Anyone who has driven between Bluffton and Hardeeville on SC 46 knows the barn. It stands near where May River Road meets SC 170, and for years it was a landmark people passed without stopping. The Town of Bluffton bought the 37-acre parcel around it from Palmetto Bluff, and the deal closed on December 31, 2018. The park opened with a ribbon cutting on February 22, 2025. Bluffton Today reported that the barn and lawn would open for events starting in February 2026.
This December, that barn is the second center of Bluffton's holidays. The Town's 2026 holiday release describes the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting weekend as the start of "a month of holiday events." Only the first weekend of that month happens in the Historic District. The skating rink, the craft fair, the ballet and one of Santa's three stops are all at New Riverside. If you only go to Old Town, you'll catch the opening weekend and miss most of the season.
Three Days in Old Town, December 3 Through 5
The opening weekend keeps the shape Bluffton has used for years, with a new movie on Friday night.
- Thursday, Dec. 3: Jingle Stroll. The Old Town Bluffton Merchants Society holds its Jingle Stroll from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. It's the latest-running event of the weekend, and it gets the shops into the holiday weekend a day before the Town's events begin.
- Friday, Dec. 4: Tree Lighting. The ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. at Martin Family Park. Next, families can visit Santa's Workshop at the DuBois Park pavilion before a 6:30 p.m. outdoor showing of "The Muppet Christmas Carol."
- Saturday, Dec. 5: the 55th annual Christmas Parade. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. and winds through the Historic District.
Last year's 54th parade weekend followed the same schedule, with the tree lighting at Martin Family Park, Santa at the DuBois Park pavilion and a 6:30 p.m. film. Bluffton Today's 2025 recap says that film was "Arthur Christmas," and the parade aired on Beaufort County TV. The Old Town weekend is built to repeat from year to year. The new events come later in the month.
Parade rules for spectators
The Town's 2026 parade guidelines include a few rules that affect people watching from the curb:
- No thrown candy. Floats and vehicles can't throw candy or other items. Walkers next to an entry may hand candy directly to spectators, and spectators must stay out of the roadway.
- Rain or shine. Both the tree lighting and the parade go on rain or shine. The Town cancels only if conditions are unsafe, and a canceled parade won't be rescheduled.
- A capped lineup. The parade is limited to 125 entries, accepted first come, first served. The application deadline was Nov. 13.
The parade has no entry fee. The Town encourages participants to donate to the Mayor's Stay Safe, Bluffton! Scholarship Fund instead. The fund pays for scholarships for Bluffton students and supports the Town's safe-driving campaign. The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry manages it, and anyone can give, not only parade entrants.
The Barn That Hosts Most of December
New Riverside Barn Park covers 37 acres at the intersection of May River Road and Okatie Highway. The barn is at 30 Red Barn Drive, and the lawn and music pavilion are next door at 38 Red Barn Drive.
The Town started work on the park in July 2019. Inside, the barn holds up to 200 guests under high ceilings and wagon wheel chandeliers. It has a full caterer's kitchen, indoor restrooms and its own lighting and sound system. Outside are a porch and a courtyard with a fire pit. Those features matter in December. The Nutcracker and Santa's visit happen at the barn, while the ice rink and craft fair run on the lawn and use the open space.
The park was already hosting Town events before the barn opened for bookings. Bluffton Today reported that the 2025 Bunny Bonanza took place there, with Easter Bunny photos and a showing of "Hop." This December puts more Town events at the park than any season covered in that 2025 recap.
Ten Days at New Riverside
The Town's release lists four December events after the parade weekend. Three are at New Riverside.
| Date | Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec. 11 | Santa's Tour stop | New Riverside Barn | 4–7 p.m. |
| Fri, Dec. 11 – Sun, Dec. 20 | Bluffton on Ice | New Riverside Event Lawn | While the rink is open |
| Sun, Dec. 13 | Merry & Made Holiday Craft Fair | New Riverside Event Lawn | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Thu, Dec. 17 | Santa's Tour stop | Town Welcome Center | 4–7 p.m. |
| Sat, Dec. 19 | The Nutcracker and Sugar Plum Fairy's Sweet Soirée | New Riverside Barn | 5–7 p.m. |
The busiest stretch is Dec. 11 through 13. The rink opens and Santa is at the barn on the same Friday, and the craft fair fills the lawn two days later.
Bluffton on Ice is free outdoor skating on synthetic ice, with borrowed skates in all sizes. Food trucks are on site whenever the rink is open. It runs for ten days, so it's the easiest event to fit into a weekday evening or a visit from family home for the holidays. Check daily rink hours on the Town's site at townofbluffton.sc.gov before you go.
The Merry & Made Holiday Craft Fair on Sunday, Dec. 13 brings local vendors with handmade crafts to the event lawn from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's in the middle of the rink's run, so you can skate and shop on the same visit.
The Nutcracker and Sugar Plum Fairy's Sweet Soirée on Saturday, Dec. 19 is the last event on the Town's list. Okatie Youth Ballet performs selected scenes from "The Nutcracker" from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by an hour of photos with the ballerinas and light refreshments. Bring chairs or blankets. The event echoes "Brunch and Ballet in the Park," a youth ballet event with breakfast food trucks that the Town added to its 2025 calendar.
Dinner Near the Rink
New Riverside Village has a new restaurant this fall. Cafe Al Dente held a soft opening for its New Riverside location on October 1, 2026, at 303 Parkside Commons, Suite 103, according to Eat It and Like It. The restaurant's own site lists that address with dinner and brunch hours. On a night when Santa is at the barn or the rink is open, it's a sit-down dinner within a short drive, with no need to head back toward Calhoun Street.
Santa's Last Stop Is Back on Calhoun Street
Santa's Tour has three stops in December, and they move with the season. The first is the Dec. 4 tree lighting in Old Town. The second is New Riverside Barn on Dec. 11. The third is the Town of Bluffton Welcome Center at 111 Calhoun St. on Thursday, Dec. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Dec. 17 visit is the only Santa stop that isn't part of a larger event. It's also the one closest to Old Town's shops in the last full week before Christmas.
In Old Town, the Jingle Stroll is Dec. 3, the tree lighting is Dec. 4 and the parade is Dec. 5. At New Riverside, the rink runs Dec. 11 through 20, the craft fair is Dec. 13 and the ballet is Dec. 19. Santa's last stop is at the Welcome Center on Dec. 17. The Town posts updates and full schedules at townofbluffton.sc.gov.
At Thomas Kersey, we keep track of how Bluffton is changing, from the parade route in the Historic District to the park on SC 46. If you're hosting family this December, or you'd like to talk about how the New Riverside side of Bluffton is developing, we'd be glad to share what we know. Get a Private Consultation.
