Columbia holiday lighting, horse-drawn carriages set in The District

Oct 31, 2024

The District will begin to look a lot more like Christmas Saturday night after its seasonal holiday lighting event.

The lighting is just one part of a three-cornered affair Saturday that will transform the downtown Columbia business district for the holidays.

At 7 p.m., participating venues "will illuminate our iconic holiday decor pieces in sync," according to a news release.

Attendees can watch the lighting from any of these four spots, then travel to the others and cast a vote for their favorite: The Columns, 705 E. Walnut; Serendipity Salon and Gallery, 1020 E. Walnut; Wishtree Courtyard, 1023 E. Walnut; and Alley A.

The festivities will begin earlier in the day with The District's annual Holiday Shop Hop, which will involve holiday specials at downtown businesses as well as refreshments.

From 2 to 5 p.m., The District presents the Wassail Stroll, a sort of wassail crawl with the holiday beverage served at participating businesses and another chance to vote for a favorite.

Horse-drawn carriage rides will also kick off at 4 p.m. The service, fast becoming a downtown tradition, is free but tickets must be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the Wishtree Courtyard to inquire.

Learn more about Saturday's events and other holiday happenings at https://www.discoverthedistrict.com/.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at [email protected] or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.