The Holiday Festival of Lights is back, starting on November 10th at James Island County Park. With over two million lights, this beloved tradition offers fun for the whole family.
The 34th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights is open nightly from 5:30 pm to 10 pm from November 10th to December 31st, 2023. More than five million people have toured the Holiday Festival of Lights, which has been hosted annually by Charleston County Parks at James Island County Park since 1990. The holiday hotspot has earned many awards and mentions throughout the country.
Guests can cruise along the three-mile display of glimmering lights throughout the park, featuring over 750 light displays. They can also park their car and explore additional attractions in the park including:
- Giant holiday sand sculpture formed from over 50 tons of sand
- Gift shops featuring unique gifts and toys, personalized items, stocking stuffers and the official collector series ornaments
- The Festival Train
- Amazing Dancing Light Display
- Old-Fashioned Carousel
- Marshmallow Roasting Pits
- Climbing Wall
- Giant Holiday Greeting Card Competition
- Santa's Sweet Shoppe, featuring hot chocolate, ice cream, fresh baked treats
- Concessions, including kettle corn, funnel cakes, pizza, hot dogs, burgers and much more
- Special events and entertainment on select evenings, including a New Year's Eve fireworks display on December 31st
And, of course, don't forget to visit with Santa at the festival. New this year, Santa will be at the Holiday Festival of Lights starting on opening night and every night through December 23rd. Santa will also be available at James Island County Park for select daytime appearances. Called “Mingle with Kringle,” families can book private visits during the day on select Saturdays in December. People with disabilities and their families are invited to schedule inclusive visits with Santa on Dec. 3 and 10. To book a daytime visit with Santa, visit HolidayFestivalofLights.com.
This year, to enhance visitor experience and to help manage wait times, Holiday Festival of Lights organizers worked to identify each event night as being a “green” night (having historically light traffic/crowd levels), a “yellow” night (moderate traffic/crowd levels), or a “red” night (heavy traffic/crowd levels). Admission prices will vary based on the night, and guests can save money by purchasing their tickets online in advance. Green nights will be $15 per vehicle in advance or $20 at the gate; Yellow nights will be $25 per vehicle in advance or $30 at the gate; and Red nights will be $30 per vehicle in advance or $40 at the gate. A calendar denoting each night's category is available at HolidayFestivalofLights.com. Charleston County Parks highly recommends advance ticket purchase and visiting on a green or yellow night; not only will guests save money these evenings, but traffic and crowds at the event will be lighter. Gold Pass holders receive one free vehicle admission per annual membership period (Gold Pass must be presented at the gate).
For more information on the Holiday Festival of Lights, call 843-795-4386 or visit HolidayFestivalofLights.com.
For information about employment opportunities at the Holiday Festival of Lights, visit https://www.ccprc.com/3719/Help-Spread-Holiday-Cheer.
