Last Updated on December 3, 2024
Bright lights, festive decorations, and happy memories! Feel the holly, jolly spirit when you take in some of the best and brightest holiday events in and around the South Carolina Upstate.
City of Greenville’s UC Ice on Main
November 25–January 20, 2025
Glide your way into the holiday season at United Community (UC) Ice on Main, an open outdoor ice skating rink in the heart of downtown Greenville. This year, this winter tradition and favorite activity of many is located at Village Green near the Courtyard Marriott. Come out to skate in a true winter wonderland! The rink is open seven days a week, excluding Christmas Day.
Christmas at the Farm
November 29–December 1 & December 7–8 @ 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Make picking out your Christmas tree a day to remember at Evergreen Traditions. Christmas at the Farm is more than just a tree lot. It’s an experience for the whole family full of hot chocolate, s’mores, vendors, games, crafts, live music, and plenty of additional fun holiday activities—all centered around picking out your Christmas Tree. The tree lot has a variety of pre-cut Fraser firs, mostly ranging from 3–9 feet tall.
Greenville Christmas Market
November 29–December 31
Experience the charming festivities of a European Christmas market blended with Southern holiday traditions. Wander through the beautifully decorated Grand Bohemian Lodge, and keep the festivities going with live music, local vendors, holiday-themed food and beverages, and photos with Santa Claus. Bring the whole family and create a new holiday tradition!
30th Annual A Dickens of a Christmas
December 3 @ 6:00–9:00 PM
Join the City of Spartanburg for the 30th Annual “A Dickens of a Christmas” event this winter! This is Spartanburg’s signature yuletide celebration to kick off the holiday season. Enjoy free admission to some of the best vendors in the Upstate, along with signature activities like carriage rides around town. This free Victorian holiday extravaganza is sure to get any Scrooge into the festive spirit.
3rd Annual Greenville Holiday Gingerbread Exhibit
December 4–25
The Greenville Gingerbread Exhibit returns for its biggest year yet! Beginning December 4th until Christmas, the exhibit will be open to the public in the lobby of the Residence Inn/Springhill Suites. Vote for your favorites in two categories: Professional Bakers and Amateurs. Don’t miss this delightful display of creativity and holiday spirit. Check the calendar for live music and visits from Santa.
Holiday Fair and Kringle Village
December 5–7
You won’t recognize the Greenville Convention Center for this event. Instead, enter a Winter Wonderland featuring a massive market of 350+ craft and commercial vendors, roving performers, a European Bier Garden, the North Pole children’s play area, Santa’s Workshop, The Enchanted Tea Party, Little Miss Kringle Pageant, holiday movie night, snowball fights, main stage entertainment, the Grand Carousel, visits with Santa and more!
Christmas Lights & Hometown Nights in Woodruff
December 5–15
You don’t need to go far to enjoy an entire season full of festive cheer, fun events, and holiday magic! Kick off the holiday season at the McKinney Park Lighting on December 5. Then, enjoy photos with Santa and a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown, with special pricing for our local heroes. The Christmas Stroll of Main Street is a chance to get out, explore the town, and support local shops in a festive setting. Adults are welcome back on December 12 for the Wassail Walk, featuring local vendors offering appetizers and holiday drinks. Wrap up the season with the Woodruff Christmas Parade on December 15.
Greenville’s Night of Lights
December 6 @ 5:30–8:30 PM
Come watch Main Street light up while you rock around the 30-foot Christmas tree adorned with 25,550 LED lights. The city will count down the tree lighting with Mayor White and special guest Jane Robelot from WYFF 4. Located in front of M. Judson Booksellers, this exciting free event includes food trucks and vendors, live music, and a special visit from Santa Claus. The official tree lighting will take place between 6:00–6:15 PM, so be sure you come early to ensure you don’t miss out on the magic.
10th Annual “Light ‘em up” Parade of Lights
December 6–7
Hosted by the Western North Carolina Sailing Club, Light ‘em up is an annual event benefitting Toys for Tots and the Good Neighbor Cupboard food pantry. Attendees are invited to bring toys and canned goods to the WCSC clubhouse during the event. The parade includes a contest for the best decorated sailboat and best decorated power boat, with trophies going to the top three in each category.
Additional holiday activities in and around the South Carolina Upstate
- Tour the Christmas tree lightings of Greer, Pickens, Gaffney, and more.
- Come watch (or participate in!) the Poinsettia Christmas Parade in Greenville on December 6.
- Tour the Poinsettia Postcards displayed throughout Greenville’s Main Street plazas in December.
- Shop for unique artisan gifts, seasonal locally-grown fresh produce, gourmet foods, and fresh-cut flowers at the TD Saturday Market – Holiday Edition.
- Experience Ballet Spartanburg’s “The Nutcracker” with the Spartanburg Philharmonic (December 13–15).
- Shop local at a pop-up market in Spartanburg.
About Allen Tate Realtors
Allen Tate is the Carolinas’ largest real estate company with more than 70 offices and 1,800 Realtors in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner of Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest privately held real estate broker in the U.S., with 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title, and escrow service offices and 15,000 sales associates and staff across 13 states. For more information, visit www.allentate.com and www.howardhanna.com.
