Christmas is a magical time in and around Myrtle Beach, and there are too many tree lightings, parades, and events to count... so here are the BEST ones.
1. Christmas in Conway
Christmas Tree Lighting: Thursday, Nov. 30
Celebration of Lights: Nov. 30 – Dec. 24, 5:30 – 10 p.m. $2 per person
Rivertown Christmas Celebration on Thursdays: Living Windows Display, Curtis the Camel, and Holiday Market on Dec. 7; Snowfall Park, Curtis the Camel, and Holiday Market on Dec. 14; Candlelight Shopping, Curtis the Camel, and Holiday Market on Dec. 21
Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.
Conway basically transforms into Stars Hollow (for any of you Gilmore Girls watchers) during the Christmas season. The Rivertown Christmas Celebration offers FREE fun every Thursday in December leading up to Christmas, kicking off with the Christmas tree lighting followed by the living windows display and Snowfall Park (where you can frolic in the “snoap”)—in addition to all the fun on the Town Green with Curtis the Camel, the Shoo Fly Express “train” rides, holiday market with local vendors, and more. Enjoy candlelight shopping on these evenings as stores are open until 8 p.m., and check out live musical entertainment at City Hall. Check out The Great Conway Gingerbread House Challenge at the Black Water Market—or even submit your entry on Dec. 6. Drive through the Celebration of Lights, enjoying a super cheap and cheerful lights display. You can also visit Santa on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6 – 8 p.m. on the Town Green.
2. WILD LIGHTS
Select nights Nov. 17 – Jan. 14, 5–9 p.m; advance registration required (tickets will sell out!); adult tickets range from $19.99–24.99, children 2–12 from $14.99–19.99, children under 2 are free; Santa will be there meeting families through Dec 23
We highly recommend making the trip to Columbia for a brand-new experience: Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens. This breathtaking and magical event is perfect for families looking for something fun to do after the holidays. For 35 years, Riverbanks hosted Lights at Riverbanks–but this year, they started an all-new tradition: Wild Lights, which aims to shine a light on the beauty of nature along with the zoo’s mission of conservation. There are nearly 60 larger-than-life handcrafted lanterns inspired by nature. You’ll see many of the zoo animals you know and love along with some extinct creatures like dinosaurs and wooly mammoths–and even an ice dragon–along with beautiful flowers and plants that set the scene. While you may see some night owls during the event, most of the zoo’s residents are off-exhibit to catch some Z’s. The Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center and Birdhouse aren’t open to the public. One of the coolest parts of the lights is that many of the lanterns move, from salamanders flicking their tails to crocodiles snapping their jaws. Near the train, there’s a brilliant blue 11-foot tall peacock that fans its feathers every few minutes. The show-stopping Lingzhi tree and massive crab in the center of the zoo blow smoke bubbles that the kids will love popping. There are moonlight swings and a light-up stepping board kids will want to try.
3. Nights of a Thousand Candles
Nov. 25 – Dec. 31 (Wednesdays – Sundays), 4-9 p.m. (sold out on most dates)
Members: $30 for adults, $14 for children; Non-members: $35 for adults, $17 for children
This is an annual holiday tradition for our family, and we always get the President’s Council membership to get 8 tickets to this event (as well as 8 guest passes to Brookgreen). Be ready to grab your tickets as early as August to get the dates you want because it sells out super fast! Seeing the gardens come to life as more than 2,700 candles are hand lit along with millions of sparkling lights is as magical as it sounds. Nights of a Thousand Candles is perfect for a date night or a family outing. You can walk the paths at the "Best Christmas Lights in South Carolina" according to Travel+Leisure Magazine. We recommend getting there when it opens to get an uncrowded shot at Live Oak Allee, and then re-walking the paths after it's fully dark for a whole new perspective.
4. The Great Christmas Light Show
Nov. 20 – Dec. 30, 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day)
$15 per vehicle when Santa’s Village is closed, $20 per vehicle when Santa’s Village is open; purchase tickets at the gate only
This drive-through light show in North Myrtle Beach features over 2 million lights along a 2-mile drive throughout the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. Over 500 magical light displays, some up to 55 feet tall, are custom made for the display. After the show, visit Santa’s Village where we love to get an up-close look at the lights on the Santa Express Train Ride ($3 per person), meet Santa, pet and feed farm animals, and enjoy the cool photo ops. Santa’s Village is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ONLY from Nov. 24 through Dec. 10, and then it’s open nightly from Dec. 14-30. We recommend getting there early because the line to get in is no joke.
5. Winter Wonderland at the Beach
Nov. 24 – Jan. 1, lights nightly from 5 – 9 p.m.
Family Fun Festival: Dec. 1, 5 – 9 p.m., Dec. 2, 12 – 8 p.m., Dec. 3, 12 – 5 p.m.
Light up the Night Slow Roll Bike Ride: Dec. 12, 6 p.m., $25 entry (starting at Plyler Park)
Twinkling Two-Miler Run: Dec. 14, 6 p.m. (starting at Grand Strand Brewing Co.)
This free lights display stretches along 1 mile of oceanfront area along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and there’s really nothing like listening to the sounds of the ocean and Christmas music simultaneously while gazing at more than 100,000 lights. This year there will be a NEW three-day Family Fun Festival in Plyler Park with special events—including a tree lighting on Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m., Polar Express Movie Night on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., Art Walk on Dec. 1 from 6-9 p.m., and Drone Show on Dec. 2 at 7:45 p.m.—along with a holiday market, entertainment, s’mores and hot chocolate, and more throughout the weekend. Santa will be available for photos on Dec. 2 and 3, and his workshop will include an inflatable house, sleigh, and more. If you want to see the lights and stay active, you can take part in the “Slow Roll Bike Ride” on Dec. 12 or pay $25 to enter the two-mile run on Dec. 14.
6. marshwalk wonderland of lights
Nov. 24 – Dec. 31, lights nightly from 5 – 11 p.m.; Santa's Village is available Fridays-Sundays 5 p.m.-9 p.m. from Nov. 24 - Dec. 23
This free walk-through experience features MarshWalk restaurants’ buildings along the ½ mile boardwalk outlined with thousands of lights. The light show starts at the top of the hour from 5-11 p.m. nightly. There are lots of photo opportunities spread throughout the MarshWalk for you to stop and pose with along the way including a Candy Cane Arch, Gingerbread House, Santa, and a giant Christmas ornament. A Santa’s Village features children’s activities, a petting zoo, barrel cart rides (additional charge), visits with Santa, Christmas characters, and more. A Vendor Market is also available.
7. Ripley’s Aquarium Festival of Trees
Nov. 10 – Dec. 31
This special exhibit at Ripley's Aquarium is something to behold with themed trees representing each of our country’s 55 states and territories—including, of course, an 18-foot-tall South Carolina tree. We love to look for the trees from our home states (Ohio, Kentucky, and Georgia), and we always end up learning something new. You can also test your knowledge about each state’s tree with a customized scavenger hunt. This event is included with general admission.
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