Nov1Sun
First Sunday: $1 Admission at the South Carolina State Museum
South Carolina State Museum · 301 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29201
- When
- Sunday, Nov 1
- Time
- 12–5pm
- Price
- $1 per person general admission (planetarium and 4D extra)
- Ages
- All ages
November 2026Columbia · Soda City
November in Columbia with little kids.
13 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Columbia in November 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.
1 listing
Sunday, Nov 1
1 listing
Nov 2 to Nov 8
Nov7Sat
Bank of America Museums on Us weekend
Columbia Museum of Art · Columbia
- When
- Nov 7 and 8
- Price
- Free general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID)
1 listing
Nov 16 to Nov 22
Nov19Thu
Vista Lights Tree Lighting
The Vista · Lincoln and Gervais Streets
- When
- Thursday, Nov 19
- Time
- 6 p.m.; tree lighting 7 p.m.
- Price
- Free
4 listings
Nov 23 to Nov 29
Nov26Thu
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Turkey Day 1K Family Fun Run/Walk
Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St. · Downtown
- When
- Thursday, Nov 26
- Time
- 5K at 9 a.m.; 1K Family Fun Run/Walk at 9:05 a.m.
- Price
- 1K $15–$25 with a T-shirt, depending on when you register
Nov27Fri
Nov27Fri
Santa at Sumter Mall
Sumter Mall · 1057 Broad St., Sumter, SC 29150
- When
- Friday, Nov 27
- Time
- During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
- Price
- Photo packages priced at the booking site
Nov28Sat
Giving After Thanksgiving Children’s Run
Quail Lane Racquet Club · 4927 Quail Ln, Columbia, SC 29206
- When
- Saturday, Nov 28
- Time
- Children’s Run 8:45am; 5K 9am
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.
Nov20to 30
Fireflies Holiday Lights
Segra Park · Segra Park, Columbia, SC
- When
- Nov 20 to Jan 3
- Time
- 6–9pm (last entry 8:30pm)
- Price
- See tickets online
Nov20to 30
Santa at Wild Lights
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden · Columbia, SC
- When
- Nov 20 to Dec 23
- Time
- 5–9 p.m.
- Price
- Wild Lights ticket (sold from Nov 2)
Nov20to 30
Visits with Santa at Fireflies Holiday Lights
Segra Park · Segra Park, Columbia, SC
- When
- Nov 20 to Dec 23
- Time
- 6–9pm
- Price
- Included with Fireflies Holiday Lights
Nov20to 30
Wild Lights at Riverbanks
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden · 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia, SC
- When
- Nov 20 to Jan 10
- Time
- 5–9pm
- Price
- Tickets sold from Nov 2
Nov21to 30
Santa Photos at Columbiana Centre
Columbiana Centre · 100 Columbiana Circle, Columbia, SC 29212
- 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
Nov25to 30
Holiday Lights on the River
Saluda Shoals Park · Saluda Shoals Park
- When
- Nov 25 to Dec 31
- 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
Guides
More November guides for Columbia
Christmas lights in ColumbiaKeep planning
More for little kids in Columbia
December: things to do in ColumbiaEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ColumbiaFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in ColumbiaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ColumbiaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in ColumbiaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in ColumbiaParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in ColumbiaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ColumbiaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ColumbiaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in ColumbiaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
This week in ColumbiaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
November in Columbia: the FAQ
13 dated listings so far, including First Sunday: $1 Admission at the South Carolina State Museum (Nov 1), Bank of America Museums on Us weekend (Nov 7 and Nov 8), Vista Lights Tree Lighting (Nov 19) and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Turkey Day 1K Family Fun Run/Walk (Nov 26). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.
Bank of America Museums on Us weekend (Nov 7 and Nov 8) and Vista Lights Tree Lighting (Nov 19). For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in Columbia.
The Thanksgiving weekend page lists the parades and turkey trots, plus what’s open on Thursday and Friday.
7 start this November: Santa at Sumter Mall (Nov 27), 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 Nov 30, 2026 it switches to November 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.
