The holidays are here — and what better way to kick off the festive season than with a photo and a chat with Santa? Whether you’re looking for a quick snap, a magical evening under lights, or a big holiday market outing, Columbia has something for every family. Use this guide to plan your Santa‑visiting strategy, with tips to make the experience as smooth and memorable as possible.
Photos with Santa at Columbiana Centre
Date: Friday, November 14 – Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Time: Varies – All guests are strongly encouraged to make advanced reservations and appointments to visit Santa Claus. Walk-in guests will be accepted on a space-available basis.
Location: Columbiana Centre, 100 Columbiana Circle, Columbia 29212
Details: All dogs and cats are welcome to take magical pics with St. Nick! Plus, children of all spectrums of special needs and abilities are welcome to join us before the mall opens for Santa Cares Day! Pose for photos with Santa where extra care is taken to support sensory needs.
Neon Joy in Five Points
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Five Points Fountain, 532 Congaree Avenue, Columbia 29205
Details: Join us in the Five Points district for a free spectacular Holiday Laser Light Show to include an evening full of fun, shopping, and more for the entire family! Special guest appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, The Grinch, Hot Cocoa at the Fountain, Caroling by The Cocktails of USC, Community Performances, extended Shopping Hours and Specials with our neighborhood merchants, and MORE! Eats & Drinks will also be on-site for purchase and FREE parking can be found at 2221 Devine Street.
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo
Date: Select Nights November 21 – December 23, 2025
Time: 5 – 9 p.m.
Location: Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, 500 Wildlife Pkwy Columbia 29210
Details: Experience Columbia’s longest running holiday tradition at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Visit the zoo at night with holiday lights and activities for the family. Tickets can be purchased here.
Fireflies Holiday Lights
Date: November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, 500 Wildlife Pkwy Columbia 29210
Details: Walk through twinkling light displays, festive zones, music, and other holiday magic — and stop by to see Santa nightly. It’s a quintessential holiday outing: bring your camera and layers for chilly evenings.
Santa & Me
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Central Energy, 2030 Gregg St, Columbia 29201
Details: Experience Santa’s magic at Santa & Me! There are multiple ways to enjoy the fun! Meet and take a photo with Santa! Paint a custom holiday plate with the help of the Mad Platter team! Design and stuff your own stuffed animal! Kids will also have the opportunity to create ornaments for patients at the hospital for free – plus enjoy hot cocoa, games and much more!
Santa Saturdays
Date: Saturday, November 29 | December 5 | December 13 | December 20, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: SC State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, Columbia 29201
Details: It’s time to enjoy fun with family and friends during Santa Saturdays at the South Carolina State Museum this holiday season!
Sensory Santa Visit
Date: Sunday, November 30, 2025
Time: 1 – 5 p.m.
Location: Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia 29210
Details: Created for children and adults with sensory or cognitive disabilities and their families, this event offers a calm, low-stress environment to meet Santa. Visits are scheduled in time blocks to minimize noise and crowds. Each ticket includes one 5×7 photo. Additional prints are available for purchase. $20 per family
Sweet Seasons in Forest Acres
Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Time: 5 – 8 p.m.
Location: Lowes Foods Shopping Center, 4711 Forest Drive, Columbia 29206
Details: Join us for Sweet Seasons presented by Lexington Medical Center and The City of Forest Acres! FREE entry and FREE kids fun! Take Pictures with Santa and the Grinch! Plus, free face painting, balloon animals, and hot chocolate! As always, dinner, drinks, and desserts will be on site for purchase thanks to an array of local vendors.
Santa Welcomes You & Your Wishes – Mast General Store
Date: Thursday, December 4 and Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on December 4 | 12 – 4 p.m. on December 6
Location: Mast General Store, 1601 Main Street, Columbia 29201
Details: Join us for this treasured Christmas event so that everyone in your family, especially its smallest members and biggest believers, can say hello to Santa! Remember to bring your own camera for a family photo op. Also, Mast Store always welcomes well-behaved, furry, four-legged friends, and we encourage you to bring your pet so it can have its place in your family’s holiday memories as long as it’s on a leash or in a harness.
Cookies With Santa at Metro Mortgage
Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 4 – 7 p.m.
Location: Metro Mortgage, 7223 St. Andrews Road, Columbia 29212
Details: Bring the family to Metro Mortgage for cookies and pictures with Santa!
Annual Tree Lighting & Food Truck Festival
Dates: Dec. 5, 2025
Time: 5 – 8 p.m.
Location: Patriot’s Park, Fort Jackson, 9518 Marion Ave, Columbia 29207
Details: Join us at our annual Holiday Tree Lighting event filled with themed experiences:
• Holiday Market
• Food Trucks
• Victorian Carolers
• Letters to Santa
• Live Music from the 282nd Band
• Live Ice Sculpting
• Visit from Santa and others
Pajama Jam with Santa
Dates: Dec. 5, 2025
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: ABS Kids, 3740 Fernandina Road, Columbia 29210
Details: We are excited to host you and your family at our free sensory-friendly Pajama Jam with Santa event on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 6-8 PM in Columbia, SC! An ABS Kids’ Psychologist will be on-site to answer any general questions about autism. We’ll have holiday themed crafts and games, and a chance to take a photo with Santa!
Santa’s Twilight Train
Dates: Friday, December 5, 12, and 19, 2025 | Saturday, December 6, 13, and 20, 2025
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: South Carolina Railroad Museum, 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro 29180
Details: Come visit Santa on our annual twilight holiday ride. Santa walks through the train and comes to you—no lines! As we travel down the tracks, the first-seating group enjoys hot chocolate, chocolate-chip cookies, and stories in the historic dining car, while the second-seating group visits with Santa and sings carols in a coach. Halfway through the journey, we stop the train and the people from the dining car swap places with the people visiting with Santa, and treated to the other half of the experience. The ride lasts about 90 minutes, or until Santa talks to EVERY child on the train.
Santa’s North Pole Express
Dates: Saturday, December 6, 13, and 20, 2025
Time: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
Location: South Carolina Railroad Museum, 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro 29180
Details: Come visit Santa on our annual holiday ride. Santa walks through the train and comes to you. No lines! The ride lasts about 90 minutes, or until Santa talks to EVERY child on the train. Pajamas are welcome & don’t forget your letters for Santa.
PJs With Santa
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 9 – 11 a.m.
Location: Providence Presbyterian Church, 1112 Hummingbird Drive, West Columbia 29169
Details: Put on your pajamas and join us for a photo station with Santa, games, crafts and a special sharing of Santa & the Nativity story at 10 a.m.
Cooking with Santa
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Seven Oaks Park, 920 Beatty Road, Columbia 29210
Details: What better time to grow a child’s love of cooking and baking than the most magical time of the year. Bring your child into the kitchen to cook alongside the jolly old elf himself making his favorite snacks and other Santa approved recipes. $35/child.
Santa’s Coming to Wingard’s Market
Dates: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location:
Details: See below.
THHG Free Photo with Santa!
Dates: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 1 – 3 p.m.
Location: 708 Lady Street, Columbia 29201
Details: The holidays are here! THHG is celebrating with our Annual Free Photo with Santa Event — enjoy festive treats and holiday cheer!
Christmas Olde and New – Cayce Historical Museum
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Cayce Historical Museum, 1800 12th Street, Cayce 29033
Details: Visitors can take in the sights and sounds of Christmas during the Cayce Historical Museum’s annual Christmas Traditions Holiday Open House. Rooms of the museum will be decorated with Christmas trees and there will be live entertainment and light refreshments. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be there and there will also be a historical lantern tour. This year, for the first time, the event will feature an outdoor Christmas market with local vendors selling gifts, food, and drinks.
2nd ‘Annual Christmas Extravaganza
Dates: Saturday, December 6 – Sunday, December 7, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1035 Lincoln Street, Columbia 29201
Details: The perfect way to skip out on big box stores and choose to support SMALL on this holiday season at this two day show at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center!
- 100 + INDOOR VENDORS
- FREE PICTURES WITH SANTA
- PERMANENT JEWELRY
- DELICIOUS HOLIDAY COFFEE
Sundaes with Santa
Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Cantey and Goodman Buildings at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia 29201
Details: Dress your children in their Sunday best for photos with Santa, enjoy games and crafts with your family, and top off the fun with an ice cream sundae bar! Tickets sold only at the door for $8/child.
Santa at CAE
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025
Time: 4 – 6:30 p.m.
Location: Columbia Metropolitan Airport, 3250 Airport Blvd, West Columbia 29169
Details: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be landing their sleigh at the airport in our main lobby spreading holiday cheer! Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be free and available at a first come, first serve basis. No reservations needed! We will not have a photographer on site, so please bring your own cameras. In addition to photo opportunities and talking with Santa, there will cookie decorating and other craft stations for children – as well as snacks! Parking for this event will not be validated. Attendees may park in the garage or surface lot for the listed rate. Santa at CAE is open to the public – not just those traveling.
3rd Annual Sleigh Cancer with Santa
Date: Friday, December 12, 2025
Time: 6:30 – 11 p.m.
Location: Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman Street, Cayce 29033
Details: Join us for a festive night of fun, music, and holiday cheer—the 3rd annual Sleigh Cancer with Santa is back at Steel Hands Brewing! Watch live performances by great local bands, enjoy the delicious food and drinks at Steel Hands, and have your yearly photo taken with Santa himself! Santa will be available for photos from 7 – 9. Whether you’re here for the music, the drinks, or the chance to tell Santa what’s on your wishlist this year, come hang out and support a great cause!
Accessibility Morning – Meet Santa
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 9 – 11 a.m.
Location: SC State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, Columbia 29201
Details: This program provides free access for families of children, teenagers, young adults and adults who would benefit from a quieter, sensory-friendly and disability-adapted experience at the museum. Guests who are neurodiverse, autistic, or have other disabilities are welcome to participate in optional activities or explore museum exhibition galleries at their own pace. An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter is available during the morning provided by certified interpreters through the SC School for the Deaf and Blind.
Santa Claus is Coming to Sweet Izzy’s
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 1 – 4 p.m.
Location: Sweet Izzy’s, 504 Lexington Ave, Suite B, Chapin 29036
Details: Enjoy stories and photos with Santa. Sip on cozy hot chocolate. Be part of the first North Pole letter pick-up from our magical “Letters to Santa” mailbox. Explore our festive Sweet Izzy’s Candy Tree. And discover even more surprises in store!
Story Times:
1 – 1:15 p.m.
2 – 2:15 p.m.
3:45 – 4 p.m.
Santa Claus at Top Dawg Tavern
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Top Dawg Tavern, 498-1 Town Center Place, Columbia 29229
Details: You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why…Santa Claus is coming, to town! Bring your kids (or fun loving friends) to meet Santa at Top Dawg Tavern! Make sure to bring your Christmas List for him to take back to the North Pole and your camera phone to take lots of photos!
Dinner with Santa
Date: Friday, December 19, 2025
Time: 5 – 7 p.m.
Location: J’s Corner, 1015 Rosewood Drive, Columbia 29201
Details: Bring the kids and kids at heart for dinner and photos with Santa.
✨ Pro Tips for Your Santa Hunt
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Time it right: Visit Santa early or during weekday events to avoid long lines. Weekends around major light displays tend to get crowded.
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Dress smart: Even in mild Columbia winters, evenings can be chilly. Wrap up warm — and bring extra layers for little ones.
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Camera ready: Whether it’s an iPhone or a fancy camera, make sure it’s charged and ready. Many Santa sightings are perfect for candid, heartfelt photos.
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Use a backup plan: Have a second-choice event in mind in case your first stop is too busy.
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Parking matters: For zoo or stadium events, arrive early or carpool to make parking easier.
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Bring a snack: Kids can get impatient waiting — a granola bar or small snack goes a long way while waiting for Santa.
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Check for updates: As the holidays approach, event times or Santa appearances may change. Bookmark or RSVP via the individual event pages.
Columbia has all the magic of the season wrapped into these Santa appearances — from sparkling light shows to intimate storefront whispers of holiday wishes. Use this guide to plan your outings, capture special moments, and make memories that last far beyond December.
