Celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve in Sumter with area events

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South Carolina's largest free Christmas lights display, Swan Lake Fantasy of Lights, is open through Dec. 31. Visitors to Swan Lake Iris Gardens can see the gardens come alive with more than 1 million lights. The light display will be open Sunday-Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. The event is designed as a drive-through, but visitors are allowed to park to take photos. Access to the walking trails is closed after dusk. Lights are displayed along the main parking lot area to the gardens, along Liberty Street and along Garden Street (enter at Liberty Street and exit onto Oakland Avenue). No parking is allowed along Garden Street; however, parking will be available in the lot across from the Heath Pavilion. Santa's Village, located in the Heath Pavilion, is a part of the holiday celebration. Children can write letters to Santa and take photos with the big guy (bring your own camera). Enjoy a variety of holiday music and entertainment each night. Food, hot cocoa and other holiday treats will be available for sale on site. Santa's Village will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21. Admission to both Fantasy of Lights and Santa's Village is free. For more info, call the Visitors Center at (803) 426-2640.

The Christmas Market at Patriot Hall is back this year, although it will be in a different location because of current renovations. The market is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Recreation and Parks building, 155 Haynsworth St. There will be decor, jewelry, handcrafted painted items, crafts, food, horse and carriage rides and cookies and hot cocoa with Santa. Entertainment will include performances by the Liberty STEAM Charter School and Lemira Elementary School drumlines, soloist Amanda Wiley, Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy choir and Sumter Brass Quintet.

Spend the last night of the year bowling with your family and friends during the New Years Eve Bowlerama 2025 at Shaw Lanes, 416 Recreation Street on Shaw Air Force Base. Count down to the new year on the lanes for $30 per person or $50 per couple from 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, to 1 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1. Call (803) 895-2732 for more information.

Join Sumter Original Brewery for a night of dancing, craft beer tasting and food to celebrate the new year at the Brew Years Eve Party. Tickets are $10 but are limited, so get yours as soon as you can. The doors will open at 2 S. Main St. in downtown Sumter at 7 p.m. Dec. 31, and DJ Howie D will perform at 8 p.m. Buy your tickets at https://tinyurl.com/2zpxspzf.

Enjoy fellowship with friends and family during the Watch Night Service celebrating New Year's Eve at Grace Full Gospel Church, 1540 Bradham Road, Sumter. Ring in the new year with worship, fellowship and ministry from 9 p.m. to midnight at. There will be a breakfast served after the service. Main speaker will be the Rev. Ricky Bledsoe, and vespers speaker will be the Rev. Isaac Cowart. Music will be by the Floyd family. Visit the church's website for more details at gracefullgospel.org.

Looking for a night out and away from the cold? Make your way to Sumter Little Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 4, for the second-annual A Night of Songs and Stories. This acoustic evening will feature Curt Ackerman and Friends in concert. Enjoy the event from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 14 Mood Ave., and tickets are now on sale at sumterlittletheatre.com for $25. Doors open at 7 p.m.

The pink heart decorations aren't quite on store shelves yet, but you can book your tickets early for Valentine's with Ian Sherwood. Celebrate your love for someone special at this Valentine's Day Acoustic Café featuring Canadian singer and songwriter Sherwood. Ticket price includes champagne and specialty desserts from series sponsor Brubaker's Cafe & Bakery. Social hour starts at 6:30 p.m., and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at Sumter Opera House. Get your tickets ahead of the shopping rush at sumteroperahouse.com/acousticcafe.

Come to the downtown library and read to a therapy dog. Sparky, Skipper and Missy love hearing a good story, and young readers can get practice reading their favorite books. This event is held the second Saturday of every month at the downtown Sumter County Library, 111 N. Harvin St. January's reading will be on Jan. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Shake off the holiday sluggishness and get moving with a First Day Hike at Poinsett State Park on Jan. 1. Hikes will be from 10 a.m. to noon and also 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield. According to the state parks website, visitors will receive a commemorative sticker and a car decal while supplies last. And don't forget to share your 2025 First Day Hike moments with the park system by using #SCStateParks and #FirstDayHikes on social media.


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