Rock Hill’s 16th annual Christmas festival, ChristmasVille, will begin its main events on Dec. 2 with an opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at Fountain Park. While the main festival will only last four days, events started on Nov. 27 and will last through Jan. 17.
During ChristmasVille, Old Town is decorated to “come alive as a charming, picturesque holiday village and outdoor art festival,” according to the website. The festival highlights the work of artist Vernon Grant, most famous for his creation of the Snap, Crackle and Pop characters for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.
ChristmasVille will host over 100 events, including Santa’s workshop (where kids can work with Winthrop professors to make take–home crafts), a carnival with a Ferris wheel, carousel and other rides, food vendors, food trucks and an ice skating rink. All of the events, including their times and locations, are listed on the event’s website at ChristmasVilleRockHill.com and in the ChristmasVille mobile app.
According to Martin Lane, executive director for the ChristmasVille board, college students are likely to enjoy the Carol Karaoke at Dust Off Brewing, the ChristmasChill Music Fest at the Gettys Art Center, and the Yoco Loco Brew Hop, a trolley that runs on a constant loop from Slow Play, Legal Remedy, Rock Hill Brewing and Dust Off Brewery.
A major push this year by the ChristmasVille board was to make as many events as possible free through the use of sponsors. According to the ChristmasVille Facebook page, all rides at the carnival will be free this year for the first time since the start of the festival.
“We’re doing our best to try to make things free,” Lane said. “We’re trying our best to drive business into the shops and restaurants downtown but also make it as cheap and as easy for the community as possible.”
The festival has over 70 sponsors, many of which are big names such as Piedmont Medical Center, Coca-Cola, Comporium and the Carolina Panthers.
Looking forward to going Christmas town is beautiful.