‘Tis the season for holiday gatherings and merriment. Lexington County isn’t short on festive events, with options in seemingly every nook and cranny.

Lexington

The annual Snowball Festival rolls in Lexington for three days Dec. 1-3. Preceding the Snowball festival is the Christmas Craft Fair at the Icehouse Amphitheater Pavilion (107 W Main St.), where 65 local vendors from around the county will have gifts and produce available for purchase. The holiday market will be Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 4-8 p.m. 

After the market kicks off, the free Snowball Festival events brings families and community together for the weekend. On the eve of Dec. 1 starting at 4 p.m., the Town of Lexington sings Christmas carols, lights the tree and Santa will be available for pictures. All events will be held at the Amphitheater with a showing of “The Grinch” at 7:30 p.m. 

On Dec. 2 at the amphitheater, small carnival rides and festivities will take place from 1 to 5 p.m., and Santa will be available again for photos. There will be a showing of “The Santa Clause” at 5:30 p.m.

The Christmas Parade ends the Snowball festival on Dec. 3 on Main Street starting at 3 p.m. The parade is an annual tradition brought by the Town of Lexington and Lexington Jaycees.

In addition to the Snowball Festival and Holiday Market, the town is also hosting the Downtown Santa Scavenger Hunt for the fourth annual year. Different Santa ornaments are placed inside Main Street restaurants and people match the ornament to the corresponding restaurant. The scavenger hunt is available at Town Hall or the Lexington Chamber of Commerce or any of the participating businesses. They must be completed and returned by the end of December to be entered to win a prize.

Cayce

Down the road is the annual Christmas in Cayce with three events over three days from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 with each event starting at 6 p.m. All of the Cayce events are free and put on by the City of Cayce and Cayce Historical Museum. 

Cayce City Hall has the annual tree lighting Nov. 30, and the city hosts Carols Along the Riverwalk Dec. 1. The holiday event trio ends Dec. 2 at the Cayce Historical Museum with exhibits and a historical account spanning 300 years of what it was like for Christmases past in Cayce. 

West Columbia

Next door to Cayce is West Columbia’s 19th annual tree lighting event setting the spirit for the city on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. on West Columbia’s City Hall lawn. 

Four of the city’s schools will be present singing Christmas carols, including Busbee Creative Arts Academy, Northside Middle School and East Point Academy.

The Town of Springdale will also have a tree lighting celebration Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. with a surprise visit by the guy in the big red suit.

The Holiday Parade of Lights, presented by the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce and rolling between the two cities along 12th Street, rolls Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (500 Wildlife Pkwy.) hosts its rebranded Wild Lights running through Jan. 14. The lights run in the evenings from 5-9 p.m. every day in December except Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 24-25. The lights this year center on 57 animal-themed lantern displays.

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (3250 Airport Blvd.) will host its free Santa at the CAE Nov. 28 from 4-7 p.m. Santa and his Mrs. will stop by for photo ops. There won’t be a professional photographer, but staff are willing to help take pictures. There will also be stations for cookie decorating, ornament making and hot cocoa. Surface parking will be free for the first half hour only.

Irmo

The Midlands’ self-proclaimed biggest drive-through light show is in the Irmo area at Saluda Shoals Park (5605 Bush River Rd.). The lights have already kicked off Nov. 22 and run through Dec. 31, 6-10 p.m. In addition to the two-plus miles of holiday lights, there are also professional photos with Santa available, a laser light show at the Wetlands, a hayride, train ride and winter tube slide. Children can also write or color a picture/letter to Santa. Tickets are available on the Saluda Shoals website and are $25 per car, $50 for a 12-15 passenger vehicle and $75 per bus. 

Chapin

The Town of Chapin travels back in time for the third annual Old Timey Christmas Dec. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m. This is also a free event taking place on Beaufort Street in the town. 

The town will have its tree lighting at 6:30 p.m., and Santa and his better half, Mrs. Claus, will visit during their busy schedule. There will also be Christmas carols, live music and vendors open for shopping. Storytime readings take place throughout the evening. 

Pelion

On Dec. 16, the Pelion Community Center (951 Pine St.) welcomes kids and families to have breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus starting at 8 a.m. The American Legion Post 101 hosts the event and in addition to a meal with the jolly Saint Nick, there will be crafts, games and stocking treats available. 

White Knoll

Let’s not forget about the furry friends. On Dec. 7, Santa and the Mrs. will be at White Knoll Veterinary Hospital (516 Kyzer Rd.) at 11 a.m. for pet photos. Event proceeds go toward the organization Make a Friend in Animals or MAFIA, and 4x6 prints will be available for $8 or a session CD for $20. The last seating will be at 3:45 p.m.