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Christmas with kids in Rock Hill
In Rock Hill, Christmas has a famous tree. A Southern magnolia on the Winthrop University lawn has been lit for the holidays since 1935, and in 2025 the ceremony reached its 90th year.
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ChristmasVille 2026
When: Thu, Dec 3 to Sun, Dec 6
Where: Old Town Rock Hill, Rock Hill
Cost: Varies by activity
The story of Christmas in Rock Hill
How Rock Hill celebrates
Rock Hill's Christmas season begins at Winthrop University. The tree lighting began in the late 1800s, when students, faculty and staff decorated a small tree in the Main Building, now Tillman Hall. In 1935 the lights moved to the Southern magnolia on the front lawn, and the lighting became an official event in 1969. It kicks off ChristmasVille, a festival in Old Town with ornament painting, a cookie walk and living history, and it comes just before Rock Hill's lighted Christmas parade along Oakland Avenue.
Christmas last year in Rock Hill
On Friday, December 5, 2025, Winthrop held its 90th annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. in front of Tillman Hall. The Winthrop RockHettes, the Chorale and the Collegiate Choir performed, and luminaries sold for $5 each, with the money supporting the Winthrop Fund. The evening ended with the lighting of the flagpole at the fountain plaza, shaped like a Christmas tree, so the old magnolia could rest. Rock Hill's Christmas Parade followed at 6:30 p.m. on Oakland Avenue, and the event was streamed on Facebook Live.
Fun facts about Christmas in Rock Hill
The Southern magnolia was named a Heritage Tree by Trees SC in 2010 for evoking great community spirit. After decades of string lights, the university lit it with projected colored LEDs in 2023, and lights can no longer be attached to the tree. Parade routes have run from Oakland Avenue and Stewart Avenue through downtown to Fountain Park. ChristmasVille has also offered gingerbread and LEGO contests, ice sculptures and a Reindeer Romp 5K, and the 2024 festival even included an Airing of the Quilts.
Trains and Christmas near Rock Hill
A short drive south of Rock Hill, the South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro has walk-through display cars and seasonal train rides on the Rockton, Rion and Western Railroad, including a North Pole Express, so book ahead. In Bishopville, the South Carolina Cotton Museum is the contact for the Merci Train boxcar in Memorial Park. Anderson County Museum is a free county history museum, and the staff can say what rail items are on view.
- South Carolina Railroad Museum: A volunteer-run museum with free admission, walk-through display cars and seasonal train rides, including a North Pole Express.
- South Carolina Cotton Museum: A cotton farming museum that is also the contact for the Merci Train boxcar in Memorial Park.
- Anderson County Museum: A free county history museum where transportation is one thread among many, so ask the curator about rail pieces.
Traditions today
- Winthrop Tree Lighting: A Southern magnolia tradition that dates to 1935 and reached its 90th edition in 2025.
- Luminaries: The Student Alumni Council sells luminaries for $5 before the lighting, and the money supports the Winthrop Fund.
- Flagpole lit like a tree: The flagpole at the fountain plaza is lit in the shape of a Christmas tree to protect the historic magnolia.
- Rock Hill Christmas Parade: A lighted evening parade with floats, marching bands and mascots that follows the tree lighting.
- ChristmasVille: A week of Old Town events at Fountain Park and Main Street, with contests, food, music and visits with Santa.
- Cookie Walk and Living History: In 2024, ChristmasVille included a cookie walk at First Presbyterian Church and living history at The White Home.
A fact for kids
Rock Hill lights a real magnolia tree every winter, and it has done so since 1935. In recent years, a flagpole shaped like a Christmas tree takes over so the old tree can rest.
Questions about Christmas in Rock Hill
What is Rock Hill's best-known Christmas tradition?
The Winthrop University tree lighting is the best known. A Southern magnolia on the front lawn near Tillman Hall is lit for the holidays, and in 2025 the ceremony held its 90th annual lighting. It kicks off ChristmasVille in Old Town and comes just before Rock Hill's lighted Christmas parade.
When did the Winthrop tree lighting start?
It began in the late 1800s, when students, faculty and staff decorated a small tree. The tradition of lighting the Southern magnolia began in 1935, and the university counts its annual lightings from then. The 90th annual lighting took place in 2025.
Why does Winthrop light a flagpole instead of the magnolia tree?
Lights can no longer be attached to the historic Southern magnolia, so the university lights the flagpole at the new fountain plaza in the shape of a Christmas tree. The change began in 2023 with projected LED lights and aims to protect the tree so it can keep thriving.
What is special about the Winthrop magnolia?
In 2010 Trees SC named the Southern magnolia a Heritage Tree, an honor for trees that evoke great community spirit. Winthrop has decorated it since 1935. It stands on the front lawn near Tillman Hall, and the university takes care to protect it.
What happened at the 2025 Rock Hill tree lighting?
On Friday, December 5, 2025, the 90th annual tree lighting included the Winthrop RockHettes, the Winthrop Chorale and the Collegiate Choir, then a countdown to the lighting of the flagpole at the fountain plaza. Luminaries sold for $5, and the Rock Hill Christmas Parade followed at 6:30 p.m.
Who hosts the Winthrop tree lighting?
The Winthrop Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Council host the tree lighting on the front lawn of Tillman Hall. Student groups perform, and the Student Alumni Council sells the $5 luminaries. In 2016 the event also kicked off ChristmasVille and signaled the start of the Christmas parade.
What are the luminaries at the Winthrop tree lighting?
Luminaries are candle-style lights that the Student Alumni Council sells for $5 before the tree lighting. The money goes to the Winthrop Fund. Families can buy one ahead of the ceremony and look for them on the lawn during the evening, when the Winthrop performers sing and the tree lighting takes place.
When is the Rock Hill Christmas Parade?
In recent years the Rock Hill Christmas Parade has been on the first Friday of December at 6:30 p.m. along Oakland Avenue, right after the Winthrop tree lighting. In 2025 it was December 5. For this season's date, see our Rock Hill Christmas events guide on this page.
What is the Light the Night parade theme?
Light the Night was the theme for the 2024 Rock Hill Christmas Parade, a lighted parade with floats, marching bands, walking groups and mascots. The route began at Oakland Avenue and Stewart Avenue, went through downtown and ended at Fountain Park, according to the city.
Who runs the Rock Hill Christmas Parade?
The City of Rock Hill hosts the parade, while ChristmasVille is run by a separate festival group. In 2024 the city accepted lighted entries by application, and space was limited. Santa Claus is part of the lighted show, along with floats, marching bands, walking groups and mascots, all moving along the route.
What is ChristmasVille in Rock Hill?
ChristmasVille is a holiday festival in Old Town Rock Hill with about a week of events. The Winthrop tree lighting has been described as kicking it off. Activities have included gingerbread contests, a cookie walk, ornament painting, ice sculptures and visits with Santa at Fountain Park.
What can kids do at ChristmasVille?
Kids have enjoyed gingerbread, LEGO and cardboard ornament contests, a sensory-friendly Santa visit, Storytime with Santa, Santa's Main Street Workshop crafts and games, and the Grinch's House. These come from the festival's 2026 schedule, so check our Rock Hill Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
Does Santa visit Rock Hill?
Yes. Santa rides in the Rock Hill Christmas Parade, and ChristmasVille has planned an opening ceremony arrival, Cookies and Cocoa with Santa and a sensory-sensitive Santa visit. For this season's times, see our Rock Hill Christmas events guide on this page.
What was the Airing of the Quilts?
The Airing of the Quilts was a 2024 ChristmasVille event at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, held on Friday, December 6. Families could see quilts on display. Check ChristmasVille's page to see whether it returns, since the festival's schedule changes from year to year.
What is Living History at The White Home?
During the 2024 ChristmasVille, members of Historic Rock Hill shared stories of local figures at The White Home on Friday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It lets families hear about people from Rock Hill's past around the holidays.
How can I explain the tree lighting to my kids?
Tell them that students at Winthrop have been decorating a tree for Christmas since the late 1800s, and that since 1935 the tree has been a big magnolia. Now the tree rests, and a flagpole glows like a tree instead. Then everyone counts down together.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Rock Hill?
The lighted parade on Oakland Avenue and the flagpole tree at the Winthrop fountain plaza are two well-known sights, and Old Town Rock Hill's Fountain Park is a hub for ChristmasVille. For this season's confirmed dates, see our Rock Hill Christmas events guide on this page.
Can I watch the Winthrop tree lighting from home?
Yes. The Winthrop Alumni Association streams the tree lighting on Facebook Live, so families who cannot attend in person can watch it. The ceremony starts at 6 p.m. on the front lawn of Tillman Hall, and the parade follows at 6:30 p.m.
Where can kids ride a Christmas train near Rock Hill?
The South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro runs seasonal train rides on the Rockton, Rion and Western Railroad on event dates such as the Pumpkin Patch Express and North Pole Express. Admission to the museum is free, but you should book rides ahead.
What is the Merci Train boxcar in Bishopville?
The South Carolina Cotton Museum in Bishopville is the contact for the Merci Train boxcar in Memorial Park on Main Street. The museum's hours are not posted online, so call (803) 484-4497 first. It is a history stop for kids who like boxcars.
Sources
- Celebrate the Holidays in York County, SC: Tree Lightings, Parades, and Special Celebrations, WRHI
- Winthrop to Kick Off the Holiday Season with 90th Annual Tree Lighting, Winthrop University
- Winthrop to host annual tree lighting on Dec. 2, Winthrop University
- ChristmasVille events, December 5 to 7, 2024, ChristmasVille Rock Hill
- ChristmasVille organizer schedule, ChristmasVille Rock Hill
- Rock Hill's Light the Night Christmas Parade Returns December 6, WRHI
- Winthrop to Host 88th Annual Tree Lighting on Dec. 1, Winthrop University
- South Carolina Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- South Carolina Cotton Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Anderson County Museum, Rally Takes the Train