Things to do in Columbia before the first week of January 2025 ends
COLUMBIA, S.C. — New Year’s Day is Wednesday. Before you welcome in 2025, here are a few “last chance to see” things in 2024:
THROUGH DECEMBER 31
Holiday Lights on the River, 6-10 p.m. Saluda Shoals Park, 6027 St. Andrews Rd. It’s not only a dazzling display of lights, but activities such as the Winter Wonder Tube Slide, hayrides and train rides, and laser light show on the Wetland Trail
Tim Turner: Songs of Celebration Exhibit, 11 a.m.-5 p. m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, City Art Gallery, 1224 Lincoln St. An exhibit of NC artist Tim Turner’s large-scale abstract paintings of the simple things that bring pleasure.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4D, various times Tuesday-Sunday, South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St. The classic stop-motion cartoon follows the adventures of Rudolph and his friends Hermey the Elf and Yukon Cornelius… even the Abominable Snow Monster!
Eye to Eye: The Roefs & Waddell Collection, 1-5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Center for Contemporary Art, 701 Whaley. Over 100 pieces of art from the collection of Wim Roefs and Eileen Waddell, one of the largest private collections in South Carolina. Some artists represented include Leo Twiggs, Tyrone Geter, Laura Spong, Michaela Pilar Brown, Marcelo Novo and Virginia Scotchie
Kershaw County Tinsel Trail, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wateree River Veterans Park, 550 US-1, Lugoff. Make plans to come out and see the amazing spaces local businesses/organizations have created with the decorated trees to get you in the holiday spirit.
Fantasy of Lights, 6-9 p.m. Swan Lake Iris Gardens, 822 W Liberty St., Sumter. The gardens come alive with a display of twinkling holiday imagery created by more than one million lights, including the floating Christmas tree!
THROUGH JANUARY 1
Children’s Garden Christmas, 5-10 p.m. Edisto Memorial Gardens, 250 Riverside Dr., Orangeburg. This is a free family event through Edisto Memorial Gardens featuring thousands of lights along the drive and interactive displays along the Kid’s Walk.
THROUGH JANUARY 4
Historic Columbia Holiday House Tours, noon and 3 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, Robert Mills Gift Shop, 1616 Blanding St. Take a tour back in time to see how the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion would have been decorated for the holidays during the 19th century. Guided tours last approximately 75 minutes.
THROUGH JANUARY 5
French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850-1950, Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. A showcase of works from the era’s leading artists, including Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Camille Corot, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and more.
THROUGH JANUARY 12