Holiday events in the Midlands

Cirque Dreams Holidaze is on stage Dec. 6 at the Koger Center of the Arts.

HOLIDAY Events

It’s that time of year again.

The weather is cooling off and before we know it, neighborhoods will be filled with twinkling lights hanging from rooftops. It’s truly one of the most exciting and joyful times of the year.

Here you’ll find our annual holiday guide, which breaks down the season’s events. Some of the area’s bigger events like lighting of the South Carolina State House Christmas tree and caroling, have yet to be announced as well. So keep your eyes and ears peeled for even more exciting things to do around town.

We’ll be sure to do the same and note them as they come.

Have a safe and wholesome holiday season, Columbia.

ONGOING

Riverbanks Zoo Lights Before Christmas

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, riverbanks.org/. Light show at the zoo run through Nov. and Dec.

“Carolina Lights”

Dec.3-26. South Carolina State Fair, scstatefair.org/. Drive-thru light show at the state fair grounds.

NOVEMBER

Winter Decoration Ornament

Nov. 5. One Columbia, parksandrec. columbiasc.gov. Learn to make the Japanese Komekomi ornaments at the Columbia Art Center.

“ELF the Musical”

Nov. 8-9. Koger Center of the Arts, kogercenterforthearts.com. Musical based off the beloved holiday film “ELF.” “3 Redneck Tenors”

Nov. 10. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. Musical comedy featuring America’s Got Talent finalists. Vista Lights

Nov. 17. The Vista, vistacolumbia.com, Annual celebration with vendors and entertainment, plus the lighting of the Vista Tree. Live local music, too.

Columbia Music Festival Association presents “The Nutcracker”

Nov. 23, 25 and 27. CMFA, cmfaonline.com/ events/. Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet puts on a Christmas classic ballet, “The Nutcracker.”

“Mannheim Steamroller Christmas”

Nov. 25. Koger Center of the Arts, kogercenterforthearts.com. Live concert that brings holiday favorites to the stage.

Santa’s Swingin’ Christmas Party is Dec. 10, 17 and 19 at Columbia Marionette Theatre.

DECEMBER

Homegrown Christmas

Dec. 1. Sumter Opera House, sumteroperahouse.com. Local musicians are featured in the charity Sounds of Grace’s holiday concert. Christmas in Cayce

Dec. 1-3, 10. Greater Cayce West Columbia

Chamber of Commerce, cwcchamber.com.

Various holiday events held in Cayce, with a holiday parade on Dec. 10. “Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

Dec. 1-11. Chapin Theatre Company. chapintheatre.org. Play follows the comedic salvaging of an annual Christmas pageant. Holiday Market

Dec. 2-11. Fine Arts Center of Kershaw

County, artscenterkc.org. Holiday market featuring local arts and crafts. Mark Rapp’s “Christmas by Candlelight”

Dec. 3. Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, artscenterkc.org. Columbia’s Mark Rapp leads a jazz concert featuring Christmas classics. “A Christmas Carol”

Dec. 3 (two performances). Harbison Theatre, harbisontheatre.org. A production based on the beloved Christmas film.

“The Nutcracker”

Dec. 4. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. Classical

Christmas ballet performed a short drive away in Newberry. “Cirque Dreams Holidaze”

Dec. 6. Koger Center of the Arts, kogercenterforthearts.com Broadway-style production infused with a circus-style performance.

Dec. 8. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. Original production filled with beloved music of the season, superb staging, and tremendous artistry. “Christmas with the Celts”

Dec. 9. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. Musical production with ancient Irish carols and dancing. “Christmas Time is Here”

Dec. 9. Columbia Museum of Art, columbiamuseum.org. Musical performance by ColaJazz’s Little Big Band at the Columbia Museum of Art.

“Christmas with the Celts”

Dec. 10. Sumter Opera House, sumteroperahouse.com. Musical production with ancient Irish carols and dancing. “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Dec. 10. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. Musical production with ancient Irish carols and dancing. An American holiday classic theater production. “Nutcracker”

Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18. Koger Center of the

Arts, kogercenterforthearts.com. Annual ballet featuring an enchanting Christmas story. Santa’s Swingin’ Christmas Party

Dec. 10, 17 and 19. Columbia Marionette

Theatre, cmtpuppet.org A holiday variety show with live music and puppets! “Holiday Pops” featuring the S.C.

Philharmonic

Dec. 11. Harbison Theatre, harbisontheatre. org. Holiday musical performance led by director Morihiko Nakahara and the S.C. Philharmonic.

Nova Ballet Theatre Presents “The

Christmas Angel”

Dec. 16, 17 and 18. Harbison Theatre, harbisontheatre.org. An original, Christmasoriented ballet.

Koger Center Jazz - 3rd Annual Eve of the

Eve Celebration

Dec. 23. Koger Center of the Arts, kogercenterforthearts.com. Holiday Jazz concert on the, you guessed it, eve of Christmas Eve.

“Nutcracker”

Dec. 23-27. Township Auditorium, thetownship.org. Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet will put on the classic Christmas ballet.

Find more things to do this season at free-times.com/events

Gift your loved one a South Carolina Aquarium membership! Not only can they visit the Aquarium as often as they like, but they’ll receive benefits like special pricing, access to exclusive member events, discounts to local area businesses and more.