On Thurs., Nov. 16, downtown Hartsville will be bustling with the holiday spirit as visitors and residents enjoy a variety of Hartsville for the Holidays happenings beginning at 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

At 6 p.m., the Centennial Tree Lighting ceremony in Centennial Park will kick off the night’s festivities with the first lighting of the City of Hartsville tree. Before the tree lighting, enjoy holiday tunes performed by the Hartsville High School chorus at 5:30 p.m. After the tree lighting, enjoy some flurries with a large snow field with a free snow tubing slide in the parking lot between First Citizens bank and Centennial Park. Don’t forget to grab a picture with Santa Claus in City Hall from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sip on ice cold milk and nibble on cookies at City Hall while you visit jolly St. Nick!

Visit your favorite Main Street Hartsville businesses to cross off a few items off your holiday gift list during Downtown Holiday Open House on this night as well. Be sure to put your must have items from these stores on your wish list and mail it off at Santa’s mailbox located in Centennial Park. Santa will reply to your addressed letters until Dec. 20. The mailbox will return to the North Pole on Dec. 27.

Catch a view of downtown Hartsville’s holiday décor with a free carriage ride provided by Camden Carriage Company offered during Downtown Holiday Open House and Centennial Tree Lighting. Carriage rides will pick up on E. College Ave. and stroll riders through downtown on a 20 to 25 minute ride. The carriage ride fun will be extended to Christmas on Carolina evenings every Thursday night, 6 to 9 p.m., from Nov. 30 to Dec. 21. On these evenings, carriage rides will be $10 for adults and $5 for children, ages 12 and under. Camden Carriage Company will accept both cash and credit cards. Main Street Hartsville businesses will have extended shopping hours during this event. Additionally, All-America City 2016 delegate, Te’Quan Coe, will fill Carolina Ave. with the sounds of the holidays to top off the perfect Hartsville for Holiday night.

Parking for these events can be found at all public parking lots, except the Centennial Park parking lot beside First Citizens bank. This lot will be blocked off for the snow field during the Downtown Holiday Open House and Centennial Tree Lighting.

These events were made possible by the generous donations and sponsorship of Sonoco, Hartsville Medical Associates, Alleyway Printing, Novolex, and Hampton Inn & Suites.

For more information about these events, visit HartsvilleForTheHolidays.com. Follow Hartsville for the Holidays on Facebook to receive updates for all holiday season happenings in Hartsville. Questions can be directed to Jordan Braddock at jordan.braddock@hartsvillesc.gov or 843.917.0602.