[Columbia, SC] - Celebrate the season Friday, November 24, at 6pm when Head USC Basketball Coach Dave Odom flips the switch to officially kick off Lights Before Christmas, the Midlands’ largest and longest running holiday tradition. A winter wonderland awaits families at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s 19th annual Lights festivities opening ceremony.

“We are honored to have Dave Odom join Riverbanks as we officially kick off the holiday season. When the final strands of twinkling lights are plugged in, there is an enchanting ambiance unlike anything you will find in the Midlands as you find yourself surrounded by snow and brilliant lights in the midst of our holiday village,” said Satch Krantz, executive director at Riverbanks.

The first 100 guests to arrive at the opening ceremony will enjoy a cup of hot cocoa courtesy of the Zoo as they enter Riverbanks’ majestic Snow Palace. Touted as the only place in town where it snows every night, the Zoo expects up to 8,000 visitors to attend the official opening of the holiday season. Riverbanks has more than half a million lights sparkling throughout the Zoo, and guests can stroll along the illuminated paths to marvel at lively displays.

This year families will enjoy a bustling holiday village immediately after they step past the frosty gates. Throughout the village, snow will falland surround miniature “kid-size” houses complete with festive holiday trimmings. Santa and his jolly helper will visit Riverbanks holiday village each night, and parents are offered the opportunity to take photographs with Santa free of charge using their personal camera. No holiday village is complete without a Jingle Bell Bonfire. Families can roast warm and gooey marshmallows or indulge in yummy s’mores.

In addition to the new location of the Holiday Village, families will frolic in the new frosty, fun ice tunnel. Twinkling icicles and glittering snowflakes will surround you as you stroll through this new dazzling creation. Riverbanks has also added a special section for those families celebrating Hanukkah.

Santa’s Polar Blast is back by popular demand at the Riverbanks 3-D theater. This 20-minute holiday explosion features an all-out battle between the Snowman and Santa for the rights to the worldwide gift delivery franchise known as Christmas. For those that miss seeing Santa’s Polar Blast at Lights, the film will play during the day throughout the month of December.

This year Riverbanks offers new purchase and print at home eTickets for Lights Before Christmas. Visit https://tickets.riverbanks.org/mainstore.asp or click on the Lights Before Christmas link on the Riverbanks homepage and purchase your tickets online. Riverbanks encourages families to purchase their tickets in advance to expedite entry into the event.

Additional holiday activities that families are sure to enjoy this season include a visit from Scuba Santa in the Aquarium Reptile Complex (ARC) and a festive animal enrichment program. Plan a visit to the Zoo to watch Scuba Santa in action at the 12:30pm Aquarium Dive Demonstration every Saturday and Sunday starting Thanksgiving weekend. On the week before Christmas, Scuba Santa will make an appearance every day. His final appearance will be on Sunday, December 24.

Kicking off this December 13-24, visitors will get the chance to see a unique “gift exchange” as keepers give the animals special treats for 12 straight days. The festivities will occur daily between 10am and 3pm, featuring a different animal each day. The animals will receive specially designed papier-mâché creations, festive holiday toys and interactive puzzles filled with treats.