What’s higher than staying toasty heat within the consolation of your automobile whereas coasting by the area’s largest drive-thru vacation mild show? Roasting marshmallows on a bonfire! The annual Vacation Lights on the River is one in every of Columbia’s greatest Christmas mild shows – however there are some things to know earlier than you allow residence.
Study in regards to the schedule, admission, occasions, and ideas for taking advantage of the two.5-mile drive by the Vacation Lights on the River in Columbia, South Carolina.
Vacation Lights on the River Map
use this map: Click on the icon within the top-left nook to open the Map Legend, then click on on any of the legend gadgets to show extra data. When you have a Google account, click on the (very faint) star on the finish of the map’s title to avoid wasting this map to your account, then entry the map out of your smartphone throughout your journey.
Vacation Lights on the River Schedule in 2023
The Vacation Lights on the River opens on November 23 and continues nightly till December 31, apart from Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
The drive-thru mild show is open from 6 p.m. till 10 p.m.
The doorway gate on St. Andrews Highway opens with Saluda Shoals Park earlier within the day. However shortly earlier than sundown, the highway is closed close to the big parking zone beside the sports activities fields. The parking zone turns into a winding loop staging space for the lengthy line of automobiles earlier than the occasion begins at 6 p.m.
Professional Journey Tip
Plan to reach an hour early to drive by the Vacation Lights on the River. Arriving later ensures a 1-2 hour wait earlier than beginning the drive by the lights.
Vacation Lights on the River Admission
Admission to the Vacation Lights on the River is $25 per car, $50 per passenger van, and $75 per bus. Guests will pay with money or a card, however a transaction payment is added to all playing cards.
Vacation Lights on the River
Over 1,000,000 lights are the guts of the Vacation Lights on the River. The 2-lane, unmarked highway is a one-way thoroughfare throughout the occasion. The sunshine shows are on each side of the highway and hanging within the bushes.
Many shows are sports-themed as a result of the Irmo-Chapin Recreation Fee operates Saluda Shoals Park. However you’ll discover loads of Christmas shows, like Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and elves using bicycles. Animated shows like Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus enjoying tennis, snow falling over Santa in his sleigh, and indicators alongside the highway added to the wonderland.
There was quite a bit to see, with lights on each side of the highway and generally hanging over the highway. Greater than half the route was surrounded by darkish woods and profoundly peaceable.
It takes about 45 minutes to drive by the two.5-mile mild show.
Vacation Lights Actions
The Environmental Middle is about two-thirds of the best way by the driving route. A number of actions on the public constructing are excellent for stretching your legs and having fun with the festive occasion.
Distributors promote marshmallows, scorching chocolate, and scorching apple cider. In case you convey your personal s’mores components, you’ll be able to roast the marshmallows on the roaring firepits.
Santa’s Claus’et Present Store is contained in the Environmental Middle. The small reward store options arts and crafts from native artisans which may make an excellent Christmas reward. Kids can write letters to Santa at a small crafts desk.
Catering by Tin Can Kettle Corn offers a tasty snack throughout the respite from the drive.
Professional Journey Tip
The one restrooms on the Vacation Lights on the River are within the Environmental Middle.
Santa on the Vacation Lights on the River
Santa seems on the Vacation Lights on the River on choose nights. Skilled images and packages are supplied throughout the occasion.
Get images with Santa on Friday and Saturday nights from November 24 till December 9 after which nightly from December 15-23.
Attending to the Vacation Lights on the River
The very first thing to find out about attending to the Vacation Lights on the River is that you don’t use the Bush River Highway entrance! Through the Christmas vacation mild show, Bush River Highway is the exit.
The doorway to the Vacation Lights on the River is on St. Andrews Highway. In case you’re utilizing GPS navigation or Google Maps, use the handle 6071 St. Andrew Highway, Columbia, SC, to get the proper turn-by-turn instructions.
Ideas for the Vacation Lights on the River
The Vacation Lights on the River is a simple Christmas occasion in Columbia to attend. However with some additional preparation, it might be the perfect Christmas occasion of the 12 months. Listed below are a number of tricks to profit from it:
- Arrive not less than an hour early, particularly on the weekends. As soon as entry begins, getting the automobiles within the ready space into the park can take as much as thirty minutes.
- Convey snacks and drinks.
- Convey money for the admission payment.
- Flip off your headlights and use solely the daytime working lights or parking lights whereas driving by the show.
- Use your brakes sparingly, and the individual behind you can be grateful.
- The highway by the park is an unmarked two-lane highway. If you wish to cease for a second, are likely to the household, or seize some images, pull off to the aspect so the opposite automobiles can get round.
- Cease someplace to make use of the restroom earlier than getting in line – it takes about 30-40 minutes to succeed in the Environmental Middle from the doorway.
