Why Rock Hill, South Carolina, Is One of the South’s Best Christmas Towns 

Rock Hill, South Carolina is one of the South’s best Christmas towns. Rock Hill pulls out all the stops for the most wonderful time of the year. During the first weekend of December, this South Carolina city turns into ChristmasVille, a seasonal extravaganza of some 70 themed events, from ice sculpture demonstrations to storytime with Santa to direct calls to the North Pole.

It’s hard to fit the Christmas magic of that weekend into one travel guide, but here are my tips for what you can’t miss — and especially where to eat — for the most memorable experience.

ChristmasVille Fun for All Ages

ChristmasVille is quintessential Christmas charm. We’re talking sled races down Main Street, horse-drawn carriage rides, and carols ringing through the air kind of cute. Snow flurries swirl, the lampposts are strung with garlands, and kids’ eyes grow round as saucers to see stilt walkers, jugglers, and tiny baby reindeer come close for a nuzzle.

Don’t miss the epically large parade on Friday night with dozens of trucks, floats, and performers. Then spend Saturday and Sunday exploring ChristmasVille downtown in one of the best Christmas towns in the country.

Several activities are drop-in and completely free: gift stacking, ornament making, cookie decorating, wreath tossing. Meanwhile, 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 also loved the gingerbread house contest — our favorite was a reindeer carousel.

Of course, holiday shopping is a must. You can browse personalized crayons and 3D-printed dragons as well as sweaters, olive oils, ornaments, and much more from more than 80 vendors at the indoor-outdoor Artisan and Craft Market. There are also boutiques all around downtown for window shopping.

Check out the art-forward wares at The Hickory Post, perfect for the home decor enthusiast. Have someone on your list who’s always hard to buy for? Stop into The Mercantile to create your own soaps, soups, spice mixes, candles, jewelry, hats, and flower arrangements. It’s a fun memory-making activity that the whole family can contribute to and say “I made that” at the end. (They also have a cafe and wine bar. More on this below.)

ChristmasVille also hosts special events like the Reindeer Romp 5K, disc golf tournament, and a brew tour. Check out their events calendar to learn more.

Where To Eat in York County

The food in Rock Hill and nearby Fort Mill fairly blew us away. If you’re in town for ChristmasVille, you can enjoy the festival vendors or pop into one of the local restaurants downtown.

But whenever you visit, here are some must-do spots where there’s not only good food but also a little something extra.

For a Full Breakfast: Poppyseed Kitchen

Part of the delight of Poppyseed Kitchen is how creative the menu is. Those who want a standard breakfast can have eggs, buttermilk biscuit, and so forth, but wow, can you take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure if you’re keen to.

For something sweet, our server recommended the lemon ricotta and blackberry jam stuffed French toast, which I’ve promised myself I’ll return for. Since we were leaning savory, we opted for the oats with cheddar, kale, sausage, egg, and a roasted tomato red pepper sauce that brings it all together.

I also 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 side of velvety butternut squash soup — drizzled with creme fraiche and dappled with pumpkin seeds — put this Fort Mill eatery over the top for me and officially dethroned my previous favorite brunch spot in Sarasota. 

Bonus: They’re a bakery too! Anything with their croissant dough is a must. It takes three days for their pastry chef to make it, and you can hear it when you take a bite (IYKYK). Don’t skip the coffee flavored with one of their housemade syrups: eggnog, if they have it. It tastes like Christmas.

Best Dinner: FM Eatery

This was the restaurant I was most excited to try, and they didn’t disappoint. Everything, from the food to the service to the ambiance, was exceptional. It’s right on Fort Mill’s Main Street, so we even passed a holiday market on our way in.

For dinner, FM Eatery specializes in small plates that are as tantalizing as they are inventive. Some examples: bacon-wrapped dates with pecan crunch, smoked burrata with sage ginger apricot jam, shrimp with housemade worcestershire butter.

I was delighted by the lamb pasta. Elevated with squash, stracciatella, pistachio, and just a hint of spice, these perfectly al dente noodles were downright soul-warming. At a tip from our server, I also tried their Cheerwine-braised short ribs with grits and flecks of peanut brittle. The beef was fall-off-your-fork tender and lightly sweet. It’s one of those iconic dishes we’ll still be talking about a year from now.

Alongside their extensive cocktail and wine menu, I was also really pleased to see several zero-proof drinks with complex flavors. They have a dessert menu too (pots de crème, anyone?) so pace yourself more than I did and save room!

Bonus: The chef power couple that owns this restaurant also owns The Flipside Cafe, The Flipside Restaurant, and Salmeri’s Italian Kitchen, all highly rated. If you have longer in York County, these are great options.

Brews and Games: Replay Brewing

If you like good beer, you’ll like Replay Brewing. There’s plenty of selection whether you want a light lager or hoppy IPA. If it’s your first time, try a beer flight so you can sample multiple brews and find something you love.

The food pairs well with a cold beverage. Think Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, chicken tenders, and brisket sliders. My husband says the buffalo hot wings are legit, and my hot dog was thick, juicy, and perfectly seasoned.

But the twist here is drinking your libation of choice while crushing Lunar Lander (or Zombies Ate My Neighbors or other beloved vintage game). Challenge your kids to a Mario Kart race or show them how you used to kill it at Space Invaders. It’s not just entertainment. This is cultural education, people. 

There are dozens of games you can play for free with your meal, and the pinball machines are just $1. 

Bonus: If all the games above aren’t extra enough, there’s more! They have a section for board games like Taboo and Connect 4. There are also coloring books and crayons for the kiddos, and they have special events like tabletop game nights, bingo, and trivia, plus free pinball on Mondays.

A Paris-Perfect Escape: Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe

We were strolling ChristmasVille downtown when we ducked into a historic bank building and inside was a bustling French cafe, complete with a pastry case to make you swoon. Welcome to Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe. Here, eclairs, petit fours, brownies, and creme brulee beckon while the macarons dazzle in a rainbow of flavors: s’mores, lavender lemonade, PB&J, and more.

I wanted one of each, but their new Marie Antoinette Tart looked too good to resist. And it tasted as good as it looked! The rich chocolate ganache and circle of raspberry preserves on a perfect pastry crust was truly decadent. I savored it slowly with a tiramisu latte upstairs in a quiet nook overlooking downtown. Pure bliss. 

Amelie’s also does soups, salads, and sandwiches. You can’t go wrong with the chicken pesto. The baguette is excellent (they’re a bakery, remember), and the basil-rich pesto and goat cheese are a perfect pairing. Winter is also a great time for soup. I recommend asparagus or chicken pot pie. 

And if you’re hosting a holiday party and really want to impress, their seasonal Bûche de Noël — an ornately decorated chocolate yule log cake with buttercream — will do it.

Bonus: As with all locations of this Charlotte-born cafe, Amelie’s Rock Hill is tricked out in French-inspired art with an eclectic twist. Spend some time noticing the quirky details, like a gleaming chandelier of pots and pans or an eye patch on the Mona Lisa. It’s the stuff of Instagram dreams.

For Coffee and Chill: Humble Cup Coffee Co.

Have you ever walked into a place and immediately been enveloped in a sense of calm? Humble Cup Coffee Co. in Fort Mill is just such a place. Soft music, brick walls, neutral colors with accents of greenery, comfy seating (even at the tables thanks to the ergonomic leather chairs), and, of course, the smell of coffee. 

They roast their beans in four signature blends — I tried Gratitude, their best-seller, with notes of brown sugar and warming spices. Sweetened with gingerbread syrup and gingerbread powder on top, my latte tasted like a warm gingerbread cookie in a cup. I’ve had three gingerbread lattes so far this season, and this one far eclipsed the others.

At the serving station, you can top your drink with the usuals like cinnamon and sugar or the less-usual like apple spice, cocoa powder, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice, which I thought was pretty cool. Follow them on Facebook for a sneak peek of specials like cranberry, peppermint mocha, vanilla sage, and more.

Bonus: They source pastries from three local bakeries, including Poppyseed Kitchen right across the street. I got the gingerbread muffin, which I loved, and the cheese danish, which ties with the Cheerwine ribs above for the best thing I ate all weekend.

Extra bonus: For families with little tykes, they even have a playroom. It has a toy kitchen, dollhouse, books, cars, and lots more. So cute!

Best Healthy Meal: Blend Riverwalk

On our road trips, we always try to find a local restaurant that specializes in healthy, tasty food with fresh ingredients. In Fort Mill, that’s Blend Riverwalk.

They do smoothies, breakfast burritos, açai bowls, power bowls, salads, and more, all packed with vitamins and fiber. They even have a kids menu. We got Caitlin’s Crunch Wrap, with a spicy coconut sriracha nicely complementing the slaw mix, and Ava’s Summer Special Wrap, cheesy with fresh mozzarella and goat cheese, plus Greek chicken, tomatoes, couscous, pesto, and hummus for an extra protein boost. Both wraps were a generous serving and delicious.

As you wait, boggle your kids’ minds with the veggie trivia on the wall. Did you know broccoli has more protein (per calorie) than steak?

Bonus: The Riverwalk is just a few steps away from the front door, so we took our wraps outside. The paved trail runs over three miles alongside the Catawba River.

Light Bites Downtown: The Jackass Café & Wine Bar

Remember The Mercantile I mentioned above? At the back of this cozy general store is The Jackass Café & Wine Bar, serving locally roasted coffee, teas, and wine. Keep an eye on their specials. I can vouch for the white mocha with hazelnut and salted caramel, even sweeter with a cookie on the side.

Along with pastries, I was excited to see the sandwiches — you need sustenance for a two-hour Christmas parade, after all! The ham and grilled cheese with jalapeno jam on cranberry-studded bread is a yummy savory-sweet combo reminiscent of Thanksgiving. Dipped in their hearty tomato bisque, it was a pleasant way to warm up on a December evening. 

Bonus: This shop is so fun to browse. It’s  gorgeously designed with curated wares and a rustic-chic aesthetic.

Exploring the Outdoors in Winter

Whether you’re here for ChristmasVille or not, the colder months are a great time to get outside. It’s rarely hot, and the trails are thinner of crowds. And every family road trip needs some outdoor time just to let loose.

At 2,100 acres, Anne Springs Close Greenway has plenty of room for any amount of pent-up energy. Head to the Lake Haigler entrance where you can orient yourself and pick up a map at the visitors center.

For kids, there’s a handcrafted wooden playground with climbing structures designed for different ages. Elsewhere, find 40 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. We encountered an equestrian while hiking and saw lots of horses, donkeys, and cows. A highlight was the swinging bridge on the way to the Dairy Barn, one of several historic structures strewn about the preserve.

There’s also an 18-acre children’s farm, home to rabbits, goats, alpacas, and more. The greenway hosts special events throughout the year, such as concerts, campouts, horse shows, and artisan markets, so be sure to visit their calendar to see what’s going on.

Where To Stay in York County

We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Mill and liked it. The beds were comfortable, the walk-in shower was roomy and modern, the room came equipped with a microwave and mini fridge, convenient for snacks.

The location was a perk too. It’s right off the interstate inside Kingsley Village, a 150,000-square-foot mixed-use development with lots of shopping and dining options, decorated for the holidays with reindeer topiary and other seasonal accents. Fort Mill is just 20 minutes from Rock Hill, and it had several of the food spots we wanted to try. In fact, Replay Brewing was walking distance from the hotel.

The front desk staff was also friendly at check-in and helpful when I asked for local recommendations. I would stay here again.

Christmas in Rock Hill

And I would visit Rock Hill and the rest of York County again. 

I’m already wondering what events they’ll dream up for ChristmasVille next year. Certainly some returning favorites, but they have a new theme every year. This year, it was “Wonderful, Whimsical Wishes,” reflected throughout the festival in the ice sculptures, art, merch, and even the riddles in the scavenger hunt.

What’s on tap for next year? I can’t wait to see!