‘Most magical memories’ await in Rock Hill for holidays. See list of events, parades
As families across the region clear their Thanksgiving tables, many of them will set their sights on Christmas. Nowhere more so than in Rock Hill.
“We do Christmas unlike anybody else,” said Maddie Ewing, festival chair for the city’s four-day ChristmasVille.
Rock Hill’s winter festival began in 2006 in celebration of Christmas, and also the whimsical artwork of adopted son Vernon Grant. The Snap, Crackle and Pop characters Grant created for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies almost a century ago remain popular ChristmasVille images. And there are more places than ever to see them.
Organizers have a goal of 100,000 visitors this year. ChrismasVille features more than 70 events, including a new ChristmasVille After Dark oriented toward adults. It’ll have sled races, a glow in the dark disc golf tournament, Taste of ChristmasVille, a beer garden and other activities.
The Dec. 5-8 festival also has a preschool day, Lego contest, trolley tour, character breakfast and phone calls to the North Pole. Annual staples like parades and a tree lighting return, too.
Events vary in cost, time and location. Details are available at christmasvillerockhill.com.
“Basically anybody can come downtown and get a map, and there’s 10 to 15 things going on at any one time for folks to enjoy,” Ewing said.
Taste of ChristmasVille is one of several additions this year that aim to promote downtown Rock Hill businesses. It’s similar to the popular YoCo Brew Trail, but for downtown restaurants and drink spots. Passport stamps from enough participating places will get visitors ChristmasVille After Dark t-shirt.
Kids shouldn’t feel left out. Rides, inflatables and Santa’s workshop with 15 stations return this year. There are street entertainers and story times.
A Rock Hill native, Ewing sees an already active downtown turn into a Hallmark movie-type scene when ChristmasVille begins.
“Every year we celebrate that whimsy and that wonder,” she said. “Why I do it is, some of my most magical memories growing up were at Christmasville.”
Rock Hill’s downtown Christmas celebration draws much of the attention, but other communities in the region celebrate in their own ways. Including lots of parades. Great Falls started Christmas parade season with its event Nov. 24.
Here are a dozen other coming attractions:
Christmas parade lineup
▪ Rock Hill
Date: Dec. 6
Start: 6:30 p.m.
Details: The Rock Hill Christmas Parade begins at Oakland and Stewart avenues. Lighted entries will pass down White and Main streets before ending at Fountain Park. It’s put on by the city and isn’t run by the Christmasville team, but it’s listed among many community events to complement the weekend.
▪ Fort Mill
Date: Dec. 7
Start: 11 a.m.
Details: The 77th annual Fort Mill Christmas Parade begins at Tom Hall and Unity Street, heading downtown through Main and North White streets before ending at Walter Elisha Park. Parade judges at the fire station on Tom Hall will pick out the best floats for awards like best walking group, best golf cart, best Christmas theme and most holiday spirit.
▪ Chester
Date: Dec. 7
Start: 2 p.m.
Details: The Chester Christmas Parade is part of a two-day Christmas Extravaganza that also includes a pop up shop, cookie contest and other activities.
▪ Hickory Grove
Date: Dec. 7
Start: 3 p.m.
Details: The Hickory Grove Christmas Parade returns, as it has for more than 40 years in the western York County town. The rain or shine event starts at 6001 Wylie Ave.
▪ Lancaster
Date: Dec. 7
Start: 5:30 p.m.
Details: The evening Lancaster Christmas Parade follows a Christmas in the City event downtown with a bazaar and other holiday activities. The parade is along Main and Gay streets downtown.
▪ Clover
Date: Dec. 8
Start: 3 p.m.
Details: With a Christmas around the world theme, the 54th annual Clover Christmas Parade will run along Main Street. The parade follows Clover Holiday on Main the day prior, with Christmas events at pictures with Santa.
▪ Richburg
Date: Dec. 10
Start: 11 a.m.
Details: The Richburg Christmas Parade in Chester County runs down the town’s Main Street. Richburg is just off Interstate 77, west of Lancaster Highway.
▪ York
Date: Dec. 13
Start: 6 p.m.
Details: The 85th annual York Christmas Parade will travel downtown, along Congress Street. The city-run parade will have live music starting an hour before the event at City Market.
▪ Fort Lawn
Date: Dec. 14
Start: 2 p.m.
Details: The Fort Lawn Christmas Parade follows Main Street in the small Chester County town, just west of the Catawba River and Lancaster County.
▪ Indian Land
Date: Dec. 14
Start: 4 p.m.
Details: The Indian Land Christmas Parade starts on the west end of River Road, near Little River Road. It’ll run through the Indian Land Middle School area, ending in the Indian Land Elementary School bus lot.
▪ Lake Wylie
Date: Dec. 14
Start: 6:30 p.m.
Details: The Lake Wylie Annual Holiday Boat Parade launches from Papa Doc’s Shore Club and travels the South Carolina and North Carolina shorelines near Buster Boyd Bridge. Sometimes called the Lights on the Lake boat parade, the event has been a Lake Wylie staple for more than 35 years.
▪ Lowrys
Date: Dec. 21
Start: 1 p.m.
Details: The Lowrys Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade is unique in only having farm equipment, livestock or walking entries. The small Chester County town of Lowrys is at 2453 Old York Road in Chester.
Christmas tree lighting
While it doesn’t have the history of area parades, there’s a growing number of communities offering a new take on the kickoff to Christmas. Tree lighting events have become popular with Santa visits, music, food trucks or similar festivities. Here are the dates and times for half a dozen tree lightings, with links for more information:
▪ Lancaster: 6 p.m., Nov. 30, Gay and Main streets, lancastercitysc.com
▪ Fort Mill, 5 p.m., Dec. 5, Elisha Park, fortmillsc.gov
▪ Tega Cay: 6 p.m., Dec. 5, Glennon Center, tegacaysc.org
▪ Rock Hill: 6 p.m., Dec. 6, Winthrop University, christmasvillerockhill.org
▪ York: 6 p.m., Dec. 12, Congress Street, yorksc.gov
▪ Indian Land: 5:30 p.m., Dec. 14, Indian Land Intermediate School, ilcpo.org
