Looking for some holiday family fun? The holiday laser shows at Roper Mountain Science Center take place in their planetarium. These shows are full of festive music, holiday graphics, lights and holiday cheer. We sent a local mom to check out the show and asked her a few questions about her experience and what her family thought of the show. Here’s a local mom review of RMSC’s Holiday Laser Show.
Thanks to the Roper Mountain Science Center for providing tickets to make this review possible!
Looking for more holiday things to do in Greenville? Don’t miss our Holiday Guide to Greenville. It’s loaded with events, things to do, Santa sightings, holiday lights, shopping and more!
About the Holiday Laser Shows at Roper Mountain Science Center
We sent local mom and KAG graphic designer, Darah, to check out a holiday laser show at Roper Mountain Science Center. After her visit we asked her questions about her experience. Here’s what she said:
KAG: What is a laser show? Darah: A laser projection show that is choreographed to music.
KAG: What show did you go to? Darah: The Holiday Wonderland showing
KAG: Did you bring your kids? What ages are they? Darah: Yes, the kids I brought were 6, 8, and 12
KAG: What kind of music was played? Darah: Holiday classics such as Rudolph, Frosty, Jingle Bells, Blue Christmas, Little St. Nick, Carol of the Bells
KAG: Lasers are super cool but could be scary to kids sometimes. How did your kids react? Did you notice the reactions of other kids attending? Darah: They were in awe. They are super bright and very fast. KAG Addition: The light show is recommended for children 5 and older. Children with sensory sensitivities may be overwhelmed by the lights and sound of this show. Parents should consider this before attending.
KAG: Pretend to be Goldilocks – was the music too loud, too soft, or just right? Darah: Just right
KAG: Had you ever been to the planetarium before? Was the show what you expected? Why or why not? Darah: I have not been. The energy and variety of the songs they illustrated was great. My favorite was the Snow Miser with dancing penguins. I wish there were a little less of the cartoon-y graphics and more of the rotating and spinning graphics. The graphics were geared more towards kids.
KAG: RMSC cautions that children under 5 probably won’t be comfortable or enjoy the show. Is it geared more towards older kids and adults? Darah: I think the graphics are better for kids. I do think kids under five would be overwhelmed and have a hard time sitting through it.
KAG: How long are the laser shows? Darah: about 40 minutes
KAG: Are there cartoons or graphics in the show or is it all lasers flashing around? Darah: There are all kinds of cartoon graphics and moving characters.
RMSC Holiday Laser Show
Want to check out a holiday laser show? You can choose from two shows: A Trans Siberian Christmas and Holiday Wonderland. Check out the schedule below and then purchase tickets for RMSC Laser show online. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. The ticket cost is $8 per person per show. Member ticket cost is $4 per person per show.
Friday, December 13, 2024 4:30 pm: Holiday Magic 6:00 pm: Nutcracker Fantasy 7:30 pm: Trans Siberian Christmas
Saturday, December 14, 2024 4:30 pm: Nutcracker Fantasy 6:00 pm: Trans Siberian Christmas 7:30 pm: Holiday Magic
Friday, December 20, 2024 4:30 pm: Nutcracker Fantasy 6:00 pm: Holiday Magic 7:30 pm: Trans Siberian Christmas 9:00 pm: Holiday Magic
Saturday, December 21, 2024 4:30 pm: Holiday Magic 6:00 pm: Nutcracker Fantasy 7:30 pm: Holiday Magic 9:00 pm: Trans Siberian Christmas
Love ice skating and want to have a fun winter experience doing the winter sport in Greenville, SC? We’ve got just the place for you at the Bon Secours Wellness Arenafor Skating on the Big Ice.
I love ice skating in Greenville, SC and honestly, I can ice skate and not fall (often). I just can’t stop, which means I’m eternally grateful for all the space at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and the sideboards. I had plenty of opportunities to practice though and teach my kids a little about how to hold their own on the ice at Skating on the Big Ice, which happens in December at the arena.
What will you see when you head to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for some ice skating this December? Take a look at this video for a little sneak peek.
Skating on the Big Ice
The Bon Secours Wellness Arena has been offering Skating on the Big Ice for several years and I’ve always had such a great time with my family there. The ice rink is enormous – the same size they use for the Swamp Rabbits hockey games – and there is plenty of space no matter how many people are skating.
The atmosphere is quite festive as Christmas music is pumped into the arena. Feel free to sing along to the tunes – it’s fun! Even if you are awful at ice skating, you can use a complimentary ice walker that you hold onto and push along in front of you as you skate. Or you know, cling to the sides as you test your skating skills.
There are also fun sleds to pull younger kids along the ice. I tried this solely for the reason of writing it about it. It looked hard because you have to not fall yourself while dragging a kid along with you. It wasn’t exactly easy but it wasn’t hard either. The sled slid easily along the ice and the hardest thing was trying to make sure I didn’t hit anyone else while dragging it along (mission accomplished).
Two Hours of Skating + Skate Rentals
You get two hours of skating time with your admission and your skate rentals are included in the ticket price. The employees at the arena are so incredibly kind and helpful. We had to switch out our skates a few times to find the right size and they were accommodating and patient.
The woman at the rink helping people with the ice walkers was totally on top of her game, switching them out quickly and helping people on and off the ice. And I had cut my finger while tying the skates onto one of my kids and an employee quickly got me a Band-Aid. Everyone was wonderful and I want to give a shout-out to all the employees helping to make that experience a good one for all the people participating.
Parking at the Arena: Bon Secours Ice Skating
You get to be a VIP when you go skating at the arena because you can park in the VIP lot right off Church Street. It’s exciting, I promise. And parking is free so even better.
When you pull into the lot, park all the way to the left near the fence and look for signs pointing to the back entrance to the arena. Don’t go up the stairs as you would for an event at the arena. You’ll walk down a ramp on the left into the back entrance to the secret door and begin your adventure.
Skate Roll & Stroll ADA Sessions
The arena again usually offers Skate Roll & Stroll ADA sessions for 2024. These are totally free and equipment is provided. 2024 dates are December 23rd and 30th from Noon-2 pm both days.
Santa at Skating on the Big Ice
Not only can you go ice skating during Winter Break but if you weren’t able to get Santa photos, you can do so at your session before Christmas. Santa is there ready to pose for free photos (bring your own camera) with a pretty Christmas tree. Santa’s Wonderland will be open December 21st-23rd during ice skating sessions.
There are also concessions available for purchase like hot chocolate and soft pretzels. Yum.
Tickets and Skates
Tickets are $15 per person and include your skate rentals. You can also bring your own skates. We saw plenty of expert skaters whirring past us who definitely knew what they were doing and brought their own skates.
You can purchase Skating on the Big Ice Tickets online or just buy them when you get there. You’ve got two full hours of skating per session so there’s lots of time to enjoy the ice. Ice walkers and sleds are first come, first serve. They have plenty of ice walkers though. Tickets are card only, cash is not accepted.
The smallest size skate the arena has is 7 little kids. We saw kids as young as maybe four years old skating. It was impressive.
Tips to Enjoy Skating on the Big Ice
Here are a few ways to get the most out of your time skating on the big ice:
Wear socks that go way above your ankle. Skates go high up above your ankle and need to be tied tight. To avoid the skates rubbing against skin, be sure to wear crew socks or the like.
Go to the bathroom before you start skating. They have restrooms on site.
It’s chilly at the rink. Wear layers, bring a hat and gloves, and maybe a scarf. I hate being cold so I brought all the things just in case I needed them!
Parents/non-skaters can sit and watch in the stands if they don’t want to skate. So if you’ve got grandparents in town that aren’t that active, this would still be fun since they can hang out and watch their grandkids attempt to skate.
Get there around 10 minutes early before your session so you can pay and get your skates to get the most out of your two hours skate time.
If you have experienced a Greenville, SC winter, free things to do are everywhere! We’ve gathered up our favorite free winter activities near Greenville, SC. And some are inexpensive… which in this case means the total cost of the activity is less than $20 for a family of four to do.
Winter can put a damper on outdoor activities because of the cold but do not fear, here’s a list of free and inexpensive things to do in the Upstate, South Carolina that will keep you and your kids from crying boredom and will help relieve that cabin fever.
A quick tip: if you don’t have one already, we highly recommend purchasing a Greenville Attractions Dining & Value Guide ($25), which has great coupons to use at not only tons of restaurants in the area but also has vouchers for many entertainment venues and attractions and significant discounts off of admission to several businesses in the Upstate. I saved over $200 last year using it.
Typically staying in your neighborhood is a good idea, especially if the roads are bad (and it’s free). Ideas for improvised sleds: tape up the seams of larger cardboard boxes with duct tape, use pool toys, a large cookie sheet, lunch tray, tops of garbage cans, an old car hood, laundry basket, or plastic kiddie pool. [disclaimer: don’t blame us if these ideas don’t work]
But if you’re looking for something more (that does cost money) KAG readers recommend Maggie Valley, Moonshine Mountain, and Jonas Ridge, which are all in North Carolina.
Winter Hikes are free (depending on your hiking location) and have lots of fun. Enjoy the crisp, fresh air and a hike without the sweltering summer heat! Caesars Head State Park has particularly stunning views year-round. We have 6 Upstate Winter Hike locations for you to try.
Explore Falls Park on the Reedy in Downtown Greenville to watch the ducks and geese swim around, they are usually there all year. Then you can stroll the streets of Downtown Greenville and window shop. Camperdown Plaza is also pretty fun to walk about, with art in every corner.
Library: Both the Spartanburg and Greenville County library systems are enormous and they have a ton of free stuff to do – virtual storytimes, craft kits, and special online events. Most branches have free parking but the ones downtown do charge anywhere from $1-$2.
Enjoy the fish at the small aquarium at Bass Pro Shops on Woodruff Road and have your kids pick out their favorite wild animal on display all around the massive store.
Continue kindness! Just because the holiday season is coming to a close, shouldn’t mean the end of being kind and thoughtful. Write a nice note for a service member and send it with a care package, bake cookies for your local firefighters, volunteer for Meals on Wheels, and catch up on thank you notes for all those Christmas gifts.
Inexpensive Things to Do During the Winter in Greenville
On sunny days, take your young kids to play in the enclosed outdoor playspace at Swamp Rabbit Cafe after a bike ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. You can grab a hot chocolate or snack from the market to enjoy.
Family Fun Gym at Acrosmith Gymnastics is offered Monday – Thursday at 9:00 am and 10:15 am, Wednesdays 9:00 am, 10:15 am, 11:30 am, and Fridays at 9:30 am.
It is an open gym with parent participation, remaining within the arm’s reach of the child. Kids get to bounce around on trampolines, try the balance beams, and test their ninja skills on the obstacle course. You must pre-register. Registration closes at the start of Tot Time. The cost is $6 per session, and sessions are limited to 50 children – winter schedule is available online.
Spend time at the TRee House Cafe & Art Studio in Travelers Rest where your kids can make art right at the table while you enjoy a warm cup of coffee.
Visit a Trampoline Park: Take children ages 6 and under to SkyZone, for Little Leapers hour every Saturday from 9 – 11 am. It’s $15.99/child and parents/caregivers jump for free.
If you buy a membership pass to BigAir, it works out to be inexpensive fun. They offer open jump as well as Toddler Time, Homeschool Jump, and Cosmic Nights! That coupon book we mentioned earlier can really save you a good bit at Big Air too.
Head to Kids Play & Cafe, where your kids can play dress up and make-believe, climb the indoor play structure, slide, and run around all within the safety of the indoor play place. Younger children and babies may enjoy Village Play in Fountain Inn or Palmetto Proper in Travelers Rest as well.
If you live near Greenville, SC, what winter free things to do are you most excited about?
Are you searching for “Santa mailboxes near me”? Or a place where you can drop off your letter to Santa in Greenville, SC? We’ve gathered up the information for all of Santa’s mailbox locations near Greenville.
For places to see Santa, don’t miss our Santa Sightings List full of places to see Santa this year.
Where to Find a Santa Mailbox Near Greenville, SC
Writing letters to Santa is such a joy for kids and their parents. The innocence they have at those ages is precious, isn’t it? After they are done writing out their letter, there are places here in the Greenville, SC area where kids can drop their finished masterpiece and send it on to the North Pole.
If he’s able, Santa will respond to these letters as long as they have a legible return address on them so don’t forget that important part!
Bass Pro Shops (Formerly Cabela’s) in Greenville Head to Cabela’s where you can visit with Santa and get a free photo (reservation required). You will also find a letterbox at Santa’s Wonderland to send your list. You can pop in any time the store is open to mail your letter.
Letters to Santa in Easley SC You’ll find four different drop-off locations for Letters to Santa in Easley this year!
Easley City Hall – 205 N 1st St.
Easley Police Department – 220 NW Main St.
Larry Bagwell Gym – 111 Walkers Way
Easley Fire Department Station One – 1089 South Pendleton St.
Lilies on Main 100 N Main Street, Fountain Inn This mailbox is in front of Lilies on Main in Fountain Inn. The mailbox is up starting November 20th and all letters will receive a reply within three business days (this is a pretty efficient Santa we must say). Be sure to put your child’s name on the letter and you can pick it up at the flower shop through December 14th, 2024.
The Farmhouse Easley 105 Gettys Lane, Easley, SC The Letterbox is located at Apartment 1211 in Building 125 The Farmhouse will have a letter box where you can submit your letter to Santa to, and receive a reply! Letters must be received by December 15th.
Anthony’s Family Lights 902 Whitemarsh Ave, Simpsonville (34.6944731, -82.2951430) This is the big Anthony’s Family Lights annual home display. They have a Santa mailbox and a big holiday light display.
Courtyard by Marriott- Downtown Greenville 50 W Broad St, Greenville, SC While you are out and about taking a look at the Festival of Trees in Downtown Greenville, you can drop off your Santa letter at the Courtyard Marriott on Broad Street.
Where can you find Christmas Tamales in Greenville, SC? Tamales at Christmas time are a staple in Mexican homes, and there are places in Greenville and Spartanburg that can help you bring this delicious tradition to your holiday table!
These labor-intensive treats are usually made in huge batches by a group of Tias (Aunts) all crowded around a kitchen. If you don’t have a bunch of Tias or the time to make your own tamales, it’s ok. Kidding Around’s Melanie is going to help you find tamales to enjoy this Christmas!
Fill your table with amazing food for the holidays from local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and more. We have full meals, desserts, sides, charcuterie, take-home kits and so much more! Here’s all the amazing holiday food in Greenville, SC.
Miss the local farmer’s markets in the winter? We’ve got the scoop on Greenville’s longest running 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.
BioWay Farm
About the Toasty Farmer
After years at an Upstate brewery, the Toasty Farmer had a new location last year: New Realm Brewery right in downtown Greenville, at the old Cigar Warehouse. It continues to reside there for the 2025-26 winter season.
Our love of supporting local businesses, artists, and makers makes The Toasty Farmer a perfect fit for all of us at Kidding Around, and we so appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the best of the Upstate all in one place, especially during the drearier winter months.
The Toasty Farmer launched in 2015 as an outlet to provide farm produce and goods during the winter season (in addition to bringing customers to the brewery).
Adrienne Hawkins, the creative force and the first Executive Director of the Travelers Rest Farmers Market at Trailblazer Park, is the founder of The Toasty Farmer. She wanted to create a cozy indoor experience during the colder winter months where artisans and farmers could thrive.
New Location
The Toasty Farmer had its home at Brewery 85 for seven years but moved locations after the brewery shut its doors in 2023. After one year at Fireforge, the market moved to New Realm Brewing, which offers an indoor/outdoor setup across from the Greenville Drive stadium.
And because of the new location, the Toasty Farmer’s market has been able to add many new vendors, which is awesome! Guests will be able to shop from over 50 local vendors every week.
“Market goers can expect a unique experience with these partnerships providing high-quality coffee, lunch and treats from Fireforge Kitchen and Sum Bar, food trucks, and local crafted brew each Saturday, plus the best vendors come from all around to join the winter farmers market, and it is like a reunion every year,” said Hawkins.
Doors are open Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm starting in mid-November through March.
The Toasty Farmer’s 2025-26 Season
The Toasty Farmer will be located at New Realm Brewery in Greenville. In addition to the 50 vendors, there is also music and food trucks.
Indoors you’ll find all the great, local vendors that make the Toasty Farmer the Upstate’s longest-running winter farmers market, selling things like soaps, candles, farm-fresh produce, trout, cheese, elderberry and ciders, tomato pies, pimento cheeses, and many unique specialty sweets from cupcakes to delicate and perfect macarons.
I’ve been to many farmers markets and the Toasty Farmer has some of the very best vendors. They are all local and make their own products. I’ve found some local artisans there that I still purchase from years later. A vendor list will be added to the Toasty Farmer website but they also do a great job of highlighting them on their Facebook page and Instagram page.
The kids’ favorite vendor has a sweet pastry that we allow them to dig into while shopping, and I enjoy browsing cheeses from the creamery and perhaps purchasing a local wine or beer. When the weather is warmer, the kids can run around outside while the parents enjoy a beverage at one of the picnic tables, while in cold and rainy weather we seat them with a snack and relax and enjoy the atmosphere indoors.
Courtesy of The Toasty Farmer
Visit The Toasty Farmer
This is the eleventh season for the Toasty Farmer, which runs November through April, 2025 and 2026 every Saturday except for some additional select dates.
912 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 864.300.4809
There are lots of places to Shop Local in Greenville! Check out our whole Shop Local Greenville Guide. You’ll find everything from local food to locally owned shops, and places to purchase great locally-made gifts.
As if seeing holiday lights and the beauty of downtown Greenville could be any better – it just did. Introducing the Kidding Around Holiday Greenville Bike Taxi Tour. We did it and have all the info on this new, must-do holiday item for your family.
When Greenville Bike Taxi opened in Greenville, SC as the only pedicab biking down Main Street, owner Phil thought it’d be a great fit. Bikes use no gas. They are eco-friendly. They allow guests to really take in the sights and sounds of our beautiful downtown. And really, they are just plain fun.
And fun is exactly what we had with Phil when he took us on the new Kidding Around Holiday Tour designed specifically to enjoy the beautiful Christmas season and see lots of fantastic Christmas lights.
About Greenville Bike Taxi
Phil grew up in Greenville and moved to the coast to go to school. In Charleston, he ended up working for a bike taxi company and loved it. He peddled all over King Street and through the historic district, taking people to restaurants, markets, bars, and on shopping trips. Literally, anywhere they wanted to go.
When he decided to move back home to the Upstate, he wanted to bring that same experience to Greenville. So he did. After obtaining the necessary permits and navigating all the business paperwork, Phil opened up Greenville Bike Taxi in the spring and people have loved it.
It’s easy to see why. It’s such a unique way to get around town and since Greenville is so beautiful and since there is lots to see, it’s far from a boring way to be stuck in traffic on Main Street.
If you’re in town and want a bike taxi, just call the bike line, 864.293.3065, and they’ll come get you! A standard ride is $8/person for 10 minutes. We’ll give you pricing info on our holiday tour below.
Greenville Bike Taxi Downtown
The Kidding Around Holiday Bike Tour
You all know how much we love tours, right? But they are all driving tours. Now we’ve partnered with Greenville Bike Taxi to offer a Kidding Around Holiday Tour!
Here’s where you will go:
The Gingerbread Competition at the SpringHill Suites
The Hyatt Regency to see the Festival of Trees
Earle Street to see the Santas – like literally dozens of them – that line the street
The entire tour is an hour long and it’s one of the best tours we’ve done downtown. Phil cranks up the Christmas tunes and you’ll get people waving at you the whole time you’re in the pedicab. Honestly, my daughters and I felt like celebrities. It was our 15 minutes (well, an hour) of fame.
Greenville Bike Taxi in front of the Hyatt
My daughters (ages 12 and 9) were just elated the entire time. They loved watching Main Street fly by and enjoyed all the stops, especially the ride down Earle Street. The novelty of being in a pedicab was a joy.
But as an adult, I absolutely loved it also. It’s just a view you don’t usually get and Phil was a great bike rider (even though he didn’t let me try to ride the bike, ya know, insurance and all that!).
I also loved it because it’s literally your own private tour. You aren’t squished in anywhere with strangers. You’re squished in with your loved ones and nice and snuggly while stopping to see all the cool stuff around town during the holidays.
Tips on Enjoying the Kidding Around Holiday Bike Tour
You’ll want to read through these tips so you can enjoy your holiday bike tour with Greenville Bike Taxi.
Dress warmly. It’s chilly so bring hats and gloves and wear a warm jacket. Phil has blankets, which are nice and warm.
Charge your phone for photos. I find that my phone batteries die faster in colder weather so bring your phone charged to document your fun night.
Rides are an hour long. The tour is an hour long but you’ll stop at the two hotels and can use the restrooms if needed.
Each bike can fit a bunch of people. You’ll be able to squeeze in up to three adults and two small children, or two adults and up to four small children.
Holiday bike tours will go to around Christmas. You’ll be able to book your tours daily from December 4th-22nd, 2024.
Greenville Bike Taxi in downtown Greenville
Booking Your Kidding Around Holiday Bike Tour
Tickets for the Kidding Around Holiday Bike Tour are $50/adults, $30/child (2-12), no charge for infants (under 2). Standard ride rates are $8/passenger for 10 minutes. Extended city cruises are 80¢/minute per passenger. If you’d like to change it up or go to a special place, just ask Phil. He’s pretty awesome.
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.
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.
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.
