No holiday season is complete without a visit to the man in red! Below is a list of places you’ll be able to find Santa Claus around Columbia between now and when he loads his sleigh!
Photos with Santa at Columbiana Centre
Date: Friday, November 15 – Tuesday, December 24, 2024
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.
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo
Date: Select Nights November 17 – December 23, 2024
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. Non-members: $24.99 for adults and $19.99 for children ages 2-12. Tickets can be purchased here.
Santa & Me
Date: Sunday, November 23, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Central Energy, 2030 Gregg St, Columbia 29201
Details: Santa Claus is coming to town! Join us for Santa & Me to benefit Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands. This special event includes: a5”x7” photo with Santa, snacks, hot chocolate and more, opportunity to design a holiday ornament for patients who will spend the holidays at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, and option to create a special holiday craft with the help of the Mad Platter team. Join us for the festive morning of holiday fun while supporting your local children’s hospital!
Photos With Santa
Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Central Bark, 2931 Augusta Road, West Columbia 29169
Details: Join Central Bark and Palmetto Scoopers for this FREE event! Let your pup meet Santa and receive lots of treats and attention. Humans are also welcome to join in the pics. Digital photos will be emailed to you after the event. No appointment or registration necessary. All dogs MUST have proof of current rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella vaccines.
Wings With Santa
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: D’s Wings, 415 Meeting Street, West Columbia 29169
Details:. Santa and Sandy Klaus are available for photos.
Sweet Seasons in Forest Acres
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
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! Face painting + balloon animals + hot chocolate + a magician & bubble artist! Plus, a surprise-filled dance party with DJ M.C. Loud! Dinner, Drinks, and Desserts for purchase + parking on site.
Kids Night with Santa Gene and Mrs Sandy Klaus
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: Carolina Wings, 2423 Fish Hatchery Road, Cayce 29033
Details: Wings and photos with Santa Gene and Mrs. Sandy Klaus.
Neon Joy in Five Points
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
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, extended Shopping Hours and Specials with our neighborhood merchants, and MORE!
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!
Lights on the Park
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: Village Church Downtown Columbia, 2204 Park Street, Columbia 29201
Details: Join us for a magical evening of Christmas cheer! Enjoy hot chocolate, ornament decorating, s’mores by the fire, a festive hayride, and a special visit from Santa himself. Make unforgettable Christmas memories with the whole family.
Santa’s Twilight Train
Dates: Friday, December 6, 13, and 20, 2014 | Saturday, December 7, 14, and 21, 2024
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: South Carolina Railroad Museum, 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro 29180
Details: A memory making visit with Santa. All passengers, infants through adults, must purchase tickets. Infant carriers must be in seat and not on tables. While the first seating enjoys hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and stories in our historic dining car, the second seating visits with Santa and sings Christmas carols in one of our coaches. Halfway through the journey, we stop the train and the people from the diner swap places with the people visiting with Santa, and we repeat the experience.
Santa’s North Pole Express
Dates: Saturday, December 7, 14, and 21, 2024
Time: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 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 an hour and forty minutes, or until Santa talks to EVERY child on the train. Pajamas are welcome. Lap babies and children under 2 have to be in a regular seat on the Dining Car and must pay full fare due to safety issues. Don’t forget your letters for Santa. There are no restrooms on the train. Please use the restrooms before boarding.
Cooking with Santa
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 10 – 11:30 a.m. | 12:30 – 2 p.m.
Location: Seven Oaks Park, 920 Beatty Road, Columbia 29210
Details: Bring your child into the kitchen to cook alongside the jolly old elf himself making his favorite snacks and other Santa-approved recipes. Ages 5–12. $35/session.
PJs With Santa
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
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.
Christmas Olde and New – Cayce Historical Museum
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
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.
Sundaes with Santa
Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. – 4 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.
Cookies With Santa
Date: Monday, December 9, 2024
Time: 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Location: Janet Alexander Cotter Alumnae Hall, 1301 Columbia College Drive, Columbia 29203
Details: Drop in for your annual Christmas photo with Santa, decorate a sugar cookie and enjoy some hot chocolate! Come and enjoy some hot chocolate and get your annual photo with Santa! RSVP: [email protected].
Santa at CAE
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
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.
Santa Claus at Top Dawg Tavern
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Top Dawg Tavern, 498-1 Town Center Place, Columbia 29229
Details: 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! We will also be collecting donations for our local Toys for Tots.
Accessibility Morning – Meet Santa
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
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, sponsored by Colonial Life, is available during the morning provided by certified interpreters through the SC School for the Deaf and Blind.
Breakfast With Santa
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Cayce Moose Lodge, 1541 Old Dunbar Road, West Columbia 29169
Details: Come out and have breakfast with Santa. Free for children 6 and under, all others $7.
Cookies With Santa
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: 12 – 4 p.m.
Location: Mingos Cookies & Bubble Tea, 5580 Sunset Blvd, Lexington 29072
Details: Santa and Sandy Klaus are available for photos.
Visit With Santa
Date: Friday, December 20, 2024
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Arabesque, 2930 Devine Street, Columbia 29201
Details: Santa and Sandy Klaus are available for photos
