Two Christmas light displays in and around Columbia have 2026 dates: both walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 9 p.m. at Fireflies Holiday Lights. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.
Last checked · How we choose
Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
Segra Park · Segra Park, Columbia, SC
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
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Riverbanks Zoo & Garden · 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia, SC
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. Fireflies Holiday Lights opens first, on Nov 20. Fireflies Holiday Lights and Wild Lights at Riverbanks run into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:15 p.m. in Columbia (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
6–9pm (last entry 8:30pm)
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5–9pm
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
Picks: Fireflies Holiday Lights, Wild Lights at Riverbanks
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireflies Holiday Lights | See tickets online | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Wild Lights at Riverbanks | Tickets on sale Nov 2 | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 3 Santa outings in and around Columbia: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Columbia →
None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (two here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Fireflies Holiday Lights at 9 p.m. and Wild Lights at Riverbanks at 9 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Columbia · Columbia city guide · Visiting Columbia
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Columbia that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.