Are you looking for the best places to see Christmas lights near Greenville, SC and throughout the Upstate? This list includes all of the local mega-light displays, light displays large enough to drive to see, and even some local Christmas lights at homes that deck it out for Christmas Griswold-style.
2026 Christmas Lights Near Greenville, SC: Quick Facts
- Drive-thru shows that open on Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026):
Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park in Easley is open through December 31. Admission is $35 per car, SUV, truck or minivan.
Anderson Christmas Lights is open daily through December 25 from 5:30–10 pm. Admission is $15 per car. - Free drive-in show: Bethel Baptist Church in Greenville is open Thanksgiving night through New Year’s Eve from 6–9 pm. Tune to 88.9 FM.
- Free holiday trees: Festival of Trees runs November 20–December 26, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Greenville and the Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Downtown.
- Tree lightings: Seneca’s Lighting of the Green (November 30), Dickens of a Christmas in Spartanburg (December 1), A Merry Mauldin Christmas (December 3), and Greenville’s Night of Lights and the Greer tree lighting (both December 4, 2026).
- Worth the drive: Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum runs November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027. Admission starts at $45 per car. Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway runs November 20, 2026–January 3, 2027. Admission starts at $46.
- Still waiting on 2026 dates? Some events haven’t announced their 2026 schedules yet. We’ve marked those “2026 dates to be announced” below, so check back or visit the organizer’s website before you go.
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Drive-Thru and Walk-Thru Christmas Lights: Greenville, SC and the Upstate
Anderson Christmas Lights across from the Anderson Civic Center runs Thanksgiving, November 26–December 25, 2026 and is open daily 5:30-10 pm. It includes over 400 Christmas light displays across the 2.5-mile drive! Admission is $15 per car.
Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park in Easley, SC opens Thanksgiving, November 26th–December 31, 2026 for the holiday season. In addition to driving through the dancing lights, guests can also visit a winter wonderland, carnival rides, and Santa’s petting zoo. It is one of the best drive-through Greenville Christmas lights displays to visit by car.
- Admission for cars, SUVs, trucks, and minivans is $35.
- Sun–Thurs 6 pm–10 pm
- Fri and Sat 6 pm–11 pm
- Read our Kidding Around review of Upstate Holiday Light Show
Holiday Putt Through Light Show is at Takeoff Minigolf in Greenville and was formerly known as Very Merry Mini Golf. You can walk through a big holiday light display while playing mini-golf. Santa visits on December 11 and December 21. The 2026 event runs November 20–December 27, with entry times every 15 minutes from 5:30-8:30 pm. Advance tickets are required and are $15/person.
Oconee State Park Holiday Light Show will be a walk-through or drive-through event from 6-10 pm nightly, December , 2026–January 10, 2027! Take a spin through the campground, where trees will be lit with beautiful lights and holiday displays provided by the local community and businesses. Free with park admission.
Holidays at the Zoo – Walk through the Greenville Zoo and be dazzled by thousands of lights, festive decorations, and holiday music. Tickets are timed, and advance registration is recommended. You can purchase tickets online ranging from $12-15 per person. Returns in December 2026 from 4 pm to 8 pm December 11-13th, December 17th-23rd, December 26-30th, 2026 and January 2 and 3rd, 2027.
The Magical Music Holiday Light Show at Seneca’s Norton-Thompson Park typically runs from mid-November to December 31st from 5:30-10 pm nightly. It’s a free event and fun for the whole family. Some nights may also have visits from Santa Claus. 2026 dates, hours, and ticket prices have not been announced yet.
Holiday Lights Trolley Tours with Main Street Trolley operate in Spartanburg, SC in December. 2026 dates not yet announced.
Lighting Displays and Ceremonies
Festival of Trees – Come see the holiday trees on display from November 20–December 26, 2026 from 8 am–10 pm at the Hyatt Regency Greenville and the Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Downtown. Admission is free.
Holiday Hop – This event in downtown Travelers Rest is on Saturday, November 28 2026, from 3–7 pm. It includes a tree lighting with carols at 6:45 pm, a train ride through a holiday light tunnel, the Jingle Paws Parade, and more. There’s also a Christmas Market along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Oh, and don’t forget Santa! He’ll be there to help you capture those special memories.
City of Seneca Tree Lighting and Magical Musical Holiday Light Show – Join the mayor on November 30th, 2026 for the annual Christmas Parade at 6 pm along with the Lighting of the Green at Norton-Thompson Park. The Magical Musical Holiday Light Show runs from November 20th, 2026 – December 31st, 2026. Follow their Facebook for more information.
Dickens of a Christmas – This tree lighting in Spartanburg, SC is on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 6–9 pm. The event also includes a Victorian-style Christmas celebration throughout downtown Spartanburg. Enjoy live music, vendors, horse and carriage rides, living window displays, and more.
A Merry Mauldin Christmas Tree Lighting and Market – Enjoy holiday music, a festive market, pictures with Santa, train rides, and a tree lighting at the Mauldin Outdoor Amphitheater behind the Mauldin Cultural Center. The event is on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 5–8 pm. The tree lighting is at 7 pm.
Night of Lights: Greenville Christmas Tree Lighting – This FREE event in front of M. Judson Booksellers will have live music, vendors, food trucks, a visit from Santa, and more. Friday, December 4 2026, from 5:30–7:30 pm.
Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greer City Park – This family-friendly event also includes a visit from Santa. In years past, there have been craft stations, train rides, live music, carolers, food vendors, and more. Friday, December 4th, 2026, from 5-8 pm.
Christmas in Gaffney with Laser Light Show – The award-winning laser light show typically includes musical hits and fantastic graphic effects. Opening night has traditionally included an annual parade followed by a downtown festival with rides, vendors, Santa meet-and-greets, and more. 2026 dates to be announced.
Holiday Lights at Hidden Pasture Unicorn Farm – 2026 dates to be announced. In past years, guests could explore the unicorn farm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11am to 4 pm and enjoy Christmas lights during the holiday season. Santa meet-and-greets have been included along with bounce houses, farm games, a petting zoo, craft market, and more.
Lights at Hope – 2026 dates to be announced. In past years, this light show in West Union ran from 6:30–8:30 pm on select December nights and included hot chocolate and candy canes.
Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony – This event at Great Lawn at Gracely Park has included sing-a-longs, free hot chocolate, cookies, and letters to Santa. 2026 dates to be announced.
Tiny Town Easley, SC – This unofficial event is typically open nightly from 5:30-10 pm starting on Thanksgiving. Over 80 tiny structures adorned with lights, Christmas decor, and lots of character make up Tiny Town. In past years, they’ve offered hot chocolate, hot coffee, a bonfire, and opportunities to visit with Santa on select dates.
Free Light Displays at Organizations
- Bethel Baptist Church | 403 Sulphur Springs Road, Greenville
Drive-In Light Show with multiple songs, two mega trees, thousands of lights, and lasers synchronized to station 88.9 FM. Runs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, from 6–9 pm. - Original Pelzer Light People | 28 Adger Street, Pelzer
Go down Lyman Street around the river and up Adger. This is a neighborhood, so please be alert for children, families, and pets. 2026 dates to be announced.
Nearby Christmas Lights at Private Homes: Check Out Free Holiday Light Displays
Our readers love the Kidding Around Christmas Driving Routes. Look for 2026 routes after Thanksgiving.
These routes feature homes with light shows that include music (and sometimes even hot chocolate and Santa). Expect to wait in traffic to see them. If visiting these displays, park on the side of the street, leave room for traffic, and don’t block neighbors’ driveways.
Here are photos of some of the homes we’ve seen on past routes.
Christmas Light Displays That Are Worth the Drive
Speedway Christmas Lights – The annual drive-thru Christmas light display at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is super popular. More than five million lights over four miles adorn this display, which runs nightly from Friday, November 20, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027, from 6–10 pm (closed December 24). On Village Nights, there’s also a Christmas Village where you can stop and enjoy an illuminated walking trail, photos with Santa, market vendors, food, and s’mores by the fire.
Admission: General admission is $46 on Value Nights (Christmas Village closed) and $60 on Village Nights. Express passes are $95 on most Village Nights.
Want more Charlotte area lights? We have that! Here’s our list of Christmas Lights in Charlotte, NC.
Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park in Columbia, SC – This event runs November 25, 2026 – December 31, 2026, from 6–10 pm nightly. Enjoy over a million lights on the two-mile loop of the park. Includes a tube slide, letters to Santa, s’mores, and more.
Admission: $25 – $35 per car (depending on the date). Vans, trucks with trailers, and limos are $50, and buses are $75.
Looking for more lights? Check out the Christmas Lights Displays Around Columbia, SC plus more ways to celebrate the holidays in Columbia, SC.
Winter Lights is a popular light show at the NC Arboretum in Asheville. This walk-through garden light experience runs from November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027.
Here’s our Kidding Around review of Winter Lights. Tickets are sold per car (everyone in your car gets in for one price), vary by date, and start at $45 per car on Value Nights. You can purchase tickets for Winter Lights online for the best price.
Garden Lights at Atlanta Botanical Garden runs November 14, 2026–January 10, 2027. This massive light display includes colored orbs, model trains, and a glittery rain forest.
Christmas Town, USA in McAdenville, NC runs December 1–26, 2026, from 5:30–10 pm. This town decks out completely for Christmas. You can either park and walk around the town or drive through. The 1.3-mile drive takes approximately 30–40 minutes. This experience is free. We recommend checking out the tree lighting ceremony on December 1, 2026, the Christmas parade and Yule Log Parade on December 10, 2026, or visiting during the week to avoid long lines and cars. Learn more on the Christmas Town USA website.
World of Illumination will take place at the Six Flags White Water park in Marietta, GA November 13, 2026–January 3, 2027, Tuesday through Sunday. Gates open at 6 pm and last entry is 10 pm. This light display boasts over two million lights synchronized to music. This year’s theme is Rockin’ Christmas. Tickets start at $39.99 per vehicle and must be purchased online.
Winter Winederland at Marked Tree in Hendersonville, NC, runs November 27, 2026–January 3, 2027. This display of over 60,000 lights is perfect for a romantic walk. Guests may sip wine along the way if they choose.
Christmas Lights Near Greenville, SC: FAQ
When do Christmas lights open near Greenville, SC in 2026?
Many of the biggest Upstate drive-thru shows open on Thanksgiving, November 26, 2026, including the Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park in Easley, Anderson Christmas Lights, and the drive-in show at Bethel Baptist Church in Greenville. The Festival of Trees opens a little earlier, on November 20, 2026.
Are there free Christmas lights near Greenville?
Yes. Bethel Baptist Church’s drive-in light show in Greenville runs Thanksgiving night through New Year’s Eve, from 6–9 pm. The Festival of Trees in downtown Greenville is free and runs from November 20 to December 26, 2026. Greenville’s Night of Lights tree lighting is on December 4, 2026. You can also drive past decorated homes using our Christmas Light Driving Routes.
How much do drive-thru Christmas light shows cost near Greenville?
Anderson Christmas Lights is $15 per car, and the Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park in Easley is $35 for cars, SUVs, trucks, and minivans. Farther away, Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway starts at $46.
- Free Things to Do at Christmas in Greenville
- Free Holiday Things to Do in Spartanburg
- Upstate, SC Holiday Events and Things to Do
- Christmas Light Displays Near Greenville, Spartanburg, and the Upstate
- Best Christmas Tree Farms Near Greenville
- Santa Sightings In The Upstate
- Parades Near Greenville SC
- Live Nativities Near Greenville
Want to know what’s going on in Greenville over Christmas?
Just check our Ultimate Holiday Guide where we keep track of Santa, holiday storytimes, and more
The Simpsonville Santa House should be on the tour every year. I do not see it on the 2022 tour addresses. You have a picture of it, but no address. Please consider adding?!
1003 Powderhorn Dr Simpsonville SC 29681
We drove by and there were no lights this year.
The display at 1601 East Saluda lake rd Greenville, Sc is up this year
There’s a synchronized light show on 186 Walcott Dr. Lyman, SC 29365. Their name is Wonderland on Walcott on Facebook.
You should definitely add 116 Atherton Way Greer 29650 to the holiday lights tour.
222 Devon Way Anderson SC 29621
7008 Hwy 81 north
Piedmont
80,000 lights after the first of December
Are you still doing the light tours for the easly area this year. Haven’t heard from you yet but would like to include the cook family chistmas show again this year. Dec. 1 thur Dec. 30, 6:00 till 10:30 nightly. “Easleycooks.com” for more Info
Jim Cook
we are!
Don’t forget to drive by 210 Bedford Rd in Easley!! It’s a sight to see 💚❤️