The holidays are a time when family and friends come together to enjoy festive fun and good company. And when it comes to Christmas activities, Lake Hartwell has no shortage of holiday events for you to enjoy.

To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun, we have created the Ultimate Christmas Bucket List for Lake Hartwell. Take a look at these merry activities and make a plan to cross them all off your bucket list!

Cheer Floats At A Christmas parade

First up on the list is hitting up a Christmas parade. With homemade floats, Christmas lights, and candy, these festive parades are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit!

1. Lavonia Christmas Parade | Lavonia, Ga | December 3rd at 3pm

2. Elberton Christmas Parade | Elberton, Ga | December 3rd at 4pm

3. Anderson Christmas Parade | Anderson, SC | December 3rd at 3pm

4. Clemson Christmas Parade | Clemson, SC | December 5th at 5pm

5. Hartwell Christmas Parade | Hartwell, Ga | December 10th at 4pm

See Amazing Christmas Light Displays

Going to see Christmas lights is a pretty ubiquitous family tradition. And there are many places you can go around Lake Hartwell to take in a spectacular holiday light show. Don’t miss these amazing holiday light displays!

1. Hart Chamber “Holiday@The Park” at Railroad Street Park | Hartwell, Ga | November 26 – January 2

2. Holiday Lights Safari | 2325 Hampton Road, Welford, SC | November 17 – December 31; check dates and times

3. Christmas At The Goff’s | 2035 Starr’s Bridge Road, Canon, Ga | November 24 – December 25th

4. Anderson Christmas Lights | 150 Rose Hill Blvd, Anderson, SC | Thanksgiving – Christmas

5. The Magic of Christmas, Seneca, SC, November 17 – December 31

Visit A Christmas Tree Farm

Whether you’re a fan of live Christmas trees or not, visiting a tree farm should definitely be on your Christmas bucket list. Even if you’re not going to pull a Clark Griswold, you can bring home some wreaths and other festive home decor. Take the opportunity to get some family photos as well!

1. Callaway Christmas Trees | Hartwell, GA | Opens November 23rd

2. Beck’s Christmas Tree Farm | Bowersville, GA | now open

3. Merry Christmas Tree Farm | Central, SC | Opens November 23rd

4. Friendship Valley Christmas Tree Farm | Seneca, SC | Opens November 18th

Go To A Tree Lighting

One of the most spectacular sights at Christmas-time is to witness the lighting of a gigantic Christmas tree. While we can’t compete with the tree at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, you can still enjoy the beauty and festivities of a tree lighting at some of our local towns.

1. Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa’s Village | Hartwell, GA | November 20 @ 5 pm

2. Christmas Tree Lighting at the Gazebo | Lavonia, GA | November 28 @ 5 pm

3. Christmas Fest | Toccoa, GA | December 1 @ 5 pm

Visit Santa or the Grinch

Young and old alike are delighted to speak to the man with the bag! Take the kids to one of these events with Santa and make some memories!

1. Christmas Festival | Lavonia, GA | November 28 @ 5 pm

2. HYDRA’s Grinch Brunch | Hartwell, GA | December 2nd @ 10 am

3. Breakfast with Santa at Sweet Combs of Honey | Lavonia, GA | November 25 9 am – 1 pm

See a show

You might be surprised to find out that there are plenty of Christmas-y shows happening around Lake Hartwell this time of year. Check out these holiday shows near Lake Hartwell.

1. “A Christmas Story” | Hart Community Theater | Hartwell, GA | December 8 – 17

2. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever ” | Electric City Playhouse | Anderson, SC | December 8 – 10; 15 – 17

3. “A Gift to Remember” | Elberton, GA | December 1-3 and 8-10

Play in the snow

Okay, we know what you’re thinking, Lake Hartwell doesn’t get a lot of snow! It’s true, but did you know that you can still go sledding and ice skating not too far from the lake? Here are some snow and ice rinks near the lake.

1. Ice On Main | Seasonal outdoor ice skating in downtown Greenville | Greenville, Sc | November 15 – January 15

2. Athens On Ice | Indoor ice skating at the Classic Center | Athens, Ga | Opens November 25

3. Snow Tubing at Highlands Outpost

Go Shopping

When you’re looking for Christmas gifts, make sure to support local businesses around Lake Hartwell. There are plenty of towns with unique and wonderful shops around the lake. For stores near you, visit the links below.

1. Hartwell, GA

2. Lavonia and Royston, GA

3. Pendleton, SC

4. Clemson, SC

5. Toccoa, GA

Have you crossed any of these off your Christmas Bucket List?

If you’ve been to one of these events or something else near the lake, we’d love to hear about it. Share your experience in the comments below!