Enjoy holiday tours, visits with Santa, shopping events and more!
COLUMBIA, S.C., Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 – Spend your holidays with Historic Columbia! The season will officially kick-off at Historic Columbia on Friday, Nov. 18 – with historic holiday festivities taking place through Saturday, Dec. 31. Take holiday tours of the Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion, enjoy holiday-themed special events, find the perfect gift at the Gift Shop and rent a historic property for your holiday event. Holiday activities include:
- Holiday House Tours, Friday, Nov. 18 – Saturday, Dec. 31
Historic Columbia will kick-off the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 18 when holiday tours of the Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion begin. Guests are invited to see a variety of holiday decorations and experience traditions in both historic homes between Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Dec. 31. Tour guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tours of the Robert Mills House will be offered Tuesday – Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and tours of the Hampton-Preston Mansion will be offered Tuesday – Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Visit The Gift Shop at Robert Mills, located at 1616 Blanding St., to purchase tickets. Tours are free for members and $8/adults and $5/youth for non-members.
- Santa Signing, Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
To kick-off the holiday season, Historic Columbia will host their annual Santa Signing from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 at The Gift Shop at Robert Mills. This free, family-friendly event is the perfect opportunity to get into the holiday spirit, visit with Santa, enjoy holiday activities and begin checking off your shopping list! During the event, guests are invited to explore the cooking spaces and kitchen inside the Robert Mills House and see how holiday meals were prepared and served in the past. Guests will receive 30% off their entire Gift Shop purchase (some exclusions apply) and light refreshments. Santa Signing will take place at The Gift Shop at the Robert Mills House, located at 1616 Blanding Street. Registration for this free event is strongly encouraged. To register, please call 803.252.1770 x 23, email [email protected].
- Candlelight Tours & Carriage Rides, Friday, Dec. 16, 6 – 9 p.m.
Visit the decorated, candlelit halls of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Robert Mills House on a guided tour. Enjoy live music entertainment and children’s activities while celebrating the holidays with Historic Columbia. Before or after your house tour, take a carriage ride through the Robert Mills Historic District. Stop by the Gift Shop’s holiday open house throughout the evening for a last minute storewide sale as well as refreshments, holiday tunes and giveaways. Candlelight Tours are free for members and $12/adults and $8/youth for non-members. Carriage Rides are an additional $8/person. There is limited space on the carriage rides and guests are encouraged to purchase advance tickets by visiting historiccolumbia.org, calling (803)-252-1770 x 23 or emailing [email protected].
- Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, Dec. 17, from 8 – 11 a.m.
Join Historic Columbia for a holiday treat to remember! Enjoy a continental breakfast in the cozy Robert Mills Carriage House while listening to seasonal music. After your meal, guests can view the decorated halls of the Hampton-Preston Mansion, see a Victorian Christmas tree, make holiday crafts to take home, and take a picture with Santa! While Santa is hard at work gathering lists, the Gift Shop elves will also be hard at work providing great values on purchases. Enjoy shopping and activities throughout the day at the Gift Shop. Breakfast with Santa is $15/adults and $7/youth for members, $18/adults and $9/youth for non-members and free for kids 3 and under. Space is limited and guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance by visiting historiccolumbia.org, calling (803)-252-1770 x 23 or emailing [email protected].
- The Gift Shop at Robert Mills, Now through Dec. 24
Special events aren’t the only way to celebrate the season. Find the perfect gift and support Historic Columbia by shopping at The Gift Shop at Robert Mills. The Gift Shop has something for everyone – from locally-made merchandise and food products, to books and jewelry, to toys for the kids and more! Save 20% off your entire Gift Shop purchase (some exclusions apply) and receive a free gift when you spend $25 now through Dec. 24. Also, don’t forget to give the gift of Historic Columbia membership or of Columbia’s past by purchasing Historic Columbia’s Remembering Columbia book.
Host a Holiday Party, Select dates in November and December are available
Host your holiday event in a historic setting! Space is booking quickly for holiday rentals in Historic Columbia’s unique and one-of-a-kind venues, so hurry and book your event today. For more information, email [email protected], call (803) 252-7742 x 11 or visit historiccolumbia.org.
Historic Holidays is made possible by the following sponsors: Barton Law Firm, City of Columbia, Columbia Eye Clinic, P.A., Columbia Flag & Sign Company, Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, Esquire Title Company, Furr & Henshaw, Grace Outdoor, The Hobbs Groups, Midlands Orthopedics & Neurosurgery, Palmetto Health, Palmetto Parent, Robert Mills Historic Neighborhood Association and Richland County. To learn more about Historic Holiday programs and events, visit HistoricColumbia.org/Holidays or follow the hashtag #HistoricHolidays.
About Historic Columbia:
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House from demolition officially incorporated as the Historic Columbia Foundation. Over the next five decades the organization, which was founded on the premise of preservation and education, would take on the stewardship of seven historic properties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model for local preservation efforts and interpretation of local history. Visit historiccolumbia.org or find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube for more details.
