Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park: What to Expect

Fireflies Holiday Lights Overview and Quick Tips

The Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park is, in my opinion, one of the best Christmas lights displays in Columbia.

Held annually since 2022 in the minor league baseball stadium in downtown Columbia, there are tons of lights on display here in a fairly small and accessible space, along with some neat other activities.

If you’re looking for a nice Christmas lights show that won’t break the bank, doesn’t require driving in backed up lines of traffic, or require tons of walking, it’s a really good option and is both family friendly and adult friendly (ie, they have some tasty adult drinks too).

If you’d like to learn more, read on to learn more about what to expect for this year’s Segra Park Lights and general tips based on our first hand experience going ourselves in previous years.

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Segra Park Holiday Lights 2025 Info

Below you’ll find info specifically on the 2025 Columbia Fireflies’ Christmas Lights.

The info here is up to date as of the publication date at the top of the article, but you can check the event’s website to verify.

If you’re reading this in 2026, I will do my best to update as the holidays grow closer, but the dates and info below should give you an idea of what to expect.

Dates for the 2025 Segra Park Christmas Lights

For 2025, the Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park will be open from Friday November 21 to Saturday January 3.

The Segra Park Lights will be closed on the following dates:

• Thanksgiving Day (11/27)
• Christmas Day (12/25)
• New Years Day (1/1)

Last year, according to this press release, they did open for just a weekend and then closed the following week, but that was the weekend of November 15 (a week earlier).

So, it appears that instead of doing a kickoff weekend, they will just open nightly a week later this year.

Time and Schedule for the Lights at Segra Park

The Lights at Segra Park will be open from 6 pm to 9 pm nightly.

Last entry to the Segra Park holiday lights will be at 8:30 pm.

Keep in mind the closures mentioned above, and that the website also says there may be special hours for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

So, you may want to double check the operating hours if you plan to go either of those nights.

2025 Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park Tickets

The website for Fireflies Holiday Lights lists the following ticket prices for 2025:

• $10 advance tickets for dates in November
• $12 tickets day of for dates in November
• $12 advance tickets for dates in December and January
• $14 tickets day of for dates in December and January

As of the initial publication of this guide in early October, there were undated presale tickets available for $11 ($9+$2 in service fees), which really is a pretty good deal if you plan to go in December.

It’s not clear how long those will be available, but you can buy undated advance tickets here.

Igloos on the Infield

There are 8 private igloos that you can rent as well for a more exclusive experience.

The igloos accommodate groups up to 6 and, in addition to access to the igloo from 6-9 pm, include the following:

• 6 admission tickets
• Charcuterie board
• Bottomless hot chocolate and coffee
• 6 bottles of water
• 12 fresh baked cookies
• Ability to purchase beer, wine, and canned cocktails for additional fees

That price works out to $30 a person.

Is it worth it?

I don’t recall the exact price of hot chocolate in years past, probably in the $4-6 dollar range.

So, these might be worth it if you think you’ll spend a good amount of time in the igloo and/or have kids that can really put away hot chocolate away.

I guess adults can also pound some hot chocolate to get their money’s worth too.

Otherwise, I don’t think the complimentary food and drinks really save you a whole lot.

For what it’s worth, I definitely do remember that there are at least some alcoholic drinks available to purchase with general admission, although I guess the igloos might give you access to more specialty options. I’m not sure about that.

Segra Park Lights Discounts

Seniors (65+), first responders, and active and retired military do get a $2 discount.

Groups of 20 or more can also get a discount, but those rates were not announced as of the last update to this post.

Children 2 and under get in free to the lights at Segra Park.

However, children 3 and up do pay the full price.

It’s possible some business and organizations, such as the sponsor Lexington Medical Center, can get discounted tickets or that they may run promotions once the event is closer.

Their website is the best source for the most up to date info on any other discounts.

Should You Buy Your Tickets in Advance?

As you can see above, tickets bought the day of the event do cost an additional $2.

So, I think it’s definitely worth getting your tickets in advance to save that $2 bucks!

Now, for what it’s worth, buying tickets online as they suggest does incur a service fee of, you guessed it, $2.

Also, for what it’s worth, we’ve gone in 2023 and 2024 on weeknights in the weeks leading up to Christmas and were able to get tickets just a few days in advance, and I don’t remember them selling out.

Obviously that’s no guarantee it won’t be different this year, especially since this is still a fairly new tradition, but if you have at least some flexibility on dates, you shouldn’t need to get tickets very far in advance.

Now, if you have firm dates or want to go on the weekends, or the nights right around Christmas, you might want to snag those tickets a bit earlier because they are much more likely to sell out.

Can You Buy Tickets at the Box Office?

Yes.

You can buy tickets for the Fireflies Holiday Lights at the Box Office.

It is open Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm if you’d like to buy advance tickets, and is open on nights the lights are open from 6:00 to 8:45 pm if you need to buy your tickets at the gate.

What to Expect During the Segra Park Lights

A baseball stadium turned Winter Wonderland, that’s what.

Well, at least the closest to a Winter Wonderland you can hope for in “famously hot” Columbia, SC!

Obviously, the main point of this event is to see the Fireflies’ stadium’s Christmas lights, but there are some additional things to see and do as well.

See Tons of Christmas Lights

If you read my guide to Riverbanks Zoo’s Wild Lights, a rebrand from their Lights Before Christmas I remember fondly as a child, you’ll see it’s not so much a traditional Christmas lights display anymore but more like a wildlife lights display that happens to be around Christmas time.

If, like me, you kind of miss the old Christmas lights at the zoo, the lights at Segra are definitely much more of a traditional Christmas lights display.

You’ll see Christmas trees, presents, snowflakes, ginger bread houses, and just about everything else you’d expect at a Christmas lights display.

Some are more static displays, while some flash and blink, and and some even light up and present little moving scenes.

According to the event’s website, there are more than 1.7 million LED lights used during the Columbia Fireflies’ Christmas lights event!

Besides the traditional holiday themed lights, you’ll also find some a little more baseball oriented.

For example, you’ll find elves manning the bases and pitching around the infield.

Around the outfield, in years past there have been little town scenes.

I think my personal favorites have been the ones showing an animated scene of Santa pitching to an elf set up by the berm!

Be on the lookout for the light show that runs periodically throughout the night as well. The lights around the stadium blink and flash in sync with Christmas music.

Meet Santa Clause

Well, what would a good family friendly holiday lights event be without Santa?

You’ll find Santa at the Fireflies Christmas Lights in his sleigh, located near the gift shop on the main concourse of the first base sideline.

Meeting and posing for a photo with him is included in the price of admission.

Santa should be out to meet and greet and take Christmas present requests from 6:30 to 8:30 every night.

In our experience, there’s usually not too bad of a line, but it’s never been all that crowded when we’ve been either.

I do feel that sometimes, waiting until a bit later can be a good way to avoid the longest line just after the initial rush at opening, but that can always vary and might depend on your kids’ bedtimes too!

Pose with the Giant Christmas Tree

Any good holiday lights event has to have a great Christmas tree too!

You’ll find the giant Christmas tree behind left field.

While from a distance it just looks like lights, as you get closer and see the it with the spotlights they keep on it, you can see ornaments and other decorations too.

We’ve never had too much trouble getting a photo here due to crowds, but it is tall enough that it can be really tough to get the angle to get the full tree in.

The best photo might actually be taking it farther away with you in the foreground and the tree in the background.

Ride on the Holiday Train

Because what would a Christmas kids event be without a train!

There is a small train that makes the rounds of Segra Park during the Fireflies Holiday Lights.

You can find it loading passengers in center left field, near the giant Christmas tree.

The train makes a loop around the concourse and should be lots of fun for toddler aged kids.

Aaliyah has been too young to go on this on our two visits so far, so I cannot confirm if there is an additional cost or if it’s complimentary with your entrance to the lights at Segra Park.

I’ll have to make a note to double check this year!

Enjoy S’mores, Hot Chocolate, and Other Treats

Well, what would a good family friendly holiday lights event be without some good ole overpriced concessions?

These days, what would a baseball game be without some overpriced concession, either?

Honestly, in fairness, prices here aren’t all that unreasonable compared to some other events like this nowadays.

You’ll find hot chocolate and cider at the concession stand down the first base foul line. It’s decorated nicely with a fun light display too.

You can also buy s’mores kits here and there are a handful of fire pits where you can roast your marshmallows.

There are other snacks available there and at other concession stands and carts around the park too, including traditional ballpark food like pizza, chicken tenders, popcorn, nachos, and sodas.

They also have chili and soup as well as freshly baked cookies available during this event.

For adults, there is beer, wine, canned cocktails as well as spiked hot chocolate and cider available as well.

Keep in mind, Segra Park is a cashless venue, but concession stands accept major credit and debit cards.

If you only have cash, you can exchange it for a gift card at Guest Services to use at the concession stands and gift shop.

However, any money you don’t spend will remain on the gift card and you won’t be able to get cash back.

Buy Some Fireflies Swag

Of course the gift shop is open!

Actually, you might be able to score some discounted Fireflies merch during the Columbia Fireflies holiday lights show.

In 2024, they hosted a 12 days of Christmas sale in the days leading up to Christmas, where there were discounts on different categories of items at the Mason Jar gift shop called the 12 Days of Merchmas.

So, if you wanted to get a shirt or cap, or any other Fireflies branded merch for next season, it can be a good time to do it.

They don’t have info on sales for 2025 yet.

So, I can’t 100% confirm they will do the discounts again, but they do have a dedicated page for it on the event’s website, so I’d predict they will.

It’s worth pointing out that the season ends just a few months before this, so you might be able to score some merch from last season they want to get rid of on clearance too.

You can check that page here where the discounts from 2024 are still listed to get an idea of what might be listed, and presumably closer to the dates, they will publish the schedule for 2025.

Buy Some Other Swag

The Fireflies Holiday Lights event also hosts other corporate sponsors and vendors.

So, there should be other tables with gifts, merchandise, and services set up you can browse while you take in the lights and sip hot cocoa too.

Practical Info: Logistics, Rules, and Policies

I’ve covered buying tickets in advance and if you should be worried about sell outs above, but let’s talk some more practical advice and go over the logistics of visiting the Fireflies Holiday Lights.

Parking is as normal during Fireflies games with free street parking around the stadium (protip: there is free street parking a couple blocks away on Gregg Street by the park there too).

I seem to recall the employee lot right next to the stadium open to the public in 2023 but not in 2024, so double check for signs or attendants before parking there to avoid any issues.

There are also gravel and grass lots just across from the stadium. I recall parking in one of the small ones in 2024 and not needing to pay for it, but the larger grass lot might be pay to park.

I do suggest arriving before 6 if you want to secure a parking spot close to the stadium.

Keep in mind the Fireflies Holiday Lights is advertised as a rain or shine event.

However, if the event is cancelled due to exceptionally bad weather, the Fireflies should post on their social media account about it.

Their policy does allow you to exchange your ticket for another date by visiting or calling the box office, but they do not issue refunds.

All admission tickets are the same, and with the exception of the igloo rentals, there aren’t assigned seats or anything like that. The main point of the event is to walk around and see the lights, after all.

There is first come first served seating at tables near some of the concession stands (mostly by the first base foul pole and a few more in the outfield), and some seating areas overlooking the field may be open.

One thing we did not realize the first year we went, is you can also walk the path around the edge of the field!

Actually, in 2024, Aaliyah walked nearly the entire field, as she was just starting to walk holding hands. Walking the warning track was great practice for her and it was a lot of fun for us to see her show off.

You also do get some cool angles of the lights on the field from walking around the track too.

However, the normal clear bag policy for Segra Park is in effect during the Fireflies Holiday Lights.

That policy allows clear plastic bags with logos on one side up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ as well as non clear small clutch purses no larger than 5″ x 7″. Gallon sized clear freezer bags are also allowed.

You can double check the full details of the policy here.

Keep in mind this does apply to diaper bags, as we learned the hard way on your first visit!

Meanwhile, strollers, as well as wheelchairs, are allowed in Segra Park.

Will You Go to See the Lights at Segra Park?

Now you have a complete guide to what to expect during the Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park.

We’ve really enjoyed this the last couple years, and it will be one of those memories we cherish as one of the first things like this we did with Aaliyah just a couple months after she was born.

It’s a great lights display and a fun evening family outing, and I would definitely recommend checking it out.

If you do go, I hope this guide was helpful for you in planning your visit. I’d love to hear what you thought in the comments!

Cheers and Happy Merry Exploring!