The Upstate is not shy of dazzling displays! The most stunning Christmas light shows the Upstate, SC has to offer make spending the holidays in the county even more magical. Around Thanksgiving, the greater Greenville area transforms into a magical wonderland with all the Christmas lights.
Start your own holiday tradition this year by checking out these spectacular light shows in the greater Greenville area. These light displays and holiday light shows will surely brighten your nights. Whether you prefer a synchronized music and light extravaganza or a sophisticated drive-through experience, here are the best Christmas light displays in greater Greenville.
2024 Christmas Light Shows in Upstate, SC
Drive-Thru Christmas Lights
Anderson Christmas Lights
📍 Location: 150 Rose Valley Blvd, Anderson, SC. Main entrance on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
🗓️ Dates: November 28th – December 25th, 2024
⏰ Time: Opens at 5:30 PM each evening
💵 Cost: $15 per car, $30 per bus
With over 400 Christmas light displays in a long 2.5 mile drive-through, this display transforms Anderson into a holiday haven. Load up the car, turn on your favorite Christmas playlist, and get ready for a drive filled with wonder.
Upstate Holiday Light Show – Easley, SC
📍 Location: District Park, 148 Crumpton Ln, Easley, SC 29640
🗓️ Dates: November 28th – December 31st, 2024
⏰ Hours: Sun–Thu: 6 PM–10 PM | Fri & Sat: 6 PM–11 PM
💵 Cost: $35 per car, $75 per car, $100 per bus
Marvel at 32 Million Dancing Christmas Lights at the Upstate’s biggest Christmas light event! Drive your car around the District Park track to see millions of multi-colored lights illuminate the sky while synced to your favorite Christmas music on 106.5. This display has a Winter Wonderland and Santa’s Petting Zoo to make your trip even more special. Perfect for families, it's one of the must-see light shows in the area.
Walk-Through Light Displays and Festive Villages
Magical Music Holiday Light Show – Seneca
📍 Location: Norton Thompson Park, 300 Main Street, Seneca, SC 29678
🗓️ Dates: November 22nd – December 31st, 2024
⏰ Hours: 5:30 PM–10 PM
💵 Cost: FREE
This FREE event at Norton-Thompson Park features a synchronized music and light show. Stroll or drive through historic downtown Seneca to see the streets glowing with over a million lights that dance to holiday music. Tune in on your car radio or walk around to soak up the festive vibes!
Night of Lights at Heritage Park – Simpsonville
📍 Location: Heritage Park
🗓️ Dates: November 22nd, 2024 – January 3rd, 2025
⏰ Hours: Sun–Thu: 5 PM–9 PM | Fri & Sat: 5 PM–10 PM
💵 Cost: $12 (Ages 5–15) | $15 (Ages 16+) | Free for children under 5 | FREE on certain days for Senior citizens, military members and first responders, and teachers
This walk-through wonderland offers light displays, rides, ice skating, and even a petting zoo. Don’t forget to check their website for promotions and discounts!
Holidays at the Zoo – Greenville Zoo
📍 Location: Greenville Zoo
🗓️ Dates: December 13th–23rd, December 26th–30th, 2024
⏰ Hours: 4 PM–8 PM
💵 Cost: Timed ticketing (purchase online)
See the zoo in a whole new light! Thousands of sparkling lights and festive decorations make this a magical outing for kids and adults alike.
Very Merry Mini Golf – Greenville
📍 Location: Takeoff Minigolf
🗓️ Dates: November 29th – December 30th, 2024
⏰ Time: Nightly
💵 Cost: $15 (Adults) | $13 (Kids)
Mini golf gets a holiday twist with vibrant light displays surrounding the course. Reserve your tickets online to guarantee your spot!
Festive Tree Lightings and Parades
2024 Festival of Trees - Greenville
📍 Location: Hyatt Regency Downtown and the Courtyard Marriott Greenville Downtown
🗓️ Date: November 22nd – December 25th, 2024
⏰ Time: any time during the hotel lobby's open hours
Since 1968, the Festival of Trees has been a cherished holiday tradition. Visit the beautifully decorated trees on display at two downtown Greenville hotels and share the magic of the season with your loved ones!
Holiday Hop and Tree Lighting - Travelers Rest
📍 Location: Main Street, Travelers Rest, SC
🗓️ Date: November 30th, 2024
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Kick off the holiday season in Travelers Rest with the holiday tree lighting! Enjoy festive activities like train rides, a kids' crafting station, and “snow” ball fights at the gazebo. And don’t forget to visit Santa to capture some unforgettable holiday memories!
City of Seneca Tree Lighting
📍 Location: Downtown Seneca, SC
🗓️ Date: December 2nd, 2024 (Tree Lighting & Parade)
⏰ Time: Lighting of the Green at 5:00 PM, Parade at 6:00 PM
Join the mayor in downtown Seneca for the annual Magic of Christmas Parade and the Lighting of the Green. Stick around to enjoy the Magical Musical Holiday Light Show, a dazzling display of lights synchronized to holiday music, running nightly through the season!
Dickens of a Christmas – Spartanburg
📍 Location: Downtown Spartanburg
🗓️ Date: December 3rd, 2024
⏰ Time: 6 PM – 9 PM
Step back in time with this Victorian-style celebration featuring horse-drawn carriages, live music, vendors, and a magical tree lighting.
A Merry Mauldin Christmas
📍 Location: Mauldin Outdoor Amphitheater
🗓️ Date: December 5th, 2024
⏰ Time: 5 PM – 8 PM
Enjoy live holiday music, a festive market, photos with Santa, the annual tree lighting, and plenty of cheerful surprises to brighten your season. Plus, hop aboard the Polar Express train for a magical ride!
Night of Lights – Greenville Christmas Tree Lighting
📍 Location: Downtown Greenville
🗓️ Date: December 6th, 2024
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Gather for live music, food trucks, and the magical moment Santa lights up the tree!
Greer Christmas Tree Lighting
📍 Location: Greer City Park, Greer, SC
🗓️ Date: December 6th, 2024
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Celebrate the season with the annual tree lighting in Greer! This family-friendly event features visits with Santa, craft stations, train rides, live music, carolers, and food vendors. Make it a night out by enjoying dinner on Trade Street before or after the festivities!
Poinsettia-Christmas-Parade – Greenville
📍 Location: Downtown Greenville
🗓️ Date: December 7th, 2024
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM
Watch downtown come alive with festive floats, marching bands, and sparkling lights. Perfect for kicking off the season with family and friends. Don’t miss this beloved tradition!
Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony
📍 Location: Simpsonville City Hall, Simpsonville, SC
🗓️ Date: December 7th, 2024
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM
Kick off the holiday season at the 5th Annual Simpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony! Enjoy a "Christmas Carol Medley" sing-along, a reading from the Book of Luke, and a "Letters to Santa" station. Plus, warm up with free hot chocolate and cookies as you watch the lighting of the 22.5-foot tree!
Holiday Light Displays at Private Homes
Some of the most heartwarming displays come from local residents who transform their homes into holiday masterpieces. These displays are often synchronized to music and may even include festive extras like hot chocolate or visits from Santa.
Most of these houses and places light up around Thanksgiving. Lights go up and are best seen when dusk hits. Be sure to visit their Facebook page before going as current announcements and information are posted there as well as traffic rules. Also, please be courteous of the others viewing the displays as well as the other houses in the neighborhood.
Here’s a list of must-see private home displays:
Greenville
Simpsonville
Whitemarsh Avenue | Anthony's Family Lights presents I'm Dreaming of a Whitemarsh Christmas
Digby Place | The Gingerbread House
Limberlock Way | The Koschnitzki’s
Greer
Taylors
Easley
Old Easley Highway | The Whitted Christmas Lights
Pelzer
Spartanburg
School Street, Duncan | Wonderland on School Street
Foster Road, Inman | The Christmas House
Highway 92, Enoree | Poole’s Christmas Light Show
Northview Street, Lyman
Burriss Rd, Lyman | The Belcher Family Tradition
Anderson
Little Creek Drive | Hyde Family Lights