Rock Hill, South Carolina is among the South’s greatest Christmas cities. Rock Hill pulls out all of the stops for probably the most fantastic time of the 12 months. In the course of the first weekend of December, this South Carolina metropolis turns into ChristmasVille, a seasonal extravaganza of some 70 themed occasions, from ice sculpture demonstrations to storytime with Santa to direct calls to the North Pole.
It’s arduous to suit the Christmas magic of that weekend into one journey information, however listed below are my ideas for what you possibly can’t miss — and particularly the place to eat — for probably the most memorable expertise.
ChristmasVille Enjoyable for All Ages
ChristmasVille is quintessential Christmas attraction. We’re speaking sled races down Essential Avenue, horse-drawn carriage rides, and carols ringing by the air sort of cute. Snow flurries swirl, the lampposts are strung with garlands, and children’ eyes develop spherical as saucers to see stilt walkers, jugglers, and tiny child reindeer come shut for a nuzzle.
Don’t miss the epically giant parade on Friday night time with dozens of vehicles, floats, and performers. Then spend Saturday and Sunday exploring ChristmasVille downtown in top-of-the-line Christmas cities within the nation.
A number of actions are drop-in and utterly free: reward stacking, decoration making, cookie adorning, wreath tossing. In the meantime, at Fountain Park, a mini Christmas carnival has taken over with a carousel, Ferris wheel, rock wall, and a half dozen inflatables, all free. There’s a gnome-themed playground and scavenger hunt (with prizes!) too. We additionally liked the gingerbread home contest — our favourite was a reindeer carousel.
In fact, vacation buying is a should. You may browse personalised crayons and 3D-printed dragons in addition to sweaters, olive oils, ornaments, and way more from greater than 80 distributors on the indoor-outdoor Artisan and Craft Market. There are additionally boutiques throughout downtown for window buying.
Try the art-forward wares at The Hickory Submit, excellent for the house decor fanatic. Have somebody in your record who’s at all times arduous to purchase for? Cease into The Mercantile to create your personal soaps, soups, spice mixes, candles, jewellery, hats, and flower preparations. It’s a enjoyable memory-making exercise that the entire household can contribute to and say “I made that” on the finish. (In addition they have a restaurant and wine bar. Extra on this beneath.)
The Mercantile in Rock Hill, South Carolina — an amazing place to buy personalised Christmas presents in one of many South’s greatest Christmas cities.
ChristmasVille additionally hosts particular occasions just like the Reindeer Romp 5K, disc golf match, and a brew tour. Try their occasions calendar to be taught extra.
The place To Eat in York County
The meals in Rock Hill and close by Fort Mill pretty blew us away. When you’re on the town for ChristmasVille, you possibly can benefit from the competition distributors or pop into one of many native eating places downtown.
However everytime you go to, listed below are some must-do spots the place there’s not solely good meals but additionally somewhat one thing further.
For a Full Breakfast: Poppyseed Kitchen
Get a full breakfast at Poppyseed Kitchen.
A part of the delight of Poppyseed Kitchen is how inventive the menu is. Those that need an ordinary breakfast can have eggs, buttermilk biscuit, and so forth, however wow, can you’re taking your tastebuds on a culinary journey in the event you’re eager to.
For one thing candy, our server advisable the lemon ricotta and blackberry jam stuffed French toast, which I’ve promised myself I’ll return for. Since we have been leaning savory, we opted for the oats with cheddar, kale, sausage, egg, and a roasted tomato purple pepper sauce that brings all of it collectively.
I additionally tried The Ranch Hash, with succulent braised beef brisket and rosemary potato hash dressed with tomato onion jam. Sopping up the jammy, briskety bits with sourdough toast is magic. My facet of velvety butternut squash soup — drizzled with creme fraiche and dappled with pumpkin seeds — put this Fort Mill eatery excessive for me and formally dethroned my earlier favourite brunch spot in Sarasota.
The croissant from the bakery at Poppyseed Kitchen in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a should!
Bonus: They’re a bakery too! Something with their croissant dough is a should. It takes three days for his or her pastry chef to make it, and you’ll hear it if you take a chew (IYKYK). Don’t skip the espresso flavored with certainly one of their housemade syrups: eggnog, if they’ve it. It tastes like Christmas.
Greatest Dinner: FM Eatery
Cheerwine-braised brief ribs with grits and flecks of peanut brittle from Fort Mill’s FM Eatery.
This was the restaurant I used to be most excited to strive, and so they didn’t disappoint. All the things, from the meals to the service to the ambiance, was distinctive. It’s proper on Fort Mill’s Essential Avenue, so we even handed a vacation market on our approach in.
For dinner, FM Eatery focuses on small plates which might be as tantalizing as they’re ingenious. Some examples: bacon-wrapped dates with pecan crunch, smoked burrata with sage ginger apricot jam, shrimp with housemade worcestershire butter.
I used to be delighted by the lamb pasta. Elevated with squash, stracciatella, pistachio, and only a trace of spice, these completely al dente noodles have been downright soul-warming. At a tip from our server, I additionally tried their Cheerwine-braised brief ribs with grits and flecks of peanut brittle. The meat was fall-off-your-fork tender and frivolously candy. It’s a kind of iconic dishes we’ll nonetheless be speaking a few 12 months from now.
Alongside their intensive cocktail and wine menu, I used to be additionally actually happy to see a number of zero-proof drinks with complicated flavors. They’ve a dessert menu too (pots de crème, anybody?) so tempo your self greater than I did and save room!
Bonus: The chef energy couple that owns this restaurant additionally owns The Flipside Cafe, The Flipside Restaurant, and Salmeri’s Italian Kitchen, all extremely rated. If in case you have longer in York County, these are nice choices.
Brews and Video games: Replay Brewing
When you like good beer, you’ll like Replay Brewing. There’s loads of choice whether or not you desire a mild lager or hoppy IPA. If it’s your first time, strive a beer flight so you possibly can pattern a number of brews and discover one thing you’re keen on.
The meals pairs effectively with a chilly beverage. Suppose Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, rooster tenders, and brisket sliders. My husband says the buffalo sizzling wings are legit, and my sizzling canine was thick, juicy, and completely seasoned.
An ideal sizzling canine from Replay Brewing in Fort Mill.
However the twist right here is consuming your libation of selection whereas crushing Lunar Lander (or Zombies Ate My Neighbors or different beloved classic recreation). Problem your youngsters to a Mario Kart race or present them the way you used to kill it at House Invaders. It’s not simply leisure. That is cultural training, individuals.
There are dozens of video games you possibly can play at no cost along with your meal, and the pinball machines are simply $1.
Bonus: If all of the video games above aren’t further sufficient, there’s extra! They’ve a bit for board video games like Taboo and Join 4. There are additionally coloring books and crayons for the kiddos, and so they have particular occasions like tabletop recreation nights, bingo, and trivia, plus free pinball on Mondays.
A Paris-Good Escape: Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe
At Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe, the macarons dazzle in a rainbow of flavors.
We have been strolling ChristmasVille downtown after we ducked right into a historic financial institution constructing and inside was a bustling French cafe, full with a pastry case to make you swoon. Welcome to Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe. Right here, eclairs, petit fours, brownies, and creme brulee beckon whereas the macarons dazzle in a rainbow of flavors: s’mores, lavender lemonade, PB&J, and extra.
I wished certainly one of every, however their new Marie Antoinette Tart regarded too good to withstand. And it tasted nearly as good because it regarded! The wealthy chocolate ganache and circle of raspberry preserves on an ideal pastry crust was actually decadent. I savored it slowly with a tiramisu latte upstairs in a quiet nook overlooking downtown. Pure bliss.
Savoring a tart, espresso, and a sandwich from Amelie’s was pure bliss.
Amelie’s additionally does soups, salads, and sandwiches. You may’t go fallacious with the rooster pesto. The baguette is great (they’re a bakery, bear in mind), and the basil-rich pesto and goat cheese are an ideal pairing. Winter can be a good time for soup. I like to recommend asparagus or rooster pot pie.
And in the event you’re internet hosting a vacation social gathering and actually need to impress, their seasonal Bûche de Noël — an ornately embellished chocolate xmas log cake with buttercream — will do it.
Bonus: As with all places of this Charlotte-born cafe, Amelie’s Rock Hill is tricked out in French-inspired artwork with an eclectic twist. Spend a while noticing the quirky particulars, like a gleaming chandelier of pots and pans or a watch patch on the Mona Lisa. It’s the stuff of Instagram desires.
For Espresso and Chill: Humble Cup Espresso Co.
Get an ideal cup of espresso at Humble Cup Espresso Co. in Fort Mill.
Have you ever ever walked into a spot and instantly been enveloped in a way of calm? Humble Cup Espresso Co. in Fort Mill is simply such a spot. Tender music, brick partitions, impartial colours with accents of greenery, cozy seating (even on the tables due to the ergonomic leather-based chairs), and, after all, the odor of espresso.
They roast their beans in 4 signature blends — I attempted Gratitude, their best-seller, with notes of brown sugar and warming spices. Sweetened with gingerbread syrup and gingerbread powder on prime, my latte tasted like a heat gingerbread cookie in a cup. I’ve had three gingerbread lattes to this point this season, and this one far eclipsed the others.
On the serving station, you possibly can prime your drink with the usuals like cinnamon and sugar or the less-usual like apple spice, cocoa powder, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice, which I assumed was fairly cool. Comply with them on Fb for a sneak peek of specials like cranberry, peppermint mocha, vanilla sage, and extra.
Bonus: They supply pastries from three native bakeries, together with Poppyseed Kitchen proper throughout the road. I received the gingerbread muffin, which I liked, and the cheese danish, which ties with the Cheerwine ribs above for the most effective factor I ate all weekend.
Further bonus: For households with little tykes, they actually have a playroom. It has a toy kitchen, dollhouse, books, vehicles, and plenty extra. So cute!
Greatest Wholesome Meal: Mix Riverwalk
Get scrumptious wraps on the go at Mix Riverwalk.
On our street journeys, we at all times attempt to discover a native restaurant that makes a speciality of wholesome, tasty meals with contemporary elements. In Fort Mill, that’s Mix Riverwalk.
They do smoothies, breakfast burritos, açai bowls, energy bowls, salads, and extra, all full of nutritional vitamins and fiber. They actually have a youngsters menu. We received Caitlin’s Crunch Wrap, with a spicy coconut sriracha properly complementing the slaw combine, and Ava’s Summer time Particular Wrap, tacky with contemporary mozzarella and goat cheese, plus Greek rooster, tomatoes, couscous, pesto, and hummus for an additional protein enhance. Each wraps have been a beneficiant serving and scrumptious.
As you wait, boggle your youngsters’ minds with the veggie trivia on the wall. Do you know broccoli has extra protein (per calorie) than steak?
Bonus: The Riverwalk is only a few steps away from the entrance door, so we took our wraps exterior. The paved path runs over three miles alongside the Catawba River.
Mild Bites Downtown: The Jackass Café & Wine Bar
Heat up earlier than the Christmas parade with a ham and grilled cheese with jalapeno jam on cranberry-studded bread, from The Jackass Café & Wine Bar in Rock Hill.
Bear in mind The Mercantile I discussed above? Behind this cozy normal retailer is The Jackass Café & Wine Bar, serving regionally roasted espresso, teas, and wine. Keep watch over their specials. I can vouch for the white mocha with hazelnut and salted caramel, even sweeter with a cookie on the facet.
Together with pastries, I used to be excited to see the sandwiches — you want sustenance for a two-hour Christmas parade, in any case! The ham and grilled cheese with jalapeno jam on cranberry-studded bread is a yummy savory-sweet combo harking back to Thanksgiving. Dipped of their hearty tomato bisque, it was a pleasing approach to heat up on a December night.
Bonus: This store is so enjoyable to browse. It’s gorgeously designed with curated wares and a rustic-chic aesthetic.
Exploring the Outside in Winter
Horse driving trails at Anne Springs Shut Greenway
Whether or not you’re right here for ChristmasVille or not, the colder months are a good time to get exterior. It’s hardly ever sizzling, and the paths are thinner of crowds. And each household street journey wants some outside time simply to let free.
At 2,100 acres, Anne Springs Shut Greenway has loads of room for any quantity of pent-up power. Head to the Lake Haigler entrance the place you possibly can orient your self and decide up a map on the guests heart.
The playground at Anne Springs Shut Greenway.
For youths, there’s a handcrafted picket playground with climbing buildings designed for various ages. Elsewhere, discover 40 miles of mountain climbing, mountain biking, and horseback driving trails. We encountered an equestrian whereas mountain climbing and noticed plenty of horses, donkeys, and cows. A spotlight was the swinging bridge on the way in which to the Dairy Barn, certainly one of a number of historic buildings strewn in regards to the protect.
There’s additionally an 18-acre kids’s farm, dwelling to rabbits, goats, alpacas, and extra. The greenway hosts particular occasions all year long, corresponding to live shows, campouts, horse exhibits, and artisan markets, so make sure you go to their calendar to see what’s happening.
The place To Keep in York County
We stayed on the Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Mill.
We stayed on the Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Mill and appreciated it. The beds have been comfy, the walk-in bathe was roomy and fashionable, the room got here outfitted with a microwave and mini fridge, handy for snacks.
The placement was a perk too. It’s proper off the interstate inside Kingsley Village, a 150,000-square-foot mixed-use improvement with plenty of buying and eating choices, embellished for the vacations with reindeer topiary and different seasonal accents. Fort Mill is simply 20 minutes from Rock Hill, and it had a number of of the meals spots we wished to strive. In reality, Replay Brewing was strolling distance from the lodge.
The entrance desk employees was additionally pleasant at check-in and useful once I requested for native suggestions. I might keep right here once more.
Christmas in Rock Hill
And I might go to Rock Hill and the remainder of York County once more.
I’m already questioning what occasions they’ll dream up for ChristmasVille subsequent 12 months. Definitely some returning favorites, however they’ve a brand new theme yearly. This 12 months, it was “Great, Whimsical Needs,” mirrored all through the competition within the ice sculptures, artwork, merch, and even the riddles within the scavenger hunt.
What’s on faucet for subsequent 12 months? I can’t wait to see!
