Museum News
Áróra & Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D Return to the State Museum
Áróra & Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D Return to the State Museum. Plus, holiday events and more!
This holiday season, guests are invited to visit the South Carolina State Museum to explore the beauty of the Northern Lights in the planetarium experience Áróra, see the returning holiday favorite Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D, and enjoy special events, shopping opportunities and more.
Lighting up the museum’s holiday season for another year, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D, returns with visually brilliant, high-definition 3-D and immersive effects such as wind and snow! Showing November 1 through December 31, 2024, in the museum’s 4D theater, this 10-minute show features the same stop-motion animation as the beloved television classic. 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.
Returning on November 1, Aróra, is an immersive planetarium experience which takes guests across remote Icelandic landscapes and into space to find and understand the mystical, eerie displays of color known as the aurora borealis.
Guests are also invited to explore the museum after-hours during the Holiday Planetarium Lighting on Thursday, December 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. In addition to extended hours, this special evening will feature holiday shows in the museum’s 4D theater and planetarium, extra shopping time in the Museum Store, a special light-up reindeer hat activity, night-sky observing (weather permitting) and an opportunity to meet Santa. At the end of the evening, the museum will officially ‘light’ the planetarium dome for the holidays with the help of our partners at Ambient Media: Event Lighting, Sound and Displays. The dome will light up every night after dark throughout December.
Santa Claus will also be visiting the State Museum on Santa Saturdays in December. He will be on hand to hear holiday wishes and take photos with guests on December 7, 14, and 21st from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. In addition, a special Accessibility Morning will be held with Santa on December 14 from 9-11 a.m. Guests are welcome to take pictures with Santa with their own personal phones or cameras at no extra charge.
Full List of Shows and Events This Holiday Season
Shows:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D
Showing November 1 through December 31
Enjoy the classic stop-motion animated story that has charmed audiences for generations with added 3D visuals and interactive effects. Join Rudolph, Hermey the Elf and their friends on this epic adventure. This 10-minute 4D experience will be showing daily through December 31 in the Rev. Dr. Solomon Jackson, Jr 4D Theater.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer © & ® or ™ The Rudolph Co., L.P. All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.
Showing November 1 through February 28, 2025
Experience the beauty of the Northern Lights in this immersive cinematic journey that takes guests across Iceland and into space to explore these mysterious lights. Witness the beauty of the aurora borealis in 4K resolution, see how these lights are visible on other planets and moons, and learn how communities across the world have incorporated the aurora into their folktales and mythology.
New 4D Show! Coastal Predators: A 4D Experience
Starts Dec. 26!
It is the greatest gathering of ocean predators on the planet. Dolphins, sharks, whales and seals converge to feast along the breathtaking South African coast for an astonishing underwater Armageddon. Stunning visuals and high-octane action with 4-D effects bring this great spectacle to life as you dive into this feeding frenzy of epic proportions.
Events:
Saturday, November 9 and December 14 from 9– 11 a.m.
The museum invites its guests who are neurodiverse, autistic or have other disabilities to experience the museum at their own pace. This monthly program provides free access to the museum and other special activities, including sensory-friendly showings in the museum’s planetarium and 4D theater and meet-and-greets with beloved literary characters, with The Very Hungry Caterpillar visiting on Nov. 9 and Santa and The Grinch visiting on Dec. 14. Online pre-registration is encouraged at scmuseum.org.
Harvesting Heritage: Black Appalachia
Sat., Nov. 16 from 6 – 8:30 p.m.
This event will showcase the music, church traditions and foodways of the Blue Ridge Mountains and will feature South Carolina Sunday dinner specialties like chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and dinner rolls, alongside Bake Your Mark’s specialty bread pudding made especially for the event.
Saturday, November 23 and December 14
Members can enjoy an extra 10% off purchases, for a total of 20% off, in the museum store, The Cotton Mill Exchange.
Thursday, December 5 from 4 – 7 p.m.
The museum will offer extended hours with evening 4-D and planetarium showtimes, extra shopping time in the Cotton Mill Exchange, a craft activity, night sky observing (weather permitting) and more during this special event sponsored by Cool Care. 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.
Saturday, December 7, 14 and 21 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Santa Claus will make a special visit to the museum to see children and families and hear their wishes for the holiday season.
Friday, Dec. 13, from 6 – 9 p.m.
State Museum members are invited to an exclusive holiday PJ party, sponsored by Cool Care, featuring showings of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D, a planetarium experience, hands-on crafts and a Best PJs Contest.
General admission to the South Carolina State Museum is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, and kids aged 3-12 are $10. Infants 2 and under are free. Tickets to planetarium experiences and 4D shows are an additional charge. The museum is open Tues. - Sat. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sun. from Noon – 5 p.m. The museum is closed Nov. 28 and 29 for Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25 for Christmas and Jan. 1, 2025 for New Year’s Day.