Holiday Planetarium Lighting and Santa Saturdays return to the State Museum
November 22, 2024
Plus, Holiday Shopping in the Museum Store
This December, the South Carolina State Museum invites guests to enjoy a festive evening during our annual Holiday Planetarium Lighting on Thursday, December 5, from 4 to 7 p.m., featuring spectacular light displays, holiday shows, and a chance to meet Santa.
In addition to extended hours, this special evening will also feature:
- Holiday shows in the museum’s 4D Theater and Planetarium, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D” and “Áróra.” An ASL interpreter will be available during select showtimes. See scmuseum.org for more information.
- Extended shopping hours in the Museum Store
- A chance to meet Santa
- Night sky observing (weather permitting)
At the end of the evening, the museum will officially ‘light’ the planetarium dome for the holidays with the help of a special surprise guest and our partners at Ambient Media: Event Lighting, Sound and Displays. The dome will light up every night after dark throughout December.
Guests can enjoy a unique PAY-AS-YOU-MAY admission model, allowing them to set their own price for access to all four floors of exhibitions and the Observatory. Planetarium or 4D shows are $5 each ($4 for members). Show capacity is limited and advance purchase is recommended. Proceeds from PAY AS YOU MAY general admission will go to the South Carolina State Museum Foundation in support of museum educational programs.
More Events and Shows This Holiday Season
Events
Thurs., Dec. 5 from 4 – 7 p.m.
The museum will offer extended hours with evening 4-D and planetarium showtimes, extra shopping time in the Museum Store, a special light-up reindeer hat activity, night-sky observing (weather permitting) and more during this special event. At the end of the evening, guests will be invited outside to enjoy the “lighting” of the 55ft planetarium dome as it transforms into a giant snow globe.
State Employee Store Discount Week
Dec. 1 – Dec. 7
Last chance before the holidays for SC state employees to save an extra 10% on purchases in Museum Store. State employees who are also members save 20%.
Sat., Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, and 21 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Santa Claus will make a special visit to the museum to see children and families and hear their wishes for the holiday season.
Fri., Dec. 13, from 6 – 9 p.m.
State Museum members are invited to an exclusive holiday PJ party featuring showings of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D, a planetarium experience, hands-on crafts and a Best PJs Contest.
Sat., Dec. 14 from 9– 11 a.m.
This monthly program provides free access for families of children, teenagers, young adults and adults who would benefit from a quieter, sensory-friendly and disability-adapted experience at the museum. Featuring sensory-friendly showings in the museum’s planetarium and 4D theater and meet-and greets with Santa and The Grinch. An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter is also available during the morning provided by certified interpreters through the SC School for the Deaf and Blind. Online pre-registration is encouraged at scmuseum.org.
State Museum Member Discount Day
Sat., Dec. 14
Members can enjoy an extra 10% off purchases, for a total of 20% off, in the Museum Store.
Shows
Showing through Feb. 28, 2025
Experience the beauty of the Northern Lights in this immersive cinematic journey that takes guests across Iceland and into space to explore these mysterious lights. Witness the beauty of the aurora borealis in 4K resolution, see how these lights are visible on other planets and moons, and learn how communities across the world have incorporated the aurora into their folktales and mythology.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D
Showing through Dec. 23
Enjoy the classic stop-motion animated story that has charmed audiences for generations with added 3D visuals and interactive effects. Join Rudolph, Hermey the Elf and their friends on this epic adventure. This 10-minute 4D experience will be showing daily through December 31 in the Rev. Dr. Solomon Jackson, Jr 4D Theater.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer © & ® or ™ The Rudolph Co., L.P. All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.
Coastal Predators: A 4-D Experience
Starts Dec. 26
It is the greatest gathering of ocean predators on the planet. Dolphins, sharks, whales and seals converge to feast along the breathtaking South African coast for an astonishing underwater Armageddon. Stunning visuals and high-octane action with 4-D effects bring this great spectacle to life as you dive into this feeding frenzy of epic proportions.
General admission to the South Carolina State Museum is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, and kids aged 3-12 are $10. Infants 2 and under are free. Tickets to planetarium experiences and 4D shows are an additional charge. The museum is open Tues. – Sat. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sun. from Noon – 5 p.m. Join us this December for a magical holiday experience!
About the South Carolina State Museum
Over the past 35 years, the South Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and showcasing the rich culture, art, and natural history of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum provides educational environments that entertain, inspire imagination and creativity, and enrich the lives of millions of visitors and generations of students from across South Carolina. For more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org.
