Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer shines in an all-new 4-D experience at the South Carolina State Museum this holiday season. The museum will offer holiday shows, socially distanced events, new exhibitions and special shopping opportunities in the museum store, The Cotton Mill Exchange.
“Our spacious building and exhibition galleries mean we can safely offer guests a way to enjoy socially distanced fun for the holidays,” said State Museum Executive Director, Amy Bartow-Melia. “We have incorporated health and safety concerns, including limiting our gallery and theater capacity and requiring face coverings, per Governor McMaster’s executive order.”
Kicking off November 14 and running through January 3, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D features the same stop motion animation as the beloved television classic.
The 10-minute show delivers a high definition 3-D experience with interactive effects such as seat vibration – and even snow. When young Rudolph is teased for his red nose and runs away from Christmastown, he sets off on a series of adventures, meets new friends Hermey the Elf and Yukon Cornelius along the way, and escapes the clutches of the Abominable Snow Monster.
Guests are invited to help kick-off the season with the museum’s first Holiday Planetarium Lighting on Thursday, November 19 from 5 to 7 pm In addition to extended operating hours, this evening will include showings of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D and the planetarium experience, Trans-Siberian Orchestra Laser Lights. Plus, the Cotton Mill Exchange will be open for extra shopping time, kids can enjoy an ornament activity and Columbia Craft Brewery will be on site to offer tasty sips from a selection of their craft beers. At the end of the evening, the museum will invite guests outside to see the ‘lighting’ of the planetarium dome as it is transformed into a giant snow globe with the help of our partners at Ambient Media: Event Lighting, Sound and Displays. The dome will light up every night after dark throughout the holiday season.
Other Holiday Shows:
Laser Holidays:
The 30-minute laser show celebrates the season through a display of colorful and dramatic laser lights set to a mix of holiday musical favorites like, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Deck the Halls, White Christmas and more. Laser Holidays will be playing through January 3 in the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Laser Lights:
In this sound and light entertainment show, laser lights will dance across the planetarium dome as guests are immersed in the holiday music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This 30-minute show will be playing through January 3 in the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium.
Holiday Events: Holiday Planetarium Lighting
The museum will offer extended hours with evening 4-D and planetarium showtimes, as extra shopping time in the Cotton Mill Exchange, ornament activity and beer tasting with Columbia Craft Brewery. Plus, at the end of the evening, guests will be invited outside to enjoy the “lighting” of the 55ft planetarium dome as it transforms into a giant snow globe.
Member Discount Weekend, December 5 – 6
Members can enjoy an extra 10 percent off purchases, for a total of 20 percent off, in the museum store, The Cotton Mill Exchange.
Rudolph 4-D Member Mornings, December 5, 12 and 19 from 9 – 10 am
Members are invited to enjoy exclusive morning access to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D and a special holiday planetarium show before the museum opens to the general public at 10 am.
Storytime with Santa, December 12 and 19
Santa Claus will make a special, socially distanced visit to the museum to see children and families, hear their wishes for the holiday season and read a story. See scmuseum.org for a full appearance schedule.
Virtual Crafty Jammies Night, December 8 at 7 pm
Join the SCSM the second Tuesday of every month for a bedtime story and craft time with favorite literary characters. This virtual event is free but pre-registration is required at scmuseum.org
Virtual At-Home Winter Break Camps, December 21 – 23 and December 28 – 31
Each day will feature a new topic as museum educators guide campers virtually through hands-on activities and lessons. Museum members get a discount. Pre-Registration is required, more information available at scmuseum.org
General admission to the State Museum is $8.95 for adults, $7.95 for Seniors and $6.95 for children (ages 3-12) and is free for museum members. Planetarium experiences, 4-D shows, and Virtual Camps are an additional charge. The museum is open 10 am to 5 pm from Tuesday through Saturday, 12 pm to 5 pm on Sunday and is closed on Monday. Due to the museum’s need to manage guest capacity, online advance ticket purchase is highly recommended at scmuseum.org.
The museum will be closed for the following dates due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays: Wednesday – Thursday, November 25 – 26 and Thursday – Friday, December 24 – 25.
