Explore family friendly events, theatres, galleries, concerts, nightlife, things to do, and more in the Greenville, SC and Upstate areas.

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Thursday, December 4, 2025
Magic of Lights at Hollywild Animal Preserve
Dec 4 2025 – Jan 3 2026 all-day
Hollywild Animal Preserve

Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort and safety of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of Greenville’s best holiday tradition. Be sure to stop by Santa’s Village and the Enchanted Deer Forest for extra holiday magic! Kids 2 and under are free!

Step into the magic of Santa’s Village, where holiday cheer meets hands-on fun for the whole family. Feed and interact with gentle miniature horses, camels, Watusi cattle, pigs, sheep, alpacas, goats, waterfowl, antelope, and more—and don’t forget to purchase animal food to treat the many residents. Cuddle with bunnies, have your photo taken with a baby kangaroo, snap pictures with Santa in his animal barn, and visit the Grinch at his festive Grinch House.

Savor fresh coffee and pastries at Santa’s Sweet Delights, or enjoy hot cocoa, drinks, snacks, and food from our concession stand. Visit the souvenir shop for fun, colorful, and festive items, and leave your mark on the “feel good” graffiti board. Warm up by a crackling fire pit or the grand bonfire, roast marshmallows and s’mores, and steal a kiss under the mistletoe tree. Pose inside the giant lighted present, then find a picnic table to relax and take it all in.

Santa’s Village is more than a visit, it’s a memory in the making.

2025 National Gingerbread House Competition
Dec 4 2025 @ 6:00 pm – Jan 4 2026 @ 6:00 pm
Omni Grove Park Inn

The Omni Grove Park Inn invites guests to experience the 33rd Annual National Gingerbread House Competition, showcasing over 45 extraordinary edible creations from bakers of all ages. Entries will be displayed throughout the resort from November 18, 2025, to January 4, 2026. The competition, held on November 17, offers more than $40,000 in cash and prizes. While judging is closed to the public, the public is welcome to view the displays after 6 p.m. on Sundays and anytime Monday through Thursday, excluding certain holidays and dates.  Free but there is a parking fee.

Friday, December 5, 2025
Trolls: A Field Study
Dec 5 @ 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.

 

Annual Holiday Fair
Dec 5 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Greenville Convention Center

Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the Annual Holiday Fair!

For 55 years, the Holiday Fair has been a cherished tradition in the Upstate, bringing the joy of the season to families, friends, and holiday enthusiasts alike. Last year, we made history by combining the Holiday Fair with Kringle Village, creating Greenville’s largest holiday event in partnership with the Rotary Club of Greenville. This year, we are excited to continue our relationship with Holiday Fair 2025, benefiting Rotary Club of Greenville.

Don’t miss the magic! ✨

Show Hours:

Thursday, December 4, 2025 ………….. 10-6
Friday, December 5, 2025………………… 10-7
Saturday, December 6, 2025…………… 10-7
Sunday, December 7, 2025……………… 11-6

Parking ……………………………………………….$10.00

The fun continues with the new Sunday Hours, there’s even more holiday magic to enjoy!

Holiday Fair benefitting Rotary Club of Greenville
Dec 5 @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Greenville Convention Center

Holiday Fair benefitting the Rotary Club of Greenville takes place Thursday, December 4th through Sunday, December 7th.

The holiday extravaganza will attract thousands of local and out-of-town visitors and will build on holiday traditions of the past while offering new elements that create memories for the future. Attendees will enjoy more than 500 vendor booths, featuring one-of-a-kind gifts, decorations, accessories and more, an indoor snowball arena, SC’s largest modular train layout, North Pole kid’s play area, visits with Santa and tastings from local favorites Six & Twenty Distillery and Methodical Coffee.

*Early bird pricing ends 12/3. Ticket prices increase on 12/4.

Wild Lights
Dec 5 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Riverbanks Zoo

Select Nights Starting November 21  5:00 – 9:00PM

Come experience the magic of Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden!

Stroll through the Zoo and discover over 60 larger-than-life handcrafted wildlife lantern displays inspired by nature. This interactive event showcases stunning illuminations sure to dazzle guests of all ages. Enjoy nightly snowfall, fun activities, photo ops and visits with Santa (through December 23).

Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!

Night of Lights
Dec 5 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Main Street

Night of Lights

5:30 to 8:30 pm | December 5

Come watch Main Street light up while you rock around our 30-foot Christmas tree adorned with 25,550 LED lights. We’ll count down with Mayor White and special guest, Jane Robelot from WYFF 4, as we light the official City of Greenville Christmas tree 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 and 6:15 pm, so be sure you come early to ensure you don’t miss out on the magic.

Winter Lights Trolley
Dec 5 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Biltmore Park

Winter Lights is excited to provide an all-new premium trolley experience, in partnership with Biltmore Park Town Square and Gray Line Trolley Tours! Skip the lines and ride the Winter Lights Trolley!

Enjoy dinner and shopping at Biltmore Park Town Square before hopping on the Winter Lights Trolley to experience Winter Lights!

Ride the Winter Lights Trolley Friday November 28 and select Fridays and Saturdays in December. Trolleys depart from Biltmore Park Town Square every half hour, beginning at 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 per-person and available select dates only.

First Friday at Greenville Center for Creative Arts
Dec 5 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Greenville Center for Creative Arts

Make Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) your first stop on First Friday! Located in the historic Brandon Mill complex in the creative arts district of West Greenville, GCCA is a perfect place to begin the Metropolitan Arts Council’s monthly art walk.

The Art Center is open for extended hours, 6pm to 9pm, on the first Friday of every month for First Friday activities. In addition to viewing multiple exhibitions from both locally and nationally-recognized artists, at GCCA you’ll have the opportunity to meet the resident working artists, see their studio spaces and works in progress, and learn more about their personal style and artistic process.

The mission of GCCA is to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. Founded by a dedicated group of artists, teachers, and community leaders, the Art Center offers programs for people of all ages, backgrounds, and economic circumstances.

Greenville’s Downtown Trolley (Route 903) provides visitors to the downtown area easy and free transport to the West Greenville area from July through September, every Thursday and Friday, 6pm to 11pm, and Saturdays, 5:30pm to 11pm. For real-time scheduling, download the FindGreenlink app on your phone and come visit!

Madrigal Feaste – Presented by Wade Hampton High School Performing Arts
Dec 5 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Wade Hampton High School

Wade Hampton High School Choral Department presents:
Madrigal Feaste 2025

What is a Madrigal Feaste?
We recreate a Renaissance style feast with a catered meal, costumes, singing, and entertainment. Our Royal Court, Jester, and his colleague, Mertonsire, are excited to introduce our special guest, Admiral Anchorbottom, who will regale you with tales of the sea and there are sure to be some shenanigans along the way! It will be a very “punny” evening and will surely put you in the holiday spirit!

Ticket Details:
Tickets will NOT be available at the door and must be purchased by December 1st. We will have two shows with banquet style seating in the WHHS Castle (magically transformed atrium!). Seating will be first come, first served, so we encourage early arrival to enjoy our holiday market. The Town Cryer will begin announcing the guests at 6:45 and escorting them to the banquet hall.

Friday, December 5th at 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 6th at 7:00 PM
Tickets are $30 and include dinner and entertainment (bad jokes are included for free!).

Saturday, December 6, 2025
Fretwell Holiday Market
Dec 6 all-day
Fretwell

🎄Saturday, DECEMBER 6th @fretwellmarket is having special guest 💚THE GRINCH 💚for keepsake snapshots from 10am-1pm — and of course all of the best in local goods and gifts for holiday shopping!!

Trolls: A Field Study
Dec 6 @ 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.

 

Annual Holiday Fair
Dec 6 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Greenville Convention Center

Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the Annual Holiday Fair!

For 55 years, the Holiday Fair has been a cherished tradition in the Upstate, bringing the joy of the season to families, friends, and holiday enthusiasts alike. Last year, we made history by combining the Holiday Fair with Kringle Village, creating Greenville’s largest holiday event in partnership with the Rotary Club of Greenville. This year, we are excited to continue our relationship with Holiday Fair 2025, benefiting Rotary Club of Greenville.

Don’t miss the magic! ✨

Show Hours:

Thursday, December 4, 2025 ………….. 10-6
Friday, December 5, 2025………………… 10-7
Saturday, December 6, 2025…………… 10-7
Sunday, December 7, 2025……………… 11-6

Parking ……………………………………………….$10.00

The fun continues with the new Sunday Hours, there’s even more holiday magic to enjoy!

Christmas at the Farm
Dec 6 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Arran Farm

Christmas at the Farm is an ALL INCLUSIVE Christmas experience, made for the whole family, full of fun holiday activities, all centered around picking out your Christmas tree. Each ticket includes the following: Unlimited Hot Chocolate, Unlimited S’mores, TCMU Arts & Crafts, Escape Artist Escape Room, Photo Booth, Yard Games, “Chalk Talk” Station, Playground Access, Vendor and Food Truck Access, Live Music and so much more! Please join us and come find your perfect Christmas tree, making memories that will last a lifetime!

Holiday Fair benefitting Rotary Club of Greenville
Dec 6 @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Greenville Convention Center

Holiday Fair benefitting the Rotary Club of Greenville takes place Thursday, December 4th through Sunday, December 7th.

The holiday extravaganza will attract thousands of local and out-of-town visitors and will build on holiday traditions of the past while offering new elements that create memories for the future. Attendees will enjoy more than 500 vendor booths, featuring one-of-a-kind gifts, decorations, accessories and more, an indoor snowball arena, SC’s largest modular train layout, North Pole kid’s play area, visits with Santa and tastings from local favorites Six & Twenty Distillery and Methodical Coffee.

*Early bird pricing ends 12/3. Ticket prices increase on 12/4.

Santa in the Garden
Dec 6 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hatcher Gardens and Woodland Preserve

Santa Claus is coming to Hatcher Garden!

Santa is taking a break from his busy schedule at the workshop and he is bringing Mrs. Claus with him to Spartanburg for a brief visit. Meet them both at the Gazebo on December 6 (St. Nicholas Day), whisper your wish list, and get your picture taken with the Jolly Old Elf! A couple of Santa’s Elves will also be on hand to help you decorate a Christmas cookie to enjoy at the Jess Taylor Pavilion!

Wild Lights
Dec 6 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Riverbanks Zoo

Select Nights Starting November 21  5:00 – 9:00PM

Come experience the magic of Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden!

Stroll through the Zoo and discover over 60 larger-than-life handcrafted wildlife lantern displays inspired by nature. This interactive event showcases stunning illuminations sure to dazzle guests of all ages. Enjoy nightly snowfall, fun activities, photo ops and visits with Santa (through December 23).

Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!

Cayce Historical Museum Open House and Christmas Market
Dec 6 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cayce Historical Museum

The Cayce Historical Museum invites everyone to join us for our annual Open House and Christmas Market
All are welcome to visit the Cayce Historical Museum at 1800 12th Street for our annual Open House and Christmas Market. This year’s festivities will include the new Christmas through the centuries lantern tour, local craft vendors, and cider and ginger snaps. The big man will be on hand for present requests as local acoustic musicians play throughout the house. Come see the museum decked out in holiday splendor and stop by the caboose to snap a photo for your Christmas card!

The Cayce Historic Foundation, certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, relies on donations to fund events at the Museum and historic preservation work in Cayce, please consider helping out with a donation!

Sunday, December 7, 2025
Trolls: A Field Study
Dec 7 @ 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.