{"id":12357,"date":"2015-12-15T12:25:27","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T12:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"\/inspire\/?p=12357"},"modified":"2017-12-11T23:14:10","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T23:14:10","slug":"best-free-holiday-activities-southeast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/best-free-holiday-activities-southeast\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Free Holiday Activities in the Southeast"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting in the holiday spirit is even easier with free events! We\u2019ve partnered with travel writer (and holiday enthusiast!) Ava Roxanne Stritt from the blog Spa Travel Gal<\/a> for a few ideas to share in the magic of the season with your family. <\/em><\/p>\n

With a little bit of extra time and joyous cheer during this season, our days need more holiday activities for everyone to spend precious time with friends and loved ones. The activities below are even sweeter, since they are FREE! All of these free activities are at locations that I frequent myself and highly recommend a visit to during the holidays or any day of the year!<\/p>\n\"Fireworks\"<\/a>\n

Famously Hot New Year’s Eve – Credit: Columbia, SC<\/em><\/p>\n

Columbia, SC<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Famously Hot New Year in Columbia, SC is truly #FamouslyHot this year even in the usually chilly weather of New Year\u2019s Eve. Ms. Lauryn Hill, the music world icon and five time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, will headline the free Famously Hot New Year celebration in downtown Columbia, SC on December 31, 2015, playing a full set for revelers leading up to the midnight countdown and fireworks at the S.C. State Capitol. In its fifth year, #FHNY is South Carolina\u2019s largest New Year\u2019s Eve party, with the most colossal NYE fireworks display in the two Carolinas and a range of family-friendly partner events, local attractions, hotels and hospitality districts within blocks of the free concert. This year, Famously Hot New Year extends its mission of bringing diverse communities together by supporting the S.C. Flood Relief Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation, with the hope of ringing in a new year of strength and renewal. For more information, please visit www.famouslyhotnewyear.com<\/a>. #SCStrong<\/p>\n\"Lights\"<\/a>\n

Credit: Greenville, SC<\/em><\/p>\n

Greenville, SC<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You can visit The Greenville Griswold, a real life version of Clark Griswold\u2019s house that features a computer controlled Christmas light display of 560 independently controlled LOR (Light-O-Rama) channels controlling over 200,000 lights and 14,000 channels of RGB lights all synchronized to music and broadcast on FM radio reminiscent of the famous movie about an extremely funny eventful family. It is FREE to drive and\/or walk.Visit www.visitgreenvillesc.com<\/a> for all the details.<\/p>\n\"Tigers\"<\/a>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Atlanta, GA<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Noah\u2019s Ark Animal Sanctuary<\/a> is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. Open to the public for FREE each Tuesday through Saturday. It is home to 1,500 animals including 100 different species. and the worldwide famous BLT \u2013 a lion, a tiger and a bear that call each other roomies! All areas are free to the public, but you can donate a fee and take a Walk on the Wildside VIP Tour. There is a special holiday Walk on the Wild Side with the big cats and bears on Saturday, December 12th from 11am-1pm! Each tour proves to be an incredible experience talked about for years!<\/p>\n\"Christmas_decor_0811-2000x585\"<\/a>\n

Ballantyne, NC<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge<\/a> has an array of signature events and festive specials this holiday season. With its inviting setting and attractive offerings, The Ballantyne is the ideal venue to celebrate with family and friends. Visit their Gingerbread Lane to view an enchanting display of gingerbread creations from Thursday, December 10 through Sunday, December 27. Attendees may vote on their favorite entries with $1 minimum donation per vote. All proceeds will benefit Levine Children\u2019s Hospital (LCH), dedicated to caring for the physical and emotional needs of children and their families. Bissell<\/a>, The Ballantyne\u2019s parent company, has played an integral role in fundraising for LCH even before its inception. Also, Santa Claus will make periodic visits to Gingerbread Lane throughout the holiday season. Many other must-do holiday events are happening at the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge this season. See here for their for special events designed to delight<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Charlotte, NC<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"TN-293714_The-Ritz-Carlton-Charlotte-Bottle-Tree\"<\/a>

Credit: The Ritz-Carton, Charlotte<\/p><\/div>\n

An edible larger-than-life holiday experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte<\/a> is now open for visitors. The photogenic winter wonderland will bedazzle the hotel\u2019s lobby and your eyes. The walkable viewing experience is open to the public, and features the world\u2019s largest croquembouche pastry tree standing more than eight feet in height. While there you will also view three larger-than-life holiday trees each crafted of several thousand hand-made macarons. Then you can delight your whimsy side by taking a peek at the 10-foot tall gingerbread house which has an electric train. The perfect photo or \u201cselfie\u201d spot awaits you here just in front of the two glistening, eight-foot-tall upside-down trees suspended from the Lobby ceiling. The pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance \u2013 a 17-foot sustainable holiday tree constructed completely of 789 recycled green plastic bottles at this LEED\u00ae Gold-certified hotel, which is Charlotte\u2019s<\/a> only such eco-designated property. Guests are invited to bring their cameras and\/or camera phones and be social with the following: #RC Memories @RitzCarlton #Charlotte! See their entire calendar of events<\/a> for many luxurious ways to delight yourself this holiday season!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Getting in the holiday spirit is even easier with free events! We\u2019ve partnered with travel writer (and holiday enthusiast!) Ava Roxanne Stritt from the blog Spa Travel Gal for a few ideas to share in the magic of the season with your family.  With a little bit of extra time and joyous cheer during this season, our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":12383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[563,564,565,507,545,562,283,566,558,508],"class_list":["post-12357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips","tag-atlanta","tag-ballantyne","tag-charlotte","tag-columbia","tag-georgia","tag-greenville","tag-holiday","tag-new-years","tag-north-carolina","tag-south-carolina"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBest Free Holiday Activities in the Southeast - Inspire | Travelocity.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/best-free-holiday-activities-southeast\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Best Free Holiday Activities in the Southeast - Inspire | Travelocity.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Getting in the holiday spirit is even easier with free events! We\u2019ve partnered with travel writer (and holiday enthusiast!) 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