Parades, festivals and tours: York County region gets ready to ring in the holidays
Sparkling lights, hot cocoa and festive music will soon fill the York County region.
Here are some local events to ring in the holidays:
Greenway holiday market
The Winter Wonderland Holiday Market at the Anne Springs Close Greenway is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 30.
Guests can shop for holiday gifts and decorations from more than 150 regional artists at 288 Dairy Barn Lane in Fort Mill. Participants can buy hard cider, wine and beer from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The market is free for Greenway members and children younger than the age of 12. For others, tickets are $5.
Parking at the Greenway is $5 per vehicle. Visitors can park for free at Nation Ford High School; shuttle service will be available.
Lake Wylie Christmas
Papa Doc’s Shore Club, Lake Wylie’s new restaurant, will host its first tree lighting ceremony from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30. The event at 3990 Charlotte Highway will include holiday games, a visit from Santa, a bake sale and free hot cocoa.
Lake Wylie’s annual boat parade is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Buster Boyd Access Area, near Papa Doc’s. The boats will circle in front of Riverpointe and pass the Lake Wylie boat landing.
Historic Brattonsville Tours
With the return of a 40-year tradition, guests can tour Historic Brattonsville by candlelight and learn how the holidays were celebrated in the Carolina Piedmont during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Christmas Candlelight Tours are from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 and Dec. 14 at 1444 Brattonsville Road in McConnells. Tours are $10 or free for Culture and Heritage Museum members. Reservations must be made online.
Interpreters dressed in historical garments will demonstrate holiday traditions of the time periods, a release states. Guests can also enjoy candle-dipping and water coloring ornaments.
Participants can visit Father Christmas and enjoy live music around the campfire. Vendors will be on-site, including glassblower Phil Gilson.
Christmasville
Rock Hill’s annual Christmasville festival is Dec. 5-8, with events for children and adults.
Events include gingerbread contests, crafts, rides, live shows, chances to meet Santa, a petting zoo, food, carriage rides and carnival.
Winthrop University’s annual lighting of the magnolia tree is 6 p.m. Dec. 6, followed by the city of Rock Hill Christmas Parade at 6:30.
For a full list of events, visit christmasvillerockhill.com.
Pilgrims’ Inn benefit concert
The Rock Hill Brewing Co., 121 Caldwell Street, is hosting a benefit concert from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 for Pilgrims’ Inn.
Pilgrim’s Inn is a nonprofit organization in Rock Hill that serves homeless and low-income women, children and families.
The concert features Those Meddling Kids with special guests Screaming Cicadas, according to Pilgrims’ Inn. Rock Hill Brewing Co. will donate $1 for each of the Pilgrims’ Inn Special Brew sold during the event.
The Brewing Company is also accepting non-perishable food items now through Christmas for the Pilgrims’ inn Food Pantry. Cash donations are also accepted.
Rock Hill Symphony concert
The Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra’s first holiday concert is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at South Pointe High School, 801 Neely Rd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The Rock Hill Ecumenical Chorale, directed by Jeffrey Sligh, and the York County Choral Society, directed by Kathleen Kinsey, will perform separately before joining with the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro David Rudge, a release from the orchestra states.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will also make an appearance. The 90-minute performance includes classical selections, holiday music and carols.
“This will truly be a night for all ages to enjoy, in keeping with the season,” Rock Hill Symphony board president Sarah Lynn Hayes said in a prepared statement.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit rhsymphony.org or call 1-800-595-4849.
Clinton College Christmas
Clinton College, a historically black college in Rock Hill, is kicking off the holidays with a tree lighting and concert.
The first annual South Side Christmas at Clinton College celebration is 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 during Rock Hill’s Christmasville. Each day, the college at 1029 Crawford Rd. will have a cocoa station available along with cookie decorating and a literacy corner. Children can get their photo taken with South Side Santa.
Clinton’s tree lighting ceremony will be during South Side Christmas.
The Clinton College winter concert is 5 p.m. Dec. 8 in the school’s gym. Clinton College students will join members of the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra and other guests. Admission is free and visitors are invited to a dessert reception following the concert.
Shuttle service to the concert will be available from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. from Crawford Road Masonic Temple, Emmett Scott Recreation Center and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Camp High Hopes holiday giveaways
Camp High Hopes has teamed up with multiple Rock Hill churches to offer a free holiday dinner and to provide free food, clothes and toys to families in need, a release states.
The event is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 19 at Richard E. Sandifer Life Center, 310 Glenn St. in Rock Hill.
Sponsors include Union Baptist Church, Boyd Hill Baptist Church, Jones Memorial AME Zion Church, Clover AME Zion Church, Nazareth Baptist Church, Moms Demand Action, North Central Family Medicine, Liberty Hill AME Zion Church, Trinity AME Zion church, Smart Kids and Four Corners International Mission.
Tega Cay Christmas
Tega Cay’s Christmas tree lighting and candy cane hunt is 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Glennon Center, 15083 Molokai Drive.
The Fort Mill High School and Tega Cay Elementary chorus will sing Christmas carols as guests enjoy hot chocolate, cookies and a visit with Santa.
Christmas in Fort Mill
The town of Fort Mill will ring in the holidays with an artisan fair, tree lighting and parade.
The town’s tree lighting ceremony is at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Main Street Band Stand. Children and church members will sing holiday tunes and Momentum Dance will perform.
Fort Mill’s Christmas Parade at Tom Hall Street begins at 11 a.m. Dec. 7.
Tour the town’s decorated historic homes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at 107 Clebourne St. The fifth annual tour includes the James Young House, Flint Hill Baptist Church, Wilson House and Belle Crane Inn. Tickets are $50 or $90 with the addition of a guided tour of the White Homestead.
Christmas in Clover
Clover’s 49th annual Christmas parade kicks off at 3 p.m. Dec. 1 near Main Street in downtown.
The Clover Community Center, 120 Bethel St., will host the Grinchmas Craft Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 14. Children can enjoy cookies and hot cocoa, get faces painted and make holiday crafts. The event is free.
Olde York Christmas
The city of York’s 80th annual tree lighting and Christmas parade is from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at 43 N. Congress St.
This year’s theme is the history of the circus. York’s Greatest Showman will lead bands, circus performers, animals, floats and participants from local businesses, according to the event description. Horses will lead the welcome of Mr. and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage.
Live entertainment by local talent after the parade. Children can take photos with Santa at his workshop inside the York Senior Center, and families can shop food vendors.
“This one of a kind event will light up the evening with festivities and thousands of Christmas lights while reflecting back on our proud history,” reads the event description.
Tour historic homes and sites from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7-8, sponsored by the Yorkville Historical Society. The tour features homes on East and West Liberty, Kings Mountain Street, the York A.R.P. Church and Downtown Music.
Online tickets are $10. Day-of tickets are $15 for ages 13 and older, $10 for children ages 4-12.
Chester County Christmas
The city of Chester’s Christmas parade starts at 4 p.m. Dec. 2.
The annual tree lighting is at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 in front of Chester County Court House. Roller skate and shop food trucks starting at 5 p.m.
The city’s holiday celebration is 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7. There will be sledding, skating, arts and crafts, Santa and reading with Mrs. Claus. All activities are free.
Lancaster County Christmas
Lancaster’s Christmas in the City celebration is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 featuring a Christmas bazaar, arts and crafts, food trucks, free photos with Santa and trolley rides. This year’s theme is A Whoville Christmas.
The city’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony is 7 p.m. at Springs House.
Gingerbread houses from the annual contest will be displayed in city hall during the festival. Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
The city of Lancaster Christmas parade is 6 p.m. Dec. 14 on Main Street.
Visit lancastercitysc.com for more information.
Winterfest
Carowinds theme park transforms into a holiday wonderland. After passing a 70-foot Christmas tree, tour streets packed with twinkling lights, shops and stores offering treats.
Winterfest is open weekend nights Nov. 24 through Dec. 31.
There are a variety of shows throughout the night, including Holiday in Harmony, drummers, Charlie Brown’s Christmas Spectacular and a jazz performance, according to Carowinds.
New this year is the Winterfest Wonderland Parade with live entertainment and decorated floats at 9 p.m. nightly, weather permitting.
Carowinds near Fort Mill crosses the South and North Carolina state line. Visit the park’s website for a full list of Winterfest attractions and tickets.
The holidays in York County also bring multiple parades, theater productions and light shows. Check visityorkcounty.com for a list of holiday events.
This story was originally published November 19, 2019 at 8:49 AM.
