The best trip within about five hours of Columbia for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on.
6 weekends
2 cities
Closest: 1h 45mLast checked against official pages. How we choose
Each ring is one hour of driving from Columbia. Under two hours is an easy day trip; past three, pack the pajamas.
Orange dots are picks on this page. Drive times are normal driving times without traffic.
2h
about 2 hr from Columbia
Boo in the Zoo with timed tickets, which keeps the paths from getting packed. Bring your own treat bag.
Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session.
Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 · 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m.Greenville Zoo
$15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on2habout 2 hr from Columbia
Boo in the Zoo has its last evening on Friday, and new this year is a Halloween afternoon session from 1 to 4, which works well for little kids.
Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session.
Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31 · 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m.Greenville Zoo$15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on1h 45mabout 1 hr 45 min from Columbia
Pirates' Christmas Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, plus the last day of Tricks and Treats at Carowinds on Saturday, 11 to 5:30.
The park's daytime, no-scares Halloween, with a costume contest, candy and family rides before the evening haunt takes over.
Sat Nov 7 · 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Nov. 7 closes at 5:30 p.m.CarowindsIncluded with park admissionJousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22.
Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8 · Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices1h 45m
about 1 hr 45 min from Columbia
Time Travelers' Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival: kids 5 to 12 get in free with a school-supply donation, and 4 and under are always free. Parking is free too.
Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22.
Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15 · Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices
1h 45m
about 1 hr 45 min from Columbia
Speedway Christmas lights open, and it's the Renaissance Festival's final weekend.
A drive-thru show with more than 5 million lights on a four-mile course. Rain or shine.
Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · 6–10 p.m.Charlotte Motor Speedway, ConcordSee the speedway for pricesJousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22.
Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22 · Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket pricesThe NC Chinese Lantern Festival opens Saturday in Cary. The paths are paved and stroller-friendly, and the 4:30 twilight session is less crowded.
2h
about 2 hr from Columbia
Disney On Ice is at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena over Thanksgiving weekend.
In Greenville Nov. 25–29.
Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29 · See the tour page for show timesBon Secours Wellness ArenaSee the tour page
Car snacksMore than you think. Then a few more.
StrollerZoo paths and light trails are long for little legs.
Time the napLeave right before nap so the drive does double duty.
Overnight bagPast three hours, pajamas beat a 9pm drive home.
Parking cashFree admission days often still charge for parking.
Rain planPick one indoor backup, like a museum, before you leave.Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Columbia are Greenville, Charlotte. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.
Charlotte (about 1 hr 45 min), Greenville (about 2 hr), Charleston (about 2 hr 15 min), Savannah (about 3 hr), Raleigh (about 4 hr 15 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.
Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.
They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.