The Town of Fort Mill is excited to announce a full slate of holiday events, including virtual versions of our Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade, an in-person trolley visit from Santa, and our new Christmas Cards in the Park.
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Town will be hosting virtual Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade events this year. The Tree Lighting Event will be prerecorded, but will feature the music and festivities that attendees look forward to. Guests this year include Fort Mill Town Council, First Baptist Fort Mill Handbell Choir, Catawba Ridge High School Band, Momentum Dance, Miller Street Dance Academy, Billy Foxx, Jill Fuller & Santa! There is even snow in the forecast! The video will be available beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3.
We are also excited about the Town’s first Virtual Christmas Parade! Don't miss this new twist on our annual tradition as we share in the holiday spirit with local businesses and organizations! See who our parade Grand Marshal is this year too! The virtual parade can be viewed beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Both the Tree Lighting ceremony and Virtual Parade will be available on the Town’s website, and there will be links to the video on the Town's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. The community will also be able to watch the events on Comporium Channel 115.
Other events in the Town during this holiday season include:
-Santa Trolley Around Town: Santa is coming to Fort Mill! Santa will be visiting neighborhoods throughout the Town on a trolley on Saturday, Dec. 5 @ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. spreading Christmas cheer. Take a look at his route here. Pick a spot along the route and wave hello to Santa!
-Christmas Cards in the Park: A walk-through, life-sized Christmas Card display in Veterans Park, 106 N. White Street, from Dec. 4 to 31. Artists for this event include the several student groups from the Fort Mill School District and a variety of community organizations. School district participants include art students from Nation Ford High School, Fort Mill High School, and Gold Hill Middle School, as well as members of the CRHS Digital Art & Design, CRHS FCCLA Club, CRHS Special Settings Class & AP/Honors Art Class and the NFHS National Art Honor Society. Community participants include the ASC Greenway, Fort Mill History Museum, Fort Mill Community Playhouse and Fort Mill Town Council.
-Handbells in the Bandstand: Enjoy the beautiful sounds of First Baptist Fort Mill’s Handbell Choir while visiting local merchants on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Bandstand on Main Street.
-Christmas Cookie Crawl: Kids will visit participating merchants to get a free individually packaged Christmas Cookie on Saturday, Dec. 12. The Town will provide Christmas Cookie tins to participants. Registration is required and there is a limit of participants. Register by emailing Events Coordinator Jacona Hester at jhester@fortmillsc.gov by Monday, Dec. 7 @ 5 p.m.
-Christmas Stories with the Queens: Our SC Strawberry Queens will read Christmas Stories in the Bandstand in Downtown Fort Mill on Saturday, Dec. 12 at several times: 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair and listen in.
For more information, please contact Town of Fort Mill Events Coordinator Jacona Hester at jhester@fortmillsc.gov or (803) 487-5413.