This Is the Best Place to Have Christmas in the South

The quintessential English Christmas is the stuff of holiday legends the world over. And believe it or not, you don’t have to go all the way to London to experience an English Christmas. Instead, you can visit a small town in upstate South Carolina.

“Camden is a very special place during the holidays,” says Jenny Parrish, director of tourism for the city of Camden. “We like to think we have that ‘Hallmark movie’ feeling!”

After visiting Camden during the most wonderful time of the year, you’d be hard-pressed to disagree. Located in South Carolina’s Olde English District, Camden and the surrounding area comes alive with parades, light shows, and much more during the holiday season.

“The city goes all out with decorations in downtown and our city facilities and parks,” says Parrish. “It truly is the most magical time of year, and the small town charm is at peak performance during the holiday season.”

The Kershaw County Tinsel Trail at Riverbanks Park kicks off the festivities with a brilliantly lit, community-orchestrated display in late November, followed by Camden’s Annual Tree Lighting event in early December. Magical Holiday Nights shopping in downtown Camden, workshops, makers markets, and parades galore take place throughout the month of December.

While the dazzling holiday festivities make a winter visit well worth your time, you can come by at any time of the year to experience the rest of what Camden has to offer. Visitors—particularly history buffs—should start their trip with a stop by local historical sites to get the low-down on Camden’s beginnings.

“Camden is probably most well-known for our plethora of Revolutionary history, which you can find all over the city and surrounding Kershaw County,” says Parrish. ‘I’d recommend stopping first at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center, then making your way to the Historic Camden Foundation, the Camden Archives and Museum, Hobkirk’s Hill battle site, and, finally, to the Battle of Camden site on the outskirts of town.”

As fascinating as these spots may be, you shouldn’t go too far out of town before shopping at antique malls like Menagerie Antiques & Collectibles and the Camden Antiques Market. A healthy selection of art galleries and boutiques rounds out Camden’s retail scene, so you can easily find great souvenirs (or holiday gifts for your loved ones). “Camden is ripe with antique stores to hunt down that unique treasure to take home,” says Parrish.

While you’re downtown, you can grab a bite to eat at restaurants like Broad & Vine wine bar, or the Mill Pond Steakhouse, an upscale joint that specializes in seafood dishes with Southern flair. For a caffeine kick, head to Books on Broad and Coffee, where you can peruse the stacks while sipping on a hazelnut latte. However, notes Parrish, “Almost all of our restaurants have something incredible to offer.”

As for stays, you can lean into the Olde English theme with a night at Old McCaskill’s Farm, a bed and breakfast owned by a local family, located about 15 minutes from town. “Old McCaskill’s Farms is an incredibly warm and inviting home away from home on a working farm out in the town of Rembert,” Parrish says.

Chains like Hampton Inn and Springhill Suites by Marriott also have outposts in Camden. If you don’t mind visiting from further afield, you’ll be a short drive away from stays like the 41-room Hotel Trundle and the Chestnut Cottage bed and breakfast, both located in the capital city of Columbia, South Carolina.