Top picks for holiday fun – here and on the road
Ice on Main continues through Jan. 15 in downtown Greenville. For tickets, rink updates, promo days and more, visit facebook.com/IceOnMain.
Kringle Holiday Village is Dec. 8 – 10 at Fluor Field. Funds raised support the direct needs of the students, families and teachers of Alexander Elementary School all year. Enjoy shopping, food, entertainment, children’s activities, a silent auction and more. Get tickets and learn more at kringleholidayvillage.com.
Lights, Camper, Action Winter Camp is Dec. 18 – 22 at TCMU-Greenville. Ideal for students in grades K5 – 5, each day will highlight a favorite holiday movie: “Frosty the Snowman” (Monday), “The Grinch” (Tuesday), “Elf” (Wednesday), “Polar Express” (Thursday) and “Home Alone” (Friday). Caregivers can sign their child up for one day or multiple days. For details and registration, visit tcmupstate.org/greenville/wintercamp.
TR Makers Elf Workshop: Gift Making Camp for ages 5 to 12 is 9 a.m. – noon Dec. 20 – 22. Register for one day or all three. For more information and registration, visit trmakersco.org/product/elf-shop-a-gift-making-camp-for-ages-5-to-12/#selected-date-choice-one.
Holidays at the Zoo is at the Greenville Zoo. The event is 4 – 8 p.m. Dec. 8 – 10, 15 – 23, 24 – 25 and 26 – 30. Immerse yourself in thousands of dazzling lights, festive decorations, and cheerful music while you journey through the Greenville Zoo. For tickets and details, visit greenvillezoo.com/322/Holidays-at-the-Zoo.
The 38th Annual St. Francis Festival of Trees continues through Dec. 25 at Courtyard Marriott Downtown and Hyatt Regency Greenville. View the trees for free. All proceeds from sponsored trees assist with transitioning the Bon Secours St. Francis Cancer Center to the nexus of a Cancer Program. For details, visit stfrancisfoundation.com/event/festival-of-trees.
Anderson Christmas Lights continues 5:30 – 10 p.m. through Dec. 25. Admission is $10 per car. The event is held at 150 Rose Valley Blvd. in Anderson, across from the Anderson Civic Center. For details, entertainment schedules and more, visit andersonchristmaslights.org.
The Annual Pigeon Forge Winterfest Celebration in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee includes the free Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail (through Feb. 18), a driving tour of holiday lights displays, Winterfest at the Island, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas and more. For details, visit mypigeonforge.com.
Holly Jolly events begin Dec. 1 in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The Christmas parade is Dec. 2. For details, visit exploreblackmountain.com.
Home for the Holidays continues through Christmas in Hendersonville, North Carolina. For a schedule of events, visit visithendersonvillenc.org/home-for-the-holidays.
Winter Lights is at the North Carolina Arboretum through Dec. 31. Winter Lights is a walk-through light show that also features story times, food for purchase, the “Polar Express”-themed Rocky Cove Railroad and more. For tickets and details, visit ncarboretum.org.
Miracle at Southernside is at Southernside Brewing through December. Events include visits with Santa, parties for kids and adults, and more. Visit southernsidebrewing.com.
Santa’s Wonderland continues through Dec. 24 at Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops in Greenville. Visit Santa and get a free printed 4x6 photo. Reserve a time to see Santa up to a week in advance through the digital reservation system on cabelas.com. Enjoy holiday-themed games, crafts and giveaways. Send a Christmas wish list to the North Pole via mailbox. Reservations are recommended and can be made at cabelas.com/shop/en/santas-wonderland.
The Greenville Christmas Market is open through Dec. 31 at The Grand Bohemian Lodge in Greenville. It includes holiday-themed events, live performances and Kids’ Corner children’s activities (Saturdays, Sundays and Christmas week) and more. Hours and schedules are at greenvillechristmasmarket.com.
“Christmas at Biltmore” continues through Jan. 7. For event details and tickets, visit biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/christmas. Visit with Santa at Antler Hill Village from 1 – 5 p.m. Dec. 2, Dec. 9 – 10, Dec. 16 – 17, and Dec. 19 – 23. Naturalist Talks: Deer are at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday in December at Antler Hill Village’s historic Horse Barn. No reservation required. No minimum age required. Parent or guardian must accompany guests under age 18. To participate in this activity, guests must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s overnight properties. Visit biltmore.com/things-to-do/activities/outdoors/naturalist.
The Omni Grove Park Inn's National Gingerbread House continues through Jan. 2. Guests not staying at the resort are invited to view the display after 4 p.m. on Sundays or anytime Monday – Thursday, based on parking availability and excluding holidays and the following dates: Dec. 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and Jan. 1. All Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for registered resort guests and those with confirmed dining reservations. For details, visit omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park.
Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health is open nightly through Jan. 7 (closed Christmas Eve) at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tickets per vehicle starting at $35 Monday-Wednesday, when the Christmas Village is closed, and $45 Thursday-Sunday, when the Christmas Village is open. Guests can skip the lines and beat traffic with the Fast Pass Lane, accessible off of Morehead Road at entrance P. The Fast Pass Lane ensures a smooth ride at $75 per vehicle on Thursday-Sunday. The Cook Out Tubing Hill is open every Thursday through Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m. For $20 a person, visitors can enjoy unlimited rides on the Cook Out Tubing Hill throughout the night. Those who have experienced the magic of Speedway Christmas will receive a coupon for a discounted rate of $15, while kids 12 and under can join in for $10 each. Admission to Speedway Christmas is not required to access the Cook Out Tubing Hill. Tickets are available at the gate or at charlottemotorspeedway.com.
Holiday events continue at Lenox Square in Atlanta.
Visit with Caring Santa® 9 – 10:30 a.m. Dec. 3 Caring Santa events provide a private Santa visit and photo opportunity for children and adults with special needs with their families. Make Santa photo reservations here.
A Hot Chocolate Crawl is 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza. The event kicks off outside Lenox Square’s main entrance. Attendees can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and appetizers, a free memento and live music.
Pet Photos with Santa – 6 – 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Use the main entrance to access the event.
Mirror Ballerinas perform from 2 – 8 p.m. Dec. 23 in the luxury wing at Lenox Square. Visit Lenox Square News and Events for more information.
Tweetsie Christmas continues on select nights through Dec. 30 at Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Attractions include a 20-minute nighttime train ride in an open-air car pulled by one of the park’s historic steam locomotives on a three-mile route lined with hundreds of thousands of lights, a live Christmas variety show, kid friendly amusement rides, visits with Santa, and more. Advance tickets are required for a designated night with a scheduled train ride time. Single-night tickets for Tweetsie Christmas are $60 for adults (age 13+) and $40 for children ages 3 – 12. Children 2 and younger are admitted free. Tickets include one nighttime train ride and admission to the park. Parking is free. For details and ticket reservations, visit Tweetsie.com.
Margaritaville’s Lakeside Lights Spectacular is at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands in Buford, Georgia through Jan. 15. For details, visit margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-at-lanier-islands/attractions/margaritavilles-lakeside-lights-spectacular.
Other holiday events in and near Lake Lanier include:
Holiday Boat Light Parade at Lake Lanier – Dec. 9.
Blizzard Mountain snow tubing slide
Frosty’s Ice Rink
Snow Island amusement rides
Snowball Alley (fresh snow blown daily)
For other accommodation options, click here.
Holidays in Bryson City – Events include
Polar Express on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad –1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion – Santa will board The Polar Express, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. gsmr.com/events/polar-express.
The Yard Ice Rink – facebook.com/theyardbc
More information: explorebrysoncity.com/blog/post/celebrate-the-season-of-holiday-magic-in-bryson-city.
Christmas events at The Ballantyne in Charlotte
Gingerbread Lane contest benefits Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital. View an enchanting display of gingerbread creations, from novice to professional bakers, open daily from 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 – 24. Attendees may vote on their favorite entries with $1 minimum donation per vote.
Toy Drive – Toys (for birth – age 14, new, unwrapped, nonviolent toys) will be collected through Dec. 15.
More information: theballantynehotel.com
Cirque du Soleil BAZZAR is presented Under the Big Top, Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, on select dates Dec. 16 – Jan. 14. For details and tickets, visit cirquedusoleil.com/usa/charlotte/bazzar/buy-tickets.
“A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas” continues through Dec. 21 at the Flat Rock Playhouse Leiman Mainstage. Ticket prices are $52 – $72. Student pricing is available for ages 17 and younger. For more ticket information, call the Flat Rock Playhouse Box Office at 828-693-0731 or purchase online at flatrockplayhouse.org
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Top picks for holiday fun – here and on the road
