If you’re looking for holiday festivities and events without the crowds and chaos of the season, visit South Carolina’s Old 96 District! Slow down and enjoy the holidays by staying in a romantic Bed and Breakfast, enjoying a meal from award-winning local chefs, and shopping locally from an array of artisan vendors. Encompassing the counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, and McCormick, there are so many opportunities to enjoy the upcoming events and step into a small-town holiday movie!
Abbeville, South Carolina
With its charming downtown square aglow all season, Abbeville is the perfect place to start your festive adventure through South Carolina’s Old 96 District. Mark your calendars with these upcoming events.
- Join in for the Christmas Tree Lighting on November 19th, 2026, at 6:30PM. If you love lights, check out their brand-new Light of Christmas display that will be up every night through the end of December!
- If you love music, you’ll appreciate Erskine College’s annual Lessons and Carols service, held on December 7th, 2026 at 7:00PM. at Due West ARP Church. The program features the Erskine Choraleers along with members of the campus and local community, blending Scripture readings with seasonal Christmas music in a cherished celebration of hope and joy.
- A special attraction for children and adults alike, Walk Through Bethlehem is back this year for two weekends, December 3-6th and December 10-13th, 2026. This is a free, immersive experience to walk through Bethlehem as it would have looked at the time of Jesus’s birth. Visitors can chat with the townspeople and artisans, browse shops and displays, and meet the wide variety of live animals!
- For even more holiday cheer, enjoy the Christmas Parade on December 10th, 2026, at 6:30PM.
Stay awhile and enjoy all Abbeville has to offer with accommodations at a local historic Bed & Breakfast like Sharon Manor or Veranda on Main, both located ideally to enjoy all of the festivities in comfort. Enjoy farm-to-table dining, like at Chef Ambassador Erica McCier’s Indigenous Underground, or a casual cafe atmosphere with scratch made sandwiches at Main Street Coffee Company. Don’t leave town without some baked goods from Swartzentruber’s Bakery or donuts from Mama’s Sweet Shoppe! There is so much to enjoy this season in Abbeville!
Edgefield, South Carolina
Located just 45 minutes from Augusta, 1.25 hours from Columbia, 1.5 hours from Greenville, 2 hours from Charleston or Charlotte, and 2.5 hours from Atlanta, Edgefield is ideally situated for an escape from the city without having to go far at all.
- Between November 27, 2026-January 3, 2027, make your way to Sara’s Farm Adventure for the ultimate holiday lights event of the season! Enjoy the walkable trail of lights, farm activities, a petting zoo, live music, and more. Don’t forget to treat yourself to some seasonal treats or roast s’mores over an open fire!
- For some southern “snow” and festive vibes, Edgefield’s annual town Christmas Tree Lighting will be on November 27th, 2026 at 6:00PM!
- Cook’s Farm is once again hosting their December Shopping Market in Trenton on December 4th, 2026 from 9:00am-6:00PM and December 5th, 2026 from 8:00am-2:00PM! Shop a variety of gift baskets, woodworking, Christmas decor, antiques, and food vendors in their open-air market.
- If you’re looking for that small town holiday charm, catch Edgefield’s 53rd Annual Christmas Parade on December 6th, 2026 at 3:00PM. A camping chair is recommended!
- In need of a fresh Christmas tree, wreath, garlands, or poinsettias to take home? Stop by Sara’s Fresh Market in Trenton for all the local, South Carolina-grown holiday decor, and don’t miss out on a steamy cup of fresh Peach Cider, or a jar of fresh local Peach Jam while you’re there (Edgefield county is the Peach Capital of the World, after all!).
Minutes from downtown Edgefield, stay at Azalea Inn and relax in a 137-year-old farmhouse turned Bed & Breakfast. Nearby Three-Star Vineyard and Orchard is the perfect spot to sip wine surrounded by 100 acres of vineyards. Enjoy farm-to-table fine dining at Christine’s Farm to Fork. For casual fare, Mario’s Pizzeria or the Edgefield Pool Room are local staples.
Greenwood, South Carolina
Bustling with locally owned shops and boutiques, history, culture, music, and southern hospitality, visiting Greenwood during the holidays is pure magic.
- Get ready to Deck Your Halls and find all the gifts on your list at Greenwood’s Holiday Open House on November 14th, 2026, from 10:00AM-4:00PM! From sparkling window displays to handcrafted goods, exclusive sales, and complementary refreshments, it’s the perfect way to get ahead on your holiday shopping and support local businesses.
- Inn on the Square is hosting their second annual Holiday Market on November 14th, 2026, from 9:00AM-2:00PM. This event will be located in the Inn’s beautiful ballroom and is free to the public.
- For a free, family-friendly event, join Connie Maxwell Children’s Home for their annual Christmas celebration December 3-5th, 2026 from 6:00-8:30PM each night. Featuring a spectacular live nativity performance, concert series, Christmas village, petting zoo, hot chocolate, wagon rides, and more, it truly is a wonderful time!
- With two seatings on December 4th, 2026, at 5:30PM and 7:00PM, the whole family is invited to a PJ Party with Santa located at The Museum in Greenwood!
- Cookies & Hot Chocolate with Santa is a reservation-only event for children of all ages on December 4th, 2026, from 6:30-8:00PM. Each child’s ticket is $15 and includes cookies, warm hot chocolate, a visit with Santa Claus, and a copy of “The Night Before Christmas” to take home!
- Take Photos with Santa on Saturday, December 5th, 2026, from 9:00-11:00 AM and 3:00-5:00PM at The Arts Center.
- Craft with Mrs. Claus as she brings the magic of the North Pole with her from 1:00-2:00 PM on December 5th, 2026.
- Attend one of the most heartwarming moments of the season with the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 5th, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Let the lights shine and the memories begin.
- With one of the widest Main Streets in America (true story!), Uptown Greenwood’s Christmas Parade is sure to be a huge success! Mark your calendars for December 6th, 2026, at 2:30PM.
- Gather your friends for a Christmas High Tea on December 6th, 2026 from 3:00-5:00PM. Tickets include an afternoon of heavy hors d’oeuvres and assortment of hot teas in the beautiful Riegel Hall in Ware Shoals, South Carolina.
- Gather your girlfriends for a special Sip n’ Shop holiday event on December 10th, 2026, from 5:00-8:00PM! Enjoy a relaxed night of shopping, sipping, catching up with friends. Explore Uptown Greenwood’s charming shops filled with one-of-a-kind gifts, cozy winter finds, and stylish holiday looks. Snack on seasonal treats and sip something delicious while you shop!
Make a weekend out of it with a stay at Inn on the Square, a boutique hotel located right in the heart of Uptown, or Riegel Hall, a beautifully restored historic Bed & Breakfast about 15 minutes out of town. Warm up at Mill House Pizza & Good Times Brewing with some brick oven pizza and “Winter Lineup” ales. For a fine dining experience, try the French-American restaurant, Pascal’s Cafe.
Laurens, South Carolina
Located ideally between Greenville and Columbia, Laurens offers visitors small town charm, holiday markets, and a nostalgic look into the past. Mark your calendars with these holiday events!
- Between November 7th, 2026-January 2nd, 2027, visitors at the Laurens County Museum have the chance to enjoy the Festival of Trees—a collection of themed trees representing organizations, businesses, locations, and historical periods of Laurens County—throughout the entire museum.
- Another great shopping event, Merry Market at the Laurens County Museum will take place on November 27-28th, 2026. This event will feature music, festive foods, shopping, and crafts!
- Join Laurens for their annual tree lighting on December 4th, 2026 from 5:30-9:00PM, and their Christmas Parade on December 5th, 2026 at 4:30PM. Downtown will be aglow both days and include the Christmas Village and Christmas Market on the downtown square!
While visiting Laurens, don’t miss Moultrie Southern Cuisine, serving up elevated Southern food and innovative cocktails. For a sweet treat, Great Crepes and More is perfect for filling any sweet tooth right on the main downtown square!
McCormick, South Carolina
With the highest number of State Parks of any county in South Carolina, McCormick truly is an outdoorsman’s paradise. During the holiday season, it is perfect for escaping the crowds, enjoying the slower pace of life, and experiencing life as a local.
- Historic Downtown McCormick is hosting a Sip and Stroll, December 4th, 2026 from 4:00-6:00PM. Complementary wine, cider, and punch will be served at this family friendly event. For a map of participating merchants, start at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.
- The Festival of Trees & Holiday Market is back December 4-5th and 11-12th, 2026! Enjoy a winter wonderland as you walk through the 2026 Festival of Trees located in the 1898 Grist Mill. Make sure you visit the 1930 Cotton Gin and enjoy the Holiday Market, as well! This is the perfect opportunity to shop beautiful, handcrafted merchandise including jewelry, jellies, jams, baked goods, quilts, glass art, books, and more!
- Capping off the festivities in McCormick, don’t miss the ‘The Nutcracker’ themed Christmas Parade! It will be on historic Main Street on December 12th, 2026 at 4:00PM.
While in McCormick, enjoy the variety of antique shops, the abundant opportunities for nature and fresh air any of the three State Parks, and grab dinner overlooking the water at River Grille in Savannah Lakes Village!
