Holiday Lights on the River is scheduled to return to Saluda Shoals Park on Nov. 25, running nightly through Dec. 31 from 6 to 10 p.m.
It is billed as the Midlands' largest drive-through light show and, by one local account, is in its 23rd year. The route, the per-car prices and the nights when the extras shut down are the details that actually change a family's plan. The Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission posts the hours and three admission rates.
Three Miles, Then Bush River Road
Guests enter at 6071 St. Andrews Road in Columbia and leave onto Bush River Road, The Lake Murray News reports, on a three-mile drive. The commission describes colorful animated displays stretched over those three miles. A Lexington County Chronicle account puts more than one million lights and hundreds of animated displays on the loop.
Themed stretches include the 12 Days of Christmas, Lake Murray Country and a patriotic display. A rocking pirate ship along the route was designed and built by students from Lexington-Richland School District Five's Center for Advanced Technical Studies.
The Lake Murray News reported more than 110,000 visitors for the season preceding its 2025 report; the Chronicle reported more than 100,000 for the season preceding its 2026 report. Both still describe the show as the region's biggest drive-through holiday light display.
New Scenes and the Stops Included
Additions reported this season include a new car on the Saluda Shoals Train display. The Lake Murray News reported an animated Santa dunking booth and a Rudy's Tree Lot scene among additions for the 2025 season. The Chronicle account also lists a new holiday farm scene.
Admission includes dual winter-themed tube slides, a hayride, a train ride, a laser light show and a station where children can write letters to Santa, the commission says. The Chronicle places that laser show along the wetland walking trail and adds seasonal concessions, marshmallow roasting, shopping at Santa's Claus'et and professional photos with Santa for purchase.
Those extras are not promised on Thanksgiving night, Christmas Eve or Christmas night. The commission says activities will not be available then, while the drive-through light show is set to remain open. The same split was in place in 2025, when the show also ran nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 31.
Two Prices, and a Ticket That Will Not Move
The commission sorts nights into green, yellow and red from historical attendance, and its current page calls that a new system. A 2025 Chronicle report already tied admission to those colors, so the labels are not showing up for the first time this December. The listing does not say which color matches which dollar amount.
What it does fix is the rate. Admission is $25 a car on Nov. 25-27, Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1-4, Dec. 6-10, Dec. 14-16 and Dec. 25-31. It is $30 a car on Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 17 and Dec. 24. It is $35 a car on Dec. 12 and Dec. 18-23.
Advance tickets are valid only for the night purchased, with no refunds or transfers. The Chronicle says guests are encouraged to buy ahead.
Two Santa Calendars
Santa's 2026 dates are Nov. 27-29, Dec. 4-7, Dec. 11-13 and Dec. 17-23, according to the commission. The Lake Murray News lists Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-7, Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 18-23 for the 2025 season.
That is not a date-by-date mismatch: the Lake Murray News dates are for 2025, while the 2026 Chronicle account agrees with the commission's schedule. In 2025, Santa was scheduled for Dec. 5-7, Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 18-23.
Who Is Putting It On
The event is presented by the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission in partnership with Lexington Health and other community partners. Details are at icrc.net, and the information line listed with the Chronicle story is 803-772-1228.
Opening night is Nov. 25. The lights are scheduled through New Year's Eve, including the three nights when the slides, rides and laser show are off and the cars keep moving.
