The City of Greer Christmas weekend begins at 6 p.m. with guests roasting marshmallows over fire pits. The Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra will perform and the reading of “The Night Before Christmas” is scheduled at the amphitheater.
Activities for children will include taking their passports, distributed at the park, to stations hosting foreign countries depicting their Christmas customs. A treat awaits Children at the France, Haiti, Colombia, Germany, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa stations.
The tree lighting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with Mayor Rick Danner and Santa doing the honors. Santa will be available for photos after the tree lighting.
Visitors are reminded canned goods and other non-perishable food items and new or gently used coats will be collected at the amphitheater stage.
Breakfast with Santa is sold out for all three sessions at City Hall Saturday.
The Christmas Parade is 3 p.m. Sunday beginning at the Clock Restaurant on W. Poinsett Street, turning onto North Main Street and ending at the J. Harley Bonds Career Center.
‘ODD BULB OUT HOLIDAY HUNT’: Visitors to downtown are invited to find three red bulbs among thousands of white lights and win a gift certificate to Wild Ace Pizza and Pub, Café Rivera or The Cazbah. Entry forms and rules are available at the three restaurants and cityofgreer.org. Entries must be submitted by noon on Dec. 19 to qualify for a prize. The Greer Station Association and the City of Greer are sponsors.
CARRIAGE RIDES: Upcountry Carriage will offer rides (GreerToday.com, Nov. 22) downtown beginning tonight and on weekends through Jan. 7. Rides are $5 and are available 6-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Rides, 15 minutes in length, begin at the old depot on Trade Street and wraps through Trade and Poinsett streets. The vis-à-vis carriage can seat four. Cisco, a 10-year-old, will pull the carriage.
Other holiday activities planned throughout the season are:
Twig & Vine Holiday Open House Dec. 8, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Village Hospital lobby 250 Westmoreland Road Discounted gifts, books and jewelry featured. Call 530-6000.
“A Pavilion Christmas Day Parade” ice showFriday/Saturday Dec. 9 and 10, at 6 p.m .400 Scottswood Drive 65 skaters in costume perform to holiday music Free Call 322-7529.
Greer Heritage Museum Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.106 S. Main Street FreeClosed Dec. 24-25, Dec. 30-31877-3377
Petey the Penguin Party Dec. 13, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.The Pavilion, 400 Scottswood Road $5 per child (preschoolers) The Pavilion’s mascot hosts the party with Santa. A holiday craft project, stories and snacks featured. Children can play in the snow and visit the Bounce House. Deadline is Dec. 9 Call 322-7529 or visit greenvillerec.com.
Pavilion Snow Fest Fridays 9-11 a.m.Pavilion Recreation Complex, 400 Scottswood Road $10, includes a visit to the Bounce House and a snack.Pre-school children can participate. Snow is provided for snowballs and building snowmen on the Pavilion ice rink. Call 864-322-7529.
Roper Mountain Holiday Lights Through Dec. 30, 6-10 p.m. $10 per vehicle (car, minivan, SUV), $20 activity van, $40 buses355-8900
Hollywild Lights Safari Through Jan. 1, 6-9 p.m.2325 Hampton Road, Inman Drive through lights and holiday-lit sculptures, live animals and life-like Nativity. $6 per person, children under 2 are free472-2038