It’s that time of year to visit as many festivals as possible! In North Carolina, not only do these months mean the holidays are right around the corner, but it also brings on lots of fun festivals to fill the weekends from now until the end of the year. We’re pretty excited to check out all sorts of different festivals – after all, there’s nothing like being a tourist in your own state!
We’re looking forward to going a little bit beyond state lines this year for a wonderful, winter tradition: ChristmasVille in Rock Hill, South Carolina! This is the 12th year for this award-winning tradition, featuring more than 70 events such as a horse-drawn carriage with rides, historic tours, Dickens Carolers throughout, art, theatre, dance, music, a gingerbread house contest, Santa, and an ice skating rink!
At the heart of ChristmasVille is the tradition of Vernon Grant, who was an illustrator, particularly known for creating the Kellog’s characters: SNAP! CRACKLE! AND POP! He also created whimsical magazine covers for “Ladies Home Journal” and “Collier’s”.
Vernon Grant co-founded Rock Hill’s spring festival Come-See-Me, and created its mascot, Glend the Frog. Because of this, he is widely celebrated in ChristmasVille by way of his art and festive holiday decorations, Santas, and gnomes.
Each day in ChristmasVille brings a different schedule of fun, festive events including the Rock Hill Christmas Parade (Friday, December 1), Jim Shore: Coffee, Conversation, and Signing (Friday, December 1), the Fezziwig Ball (Saturday, December 2), and the Founders Holiday Ice Rink, which is open from November 17 – January 15, 2018, among many other events.
You can check out the entire schedule at Christmasvillerockhill.com/schedule and you can even download a festival guide on the website.
If you just can’t wait for the festival to begin, there are a few pre-festival events including the ChristmasVille Gingerbread House Workshop on November 11, and the Very Important Gnome Club (VIG CLUB), which has signups from October 24 – November 10, with an event on December 2.
General admission to ChristmasVille is free, but if you would like to participate in special, ticketed events, those have individual admission fees. Some of these activities and events include a Children’s Tea with Mrs. Claus, Chocolate Pairing, Cookie Decorating Workshop, Gourmet Coffee Tasting & Pairing with a Santa’s-Eye View of ChristmasVille, Historic Holiday Homes Tour, Holiday Hounds Costume Contest and Promenade, LEGO Design Contest and Display, Reindeer Romp 5K, Victorian Tea & Sugar Plum Boutique, Winter’s Brewing, and Winthrop University Senior Choreography Showcase.
ChristmasVille
November 30 – December 3, 2017
201 E Main Street
Rock Hill, SC
General admission is free
Other festive events in Rock Hill include Christmas at Anne Springs Close Greenway, Christmas in Olde York, a Tega Cay Christmas, Christmas in Fort Mill, Christmas in Clover, Christmas Candlelight Tours, and the York Christmas Parade.