Make your holidays bright by attending the best festivities of the season, including Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. This annual event impresses guests year after year with its dramatic light displays and delightful entertainment. If your winter travels take you to the coast, add these holiday events to your itinerary to make your getaway at Litchfield Inn even more magical.
This is a family-friendly annual festival put on by Brookgreen Gardens, a renowned sculpture garden in Murrells Inlet, a short 7-minute drive from your accommodations at Litchfield Inn. The illuminated garden paths and displays are enchanting when they’re all aglow with 2,700 hand-lit candles and sparkling lights. Listen to holiday music as you sip a cup of warm cider, or take a seat near the stage to listen to local performers.
Nights of a Thousand Candles begins November 25th and continues each Thursday through Sunday until New Year’s Eve (with a break from December 17th to the 26th). Advance tickets are required for this rain-or-shine event. The gates open at 4 p.m. and close at 9 p.m., allowing attendees to arrive anytime and exit at their leisure.
Walking the festive grounds is certainly a main attraction of Nights of a Thousand Candles. But this festival also features musical entertainment. Strolling bagpipers play throughout the grounds, offering inspired background music while you take in the shimmering displays. Two stages also feature two or three bands per evening. Plan to catch the tree-lighting ceremony which happens nightly at 6:45 p.m.
Come to Nights of a Thousand Candles hungry, because there are many food options for festival goers. While food and drink are not included in the price of your ticket, the venue offers several beverage stations throughout. Guests may grab dinner from a selection of food trucks each evening, and the Old Kitchen in the heart of the gardens offers small bites, soup, and beverages. If you prefer full-service dining, make a reservation at Harvest Restaurant, Brookgreen Gardens’ on-site dining venue.
While Nights of a Thousand Candles is certainly a winter highlight around Murrells Inlet, you’ll find plenty of other holiday events to attend. Whether you’re looking for kid-centric celebrations and light shows or a local parade, you’ll discover plenty of options within a short drive. The city of Myrtle Beach is only 30 minutes from Litchfield Inn, and North Myrtle Beach is under an hour away, making it easy for families to attend any of these events in the Grand Strand:
This oceanfront holiday festival takes place in Plyler Park from December 1st to the 3rd and features kids’ entertainment and a holiday market; the free mile-long walkable light show remains up all season, showing nightly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This shopping complex offers endless holiday activities, including breakfasts and happy hours with Santa, photos with him in his sleigh, and carriage rides. This district also has excellent holiday shops. Check Market Common’s event calendar for reservation and event details.
The annual holiday ceremony at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach offers musical acts, photos with Santa, and a fabulous fireworks display once the tree is lit. This year’s Lighting of the Landing is set for November 18th beginning at 6 p.m.
The Great Christmas Light Show in North Myrtle Beach is one of the most spectacular, kid-friendly holiday events in the Grand Strand. View more than 500 light displays in a drive-through experience and then stop by Santa’s Village afterward for a photo and to enjoy the free petting zoo. North Myrtle Beach also hosts a Christmas Parade along Main Street on December 2nd at 5:30 p.m.
Conway, South Carolina, is a small community known for its holiday spirit. Travel 50 minutes from Litchfield Inn to visit with Santa and join in holiday activities. The Celebration of Lights festival runs every Thursday through Sunday from November 30th to December 24th. Admission is $2 per person.
Parades happen year-round in the Grand Strand thanks to fabulous weather, which visitors from cooler climates appreciate. The Surfside Beach Christmas Parade has long been a local favorite, and it gets underway just 25 minutes from Litchfield Inn. See Santa lead the way for a host of holiday floats as they travel up Ocean Boulevard. The parade is held at 2 p.m. on December 9th.
Let Litchfield Inn make your winter getaway blissful. With comfortable suites, endless ocean views, and complimentary breakfast daily, your holiday stresses simply melt away. Book a room for two or a villa for your entire family; when entertainment and dining are minutes away, a vacation with any group practically plans itself.
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