purchase tickets online to ensure their spot. Plus, it’s cheaper that way!
Holidays at the Zoo is happening at the Greenville Zoo:
December 12-14, 2025 from 4 – 8 pm
December 18-23, 2025 from 4 – 8 pm
December 26-30, 2025 from 4 – 8 pm
January 2-3, 2026 from 4 – 8 pm
Santa will be at the zoo on December 19-23, 2025 from 4 pm – 7 pm, so if you want to see him, purchase your tickets for those dates and times.
The tickets are timed, and the last time slot is 7:30 pm. As long as you are in line by 8 pm, you’ll get in.
Greenville Zoo 150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville
