Christmas break 2026Columbia · Soda City

Christmas break with kids in Columbia, 2026.

What to do with kids in Columbia over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by two museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus four dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

The quick answersChecked
Open on Christmas Day?None of the 2 we checked. Plan a park or a lights drive.0 of 2 openAnything on Christmas Eve?1 dated outing.1 outingsDec 26–30?Fireflies Holiday Lights and 2 more.3 runningNew Year’s Day?1 New Year’s Day outing posted.See below

Last checked · 2 places checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1

What’s open over Christmas in Columbia

Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.

PlaceDec 24Dec 25Jan 1Source
Leo’s Landing Inclusive Playground (Saluda Shoals Park)Their page says: “Saluda Shoals Park is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.”Christmas EveNot postedChristmas DayClosedNew Year’s DayNot postedHours page ↗ · Oct 21
Riverbanks Zoo & GardenTheir page says: “Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas days.”Christmas EveNot postedChristmas DayClosedNew Year’s DayNot postedHours page ↗ · Oct 21

“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.

Day by day

The break, one day at a time

Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.

Christmas Eve

Thursday, Dec 24. Many places close early, so check each card’s times.
Nov21to Dec 24

Santa Photos at Columbiana Centre

Columbiana Centre · 100 Columbiana Circle, Columbia, SC 29212

When
Nov 21–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving)
Time
Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page

Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…).

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

The days in between

Saturday, Dec 26 to Wednesday, Dec 30. Light displays and holiday rinks still running.
Nov20to Jan 3

Fireflies Holiday Lights

Segra Park · Segra Park, Columbia, SC

When
Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
Time
6–9pm (last entry 8:30pm)
Price
See tickets online

Good to know: More than 2 million lights. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day; NYE hours 5–8pm.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov20to Jan 10

Wild Lights at Riverbanks

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden · 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia, SC

When
Select nights Nov 20, 2026–Jan 10, 2027
Time
5–9pm
Price
Tickets sold from Nov 2

Good to know: Over 60 handcrafted wildlife lanterns, nightly snowfall and visits with Santa through Dec 23. Check the calendar for open nights.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov25to Dec 31

Holiday Lights on the River

Saluda Shoals Park · Saluda Shoals Park

When
Nightly Nov 25 – Dec 31, 2026
Time
6–10 p.m.
Price
$25 per car most nights; $30 Nov 28, Dec 5, 11, 13, 17 and 24; $35 Dec 12 and 18–23

Good to know: Three miles of lights from the car. Tube slides, hayride and train ride, laser show and letters to Santa are included (no activities Thanksgiving night, Christmas Eve or Christmas night). Santa photos Nov 27–29, Dec 4–7, 11–13 and 17–23.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

New Year’s Eve

Thursday, Dec 31. Noon countdowns and early celebrations.

Nothing posted for New Year’s Eve yet. Noon Year’s Eve events usually post in late November.

New Year’s Day

Friday, Jan 1.
Nov20to Jan 10

Wild Lights at Riverbanks

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden · 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia, SC

When
Select nights Nov 20, 2026–Jan 10, 2027
Time
5–9pm
Price
Tickets sold from Nov 2

Good to know: Over 60 handcrafted wildlife lanterns, nightly snowfall and visits with Santa through Dec 23. Check the calendar for open nights.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

Rainy-day backup

Indoor places to try

These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.

Little Bee Sensory Playhouse (Busy Bees)

Lexington

Holiday hours not posted
Official site ↗

Surge Adventure Park Columbia

North Columbia (Business Park Blvd)

Holiday hours not posted
Official site ↗

Keep planning

More for little kids in Columbia

November: things to do in ColumbiaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ColumbiaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in ColumbiaFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in ColumbiaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in ColumbiaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchThanksgiving weekend in ColumbiaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayChristmas parades in ColumbiaParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in ColumbiaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ColumbiaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in ColumbiaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursThis week in ColumbiaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Christmas break in Columbia: the FAQ

Of the two places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Leo’s Landing Inclusive Playground (Saluda Shoals Park) and Riverbanks Zoo & Garden are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.

On the calendar: Santa Photos at Columbiana Centre.

On the calendar for Jan 1: Wild Lights at Riverbanks. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

Fireflies Holiday Lights, Wild Lights at Riverbanks and Holiday Lights on the River. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.

Holiday plans every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Columbia, through the holidays.

Columbia skyline