My neighbor Vince’s Christmas lights display
One of the best things about the holiday season is the Christmas lights—it almost makes it feel OK that it’s starting to get dark as I’m on my way home from work to see homes and businesses and city streets lit up with festive displays of lights. Looking out my own front window, I can see my across-the-street neighbor Vince’s front yard full of holiday lights, and it’s so cheery.
If you don’t have a Vince in your neighborhood, or if you just can’t get enough of holiday lights and want to see more, here are some places where you can go to see some impressive displays:
The Greenville Pickens Speedway Upstate Holiday Light Show has a traditional light show and one just for kids, and the whole thing lasts 30 minutes. You can either drive around the track to see everything, or park and enjoy the show, tuning your car radio to 104.3 FM for the traditional show or 92.1 FM for the kids’ show. Santa’s workshop, ice skating, and a petting zoo/pony corral are also available, so you can make an evening of it! Cost: $20 per car (additional $5 for ice skating and $10 for pictures with Santa, although there’s no charge to visit the workshop). Address: 3800 Calhoun Memorial Hwy, Easley, SC 29640
Anderson Lights of Hope
Anderson Lights of Hope has 5 miles of lights, and in addition to enjoying the light show, you can feel good about the fact that 100% of the proceeds go to benefit children and adults with disabilities in Anderson County. There is also a Santa Village, and on December 23rd, a Princess Night with Elsa. Cost: $10 per vehicle, or $20 for a bus with 15 or more passengers. Address: Old Country Farm Circle, Anderson, SC 29625
Hollywild Lights Safari is always a popular one, allowing visitors to drive through the 100-acre park to see the lights, stop by to see Santa and his animals in Santa’s village—and get a panoramic view of the lights from Mrs. Claus’s attic, and drive through the Enchanted Deer Forest for an extra $10 per vehicle and feed the animals from your car! Cost: $6 per person (children under 2 free). Address: 2325 Hampton Rd, Inman, SC
Hollywood Lights Safari
For an indoor experience, check out the holiday laser shows in the planetarium at the Roper Mountain Science Center! Choose from A Trans-Siberian Christmas or Holiday Wonderland for an unforgettable show (not recommended for children under 5). It’s advisable to purchase tickets ahead for this one and arrive early. Cost: $8 per person, or $4 for RMSC members. Address: 402 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville, SC 29615
Facebook user Jimmy Medlin alerted me to the 5M Farm Holiday Light Show in Powdersville, and Maggie Powers posted a video of a very cool lights display on our Facebook page—it’s located on Burris Road in Lyman, and the lights are on from 6:00–10:00 p.m. For a list of neighborhood displays in the Greenville area, courtesy of Greater Greenville Area Homes, click here. And there are plenty more across the upstate, which you can find at Upstate Christmas Light Shows (an interactive map of those displays can be found here).