Home Inspection in Daniel Island, SC

Every holiday season, streets and homes across the country come alive with Christmas lights, each neighborhood offering its twist on the age-old tradition.

From grand displays that span entire lawns to simple wreaths glowing on front doors, the tradition of decorating with Christmas lights brings a new kind of holiday cheer.

Here is a guide to some of the best light displays across the Lowcountry this Christmas.

Holiday Nights & Lights

Take a mesmerizing drive through the fourth annual Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Holiday Nights & Lights event, 40 Harriet Tubman Way. This drive-through lights show is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. The display is open nightly from Saturday, Dec. 7 through Monday, Dec. 9 from 6-8:00 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Holiday Lights at Fire Station 3

Visit the annual Holiday Lights at Fire Station 3, 534 William Hilton Pkwy, for a fun and festive display. In the spirit of the season, Fire Rescue will be collecting non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys for Deep Well. New unwrapped toys should be for ages 1-12 and can be dropped off until Dec. 15. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off through January.

Hilton Head Island Christmas Tree Lighting

The Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, will be aglow this Saturday, Dec. 7, for the lighting of the 30-foot-tall Christmas Tree. Watch a magical laser light show, enjoy local music, food trucks and more. The event is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the Christmas tree lighting is set for 6:30 p.m.

Town of Bluffton Tree Lighting Ceremony

Kick off the holiday season with The Town of Bluffton during the 53rd tree lighting ceremony, this Friday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m. in Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary St. A miniature train will be available at the tree lighting from 6-8 p.m. to ride around Martin and DuBois Parks. Following the ceremony, you can enjoy the movie “Polar Express” and explore Santa’s Workshop at DuBois Park’s Pavilion.

To keep the festivities going, the Bluffton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. through Bluffton’s Historic District.

The Town is also hosting its second annual Menorah Lighting ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Martin Family Park. All of these events are free and open to the public.

Aquarium Aglow

Visit the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, 100 Aquarium Wharf, to enjoy an incredible light display with larger-than-life installations, festive photo ops and the most unique visit with Santa. The event is held on select evenings from Nov. 23 through Dec. 30 and tickets are $21.95-$29.95 and available to purchase on their website.

Celebrate the Season

Pack the whole family in the car and turn on your favorite Christmas songs to enjoy the dazzling path through Moncks Corner Holiday Lights Driving Tour, 1 Riverwood Dr. This festive light display is open Nov. 29 through Dec. 30, 6-9:00 p.m. It costs $10 per vehicle and all proceeds benefit local charities.

Holiday Festival of Lights

Don’t miss the 32nd annual Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr. Enjoy over 750 light displays on a three-mile driving tour that includes the newly rebuilt Cooper River Bridge display. This event also includes train rides, marshmallow roasting, gift shops and more. It is open until December 31 and tickets start at $15 per vehicle.

College of Charleston Light Show

From Dec. 14 through Jan. 1, transport yourself into a winter wonderland at College of Charleston’s historic Cistern Yard and Randolph Hall, 66 George St. The lights string across the campus’ famed live oaks and the event includes a hot chocolate stand on weekends. The light show is free and starts hourly from 6-9 p.m.

The Lights around Park Circle and Christmas Tree Lighting

Watch the 40-foot Christmas Tree light up with Mayor Burgess on Friday, Dec. 6, 6-7 p.m. at Park Circle Community Building grounds, 4800 Park Circle. This event will have live music and free hot cocoa. After the lighting, be sure to enjoy the beautiful lights and displays around the park. This event is free and the lights will be available to tour until New Year’s Day.

Mount Pleasant Towne Center

Visit the Mount Pleasant Shopping Center this Christmas season to check off your holiday shopping and enjoy the sparkling chandeliers, giant lighted reindeer, canopies of lights and a 40-foot tree. The decorations are ongoing through the holidays, 1218 Belk Drive.

Bee City Zoo

If you’re looking for an all-day Christmas adventure, visit the Bee City Zoo and enjoy the zoo at night with dazzling lights. The lights will be available until Dec. 30 and tickets are $14 per person. Children under two are free, 1066 Holly Ridge Ln. Cottageville, SC.

3241 Morningdale Drive, Ivy Hall, Mount Pleasant

Homeowner Kelli Frazier Miller is known for her amazing and elaborate holiday decorations in the Ivy Hall neighborhood. Her Christmas display runs 24/7 in December then switches over to a Winter Wonderland in January. Its a must-see in North Mount Pleasant.

Park Crossing Drive & Sailmaker Street, Daniel Island

For some fun home holiday cheer, visit these two streets for festive decorations. One home even has a mailbox for letters to Santa, so make sure your kids bring their wish lists with them.

Walking in a Woodlands Wonderland, Morrow Lane, North Charleston

Visit this charming Christmas light show every Sunday through Thursday until the New Year. The show begins nightly at 6:00 p.m. Visit their Facebook page for more details or tune in on 93.9 FM.

Wonderland of Temuco Lane, 104 Temuco Lane, Plum Creek Neighborhood, Summerville

Come enjoy the lights and sounds of Christmas in this beautiful home display. The family is partnering up with Lowcountry Orphan Relief, so don’t forget to bring items on their donation wish list to leave in the donation box at the end of the driveway. The show will run until Jan. 1, Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Visit their Facebook page for more details.

Santa on Santino, 105 Santino Court, Goose Creek

For twinkling lights, blow-ups and a lighted arch over the driveway visit this house on Santino Court. The arch features 334 feet of PVC pipe, 250 zip ties, 72 feet of rebar and 1,800 lights. This display is ongoing through the holiday season.

Cadd Family Christmas Lights, 66 Springfield Road

David and Amanda Cadd brighten the neighborhood cul-de-sac with their dazzling display of lights. Their display includes synchronized lights and music, a snow machine and a Santa sleigh. Their display is guaranteed to make your season merry and bright.

Other popular neighborhoods to visit for holiday lights include:

A global video game developer with more than 1,500 titles is moving to the Daniel Island area and potentially bringing hundreds of jobs to the region over the next few years.

Founded in Japan in 1994, PTW develops games for some of the industry’s largest publishers and studios, including Xbox Game Studios, Sony, Nintendo, Amazon Game Studios, Blizzard Entertainment and Warner Brothers.

The company will move into part of a 30,000-square-foot office complex at 2387 Clements Ferry Road in the city of Charleston. The space at the Berkeley County site previously was occupied by government contracting giant Booz Allen Hamilton, which partially reduced its footprint but remains onsite.

PTW chose the area as its next U.S. flagship location because of the growing technology sector, the company said in a statement. This year alone, six local tech firms raised a combined $100 million in capital to fund their growth and the local industry is expected to grow by more than 15 percent in the next four years, according to a report by the Charleston Digital Corridor.

“Charleston stood out as the ideal location — it’s a growing tech hub with the perfect blend of proximity and highly skilled talent,” said Sebastien Bisch, vice president of operations for the Americas at PTW.

The company's fifth U.S. studio will be led by Bernhard Rieder, who will report to Bisch and oversee day-to-day operations in the Lowcountry. The site also will serve as a hub to nurture local talent and provide game-development services to PTW’s clients.

The Clements Ferry building was considered a cutting-edge model of energy efficiency when it was developed in 2001 for a local software business. Booz Allen Hamilton took over the space in 2015 when it acquired the existing tenant. PTW will take over one wing.

Worldwide, the video game developer has 40 studios in 15 countries across North America, Europe, South America and Asia.

In August it acquired Ghostpunch Games, known for its contributions to some of the industry's biggest franchises, including Mortal Kombat, Fortnite, Silent Hill, Borderlands, and Civilization.

PTW expects to create hundreds of new jobs in the next few years in Charleston, adding to the already expected 15.7 percent growth expected for the region's information technology sector by 2028, according to a new study from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance.

The study anticipates the most in-demand IT jobs will be software developers, computer-user support specialists, systems analysts, computer and information systems managers and information security analysts.

POLLING PLACES: On Election Day, there will be 59 polling locations open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across all Berkeley County voting precincts. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote. To view your individual polling location, go HERE or visit scvotes.gov. You must have a photo ID and be registered to vote in Berkeley County. Check your voter registration status HERE.

CURBSIDE VOTING: Each voting location will offer curbside voting for voters ages 65 and older and/or with a disability.

Please note, display of campaign material is not allowed at the polls on Election Day or during early voting, according to state law. This law applies to any visual display of campaign material including posters, pamphlets, brochures, signs, buttons, hats, t-shirts, etc. Voters displaying campaign material who enter the 500-foot area around polling locations will be asked to remove, cover, or otherwise cause any campaign material not to be seen. Learn more HERE.

POLL WATCHER VS. OBSERVER: According to the SC Election Commission Poll Manager Handbook, state law allows poll watchers and observers to be present at polling locations. However, neither is allowed to talk directly to voters.

EARLY VOTING:The early voting period continues 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through tomorrow, Saturday, November 2 at the locations listed below. You must have your photo ID and be registered to vote:

To date, at least 50,000 people have cast a ballot across all four early voting locations during the early voting period.

ABSENTEE VOTING: The deadline to turn in an application has passed. Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the Berkeley County Voter Registration & Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day (November 5). Photo ID is required to return your ballot in person. For more information, go HERE.

To follow results live on Election Night, visit scvotes.gov HERE.

For all election-related information, visit www.scvotes.gov or the County Voter Registration and Elections Department Page. You may also call 843-719-4056 or email vog.csytnuocyelekreb@ervbew.

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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

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