LIGHTS OF THE SOUTH: 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 30, (closed Christmas Day), Lights Of The South, 633 Louisville Road, Grovetown; more than 5 million lights throughout 100-acre forest; food, sweets, beverages, hay rides, walking trails, Christmas train, Christmas tree maze, more; $8; ages 4-17 $5; ages 3 and younger free; (706) 825-6441, lightsofthesouth.com
NORTH AUGUSTA’S TREE LIGHTING: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, John C. Calhoun Park between Georgia and Carolina avenues; includes a chili cook off, food vendors, musicians, local artwork, an inflatable moonwalk; portion of vendor sales benefits Friends of Lookaway Hall; (803) 441-4311
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING FESTIVAL: 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, Barton Field, Fort Gordon; free; (706) 791-6001
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING: Begins 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, History Walk outside Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre, Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way; refreshments, caroling by ASU Choir; tree lighting 6:30 p.m., followed by visit from Santa and photos; free; (706) 737-1759
WAGENER HOMETOWN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION AND CHRISTMAS PARADE: Friday, Nov. 30 – 5:30-7 p.m. local businesses open house, refreshments, carriage rides, visits with Santa; 6 p.m. music by Edisto Singers, WSHS JROTC, Busbee Corbett Elementary Middle School Chorus, WSHS band at Pavilion; 7:30 p.m. tree lighting and fireworks; Saturday, Dec. 1 – 9 a.m. craft and yard sale, 11 a.m. parade, 11:30 a.m. barbecue sandwich plates by WSHS FFA $5, noon car show, trophies presented 2 p.m.; www.wagenersc.com/hometown-holiday
AIKEN CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, Laurens Street at Richland Avenue, downtown Aiken; music, refreshments, carols, light candles, countdown to tree lighting; appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus; all ages, must be accompanied by an adult; free; cityofaikensc.gov
CHRISTMAS FOR THE BIRDS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Living History Park, 299 W. Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta; free; create decorations for birds to eat all winter; bring apples, oranges, peanut butter for the birds and food for dogs and cats to be given to local pet adoption centers; cider and cookies served; colonialtimes.us
CHRISTMAS LIGHT-UP SPECTACULAR: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1; Holiday Market noon, Augusta Common; Miss Augusta Christmas Fantasy Parade 2 p.m.; family fun 3:30 p.m., Augusta Common; Mayor Deke Copenhaver throws the switch lighting up downtown 6:25 p.m., followed by fireworks, myaugustadowntown.com/christmas.shtml
CHRISTMAS ARTS IN APPLING: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, downtown Appling; food vendors, art show, art sale, art parties, face painting, tours of historic buildings, children’s activities, craft booths 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., downtown Appling; concert by Columbia County Orchestra Brass 2 p.m., historic Appling Columbia County Court House; reception by Columbia County Historical Society 3 p.m., old county jail; activities end 4 p.m.; columbiacco.org
DECK THE HALLS – A GALLERY ON THE ROW CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Gallery on the Row, 1016 Broad St.; door prizes, refreshments, clay ornaments for children to decorate, artisan demonstrations; (706) 724-4989, galleryontherow.com
HAMMOND HILL CARNIVAL/COOKIES WITH SANTA: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Hammond Hill Elementary School, 901 W. Woodlawn Ave., North Augusta; inflatables, rock wall, train ride, games, prizes; crafts, business vendors, food, pictures with Santa; armband for unlimited games $10; for vendor applications lechols@aiken.k12.sc.us
NUTCRACKER TEA, AIKEN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, 433 Newberry St., Aiken; museum open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; (803) 642-2015
GRANITEVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE: 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Main Street; sponsored by Graniteville Fire Department; details, (803) 663-3795
COLUMBIA COUNTY FOX FAMILY CHRISTMAS AND TREE LIGHTING: 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Lady Antebellum Pavilion, Evans Town Center; meet Santa, live entertainment by Mass Elementary School Chorus and others, arts and crafts, more; free; (706) 312-7194, columbiacountyga.gov
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES AND FESTIVAL OFF MAIN: Dec. 1-2, Depot Dash, arts and crafts festival, entertainment, parade; 111 Railroad St., Thomson; (706) 597-1000, exploremcduffiecounty.com
AIKEN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: Saturday-Wednesday, Dec. 1-5; several trees on display throughout the museum, 433 Newberry St, Aiken; (803) 642-2015
HOLIDAY ON THE HILL: Dec. 1-30, Hickory Hill, 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson; experience the magic of the holidays on an evening tour of Sen. Thomas E. Watson’s beloved home; (706) 595-7777, hickory-hill.org
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF COLUMBIA COUNTY CHRISTMAS PARADE: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, Evans; applications to participate online; deadline to enter parade Nov. 19; staging area closed to traffic 10 a.m.; parade route: Evans Town Center Boulevard to Washington Road to North Belair Road, ending at Cox/Owens Road near Evans High School, columbia
countyfair.net/fair/christmas_parade_app.asp
39TH ANNUAL EDGEFIELD CHRISTMAS PARADE: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, Main Street, Edgefield, S.C.; horse drawn wagon for rides, singing by W.E. Parker Chorus, JET Middle School and Strom Thurmond High School Show Choir, more; entry forms online; snow on the square and pictures with Santa after the parade; (803) 480-1255, edgefieldsc.net
RETURN TO BETHLEHEM: A live set of the city of Bethlehem built in a field beside the church; a guide takes groups of 20 people through live scenes of the night of Jesus’s birth; handicapped guests can drive through; 6-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Dec. 5-8; park in front of Wesley Center no later than 5:45 p.m.; no donations taken; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-To-Bethlehem-Grace-UMC-North-August...
LADIES NIGHT OUT: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, Cold Creek Nurseries, 398 Hitchcock Parkway, Aiken; create a centerpiece for the table using fresh greenery; music, wine, hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, shopping; $25, includes supplies; in-store registrtation required; (803) 648-3592
25TH ANNUAL NORTH AUGUSTA CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8; sponsored by Beta Sigma Phi Sorority; tickets: Jim Bush Flower Shop, Communigraphics, Parks Pharmacy; day of tour tickets at any stop; $20 until 3 p.m. Dec. 3, $25 after; (803) 279-4844, (803) 279-6036, (803) 279-5074
A HOLLY DAY: All day, Saturday, Dec. 8, downtown Aiken; shops offer holiday specials; Aiken Downtown Development Association, (803) 649-2221, www.downtownaiken.com
CITY OF NEW ELLENTON CHRISTMAS PARADE: Noon Saturday, Dec. 8, Main Street, New Ellenton; (803) 652-2214, cmoseley@newellentonsc.com; free
MIDLAND VALLEY CHAMBER CHRISTMAS PARADE: 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, South Carolina Highway 421 from LBC Middle School in Bath to Langley; to enter, e-mail marshall@atc.edu or call (803) 270-0934; (803) 292-2769
NORTH AUGUSTA LIONS PARADE: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9; parade forms available at North Augusta Chamber of Commerce; entry deadline Nov. 29, no exceptions; parade begins at Kmart shopping center, goes down Martintown Road, then left onto Georgia Avenue to Buena Vista Avenue; (803) 279-2323
AIKEN JAYCEES CHRISTMAS PARADE: 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, downtown Aiken; Cartoon Christmas theme; register entries by Dec. 1; (803) 644-3008, www.aikenjaycees.com
STORYTIME WITH MRS. CLAUS: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, Odell Weeks Center, Rooms 6 and 7, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken; Mrs. Claus reading holiday books; refreshments; door prizes; each child given a free book; ages 8 and younger, accompanied by adult; (803) 642-7631; free
CHRISTMAS IN HOPELANDS: 6-9:30 p.m., Dec. 13-27 (closed Dec. 24 and 25), Hopelands Gardens, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken; lights, lights and more lights; refreshments offered; ride shuttle 6-9 p.m. from/to Citizens Park, 1060 Banks Mill Road; children must be accompanied by an adult; free, donations appreciated; (803) 642-7631
NIGHT OF 1,000 LIGHTS: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, downtown Aiken; held by Aiken Downtown Development Association; food, festivities and Santa in town; (803) 649-2221, www.downtownaiken.com
CHRISTMAS CANCELLED: A SPECIAL CIVIL WAR HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE: 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, 181 Redcliffe Road, Beech Island; musicians, actors bring alive the holiday experience of free and enslaved families during the Civil War; includes tours of historic slave quarters and decorated historic mansion, games for the whole family; (803) 827-1473
CAROLINA CHRISTMAS: In support of Toys for Tots Foundation; 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 4565 Jefferson Davis Highway, Clearwater; $15; (803) 474-2411
A BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, The Stables Restaurant at Rose Hill Estate, 221 Greenville St. NW, Aiken; holiday music and a special guest from The North Pole; reservations recommended; (803) 648-1181, www.rosehillestate.com
BAREFOOT PRODUCTIONS INC./CREATIVE IMPRESSIONS: BEHOLD THE STAR 2012: Saturday, Dec. 22, Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre, 2500 Walton Way; 3-5 p.m. show $15, ages 12 and younger $10; 7-9 p.m. show $20, ages 60 and older $18, children and college students with ID $10; (706) 667-4100
