Do you have family coming to West Columbia for the holidays?
If so, there is a lot to offer.

Start off with a stroll to show off the scenic Riverwalk.  The Christmas Day forecast is sunny, but chilly. So wrap up and meander under the historic Gervais Street Bridge as you listen to the soothing waters of the majestic Congaree River flowing beside you.  

There are also many other holiday activities to experience in West Columbia.

There are dozens of locally-owned restaurants in West Columbia that offer cultural specialties from Tai, Italian and Greek to Chinese and French. 
There is also fried chicken, soul food, barbeque and home cooking from an assortment of unique restaurants in the River District and State Street, Triangle City, Meeting Street, Augusta Road, Sunset Boulevard and Charleston Highway. 

In addition to enjoying the local restaurants, there are shops, also, in West Columbia to find unique gifts or antique furnishing and housewares. 
After shopping, you may want an evening activity. 

Many West Columbia homes are adorned in Christmas lights. From the Historic New Brookland Mill Village, to the Avenues, Westover Acres, Saluda Chase and the US 1 and Charleston Highway corridors, the spirit of the season is illuminated at night. 

If you are looking for sites close to West Columbia to take your visitors to see, check out the “Lights Before Christmas” at Riverbanks Zoo and “Carolina Lights” at The South Carolina State Fairgrounds.

The “Lights Before Christmas” at Riverbanks Zoo continues through Dec. 30. The Lights are open Tuesday and Wednesday of this week (Dec. 22 and 23) and the lights reopen Dec. 26-thru-30.

Timed arrival tickets are required and must be purchased in advance.
Click here for a link: https://www.riverbanks.org/events/lights-before-christmas

The South Carolina State Fair is offering it’s second annual drive-thru holiday light show, “Carolina Lights.” It is from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Dec. 22, 23 and 24. It’s closed Christmas Day, but reopens on Dec. 26 and 27. Carolina Lights is at the Lexington Medical Center Fair Park (at the SC State Fairgrounds.) Patrons enter at Gate 6 on George Rogers Blvd.  Cars – $20, Mini Buses (9-24 passengers) – $35, Vehicles over 25 passengers – $70.
Patrons will pay at the gate. Cash or credit card (Visa or MasterCard) accepted.
Click here for a link: https://www.scstatefair.org/carolina-lights

List of West Columbia Restaurants:
Grecian Gardens Restaurant – 2312 Sunset Blvd – 803-794-7552
Cafe Strudel – 300 State St. – 803 – 926-5255
Compton’s Kitchen – 1118 B Ave – 803 791-0750
Parkland Cakes – 1220 C Ave. – (803) 791-4682
Buttercream Dreams – 1230 C Ave. – (803) 708-4485
Primal Gourmet – 725 Meeting St. – (803) 509-0604
Hite’s BBQ – 240 Dreher Rd. – (803) 794-4120
The Original Brunches – 2245 Leaphart Rd – (803) 791-7477
Jimmy’s Mini Mart/Citgo – 812 Meeting St. – (803) 794-0090
Maurice’s Piggie Park – 1600 Charleston Highway – 803-796-0220J
Nick’s House of Pizza Restaurant- 1082 A Sunset Blvd – 803-794-9240
Bricks and Stones Pizza 3234 – Augusta Road – (803) 988-9898
DeLuccas 1720 Sunset Blvd. – 803- 926-5255
Ariana’s Greek Restaurant – 1720 Sunset Blvd. – (803) 796-4430
Lizard’s Thicket – 2234 Sunset Blvd. 803 – 794-0923
True BBQ – 1237 D Ave – (803) 791-9950
Jin Jin Chinese Restaurant – 469 Sunset Blvd. (803) 739-8888
Chick-fil-A -2299 Augusta Rd. – (803) 939-1600
Rush’s 2332 Sunset Blvd. – (803) 796-5034

West Columbia shops
State Street Trading Co. – 134 State Street – (803) 550-9048
Old Mill Antique Mall – 310 State St – (803) 796-4229
Three Rivers Antiques – 615 Meeting St
(803) 814-2102 – 763 Meeting Street Antiques
Antique furniture store – 763 Meeting St – (803) 796-1516
Meeting Street Interiors – 614 Meeting St – (803) 791-0008
Attic Fanatic- 251 Charleston Hwy – (803) 828-4036
ADD VINTAGE – 1217 Augusta Rd – (803) 821-8208
Parks Furniture Antiques Ltd – 3131 Sunset Blvd – (803) 791-4071
The Elephant Trunk – 2931 Platt Springs Rd – (803) 791-8765
The Warehouse SC – 312 State St – (803) 834-7557