6 minute read
Holiday events in the Midlands
HOLIDAY Events
Happy holidays, Columbia.
It’s truly the happiest time of the year and, after what feels like an eternity, many of the season’s holiday event mainstays are back in business after the COVID-19 pandemic affected the bulk of it last year. So there’s plenty of reason to bring holiday joy and Free Times is determined to help you find places to sprinkle that joy around.
Here you’ll find our annual holiday guide, which breaks down the season’s events. Of course, things happen quickly and notable additions could come after this issue is published, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for even more exciting things to do around town. We’ll be sure to do the same and note them as they come.
And while the pandemic feels as if it’s passed us by, it is still an ongoing problem and affecting the holiday season. So while this year’s events calendar resembles pre-pandemic times, there are still many protocols and shifts to take note of. Expect masks, vaccination, social distancing or other measures to be put in place to many of these events.
We’ve seen less and less events be canceled by the pandemic, but do keep an eye on free-times. com, in case things take another turn for the worse, or anything else changes with these various happenings. Have a safe and lovely holidays!
ONGOING “30 Americans”
Through Jan. 17. Columbia Museum of Art, columbiamuseum.org. A touring exhibition reaches what is perhaps the end of its decade-long run, with a stop in Columbia.
The sprawling exhibit deals with themes of sexual, racial and historical identity through the lens of 30 different Black artists. “Elf the Musical”
Nov. 12-Dec.12. Town Theatre, towntheatre.com. Beloved aughts movie hits the Town Theatre in musical form. Part II 701 CCA SC Biennial
Nov. 18-Dec. 23. 701 Center for
Contemporary Art, 701cca.org. A survey of the state’s contemporary artists. The exhibition collects works from South
Carolina artists throughout the state and presents them in one place. Apollo 50: Journey to the Moon
South Carolina State Museum, scmuseum.org. Marking the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first steps on the moon, this exhibition charts the history of NASA’s Apollo program. Holiday Lights on the River
Nov. 24-Dec. 31. Saluda Shoals Park, icrc.net.
A massive drive-through light display along the Saluda River, with nightly activities including train rides and crafts. Lights Before Christmas
Nov. 20-Dec. 30. Riverbanks Zoo, riverbanks.org. The zoo lights up on select nights and hosts Santa’s Village and more.
See website for specific dates. Vista Lights
Nov. 18. The Vista, vistacolumbia.com. The Vista neighborhood shops, galleries and restaurant’s show off, while live entertainment is on hand.
“Tiny Beautiful Things” by Cheryl Strayed
Nov. 17-19. Longstreet Theatre, sc.universitytickets.com. Play adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek
Wedding). ZZ Top
Nov. 19. Township Auditorium, thetownship.org. Old school rockers will play in Columbia.
NOVEMBER
“Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express”
Nov. 12-14, 19-21. Fine Arts Center of
Kershaw County, fineartscenter.org. It’s a murder-mystery, but mainly a comedy in this iteration of the story. “Anastasia”
Nov. 17-18. Broadway in Columbia, broadwayincolumbia.com. Long-time
Broadway play kicks off the Broadway in
Columbia series. 6
DECEMBER
Branson on the Road Christmas
Dec. 2. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. A throwback to the yesteryear of classic country music, with a Christmas focus here.
Dec. 2-5. Columbia Classical Ballet, columbiaclassicalballet.com. Famed production hits the stage from the Columbia Classical Ballet.
DECEMBER, continued from page 6 A Very Electric Christmas
Dec. 3. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. Lightwire Theater, of “America’s Got Talent” fame, brings a holiday story of a bird named Max who gets lost in the North Pole.
Festivus
Dec. 3-5. Five Points of Columbia, fivepointscolumbia.com. Five Points merchants and others get in the holiday spirit during this annual neighborhood festival. Appalachian Road Show Christmas
Dec. 4. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. The acoustic ensemble brings Appalachia in the first half and Christmas in the second half.
Dec. 4. Columbia Children’s Theatre, columbiachildrenstheatre.com. It’s back. After two years off, the Columbia Children’s Theatre brings back the well loved holiday musical.
Columbia Art Museum Gala
Dec 4. Columbia Museum of Art, columbiamuseum.org. The Gala is the
CMA’s largest fundraiser of the year and raises significant funds to support the museum’s award-winning arts education and community enrichment programs. Chamber Music on Main
Dec. 7, Jan. 11. Columbia Museum of Art, columbiamuseum.org. Ongoing series brings chamber music to Boyd Plaza, often with drinks and food trucks.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Dec. 8. Colonial Life Arena, coloniallifearena.com. Well loved American rock band, known for bright lights and epic anthems, stops in Columbia. “The Magic of Christmas starring the Wagsters”
Dec. 10-12. Workshop Theatre of South Carolina, workshoptheatre.com. Local theater brings together a holiday-themed show.
Dec. 11-12, 18-19. Columbia City Ballet, columbiacityballet.com. Famed production hits the stage again in Columbia, but this time from the Columbia City Ballet. Santa’s Christmas Party:
A Swingin’ Celebration with the
ColaJazz Foundation
Dec. 11-Dec. 18. Columbia Marionette Theatre, cmtpuppet.org. Local jazz advocacy organization ColaJazz partners with the
Columbia Marionette Theatre to bring a Christmas-themed jazz extravaganza together. Holiday Pops
Dec. 12. Harbison Theatre, harbisontheatre.org. S.C. Philharmonic musicians ring in the holiday season with classic carols and holiday anthems. My Christmas with Jazz 2 (virtual)
Dec. 12-18. Skipp Pearson Jazz Foundation.
Skpfoundation.org. A virtual concert of jazzed up Christmas tunes. A Magical Cirque Christmas
Dec. 14-15, Koger Center, kogercenterforthearts.com. The producers of Broadway’s smash hit “The Illusionists” have brought together the world’s greatest entertainers for a new holiday production. Mark Rapp’s Jingle Bell Jazz
Dec. 15-16. Trustus Theatre, trustus.org. Local jazz trumpeter Mark Rapp brings unique arrangements of Christmas tunes to the Trustus Theatre in the Vista.
The Christmas Angel
Dec. 17. Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, harbisontheatre.org. An original ballet in its 21st year of production, The Christmas Angel takes you on a magical journey with intriguing characters, compelling storyline, and beautiful scenery, costumes and dance.
ColaJazz Christmas
Dec. 17. Newberry Opera House, newberryoperahouse.com. Local jazz group brings their Little Big Band to Newberry for Christmas tunes.
JANUARY
Jan. 12. Broadway in Columbia, broadwayincolumbia.com. Popular comedy comes to town via Broadway in Columbia. Masterworks Series:
Beethoven and Blue Jeans
Jan. 15. South Carolina Philharmonic, scphilharmonic.com. It’s a classical orchestra, minus the pretense. Check out Beethoven’s hits, but wear your blue jeans. KC & The Sunshine Band
Jan. 21. Township Auditorium, thetownship.org. Disco and funk band comes to the Township. “Swan Lake”
Jan. 29. Columbia City Ballet, columbiacityballet.com. Famed ballet is performed by the Columbia City Ballet in January.
