FRIDAY, NOV. 28

Holiday Lights on the River
Bring the family to Saluda Shoals Park (6071 St. Andrews Rd.) to enjoy Holiday Lights on the River. Take in millions of sparkling lights and colorful displays, enjoy some fun activities, concessions, a laser light show and a visit to Santa Claus gift shop! Admission costs between $25-$30 per car, depending on the date, and $50-$75 per bus or van. Activities are included with admission. Visit icrc.net for more information.

The Randy Lucas Trio (concert)
Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin’ Parlor (710 Meeting St.) welcomes The Randy Lucas Trio to its Friday night concert. This unique trio of fiddle, guitar and upright bass might look like a typical bluegrass outfit, but it actually combines jazz, pop and blues into the standard bluegrass formula for a more exciting, unpredictable style. The Randy Lucas Trio plays from 8 to 9 p.m. and admission is a $10 donation. The snack bar is open. Visit billsmusicshop.com for more information.

Carter Lybrand (concert)
Fast-rising country singer/songwriter Carter Lybrand helps bring the Skyline Club (100 Lee St.) back to life after a long layoff. Lybrand plays his blend of twangy honky-tonk and gritty Southern rock from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $10. Visit facebook.com/skylineclub803 for more information.

SATURDAY, NOV. 29

The Runout (concert)
Steel Hands Brewing (2350 Foreman St.) welcomes the Columbia act, The Runout. The special duo edition of The Runout performs stripped-down versions of their original Americana/folk tunes and old favorites from 5 to 9 p.m. Food and drink specials are available during the show. This event is free to attend. Visit facebook.com/steelhandsbrewing for more information.

Brittany Turnipseed (concert)
Chayz Lounge (607 Meeting St.) and vocalist Brittany Turnipseed invite you to a special presentation called “An Evening of Soulful Melodies.” Expect Turnipseed, a longtime Chayz Lounge favorite, to perform hits and classics by Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Etta James, Stevie Wonder and many more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and showtime is 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $47, and dinner-inclusive admission is $87. Dressy attire is required. Visit chayzlounge.com for more information.

Family Storytime
Looking for something a little different to do with your little ones on the weekend? The Lexington Main Library (5440 Augusta Rd.) has just the thing: Family Storytime. You and the kids can enjoy the best in books, nursery rhymes, finger plays, storytelling and songs for all ages. Family Storytime runs from 11 to 11:30 a.m. and is free to attend. Visit lexcolibrary.com for more information.

SUNDAY, NOV. 30

Santa’s Back!
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids (918 N. Lake Dr., Ste. E) welcomes Santa Claus back to town. Bring the kids for a free event that includes photos with Santa, sponsored by N Squared Photography. No haircut appointment or purchase is required. Of course, you can get a fresh cut before the photo session if you book an appointment in advance, but it's not required for the photo opportunity. Santa Claus will be at Sharkey’s from noon to 3 p.m. Visit facebook.com/SharkeysCutsforKidsLexingtonSC for more information.

Wild Lights
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (500 Wildlife Pkwy.) invites you and the kids to enjoy Wild Lights. Take a walk through the Zoo and check out more than 60 larger-than-life handcrafted wildlife lantern displays inspired by nature. Plus, there’s nightly snowfall, photo ops and visits with Santa. Wild Lights run from 5 to 9 p.m. and admission is $25.99. Visit riverbanks.org for more information.

TUESDAY, DEC. 2

Town of Irmo Tree Lighting Ceremony
Head over to Irmo Town Park (1249 Lexington Ave.) for the town’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. In addition to the ceremony itself, this event features performances by local school choirs and bands, festive treats including pizza, hot chocolate and cookies, and a warm holiday message from Mayor Danielson. Following the tree lighting, Santa Claus just might make an appearance via fire truck, spreading holiday cheer and taking time to hear Christmas wishes. This event is free to attend. Visit facebook.com/thetownofIrmo for more information.

THURSDAY, DEC. 4

Town of Lexington Snowball Festival
The Icehouse Amphitheater (107 W. Main St.) hosts the Town of Lexington’s annual Snowball Festival. It’s the kickoff of a four-day event that features a mix of shopping, family-friendly activities, holiday movies, Santa sightings and one of the region’s most anticipated Christmas parades. The festival runs from 4 to 8 p.m., and Thursday night features a holiday craft fair. This event is free to attend. Visit lexsc.gov/1014/Snowball-Festival---2025-Information to learn more.

Words & Wine
Chayz Lounge (607 Meeting St.) invites you to a special evening called “Words & Wine.” This evening of spoken word poetry is an evocative experience that takes you on a journey through emotion, memory and meaning. Doors open at 6 p.m., and “Words & Wine” begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $30. Dressy attire is required. Visit chayzlounge.com for more information.

Across the county line

The SC State Museum (301 Gervais St.) invites you to experience the Northern Lights in a new way with “Áróra” on Friday, Nov. 28. Created by some of Iceland’s leading scientists, artists and musicians, Áróra is a sweeping, epic presentation projected onto the 55-foot digital dome of the museum’s BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium. It takes you across Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes and into outer space to uncover the mystery and science behind the aurora borealis. “Áróra” shows from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission costs between $15 and $18. Visit scmuseum.org/explore/astronomy/planetarium/arora for more information.

Head over to Dreher Island State Park (3677 State Park Rd.) on Friday, Nov. 28, to celebrate the SC State Parks Dept.’s version of Black Friday. Get a Black Friday deal for the whole family and take on the #OptOutsideSC challenge by spending your day outdoors. Admission is free at all South Carolina state parks on Friday, Nov. 28, only. This special promotion invites everyone to experience the natural beauty of the parks on the day after Thanksgiving. Visit southcarolinaparks.com for Dreher Island State Park hours and more information.

Historic Columbia invites you to take a Historic Holiday Tour on Saturday, Nov. 29. Step back in time and explore two of Columbia’s most iconic homes: The Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion. Each house is decorated for the holidays with an emphasis on 19th-century items and cultural touchstones. You’ll also hear stories about the local customs and unique ways that people of the Midlands celebrated Christmas back in the day. These 75-minute guided tours run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission costs between $14 and $20. Visit historiccolumbia.org for more information.

The Trustus Theatre (520 Lady St.) invites you to an enchanting evening on Saturday, Nov. 29, with their production of “Into the Woods.” This Tony Award-winning musical by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim mixes classic fairytale characters in a story that focuses on a young baker and his wife, who desperately wish for a child. “Into The Woods” begins at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, and admission costs between $37 and $43. Visit trustus.booktix.com for more information.

The Township Auditorium (1703 Taylor St.) and the Ann Brodie Ballet present a beloved holiday classic, “The Nutcracker” on Sunday, Nov. 30. In addition to beautiful dancing and breathtaking choreography, the Carolina Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” includes a full orchestra and chorus, along with the glittering Snowflakes and waltzing flowers that make the performance come alive. Showtime is 3 p.m. and tickets cost $33.20. Visit thetownship.org for more information.