SC Governor’s Mansion to hold Christmas open house

COLUMBIA — Santa Claus is coming to town — the Governor’s Mansion, to be more specific.

The annual Christmas open house will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, featuring live music, refreshments and a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, as well as Gov. Henry McMaster and first lady Peggy McMaster.

The event is free and does not require a reservation. The governor’s family will accept donations of cat or dog food, litter and pet toys at the door to give to Pawmetto Lifeline, a Columbia animal rescue.

Visitors can drink hot chocolate and snack on cookies and candy canes while viewing the mansion’s Christmas decorations.

Among the decor will be a replica of Charleston’s Pineapple Fountain made out of gingerbread, as well as evergreen trees from family-owned Penland Christmas Tree Farm in York, poinsettias from Gilbert High School’s Future Farmers of America club and wreaths made by inmates in the state’s prisons.

The Columbia Garden Club is responsible for decorating the 9-acre complex, which includes two buildings other than the mansion itself. The group has been in charge of holiday decorating since 1981, according to a news release.

The same group works with the Garden Club of South Carolina to find, buy and decorate the state Christmas tree that stands in front of the Statehouse during the holidays.

The Columbia group received $5,000 in the current state budget to buy new giant ornaments to adorn the tree, which is a 35-foot Norway Spruce this year from Henderson Tree Farms in Morganton, North Carolina.

The 58th annual Governor’s Carolighting, the official tree-lighting ceremony on Statehouse grounds, was Nov. 24.

Anyone who misses the open house but wants to see the decorations can reserve a spot on a free tour in the days after the open house or in the week following.