Looking for restaurants open on Christmas in Greenville, SC? We have a list of places to eat that are open on Christmas Day! If a catered Christmas meal or dinner out in Greenville or Spartanburg this Christmas would make your holiday a little merrier, this is the list for you. Consider dining out or ordering in from a local restaurant for all of your fixings!
Our list has restaurants offering dine-in service, full take-out meals, and even restaurants where you can just grab a turkey, a ham, or a few sides to supplement your own home-cooked meal. There are lots of great restaurant options in Greenville to make some delicious Christmas dreams come true. Most of our local grocery stores are also offering Christmas items for pickup.
Wondering what there is to do for Christmas in Spartanburg, SC? Spartanburg mom Jennifer has a family-friendly Christmas itinerary for Downtown Spartanburg. Read on to discover places to shop, eat, and play in Downtown Spartanburg this holiday season.
The small-town charm of Spartanburg is best felt at Christmas. Downtown Spartanburg comes to life with twinkling lights and festive Christmas décor. If you are looking for ways to spend your time when the kids are out of school or to entertain out-of-town guests, look no further than a trip downtown.
The Nights of Lights is an amazing walk-through Christmas light display open now at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, SC. We spent a night there and have all the details on how you can enjoy it with your family!
Thank you to the Nights of Lights for providing media tickets for this review.
Nearly a quarter mile of thousands of lights are shining bright at Nights of Lights in the Upstate’s only walk-through holiday light display at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, SC. This is the event’s second year and features beautiful light tunnels, a massive igloo, a petting zoo, lots of fun photo ops, ice skating, food, and carnival rides. You can even ride a camel. Ride. A. Camel.
They also have several different discounts and are open nightly through January 3, 2025. Yes, even on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Read on for why you should put this event on your family’s list of to-do’s for the holiday season.
The Nights of Lights: Heritage Park Christmas Lights
When you enter Heritage Park, keep driving all the way past the playground and train depot to the CCNB Amphitheater. There is free parking and that’s where you enter the display.
The path of lights is all paved and goes for nearly a quarter mile. The Heritage Park Christmas lights have over 200 LED light displays throughout the park. You’ll pass through archways of light where you will see Santa, snowmen, and all kinds of happy Christmas creatures decked out in lights.
Light tunnel
There is a giant, life-size inflatable igloo, which is just really cute to walk through and that has lights that sparkle and sync to music. There are places that have lights where you and your kids can poke your heads inside and instantly become lighted holiday people. It’s a lot of fun and you can take as long as you want anywhere.
Ice (Roller) Skating
The Nights of Lights has a decent-sized skating rink for those of you who want to test your coordination and balance skills. The rink is not real ice but rather closely connected panels of synthetic material. As to how fast or slow you’ll go on skates, it will really depend upon your skates and ability to not fall!
This year they’ve added the option to have roller skates, which we highly recommend. My kids said the rink is really smooth and easy to skate on. I had to tear them away with promises of cute animals to pet to leave. It was that much fun. You are able to bring your own roller skates if you want.
Ice (roller) skating
Skating is $8/person and if you need a little extra assistance in terms of an ice walker, that is $5. The rink is close to the entrance so you can do that first or do it after you walk through the display.
The Petting Zoo at Nights of Lights
Once you walk through the display, you will come to the petting zoo. The petting zoo is run by Eudora Farms, a wildlife safari based in Salley, SC. Our readers may be familiar with them since we’ve written about this farm in the past.
The animals at the Nights of Lights are so cute. They have a big camel, fluffy sheep, goats, alpacas, a super fluffy baby Highlands Scottish Cow, wallabys, and a bull with massive horns. You can purchase feed cups. They looked very happy and well taken care of.
Petting Zoo
There is also a large enclosure where you can get inside and feed parakeets with a stick of bird seed. These parakeets are so funny. They will land on your arm, hand, shoulder, phone, you name it. My daughters and I loved interacting with the little birds.
Feeding cups range from $3-$6. Pony rides are $10.
Riding a Camel
New for 2024 is Clyde, a huge camel that gives rides. We just had to do this because where can you actually ride a camel in SC? It was my very first time riding a camel and pretty awesome. Clyde is a good camel and will do pretty much anything for treats.
You ride on one of his humps and go around the enclosure a couple of times. It is so neat and quite the unique experience. Definitely a 10/10 first time camel ride!
Camel rides are $10/person and located next to the petting zoo.
Riding the camel!
The Rides, Bounce Houses, and Santa
Nights of Lights also has several rides you can enjoy during your time there. A Ferris Wheel, carousel, and green dragon spinning thing are located in front of the stage, where the 65-foot tall Christmas tree stands, and next to the petting zoo.
There are also two big bounce houses, including a giant snowman. My youngest daughter did these and loved the obstacle course one the best.
Lots of cute photo ops!
The three of us did the Ferris wheel and it was a blast. I hadn’t been on one of these old-school ones in forever and it felt secure plus you get a great view of all the lights at the top of the wheel. All the rides have to be regularly inspected so you can feel good knowing they are safe and secure.
Each ride, plus the bouncy house, costs 1 ticket. One ticket = $3, or buy in bulk and get 12 tickets = $30.
Santa is also scheduled to be at Nights of Lights on November 23 & 24, November 29-December 1, and December 6-8, 13-15, and 20-22 from 5:30-8:30 pm. Photos are $5 using your own phone or camera.
There are multiple character appearances – think Elsa, Harry Potter, Moana, the Grinch – which you can see the schedule for here.
Food & S’Mores
Nights of Lights offers lots of yummy food options. We got a funnel cake, which was utterly amazing. They also have delicious hot chocolate.
Funnel cakes
Other food options are elephant ears, friend oreos, nachos, fries, onion rings, and chicken tenders – all the tasty fair foods.
Honest Mom Review
The Nights of Lights was a really fun experience. My kids, ages 12 and 9, and I all really enjoyed it. I’ve covered all the major light displays in our area and I really liked this one specifically for the walk-through aspect. You can take your time and enjoy all of the neat displays, take as many photos as you like, and make those special memories with your family.
I also enjoyed the petting zoo. I love animals and I feel that it’s usually easy to see if they are well taken care of and happy. These animals definitely were. The enclosures were clean and they seemed to be groomed well and happy. And the parakeet experience was so fun. Those little birds are cute and mischievous. The camel ride was amazing!
And, lastly, getting to speak with the management and learn all the behind-the-scenes things they are doing to make it a great experience for families was fantastic. They set out to make a great event for the Christmas season but also create ways for it to be doable for as many families as possible. Everything was clean and accessible as well, which I thought spoke volumes on the effort put into the event.
Tickets, Hours, and Special Promotions
Nights of Lights is open every day from November 22, 2024 – January 3, 2025. Hours are Sunday-Thursday 5-9 pm and Friday-Saturday from 5-10 pm. You have to pay admission to the entire light display, which includes the display, igloo, and access to Santa’s Village, rides, and the petting zoo. Extras are the cups of food in the petting zoo, pony rides, ice skating, photos with Santa, and rides.
Ticket prices are $15/age 16+ and $12/ages 5-15. Kids age 4 and under are free. No pets allowed; service dogs welcome.
Nights of Lights has promotional pricing nightly. Here’s the schedule:
Sundays: Senior Citizens (age 65+) are free
Mondays: Free admission with the donation of non-perishable food items. One free admission per five cans of food per person.
Tuesdays: Free admission with a toy donation for Toys for Tots or the Greenville Humane Society. Toys must be new in original packaging, not gift-wrapped. One free admission per toy per person.
Wednesdays: Free admission for active, reserve, and veteran military members (with valid ID).
Thursdays: Free admission for police officers, nurses, EMS workers, and firefighters (with valid ID).
Fridays: Free admission for teachers (with valid ID). Homeschool teachers are included (with valid association ID).
Tickets are only sold at the gate. Nights of Lights is accessible and wheelchair-friendly. You can easily take a stroller. Be sure to follow Nights of Lights on Facebook for up-to-date hours and closure due to weather.
Are you looking for places to go shopping in Spartanburg, SC to support local small business owners? Spartanburg is home to many unique small businesses offering everything from special services to food products to clothing to pet products. For those of you wanting to shop on Small Business Saturday or shop local any day of the year, we’ve compiled this list of 40+ local Spartanburg businesses to guide your wallet.
The Kindred Spirits Marketplace with all things one of a kind and handmade in downtown Spartanburg
Spartanburg Threads This Spartanburg boutique (formerly Southerndipity Gifts) offers local courier monogramming and embroidery gifts.
Market on Main This market has local jewelry, treats, arts, furniture, and everything in between and features more than 30 artisans; they also host DIY classes
Pink on Main Located in Spartanburg, Pink on Main is a clothing and accessory store with inventory that includes Lily Pulitzer and Mommy-and-me matching sets.
Arrowhead Design Company A website and advertising firm in Spartanburg that also offers screen printing!
A woman’s boutique in downtown Spartanburg with seasonally rotating clothing
Gifts for Foodies
Palmetto Olive Oil Co Offers premium olive oils and balsamic vinegar (You can visit the downtown storefront for tastings)
Blue Moon Speciality Foods Offers flavored seasonings, sauces, and marinades, as well as fresh food and gift baskets. You can also find Spartanburg fav’s Those Pickle Ladies at Blue Moon! If someone in your life loves pickles, you must give them a jar of flavored pickles from this Spartanburg favorite
Little River Roasting Local coffee shop in downtown Spartanburg. You can purchase coffee and gift cards
Gifts for the Book and Art Lovers
Hub City Bookshop A local independent bookstore in downtown Spartanburg with books for all ages
Paint It Up Commissioned paintings as well as art classes for locals
Friends of the Library Store Located in Headquarters Library, this store offers unique items from local merchants, as well as gently-used and rare books
The Tangled Web Local Spartanburg comic book store with comics, games, and more
Sparkle City Snaps Artist Nick Trainor offers one-of-a-kind photos in Spartanburg
Gifts for the Nature Enthusiasts
Botanical Brew This neighborhood coffee and plant shop is in Lyman
Home and Garden Classics A Southern lifestyle store that is home to rite at Home (fine stationery), Sugah Cakes (bakery), and The Brides Club of Spartanburg (Bridal Registry). It also sells interiors, kitchen accessories, and more.
Coggins Flowers & Gifts Send flowers from this local Spartanburg florist for the perfect gift
The Local Hiker Located in downtown Spartanburg, this store offers hiking, camping, and backpacking gear
The Urban Planter Unique plant shop in downtown Spartanburg offering house plants, art pieces, and more
Local Experience Gift Ideas
Speed Factory Indoor Karting Gift recipients of all ages will appreciate a lap around the track at this indoor karting facility.
Other Local Favorite Spots For Picking Out Holiday Gifts
Artists Collective A Holiday Artists market from November 5th – December 28th.
Paisley Paw For the pet lovers in your life, Paisley Paw is a pet boutique offering gifts that will make pet owners and their four-legged friends happy
Searching for “live nativities in Greenville, SC”? We’ve pulled together a list of nearby live nativity events to visit this season near Greenville, SC. However you choose to experience the live nativity, we hope you have fun! And if you know of any live nativities not on this list, please let us know with a comment below.
Christmas at the Library – Billy Graham Library (December 2nd-23rd, 2024) Live nativity hours are Monday through Thursday 5 pm to 9 pm and Friday through Saturday 5 pm to 10 pm. Reservations are required to attend. The live nativity and story time are both free. Carriage rides are available for a fee ($6 for children and $12 for adults). Christmas dinner is available on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in December. Reservations for dinner are recommended.
St. James Live Drive-thru Nativity (December 7th, 2024, 6:30-8 pm) View the manger scene complete with animals from your car. St. James UMC, 213 N. Lanford Road, Spartanburg, SC. The nativity will be in the front of the church, off Savoy Street.
Redeemer Lutheran Church Live Nativity (2019)
Connie Maxwell Christmas in Greenwood (December 5th-7th 2024 from 6-8:30 pm) Live nativity, horse-drawn wagon, complimentary hot chocolate, and Christmas lights. A suggested donation of $5/car or $10/van or bus.
Walk Through Bethlehem Cold Spring Mennonite Church (December 5th-8th, 2024 & December 12th – 15th, 2024) This live nativity has guests walk through Bethlehem, meet with biblical characters, enjoy creative displays, see live animals, and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. The event is at 226 Cold Spring Church Road, Abbeville, SC.
Happy Hooves’ Christmas at the Barn(December 15th, 2024 2-5 pm) This fundraiser at Eden Farms in Marietta benefits the Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center. For $10 per person online ($15 at the door), guests can enjoy activities like “reindeer” horse and pony rides, a visit with Santa, a nativity scene and Christmas music, arts and crafts, a “peeplechase” playground for kids, a candy cane garden, and much more. Lunch, baked goods, and gifts will also be for sale.
Pickens View Wesleyan Church (December 20th-22nd 2024 from 6-9 pm) This walk-through event will have live animals (including camels), cookies, hot chocolate, and more as you walk through the streets of Bethlehem.
Experience the Stable of Bethlehem at Famoda Farm(December 19-21st, 2024 at 6, 7, and 8 pm) Walk amongst the animals and the stable of Bethlehem and watch Joseph and Mary process to the stable from a large barn. Indoor seating is available but this event can be crowded so people will also be able to stand outside and watch. Cost is $5 per person. Cash only at the door or purchase tickets online. Hot chocolate will be sold on site.
Have you visited the Greenville Christmas Market at the Grand Bohemian Lodge in Downtown Greenville, SC? Beautifully decorated with a merging of a southern Christmas with a micro version of a traditional European Christmas market, this open-air market is certain to spark holiday joy.
The holiday market hosts local vendors, live music, serves holiday-themed food and beverages, and even offers the opportunity for your little one to visit with Santa to give him that very special list. You can explore the Greenville Christmas Market in Downtown Greenville on select dates from November 29th, 2024 – December 31st, 2024.
The Greenville Christmas Market
The Greenville Christmas Market at the Grand Bohemian Lodge
Located in the heart of Downtown Greenville at Falls Park, the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville is hosting the third Greenville Christmas Market from November 29th, 2024 – December 31st, 2024. You know you are close when you smell the gorgeous Christmas tree near the exit of Liberty Bridge. Located outside on the lawn in front of the hotel, the market is open rain or shine. The market features local vendors, offering the perfect Christmas gifts, decor, and maybe even something special for yourself.
Along with all the wonderful shopping opportunities, guests can enjoy the decorations that adorn the hotel’s already impressive architecture. Vendors serve holiday-inspired food and beverages that complement the Christmas decor, making the market more of a holiday experience rather than a shopping venture. The Greenville Christmas Market is even open on Christmas Eve, in case you need to pick up a few special gifts before Christmas Day.
The Greenville Christmas Market in 2022
Meet and Greet for Photos with Santa
There is no better place to meet Santa than at a gorgeous ski lodge while sipping hot chocolate and relaxing under the mesmerizing lights of the Christmas decorations. The Grand Bohemian Lodge offers just that, but a little closer to home than European mountains. Santa will be meeting children on select dates throughout the month.
Santa will be at the Greenville Christmas Market on:
November 29 from 3 pm – 5 pm
November 30 from 4 pm – 6 pm
December 7 from 4 pm – 6 pm
December 14 from 4 pm – 6 pm
December 18 from 3 pm – 5 pm
December 19 from 3 pm – 5 pm
December 20 from 3 pm – 5 pm
December 21 from 4 pm – 6 pm
December 23 from 3 pm – 5 pm
December 24 from 1 pm – 3 pm
Santa will arrive on November 29th, 2024 at 3 pm, something your kids will love! Parents can snap the perfect photo to capture that special memory with the big man before doing some shopping. Don’t forget your camera during your visit, there are many holiday photo opportunities, especially in front of the brilliantly decorated Christmas tree on the market lawn.
Kid’s Corner at Santa’s Grotto
The Kid’s Corner will be open:
November 29th from 2 pm – 3 pm
November 30th from 3 pm – 5 pm
December 7th from 3 pm – 4 pm
December 14th from 3 pm – 4 pm
December 21st from 3 pm – 4 pm
Kid’s Story Hour at the Grand Bohemian Library
You kids can catch a story at the Grand Bohemian on:
December 1st from 1 pm – 2 pm
December 8th from 1 pm – 2 pm
December 15th from 1 pm – 2 pm
December 22nd from 1 pm – 2 pm
The Greenville Christmas Market
Other Holiday Happenings in Downtown Greenville
After checking out the market, there are a lot of other Downtown holiday happenings to enjoy! You can walk on over to Ice on Main, located at the Courtyard Marriott near the Peace Center. There is also the wonder-filled Festival of Trees found in Courtyard Marriott and The Hyatt Regency Greenville which features festive trees decorated by dozens of organizations throughout Greenville County.
While you are walking down Main Street, be sure to look for all of the delightful window wonderland displays. You can even vote for your favorite holiday display. You will also find dozens of free holiday things to do in Greenville, making the season a little more merry and bright!
When You Can Visit the Greenville Christmas Market
The Greenville Christmas Market at the Grand Bohemian Lodge will run from November 29th, 2024 to December 31st, 2024 on select dates. The market is open on Christmas Eve. The market at 10 am with the exception of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at 12 pm. The week of Christmas, the market is open daily.
Looking for a small-town Christmas feel this year? Downtown Greer, SC offers up several events packed with old-fashioned Christmas Charm along its historic Trade Street. Read on for a list of Greer’s Christmas events with all the details and suggestions so you can make the most of your holiday time in Greer.
I love downtown Greer, really any time of the year. Trade Street has that lovely historic feel only enhanced by its charming recent renovation. Standing there, surrounded by old buildings and preserved historic signage, you can almost feel the slowness of days gone by.
But Christmas makes it all the more special. The lights are lit, the shops have all decked out for Christmas, and the sidewalks seem more alive as people explore the local shops and eateries. The City Park is full and bursting with Christmas cheer. My family is super excited to experience Christmas in downtown Greer again this year.
Watch Santa Light the Tree in Greer
What To Expect at the Greer Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Top of the list for Christmas in Greer is the Greer Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, December 6th, 2024 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. This is a favorite for my family. If you’ve not been to Greer City Park during the Christmas season, you are missing out. They decorate the area with lots of white lights, and some colored light characters. The fountain is lit up and it’s just very pretty.
The tree lighting event includes free holiday craft stations, Smores benefiting Greer Relief, free train rides, and holiday performances at the amphitheater. The fun starts at 5 pm and lasts until Santa arrives at 7:15 to light the tree.
Trade Street Christmas
While you wait for the tree lighting, head over to Trade Street for a meal, a treat, or a cup of coffee. The lights stretched along the old buildings and spiraled up each street lamp are classic, simple, and beautiful. We just need a little snow to make it perfect….don’t worry that just might be in your not-too-distant future.
Make sure to head back towards the Christmas Tree at the entrance to Greer City Park shortly after 7 pm. Santa usually arrives by sleigh around 7:15 pm to light up the tree.
If you were thinking all that old-fashioned, quaint Christmas talk sounded great, but would have really been over the top with a little sprinkle of snow. You might be in luck.
A little snow
In years past, the tree lighting included a little artificial snow falling off the sign that stretches across the park entrance behind the tree. Never have I seen so many people pressed underneath that sign, but it sure was fun. And of all the things my kids talk about, it’s not the music, or the tree, or Santa, or even cocoa, it’s that snow. Seriously, mid-July in shorts and tank tops, “Remember that’s where the snow came from, Mom!” Yep.
Greer Famers Market Christmas Festival
TheGreer Farmers Market Christmas Festival is Saturday, December 7th, 2024 and Sunday, December 8th from 10 am to 2 pm in Greer City Park. The Greer Christmas Festival will include, of course, shopping or unique gifts from local makers and small businesses. There will also be food trucks on site and live entertainment.
Of course, Trade Street isn’t going anywhere so you’ve got several weeks to enjoy it all dressed up for Christmas.
Greer Christmas Parade
One of the season’s best parades is the Greer, SC Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 8th, 2024 at 2:30 pm. The North Pole reports that Santa will be back in Greer in time for the parade. There are decorated parade floats, dance teams, marching bands, and more! The parade route is 1.1 miles beginning at Poinsett Street near The Clock restaurant and turns left at the United Bank, then travels down North Main Street and ends at Bonds Career Center. Enjoy the parade!
Greer Gingerbread House Competition
You’ll find a beautiful display of creativity at the Edward R. Driggers City of Greer Center for the Arts in Greer each December. You’ll find displays of various detail and theme, many adorable and some just outright spectacular.
Gingerbread Jamboree & Announcement of Winners Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 at 7 pm at the Edward R. Driggers City of Greer Center for the Arts
Gingerbread Display (Public Viewing) December 3rd – 14th, 2024 during Gallery Hours Tuesdays 6-8 pm and Saturdays 10 am-2 pm
Christmas in Greer, SC: Schedule of Event
Friday, December 6th, 2024 Greer Christmas Tree Lighting, 5 pm- 8 pm, City Park (Tree is lit up after Santa arrives at 7:15 pm, arrive earlier to enjoy Downtown Greer, holiday craft stations, vendors and more.)
Saturday, December 7th, 2024 and Sunday, December 8th from 10 am to 2 pm Greer Christmas Festival
Does your family love Christmas in Greer as much as mine does?
There’s more to love in Downtown Greer! Our Downtown Greer guide is full of information for visitors and residents, including things to do, shops, restaurants, events, and much more!
It’s Polar Express season but that’s not the only train ride near Greenville, SC to enjoy during the holidays. Read on and get ready to hop aboard for some Christmas jingle rides this year.
Why are trains so magical? Maybe it’s the movies or the novelty of riding trains but they have always felt really cool to me and my kids would tell you the same. Add in the Christmas season and the magic abounds.
There are some pretty amazing holiday-themed train rides within a couple hours’ drive of Greenville, SC in both South and North Carolina that we think you’ll really love.
Best Christmas Train Ride Experiences near Greenville
Polar Express Ride (Bryson City, NC)
Probably the most well-known Christmas train ride is the Polar Express out of Bryson City, NC on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Tickets usually go on sale in June for the upcoming season and families absolutely love this experience. With a ride that mimics the movie, you can’t go wrong when you board this Polar Express adventure.
The first Polar Express departs Bryson City Depot on November 7, 2024, and the train operates through December 31, 2024, with the exception of certain weekdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas day. They do have a Christmas Eve ride if you want a truly memorable night. Most days, there are three departures a day and tickets sell out quickly.
There are several classes to choose from with Coach Class being the cheapest of the train tickets starting at $29 for kids ages 2-12 and $44 for adults up to First Class, which is $249 for a 4-top table and $124.50 for a 2-top table. Crown and Premium Crown Class are in between those prices. Depending on what ticket class you choose, you’ll receive a cookie, hot chocolate, and a souvenir of some type for a full Polar Express experience.
Polar Express (Spencer, NC)
The Polar Express train in Spencer, NC at the NC Transportation Museum is also a lot of fun for families. They have different classes of cars to choose from, hot chocolate and cookies, and a ‘North Pole’ with Santa Claus.
The 2024 Polar Express runs November 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-30 and December 1, 6-8, 12-23. While trains depart in the afternoon, the departure times vary by date, so be sure to check the NC Transportation Museum’s website for the schedule. Prices begin at $36 for children and $42 for adults. Check the Polar Express website for available dates and times, and to purchase tickets.
Jingle Bell Trolley (Asheville, NC)
This is a very sweet little trolley ride just north of Asheville on the Craggy Mountain Railroad, a historic site with rail cars you can explore. The actual trolley ride takes about 30 minutes on an open-air car and there are lots of jingle bells along the way. When you get back to the Depot, Santa and Mrs. Claus are waiting to greet guests. When we went, each child received a small gift.
They also have hot chocolate and cookies plus a really cute little train village to walk around in. This is the perfect intro for smaller kids to a Christmas train ride. Read our review on the Jingle Bell Trolley for all the details. This place is pretty amazing and because of the hardship of WNC, all kids under 17 are free this year! Tickets are $19/adult for 2024.
Departing from the South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro, SC, the Santa Twilight Train is a really sweet experience for all ages.
Guests enjoy hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, stories, a visit with Santa, and Christmas carols in the historic rail cars. Tickets are $27/person and the rides only happen the first three weekends of December. They also offer a Santa train ride during the day on Saturdays where Santa stops to talk to every kid on the train. Those rides are $17/person ages 3+ and last about an hour and forty minutes.
Tweetsie Christmas Railroad (Blowing Rock, NC)
A Christmas tradition for many, the Tweetsie Christmas Railroad is a fun and magical experience in Blowing Rock, NC. The Christmas Train ride is part of the Tweetie experience at the theme park and takes riders on a 20-minute ride through holiday lights and festive decor. Your ticket also includes four theme park rides, Santa’s Gingerbread House for photos, and Christmas shows with multiple performances.
Tweetsie Railroad is open select evenings November 29th through December 30th, 2024 and tickets are $60/ages 13+, $40/ages 3-12, free for kids ages 2 and under. Parking is free.
Bonus: Ride the Mini Christmas Train in Kannapolis, NC
Here’s a budget-friendly option! The mini steam train at the gorgeous Village Park in Kannapolis gets all decked out for Christmas and offers rides for just $2 per person through the huge Christmas lights display at Village Park. There’s also a beautiful carousel to enjoy at this park, and there’s no admission fee to see the lights. So you can enjoy your train ride and stay as long as you want.
Ready to skate at Ice on Main in Downtown Greenville? You heard that right; you can go ice skating outdoors in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, on natural, actual ice this holiday and winter season. One of America’s favorite winter traditions, open-air ice skating outdoors is a rare treat. You can celebrate the holiday season in the heart of Downtown Greenville at United Community Bank Ice on Main. So bring your perfect balance, all your grace, or just your two left feet, and have some fun. Rent some skates, enjoy a hot chocolate and soak up all the winter ice skating memories.
Greenville’s 2024/2025 skating season will begin on November 25th, 2024 and runs through January 20th, 2025. So grab your family and find out what you’ll need to hit the rink this winter! We have all the details on rink hours, special promotions, advanced tickets, and more.
Looking for more fun winter things to do in Greenville, SC? Be sure to check out our Winter Guide to Greenville!
Scenes from Ice on Main
Want to see what skating at Ice on Main looks like? Here’s a video from our visit to Ice on Main with all the sights and sounds of outdoor skating in Downtown Greenville.
Greenville, South Carolina, may not freeze over often, but the city has a skating rink during the winter months just waiting to test your skills.
Ice On Main in Greenville, South Carolina
There is something so special about Ice on Main in downtown Greenville. Maybe it’s the beautiful location right in downtown or maybe it’s the overhead lights or maybe it’s just knowing that you can make those fantastic memories with your family right here in Greenville.
It doesn’t even matter if you’re a horrible skater. We’re in the South! It’s not like we have frozen lakes everywhere to practice on. Even if you’re hugging the side of the rink, it’s still really fun. Or you can hold hands with your kids or significant other and just hope you both don’t go falling over together.
Either way, I think Ice on Main should definitely be on your to-do list for winter in Greenville.
Ice On Main is Great for Beginners: Skate Aids
One of the unique features of Ice on Main, over other local rinks, is the skate aids that they offer. The plastic walker-shaped aid has handles and gives children 12 and under something to hold on to instead of the railing on the side of the rink. These are first-come, first-served, and is an additional $3 rental fee. Be sure to arrive early to secure one, as they sometimes run out during peak times.
Skating is open to all age skaters. However, the smallest rental skate is a children’s size 8, and the largest adult size is a Men’s size 13.
Skate Rentals Are Included, But You Can Bring Your Own
Bringing your skates won’t save you money on tickets, because rental skates are included in the admission price.
But for those who skate regularly or plan to, bringing your own skates is definitely an option.
If you think you or your child will be on the ice all winter long, purchasing them a pair of skates might be a good idea. You could continue the fun at The Pavilion in Taylors after Ice on Main is done for the season.
Out On The Ice
Each session is an hour long, and while they accept walk-up skaters if space allows, making a reservation is recommended. There’s a restroom right next to the rink and a concession shed with drinks and snacks. To make the most of the hour, try and take care of potty breaks before your session begins. There’s no place to secure your belongings while on the ice, so only bring what you can carry if everyone in your party will be on the ice.
Sessions are hour-long and are non-refundable. Check Ice on Main’s Facebook page before heading out, as sometimes the weather will close the rink. Ticket prices are $10/person and free for kids ages 2 and under weekdays and $12/person on Saturday & Sunday. There is a $2/skate aid walker rental. Tuesdays are $5/person after 3 pm.
The 2024/2025 Ice on Main season will begin on November 25th and run through January 20th, 2025. Operating hours vary on Holidays. For the Holiday Hours, check the times on the Ice On Main website.
Monday – Thursday | 2-9 PM
Fridays | 2-10 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 11 AM – 10 PM
Birthday Parties
Did you know you can rent the ice rink for a birthday party or other special event? You can! You receive $2 off per ticket and must purchase 30 tickets to receive the discount and rent the rink.
Private bookings are available Monday through Thursday (2 – 5 pm), with blackout dates for discounted rink rentals.
Ever heard of the Tryon Christmas Lights?Millions of lights are on display through more than 2 miles of entertaining Christmas lights in the Christmas Wonderland Light Show at the Tryon International Equestrian Center only an hour from Greenville, SC. We have visited Winterfest each year for several years, and we’re bringing you all the 2024 details.
Media tickets were given so Kidding Around could review the Christmas Wonderland and Winterfest Village. We have updated this review with 2024 dates and details.
Watch our 2024 Visit to Winterfest at TIEC
About the Lights at TIEC
In one of our area’s best drive-through Christmas light displays, the Christmas Wonderland Light Show has set up millions of lights synchronized to an orchestra of holiday music in Tryon, North Carolina at the beautiful Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), just an hour from Greenville, SC.
Winterfest Village is a great add-on to the drive-through light show with ice skating, s’mores, live music and entertainment, and lots more.
2024 Dates for the Christmas Wonderland Light Show: November 22, 2024 through January 5th, 2025. Winterfest Village happens Fridays-Sundays November 29th through December 23rd, 2024.
Christmas Wonderland | Tryon, NC
If you’re familiar with Saturday Nights Lights during the warmer months of the year at the TIEC, the light show and Winterfest Village happens at the same location. The Christmas Wonderland Light Show happens every night from 6-10 pm, November 22, 2024 through January 5th, 2025. I’ve been to several drive-through light displays and this is absolutely one of the very best ones out there.
What to Expect at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
When you get off at the exit for the TIEC, you’ll see signs directing you toward the light show, which is across the bridge if you’re coming from Greenville. Hang a left after the exit for 74 West onto a gravel road, where you’ll follow the road down to a bridge that you’ll go under and be directed to the entrance to the light show.
Tune your radio to 92.9 FM so you can listen to the music and watch the lights dance along.
Once you pay the entrance fee, turn off those headlights and start your adventure. This is drive-thru only and you can’t get out of the car during the ride. There are millions of lights over about two and a half miles. The road twists through tons of light displays and both kids and adults will be awed by the lights, especially as they sync up to the Christmas music.
You can only go through once with your admission so go slow and take it all in. It took us about 25 to 30 minutes to go through the whole light show. Once you are through the synchronized lights, you head into the TIEC through a back entrance and enjoy silly and creative Santa light displays.
The first time I took my kids, they were 8 and 5. Now they are 11 and 8 and they still loved it. They were blown away by all the lights and thought the music was upbeat and fun. The tunes are a mix of traditional and newer Christmas music. They wanted to go through it again when we were finished.
Winterfest Village at the Tryon Resort
Winterfest is back! Every Friday-Sunday November 29th, 2024 through December 23rd, 2024, families can head to the Legends Plaza which is transformed into Winterfest Village. Admission to Winter Village is $18 per person. The paid activities include Grinch & Whoville experience, Santa Meet-and-Greet, bounce houses, and carousel rides. Ice skating is also an additional fee, beginning at $15.
Meet the Grinch
Tryon Mini’s Pumpkin and Daisy
Evening closing parade
Visits with Santa
Carousel Rides
Bounce House
Live Music and Entertainment
Shopping
S’mores & Storytelling
Ice Skating
Winterfest Village includes ice skating in 2024, which is super fun! The rink is situated right in the middle of the action in the area where normally the horses compete. Your ticket to ice skating includes an hour on the ice (real ice, by the way). And the ice skates are probably the nicest skates I’ve ever rented. You can also bring your own skates.
Tickets for ice skating starts at $15 each and kids ages 4 and up can participate. You can purchase timed skating tickets online or at the gate. Ice skating at the TIEC will run through January 1, 2025. You can even have a birthday party or field trip here!
And don’t forget to get hot chocolate right next to the ice skate rental tent. It is delicious, nice and chocolatey. There is Christmas music playing and the atmosphere is festive and fun. People who don’t want to skate can hang out at the picnic tables next to the rink or enjoy the other activities in the same area such as the ice slide, bounce house, kids horse jumping area (they can jump over obstacles like horses), or mechanical horse.
Santa’s Workshop & Breakfast at Winterfest
Both kids and adults can take professional photos at Santa’s Workshop during Winterfest. Photos are for purchase but they have such a cute and cozy setup along with an elf who will welcome you and introduce you to Santa.
The Tryon Resort also has Breakfast with Santa available Saturdays November 30th through December 21st, 2024 . Seatings are from 9 am to 1 pm. Tickets include a kid-friendly breakfast buffet and must be purchased ahead of time. Tickets are $10 and free for ages 4 and under.
Information You Need to Know About Christmas Wonderland & Winterfest
The Christmas Wonderland light show happens daily from 6 – 10 pm, including holidays. Expect to wait a bit more if you go on weekends versus weekdays.
2024 admission to the light show is below:
$45/car or family van (8 passengers or less)
Admission grants you one pass through the light display for the date you chose.
Will you plan on going to Winterfest and the Christmas Wonderland Light Show in Tryon this year?
