Neighborhoods ring in the season with traditions new and old
The Upstate is full of close-knit neighborhoods that collaborate—or compete—each holiday season to create fantastic festive displays. During December, the residents of those communities, and visitors from near and far, gather to take in the decorations, candles, and unique touches that make the season memorable.
Here are just a few area neighborhoods and the traditions they maintain and build on each year.
The River Walk neighborhood in Simpsonville hosts a luminary night that brings hundreds of people who slowly travel up and down the streets in cars playing Christmas classics and golf carts with kids huddled in blankets. People deck out their homes with lights and garlands, and the entire neighborhood is lined with hundreds of luminaries. Several neighborhoods, including nearby Holly Trace, also host their own luminary nights.
East Earle Street has gotten a lot of attention in recent years for its lineup of massive inflatable Santas—more than 40 last year, according to some sources. One neighbor it to cheer up a friend, and before long, cars were pouring in to take in the jolly scene.
Perhaps inspired by nearby Earle Street, the residents of Parkwood Drive and East Hillcrest Drive in the North Main area of downtown Greenville have started a tradition that features inflatable Christmas trees lining the streets, plus lights, popular characters, and more.
Fountain Inn has many storied traditions, including carriage rides and a Merry Market. While you’re over that way, don’t miss the chance to drive around a few of the town’s neighborhoods, including Quail Run, Whisper Walk, and Southbrook. Awards for the best-decorated homes bring out friendly competition, with neighbors trying to outdo one another with creative decor.
Sugar Creek, a large neighborhood in Greer, hosts a popular Santa Run each December with participants decked out in Santa hats, antlers, ugly sweaters, and the like. Multiple homes here go over the top with decorations, including several on Middle Brook Road.
Does your neighborhood have a cherished tradition? Let us know on Instagram @towncarolina.
