Posts Tagged ‘Greenville SC’

Upstate’s Only Walk-Through Holiday Light Display Now Open at Heritage Park: Simpsonville, SC

The Nights of Lights is a brand new, 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. The brand-new event features beautiful light tunnels, a massive igloo, a petting zoo, lots of fun photo ops, ice skating, food, and carnival rides.

They also have several different discounts and are open nightly through December 31, 2023. 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.

For more things to do over the holidays, see our giant list of 100+ Things to do Over the Christmas Holiday season.

Night of Lights at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, South Carolina — Nights of Lights

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.

There is a giant, life-size inflatable igloo, which is just really cute to walk through. 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 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! I had pretty awesome skates and was able to skate like I would on an ice rink. One of my kids almost mastered skating, but my other daughter wasn’t as coordinated. We all had a blast doing it though.

Skating is $10/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 small camel, fluffy sheep, goats, alpacas, a super fluffy baby Highlands Scottish Cow, and a bull with massive horns. You can purchase feed cups for a few dollars to feed the animals. They looked very happy and well taken care of.

Camel at Night of Lights — Petting zoo at Nights of Lights

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. It costs $3 for a birdseed stick and it’s so fun to get in there with them. My daughters and I loved interacting with the little birds.

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.

Photo ops at Night of Lights — 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.

Rides are one ticket per person and tickets are $3/each. Or you can buy in bulk, which is a little cheaper: 12 tickets for $30.

Santa is also scheduled to be at Nights of Lights on November 24 & 25 and December 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17 from 5:30-9:30 pm. Photos are $5 using your own phone or camera.

Food & S’Mores

Nights of Lights offers lots of yummy food options. We got a funnel cake, which was utterly amazing. We also roasted our own s’mores at the fire pits located near the rides, which was a blast.

Other food options are nachos, fries, onion rings, and chicken tenders – all the tasty fair foods.

Roasting s'mores at Night of Lights — Roasting s’mores

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.

And, lastly, getting to speak with the management and learn all the behind-the-scenes things they are doing to make it affordable 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 20-December 31, 2023. Hours are Sunday-Thursday 5-10 pm and Friday-Saturday from 5-11 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 on Sunday-Thursday are $10/age 16+ and $8/ages 6-15. Friday and Saturday ticket prices are $12/ages 16+ and $10/ages 6-15. Kids age 5 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 a non-perishable food. One free admission per food item per person.
Tuesdays: Free admission with a toy donation for Toys for Tots. 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.

For more holiday light displays, see our big Guide to the Best Holiday Light Displays in the Upstate.

Night of Lights at the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
861 SE Main Street, Simpsonville
Website | Facebook

17+ Things to do Over Thanksgiving Break in Greenville, SC

Are you looking for things to do during Thanksgiving in Greenville, SC? Local mom Kristina Hernandez shares her list of things you can do as a family over Thanksgiving break, including volunteer opportunities, events, and even local hiking spots. Whether you are on your own or have family visiting for Thanksgiving, this is the list you need for a great holiday weekend.

(more…)

Unique Gifts in Greenville, SC: Shop From These Makers and Artists

Looking for handmade and one-of-a-kind unique gifts from artists and makers in Greenville, SC? Earlier this year, our team at Kidding Around decided that we really wanted to highlight local artists and makers in our Upstate, SC community. There are so many talented individuals that we knew were out there and we wanted to shine a light on them and their talents. So we created a weekly Facebook post series that highlighted a new maker or artist every Wednesday.

And while we have an awesome Shop Local Guide, we wanted to put all of the makers and artists we’ve highlighted this year in one post so you can peruse them at your leisure and maybe snag a few Christmas gifts for loved ones from people right here in town, supporting local businesses while getting something totally unique.

(more…)

Learn to Make Incredible Bread from Local Homestead in Fountain Inn, SC

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make real bread with freshly milled whole grains for your family, the class you need to take is the Daily Bread class from Bluebird Homestead in Fountain Inn. We did and have all the delicious details you need!

I love bread. Carbs are my BFF. And while I’m not the best baker (don’t make me measure anything, please), I can get by. So when a friend asked me to go to a bread making class with her daughter and my own girls, I was all in.

What I didn’t realize is just how much vital information I would be taking away from the Bluebird Homestead Daily Bread class. My head was spinning by the end with all the knowledge I learned from Liz Roessner. This isn’t a regular baking class. It’s much, much more. Read on to learn why.

About Bluebird Homestead and Liz Roessner

Liz and her family moved to the Greenville area in 2021 and she was already a pretty awesome baker. She would give loaves of bread to neighbors, families, and friends for gifts and had a solid background on ancient grains, grain milling, and nutrition. And Liz is really smart. She worked in nuclear cardiology for more than a decade.

“That gave me an extreme love for whole foods that serve and heal our bodies,” she said.

Her family moved to the Upstate due to her husband’s job and Liz continued her practice of gifting amazing loaves of bread to neighbors. It was through one of those neighbors, who suggested that she check out becoming a vendor at the Simpsonville Farmers Market. So she did and that turned out to be a big hit.

Liz would bake for 14 hours every other week and sell out of everything. Her Ezekiel bread and Cinnamon Sugar loaves were customer favorites. Customers started asking about baking classes so Liz met those requests and started teaching others how to mill grain and bake bread and lots of goodies.

“I could sell you a loaf of bread and feed you for a day but I could teach you how to bake bread and feed your family for generations,” she said.

She and her family live in a beautiful farmhouse on a few acres and have chickens, ducks, goats, and rabbits. She even has a little boutique shop with all the coolest baking and milling gear. She sells those as well as lots of different types of grains.

Learning about Grains

When I walked into Liz’s kitchen (which is my total dream kitchen by the way – white cabinets, a big island, stools, gas stove – gorgeous), she was using her Mockmill grain mill to grind hard red and hard white wheat for our class. It was a loud contraption but oh-so-cool. I felt like I was walking in on Laura Ingalls’ family, except a lot more modern and without the hand grain mill or outhouse.

I would later learn that that mill grain mill was at the heart of what we would be baking today.

Liz has a very soft and sweet demeanor, which is excellent for teaching. She is also a homeschool mom of three kids, which meant my kids were about to get a great lesson in science and homemaking. Total win. Also, I mention Liz’s demeanor because she gives you a lot of useful information that you may not have known about the bread you are eating from the grocery store (spoiler alert: it has almost zero nutrients due to processing) and yet she doesn’t make you feel terrible about it. I really appreciated that.

We started with an education about grain and its makeup. She has samples of many different types of grain and the processes it goes through that takes out all the superfood nutrients that it was designed to have in the first place. Essentially, all flour you buy in the grocery store is lacking in the nutrients that grain has because once the outer shell is broken, you have 72 hours to bake with it before it loses those incredible nutrients and starts to spoil. This is why that grain mill is essential to your at-home whole grain baking experience.

I felt bad thinking of my All Purpose flour at home I had just bought knowing that it was basically useless for providing my family with all that goodness that grain has. But again, Liz didn’t make me feel terrible about it – she is so good at providing you with useful information and kind of just letting you think about it.

We learned there are over 30 different types of grain and the gluten varies in each one to a lot of it to none of it and why you need to know that info when you’re baking. This was all completely new information for me and it was like stepping into an entirely other world of interesting food concepts. Liz is a decent artist and drew what a grain looks like on a little whiteboard, which was totally fascinating. I love science so this was fun.

Let’s Get to Baking

Once we had our grain lesson, it was time to get to the good stuff. Liz had already given us each a muffin she had made that morning and it was so delicious. I could immediately tell the difference between pastries made with any other kind of flour versus what she served straight from freshly-milled grains.

These classes are for both kids and adults but since we had a few homeschooling kids, they helped to pour the ingredients into the Bosch mixer Liz has. This mixer is the granddaddy of all mixers. It is very powerful and meant to mix flour made from whole grains. If you use a KitchenAid mixer to do this, you may blow out the motor since that is made for All Purpose flour (just FYI!). Whole grains have a very density and fiber content, which requires a stronger motor.

We got the dough mixing and let it sit for a bit to do its thing while Liz talked to us about dough reading. This is basically being able to look at the dough when you’re ready to make it the nice texture it should be before kneading. There isn’t a set amount of flour to add as it depends on what the dough is telling you. Liz is obviously a dough whisperer.

We were baking eight loaves today, which is enough for Liz’s family of five for almost a month. She keeps one loaf out when she bakes eight and freezes the other seven after slicing them. She said we can take about 3-6 hours every month to achieve the same.

The time went by fast as we let the dough rise, ate some snacks and lunch we brought, and browsed her shop. There is plenty of time to ask questions and Liz is a wealth of knowledge about baking so I took full advantage of that!

Once the dough was ready to weigh and roll out, we got to choose what kind of bread we would make. Liz made two pizza rolls and oh my gosh, they were incredible – so soft and flavorful and just simple. She showed us how to slam the dough on the counter to get the air bubbles out, how to roll it out and how to add cinnamon and sugar for that kind of bread (both my kids made those and they turned out oh-so-good).

They had to rise again before baking, which gave us more time to ask questions and learn. Liz gave us a tour of the shop and showed us the 12 grains she had in stock and what was unique about each of them. She had hard red, soft white, rye, spelt, millet, oat groat, and others. I was just amazed at how much she knew about them. I felt like my head was spinning with all this new knowledge.

So Many Options for Baking

Liz gave us a ton of great ideas for the dough she taught us to make. She showed us how to use it to make English muffins, bagels, and pretzels. I was hooked on the bagel and pretzel concept. Those are my ultimate weaknesses when it comes to carbs.

She talked to us more about the grain miller and how you can use it to make flour out of dried beans and corn. I had no idea this was a thing. I had no idea a lot of what she taught us was a thing. But it was so traditional and simple and comforting. And the final product really spoke for itself. The difference in eating this bread made from true whole grains was a world apart from eating bread made from literally anything else.

When our four hours were up, we got to head home with not only all the knowledge Liz bestowed on us but a loaf of bread. That bread barely made it a few hours at home before we dove into it.

One of the bigger questions I had was about the kitchen equipment she was using. A grain miller is pretty much a necessity if you want to do this at home. They are upwards of $340+ depending on the model, which is quite the investment. Add that Bosch mixer and it can look daunting. Liz really encouraged us to do our own research though and try to look at it from a long-term perspective on your family’s health and wellness. Spending money now could potentially pay off in the long run in a huge way in terms of doctor bills, health, and overall happiness (tasty bread = happy people!). It’s something I’ve been pondering since the class.

Taking a Class

Liz doesn’t have a regular schedule of classes yet but she does have a waiting list of people who want to take the class and can accommodate private class requests. It’s best to email her to get on her list (Bluebirdhomesteadsc@gmail.com) and follow her Facebook page for updates on classes and which markets she will be at and when classes have openings.

You can also shop at her store, which has everything from the grain mills to the Bosch mixer to measuring cups, silicone baking mats, and pounds upon pounds of fresh grains.

Classes are four hours long and the Daily Bread Class is $50/person or $80/family pair. She offers homeschool families a discount of $60 for a parent/child pair or $65 for a parent/child/child trio for weekday classes only. Also, this would make an amazing experience gift for Christmas or a birthday.

I would a hundred percent recommend this class with Liz. Even if you don’t walk out of there wanting to live on a homestead and grow all your own food and grain, you’ll learn so much and perhaps pick up a new way to feed your family that is tastier and healthier than you’d ever expect.

Bluebird Homestead SC
Fountain Inn, SC | Bluebirdhomesteadsc@gmail.com
Bluebird Homestead SC Facebook page

Wondering where you can buy local bread in Greenville SC? We have a whole list just for that.

Buy Local Bread: Greenville, SC

Southernside Brewing Co: Brewery Creates Ultimate Christmas Experience in Greenville, SC

Southernside Brewing Co. in Greenville, SC has completely changed their brewery this Christmas season into a winter wonderland and is inviting the public to enjoy special events all season. This is Southernside’s second annual “Miracle at Southernside” with floor-to-ceiling decorations, lights, and animatronics. Favorite holiday cocktails return, along with some items to try.

From November 21 – December 31, 2023, Southernside Brewing Co. in Greenville has completely revamped the inside of the brewery to resemble a winter wonderland and Christmas-themed pop-up bar for their Miracle event all throughout the Christmas season.

See Southernside at Christmas for yourself

Here’s a video of last year’s Miracle at Southernside Christmas decor.

There are moving reindeer, snow-covered trees, lollipops, Mr. & Mrs. Clause people, lights strung throughout the entire place, and huge ornaments in the floor-to-ceiling display. Really, you must see this to believe it.

Southernside Brewing Co. says in a press release about the event that “Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit!”

Miracle at Southernside

Miracle kicks off at Southernside Brewing Co. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 exclusive holiday cocktails and specialty beers like the Christmapolitan, Christmas Crocket, and Rudolph’s Replacement. They also have amazing and delectable hot chocolate.

So. Many. Lights.

GVLtoday got the scoop on just how many lights and other cool things that are a part of Miracle Pop-Up:

40,000: Lights
1,000: Ornaments
1,000: Feet of tinsel and garland
800: Feet of ribbon
750: Square feet of snow
75: Wrapped presents
50: Decorated trees and wreaths
40: Elves
12: Themed cocktails each in a unique glass
10: Nutcrackers
4: Life-sized Santa Clauses

Weekly Happenings

Miracle at Southernside Brewing Co. is also doing daily specials if you can’t make it to one of the bigger events!

Wing Wednesdays: $1 wings

Thursday: $10 burger + pint night

Southernside Brewing Co.
25 Delano Drive Unit D, Greenville
Southernside Brewing Website

Celebrate At Home With A Charcuterie Board in Greenville or Spartanburg, SC

Ever considered enjoying delicious food in a festive way with a charcuterie board? There are plenty of places to hire a local charcuterie artist to make a celebratory charcuterie board in Greenville, SC. While they’re not one of the easiest things to pronounce, they’re easy to look at (and even easier to eat).

The delicious french trend of displaying meats, cheeses, and other delectable morsels together might be tricky to say. But with our help, finding a local charcuterie artist won’t be difficult. We’ve listed out some local places where you can order full charcuterie boards, ingredients, and hand-crafted boards that are a work of art even by themselves.

Charcuterie Boads to Order: Greenville

Charcuterie Boards: Spartanburg

What is a Charcuterie Board?

(more…)

50+ Holiday Light Displays Near Greenville, SC

Are you looking for the best places to see Christmas lights near Greenville, SC or Spartanburg, SC? 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.

Golly with Christmas Lights, Greenville SC

Drive-thru Light Displays Near the Upstate

Businesses with FREE light Displays

Lighting Displays and Ceremonies

Nearby Christmas Lights: Upstate Homes with Free Displays

More Lights: Worth the Drive

While we do our best to offer accurate information, please check with these venues and organizations before visiting. Please help keep Kidding Around Greenville and Spartanburg content free by not copying and reproducing this content without permission.

Drive-Thru Holiday Lights Near Greenville and Spartanburg

Anderson Christmas Lights across from the Anderson Civic Center Thanksgiving, November 23 – December 25, 2023
It includes 3.5 million Christmas lights!

Cost $10 per car
Opens at 5:30 pm each evening
Special entertainment is listed on their Entertainment Schedule

Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park in Easley, SC opens Thanksgiving through December 31, 2023. In addition to driving through the dancing lights, guests can also visit a winter wonderland and Santa’s free petting zoo.

Cars, SUVs, Trucks, and Minivans – $35
Sun-Thurs 6 pm-10 pm
Fri & Sat 6 pm-11 pm

Christmas Wonderland and Winterfest Village – This drive-thru light experience at the Tryon Equestrian International Center is a real family treat. There are also live shows on select nights. The show runs nightly from November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024, from 6-10 pm. The Winterfest Village is open weekends in December through December 23rd from 5-9 pm.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Weekdays: $30/cars, Weekends: $35/cars (additional costs for larger vehicles)
Winterfest Village: Some activities are free but most require a wristband, which cost $10-12/child 12 and under. Winterfest happens Friday-Sunday 5-9 pm starting December 1, 2023 and ending December 23, 2023.

Night of Lights at Heritage Park in Simpsonville at Heritage Park is a walk through light display with rides, ice skating, and a petting zoo. It runs November 20th, 2023 – December 31st, 2023. Hours are Sunday-Thursday 5-10 pm and Friday-Saturday 5-11 pm. Tickets are Sunday-Thursday $10/ages 16+ and $8/ages 6-15, under 5 are free; Friday-Saturday $12/ages 16+, $10/ages 6-15, under 5 are free. Check their website as they have different promotions and discounts nightly.

Holiday Lights Trolley Tours with Main Street Trolley operate in Spartanburg, SC December 13-15, 2023 and the cost is $15.

Oconee State Park Holiday Light Show will be a walk-through or drive-through event! Trees will be lit with beautiful lights and holiday displays. There will be a Santa workshop while you grab hot chocolate and coffee.

The Magical Music Holiday Light Show at Seneca’s Norton-Thompson Park is a FREE event and fun for the whole family! Dates are from November 17th, 2023 to December 31st, 2023.

Holiday Putt Through Lights at Takeoff Minigolf in Greenville: You can walk through a big holiday light display while playing mini-golf. The special event opens November 24, 2023 and runs Thursday-Sunday until December 30th. Tickets should be reserved online and are $15/adults, $13/kids.

[2023 info has not been announced] Lake Lure Flowering Bridge: This is a short day trip from Greenville but totally worth it. The Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure, NC is free and during Christmas, they light it up and you can walk through the display and garden! See our story on the cool bridge, which also includes things to do in the Chimney Rock Village just down the street (I’d recommend getting hot chocolate). The lights will remain on through the first week of January and a holiday celebration will take place on November 30th at 5:30 pm.

Lighting Displays and Ceremonies

Holidays at the Zoo– (Select dates in December) Walk through the Greenville Zoo and be dazzled by thousands of lights, festive decorations, and holiday music. Tickets are timed, and advanced registration is recommended. The zoo will be closed from December 24th – 25th. Other dates are open from 4 pm to 8 pm. You can purchase tickets online.

Christmas on Limestone in Gaffney with Laser Light Show– (December 1st, 2023) There will be a parade, laser light show, and a Main Street celebration in Gaffney.

2023 Festival of Trees – Come see the holiday trees on display from November 17th, 2023 to December 25th, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown and the Courtyard Marriott Greenville Downtown. FREE

Tiny Town Easley, SC– A piece of the small town South lives on, in tiny form! Over 80 tiny structures adorned with lights, Christmas decor, and lots of character make up Tiny Town. The display is open nightly from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day (closed when raining). They also have hot chocolate, hot coffee, a bonfire, and select dates of visits with Santa.

City of Seneca Tree Lighting and Magical Musical Holiday Light Show in Seneca – Join the mayor on November 27th, 2023 at 5 pm for this fun-filled holiday tradition of lighting the Christmas Tree at Norton-Thompson Park. The Christmas Parade follows at 6:30 pm. The Magical Musical Holiday Light Show runs November 17th-December 31st nightly from 5:30-10 pm.

Holiday Hop: Travelers Rest, SC Tree Lighting and more (November 27th, 2023) Tree Lighting, Christmas kids craft station, stories with Mrs. Claus, selfies with Santa all on Main Street in Travelers Rest, SC.

Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony (December 7th, 2023 at 6 pm) – Sing-a-longs, free hot chocolate, cookies, and letters to Santa. Free.

Mauldin Tree Lighting (November 30th, 2023 at 5 pm) – Enjoy holiday music and tree lighting at the Mauldin Outdoor Amphitheater behind the Mauldin Cultural Center.

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greer City Park (December 1, 2023 at 5-8 pm) This family-friendly event also includes a visit from Santa. Be sure to head over to Trade Street for dinner before or after the event. The full event starts at 5:00 pm.

Night of Lights: Greenville Christmas Tree Lighting (CANCELED December 1, 2023 at 5:30 pm) TREE LIGHTING ONLINE This event will have live music, vendors, food trucks, and more starting at 5:30 pm.

Dickens of a Christmas- (December 5th, 2023 from 6 to 9 pm) Tree lighting in Spartanburg, SC. The event also includes a Victorican-style Christmas celebration throughout Downtown Spartanburg. Enjoy live music, vendors, horse and carriage rides, living window displays, and more.

Holiday Lights at Hidden Pasture Unicorn Farm– You can explore the unicorn farm and enjoy the Christmas lights Fridays – Sundays from November 17th – December 23rd. Lights and a movie start at 5 pm. Prices are $12 for 18+ and $14 for kids 3-17 years old.

Pelzer Light People – These are a group of fun individuals that dress up in lights! They have a schedule of where they will be in December 2023.

Free Light Displays at Organizations

Bethel Baptist Church | 403 Sulphur Springs Road, Greenville
Drive-In Light Show with multiple songs, 2 mega trees, thousands of lights, and lasers, synchronized to station 88.9
5 Point Church | 1039 South Pendleton Street, Easley
Amazing light display with 8 different songs

Nearby Christmas Lights: Check Out Free Holiday Light Displays

Our readers love the Kidding Around Christmas Driving Routes. Our 2023 routes are now up.

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 sides of the street, being sure to leave room for traffic and not block neighbors’ driveways.

Also, we recommend that you check the Facebook page of the light display before heading out. That’s typically where you can find current information on traffic rules, parking, and nights off.

Private Home Light Displays

This list includes displays that were submitted in 2023 by readers and others who are both on our Holiday Light Tour and ones that are not. Their status has been confirmed unless otherwise noted.

This section includes:
Greenville, SC Static Christmas Light Displays
Spartanburg, SC Static Christmas Light Displays

Greenville Area Light Displays

Christmas lights in Greer, SC — 111 Silver Pine Ct | Greer Route

Simpsonville holiday light tour — Display on Dunrobin Lane | Simpsonville – More Info Can Be Found On Our Holiday Tour Location Article

Christmas lights in Easley, SC — Display on Notch Trail | Easley – More Info Can Be Found On Our Holiday Tour Location Article

Display on Whitemarsh Way | Simpsonville – More Info Can Be Found On Our Holiday Tour Location Article

Christmas lights in Simpsonville, SC — Display on Keswick Trail | Simpsonville – More Info Can Be Found On Our Holiday Tour Location Article

Christmas lights in Pelzer, SC — Display on Saddlebred Drive | Pelzer

Spartanburg Light Displays

Christmas lights in Duncan, SC — Wonderland on School Street | Duncan – More Info Can Be Found On Our Holiday Tour Location Article

Nodine Family Lights | Spartanburg Route

Christmas lights in Enoree, SC — Display on SC-92 | Enoree

Anderson County Light Displays

Christmas lights in Anderson, SC — Anthony Family Light Display | Anderson – More Info Can Be Found On Our Holiday Tour Location Article

Christmas Light Displays That Are Worth The Drive

Speedway Christmas Lights – The annual drive-thru Christmas lights at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is super popular. More than 4 million lights over 3.75 miles adorn this display, which runs from Friday, November 17, 2023, to Sunday, January 7, 2024. They are closed on Christmas Day.

Tickets for cars are $35 – $45 and $140-$175 for buses. Fast passes are available for $75 per car (including ticket).

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 (Thursday, November 23rd, 2023 to Friday, December 31st, 2023) Over a million lights on the 2-mile loop of the park. Includes a laser light show, hayrides, tube slide, Santa, and more.

Admission is $25 a family car.

Looking for more lights? Check out the Christmas Lights Displays Around Columbia, SC plus more ways to celebrate the holidays in Columbia, SC.

Holiday Lights on the River, Columbia, SC

Winter Lights – This popular light show at the NC Arboretum in Asheville is a walk-through garden lights experience. The show runs from November 17, 2023 – December 31, 2023 nightly from 6 pm – 10:30 pm.

Here’s our Kidding Around review of Winter Lights
Ticket prices vary by date and start at $30 per car. You can purchase tickets for Winter Lights online for the best price.

Garden Lights at Atlanta Botanical Garden (November 18, 2023 – January 14, 2024) This massive light display includes colored orbs, model trains, and a glittery rain forest.

Christmas Town, USA in McAdenville, NC (December 1 – 26, 2023) This nearby town decks out completely for Christmas. You can either park and walk around the town or drive through (the 1.3 miles takes approximately 30-40 minutes to drive through). The lights are on nightly from 5:30 – 10 pm.
Read our review of Christmas Town, USA here.

World of Illuminations is taking place at one Atlanta area location this year, the Six Flags White Water park in Marietta (November 15th, 2023 – December 31st, 2023). This light display boasts over two million lights synchronized to music and has been named to the Forbes magazine list of Best Light Displays in the US.

Enchanted Safari (Marietta, Georgia at Six Flags White Water)
Starts at $40 per car

Read our review of World Of Illuminations Candy Rush here

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland and Winterfest Village – This drive-thru light experience at the Tryon Equestrian International Center is a real family treat. The show runs nightly from November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024, from 6-10 pm. The Winterfest Village is open weekends in December through December 23rd from 5-9 pm.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland tickets start at $35 per car.
Winterfest Village: Some activities are free but most require a wristband, which cost $10-$12 per child. Winterfest happens Friday Sunday 5-9 pm starting December 1, 2023 through December 17th and December 19th through December 23, 2023.

Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville, NC ( 2023 TBA) This light display is a drive-thru and has lots of great twinkling lights for your family to enjoy. Tickets are $20/car and you need to choose a time for your reservation. Bonus: book a holiday tour of the alpaca farm and Santa visit at Winchester Creek farm, also in Waynesville.

Holiday Light Show at Oconee State Park (December 1, 2023- through January 10, 2024) Take a spin through the campground to enjoy light displays provided by the local community and businesses. Included with park admission.

Home for the Holiday at Marked Tree in Hendersonville, NC ( November 25th, 2023 – December 31st, 2023) This FREE display of lights features the lighting of OTTO, thought to be the oldest Oak tree in Western North Carolina, on Thanksgiving night. For the rest of the year, you can enjoy a lit holiday landscape drive-thru, holiday music, and more.

Holiday in Greenville, SC, Celebrate Christmas, Greenville, SC

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

Be sure to join our mailing list so that you can get our weekend planner each week in your inbox!

Ways Your Family Can Honor Veterans Day Near Greenville, SC

looking for something to do to celebrate Veterans Day Near Greenville, SC? Our country has set aside a special day in honor of the military personal that have served, and are still with us, on Veterans Day. If you’ve served our country, Kidding Around wants to offer a heartfelt thank you for your service.

This year Veterans Day is on Saturday, November 11th, 2023.

Greenville, Spartanburg, and the surrounding areas of the Upstate have several ways you and your family can get out to honor our military. Please note the date and times where provided, as not all events are on Veterans Day.

(more…)

This Indoor Winter Farmers Market Is No Longer a Secret: Greenville, SC

Miss the local farmer’s markets in the winter? We’ve got the scoop on Greenville’s best indoor farmers market and it’s really a lot more than a farmers market. The Toasty Farmer is no longer an Upstate secret; however, parents in the know have discovered that the family-friendly winter farmers market can be the perfect outing on a dreary winter’s day.

(more…)

Santa Sightings | Where to Find Santa Near Greenville, SC

Are you searching for “places to see Santa near me”? Or hoping to run into Santa near Greenville, SC this season? We are tracking his sleigh and reindeer to be sure that you get the inside scoop on where Santa will be visiting this Christmas in Greenville and Spartanburg! This list includes everything from free events to professional photos and even a spot where you can see Santa climb a mountain. Did we miss anything? Let us know at bethany@kiddingaroundgreenville.com.

While we do our best to offer accurate information, please check with these venues and organizations before visiting. Please help keep Kidding Around Greenville free by not copying and reproducing this content without permission.

Stay tuned for even more opportunities to see Santa in 2023! We’ll be updating this list throughout the season!

Mail your letter to Santa!

Here’s a list of Santa’s Mailboxes near Greenville!

Santa on a firetruck in Greenville SC and Spartanburg, SC

Santa’s visiting neighborhoods this year!

Santa’s Firetruck Schedule

Find Santa Near Greenville, SC and Spartanburg

Kringle Holi day Village is back for its 3rd year at Fluor Field and it’s bigger and better than ever! A weekend of holiday fun, this event has something for everyone – visits with Santa, arts and crafts, balloon art, face painting, magic, inflatable games and rides on the field, and new to this year’s event, a carousel! Holiday market shopping, live music and entertainment and delicious food and drink as well! Tickets are just $12 each!

Places to Get Professional Photos with Santa

Santa at Haywood Mall Make a reservation now to see Santa beginning November 10th, 2023. You will need to book and pay for your Santa Magic photo experience in advance. Packages start at $39.99.

Santa at Westgate Mall Visit Santa starting November 17th, 2023 at Westgate Mall. Reservations are highly recommended, though walk-ups will be accepted if there is room.

Santa at Cabela’s 2023 Reservations are now open. Santa arrives on November 4th, and photos with Santa begin November 5th, 2023. Reserve your time slot in advance to visit with Santa at Cabela’s and receive a free 4×6 photo with Santa. Here’s our Kidding Around Mom Review of Visiting Santa at Cabela’s.

Here’s what a visit to Santa at Bass Pro Shops looks like:

Santa at Hidden Pasture Farm’s Yuletide Unicorn Festival: Weekends November 17th through December 23rd, 2023 from 11 am until 9 pm see Santa for visits and pictures. Santa pictures are free to take. Tickets to the festival are $18 each for those 18+, $14 each for those ages 3-17, and babies 2 and under are free.

Holiday Hop & Tree Lighting (November 25th, 2023) Tree Lighting, Christmas kids craft station, stories with Mrs. Claus, FREE professional photos with Santa (available for download after the event) all on Main Street in Travelers Rest, SC.

Greenville Christmas Market at Grand Bohemian Lodge (Select dates with Santa are November 24th, 2023 – December 30th, 2023) Meet and greet with Santa on select dates during the Greenville Christmas Market at the Grand Bohemian Lodge in Downtown Greenville. Hours vary.

Dine with Santa

December 2nd, 2023: Greer’s Breakfast With Santa, Tickets go on sale November 6th and will sell out quickly. Purchase a ticket on November 6th, 2023 at 7:00 pm for online (click on programs/classes) or by phone at 864.968.7008. Maximum of 8 people per table.

December 10th, 2023: Santa Brunch at Avenue. There are three times to choose from, 10:30 am, 12:15 pm, and 1:30 pm. Tickets are $0 – $49, and can be purchased ahead of time.

Celebrate the holidays with Santa near Greenville, SC

Climb With Santa

Here’s a unique Santa visit! Head to Climb@Blue Ridge on Saturday, December 16th, 2023 from 12 pm to 2 pm if you want to go climbing with Santa. The elves will be on hand to belay kids on their climb up to visit with Santa and share their Christmas wishes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Climb @ Blue Ridge (@climbblueridge)

Upstate Events Where Santa Is On the Guest List

may

No Events

june

No Events

See Santa Near the Upstate: Santa Day Trips and Getaways

Select dates in November and December, 2023: Visit Santa at Winchester Creek Farm in Waynesville, NC. Tour of the farm, where they have alpacas (and baby alpacas!), miniature cows and horses, donkeys, and chickens. Kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the comfort of the barn and tickets include a complimentary cookie and candy cane.

December 2nd, 2023: 26th Annual Santa on the Chimney at Chimney Rock State Park. Viewers will get to see Santa climbing down the Chimney (rock that is!). There will be photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live holiday music, letters to Santa, crafts, hiking with an elf, animal meet and greets, holiday shopping, and more! The event is included in park admission.

2023 Dates TBD: Tiny Town in Easley is where you will find Santa visiting and meeting with children. While there, you can also visit dozens of miniature Christmas displays.

2023: Heading down to the Midlands? Check out where to see Santa in Columbia, SC.

Looking for more fun things to do this season? Here’s your magical guide to celebrating the holidays in Greenville, SC.

And here’s your guide to celebrating the holidays in Spartanburg, SC!

Posts Tagged ‘Greenville SC’

The Nights of Lights: Heritage Park Christmas Lights

Ice Skating

The Petting Zoo at Nights of Lights

The Rides, Bounce Houses, and Santa

Food & S’Mores

Honest Mom Review

Tickets, Hours, and Special Promotions

About Bluebird Homestead and Liz Roessner

Learning about Grains

Let’s Get to Baking

So Many Options for Baking

Taking a Class

See Southernside at Christmas for yourself

Miracle at Southernside

So. Many. Lights.

Weekly Happenings

Drive-Thru Holiday Lights Near Greenville and Spartanburg

Lighting Displays and Ceremonies

Free Light Displays at Organizations

Nearby Christmas Lights: Check Out Free Holiday Light Displays

Private Home Light Displays

Greenville Area Light Displays

Spartanburg Light Displays

Anderson County Light Displays

Christmas Light Displays That Are Worth The Drive

Find Santa Near Greenville, SC and Spartanburg

Places to Get Professional Photos with Santa

Dine with Santa

Climb With Santa

Upstate Events Where Santa Is On the Guest List

See Santa Near the Upstate: Santa Day Trips and Getaways

Greenville Guides

Family Fun in Greenville, SC