December 2026Columbia · Soda City

December in Columbia with little kids.

11 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Columbia in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

11 listings · 3 free

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

4 listings

Dec 1 to Dec 6

1 listing

Dec 7 to Dec 13

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

6 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Columbiana Centre

Columbiana Centre · 100 Columbiana Circle, Columbia, SC 29212

Santa
When
Nov 21 to Dec 24
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
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked

Guides

More December guides for Columbia

Santa visits in ColumbiaBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in ColumbiaDrive-thru and walk-through displaysEvery year in ColumbiaAnnual events by month, with last year’s dates

Keep planning

More for little kids in Columbia

November: 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 hoursChristmas break in ColumbiaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in ColumbiaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

December in Columbia: the FAQ

11 dated listings so far, including Christmas in Cayce Tree Lighting (Dec 3), Bank of America Museums on Us weekend (Dec 5 and Dec 6), Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade: Light Up the Holidays (Dec 5) and Snowball Christmas Parade (Dec 6). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

7 start this December: Breakfast with Santa at Village at Sandhill (Dec 12), Fireflies Holiday Lights (Nov 20 to Jan 3), Santa at Wild Lights (Nov 20 to Dec 23), Visits with Santa at Fireflies Holiday Lights (Nov 20 to Dec 23) and Wild Lights at Riverbanks (Nov 20 to Jan 10), plus 2 more below.

Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Columbia that weekend.

Columbia skyline