Historic Holidays
Celebrate the season with Historic Columbia and enjoy a variety of holiday decorations, traditions of the past, special events and visits with Santa!
Holiday House Tours
Nov. 16 - Dec. 30
Guests are invited to see a variety of holiday decorations and experience traditions in the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion between Friday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 30. Tour guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Holiday house tours will be offered Tuesday – Saturday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m.,1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Research Roundtable | Historic Holidays
Learn more about Historic Columbia’s research initiatives at the monthly Research Roundtable programs! Join John Sherrer, Director of Cultural Resources, as he investigates 19th-century holiday culinary traditions, gift giving and decorations in Columbia and Richland County. Tickets are free for members and $5 for non-members. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch to this program.
Historic Happy Hour
Kick-off the holiday season with a festive happy hour where participants can partake in games, trivia, and activities that connect with past holiday customs. Enjoy eggnog, wassail, and other popular beverages consumed as far back as the 1800’s. Every 20 minutes, new holiday songs, activities, and beverages are unveiled to represent a new decade of seasonal celebrations.
Candlelight Tours & Carriage Rides
Friday, Dec. 14
Visit the decorated, candlelit halls of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Robert Mills House and on a guided tour during our annual Candlelight Tours & Carriage Rides! 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. There is limited space on the carriage rides and guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, Dec. 15
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 at Robert Mills!
Holiday Sales
Visit the Gift Shop at Robert Mills or shop online at ShopHistoricColumbia.org during our holiday sales to find the perfect gift!
| Date & Time | Description |
|---|---|
| NOV. 17 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
30% off all Gift Shop items during Santa Signing + register for door prizes |
| NOV. 24 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Receive a free Robert Mills house print with every $24+ Gift Shop purchase Offer valid while supplies last |
| DEC. 1 - 15 | 20% off all Gift Shop items |
| DEC. 14 6 - 9 p.m. |
25% off all Gift Shop items during Candlelight Tours + refreshments available |
| DEC. 15 8 - 11 a.m. |
25% off all Gift Shop items during Breakfast with Santa + register for door prizes |
| DEC. 16 - 24 | 30% off all Gift Shop items |
| ONGOING | Receive a free copy of From the Ashes of Ruin OR a Hampton- Preston house print with every $35+ Gift Shop purchase Offer valid while supplies last |
- All sales exclude consigned items
- All sales exclude all other discounts, coupons or certificates
Become a Member and Save!
HC members receive special discounts on all of our holiday events. Join today and save on your tickets!
