10 Magical Christmas Towns In South Carolina

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When the holiday season finally arrives, there is nothing like it. Some of my favorite holiday activities are exploring holiday light displays, wrapping presents to place around the tree, visiting magical Christmas towns in South Carolina and seeing smiles on everyone’s faces!

I moved to South Carolina when I was 50 years old. The first couple of years living here, I struggled with the warm weather in December just not allowing me to get into the Christmas spirit. Fortunately there is so much to see and do in South Carolina and so many of the towns in South Carolina make it so easy to get into the Christmas spirit!

What is your favorite thing to do for the holidays? If you are looking for some fun holiday activities and visiting some of the magical Christmas towns in South Carolina sounds like fun to you, I have rounded up this list of some of my favorite magical Christmas towns in South Carolina for you!

10 Magical Christmas Towns in South Carolina

Camden

If you like the idea of experiencing a Colonial style Christmas, Camden is a town that you need to visit this Christmas season. The town comes alive with Colonial holiday celebrations such as fun colonial games, 18th century goodies and treats and more old-fashioned fun!

Rock Hill

Have you ever pictured yourself inside a Christmas village like those that you see in the Christmas stories that you read every holiday season? A trip to Rock Hill will put you there!

For the last decade and a half, Rock Hill converts into charming, holiday-inspired Christmasville. Festive music, holiday treats, Christmas carolers, ice skating, an outdoor art village and more greet you when you walk into Christmasville. Speaking of which, if you want pair of skates, visit Wow Skates.

Photo via Travel & Leisure

Aiken

Aiken is one of South Carolina’s most magical Christmas towns. In this charming town, you can find a large Christmas craft show, a beautiful downtown tree lighting, a festival of trees (held in the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum), an exciting walk-through holiday light display with over 100,000 lights, Christmas caroling, an annual parade (the Hoofbeats and Christmas Carols Parade) and more.

Hartsville

Downtown Hartsville turns into “Christmas on Carolina” during the holidays. This magical Christmas town in South Carolina transforms as the storefronts take on a festive charm with holiday music playing in the background and every Thursday night you can hop in a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through downtown.

Newberry

When you think about magical Christmas towns in South Carolina, Newberry is definitely one of those towns! Beginning with the Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony which features festive live music, booths with local artists and organizations, festive foods, and more! Plus, every Friday in December you can enjoy North Pole Lights and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Greenwood

Greenwood becomes a magical Christmas town with downtown lit up in bright white lights, festive decor, and more. This all kicks off with the Holiday Open House, which features shopping, arts and crafts and even a grape walk! Plus, one weekend during December, you will be able to visit Santa.

Conway

Conway is a great place to celebrate the holidays with fun, holiday-inspired celebrations beginning in early November with the annual snowball drop! The town will fire a “snowball cannon” with over 1000 ping pong balls, each with a store name and prize number written on it.

Photo via Conway Alive

Each of these will offer the winner a coupon, or gift for your holiday shopping to begin. Later in the month, you can enjoy the Conway Holiday Open House. Once December arrives, you can enjoy the holiday tree lighting ceremony, two different “Rivertown Christmas Celebrations” and more!

Charleston

Charleston can hardly be considered a town, but a list of magical Christmas towns in South Carolina, simply would not be complete without adding it to it.

The Holiday Festival of Lights is an annual favorite that is often mentioned around the country. With a display of over 2 million lights, train rides, an old fashioned carousel, Santa’s Village, Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, photos with Santa, holiday crafts and sculptures, shopping, Christmas Carolers, live music, marshmallow roasting and more you will find all of your Christmas celebration wishes coming true!

Spartanburg

Is there anything more charming than a Victorian Christmas? Every December, Spartanburg is celebrated by turning into a Victorian-inspired downtown with its “Dickens of a Christmas” celebration. This celebration features festive music, live window displays, Christmas carolers dressed in Victorian style clothing, ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and more!

Greenville

Visiting Greenville during the holidays you will be greeted with an outdoor ice skating rink and multiple celebrations. These celebrations include the tree lighting ceremony, a Poinsettia Christmas Parade, free outdoor holiday movie, a window decorating contest for the local businesses to take part in, a Saturday market, live holiday music and more throughout the season.

Photo via Greenville

All of the places on this list are some of the most magical Christmas towns in South Carolina that are fun to visit during the holidays. Which ones are your favorites? Do you have any more that you would add to this list?