Santee Cooper’s Celebrate the Season, the monthlong charitable holiday festival, is back with all the splendor and cheer guests have come to expect. Presented by Berkeley Electric Cooperative, the colorful Holiday Lights Driving Tour and accompanying Weekend Holiday Fairs are affordable, wholesome fun for the entire family.

The mile-long Holiday Lights Driving Tour beginning at Santee Cooper headquarters features thousands of energy efficient LED lights in dozens of twinkling displays powered by their Green Power Program. Admiring all that beauty costs a mere $5 per vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers inside, and all proceeds benefit local charities.

Finished the tour? The fun is not over. Dive deeper into the spirit of the season by eating, drinking and being merry with friends, neighbors and Santa Claus at the Weekend Holiday Fairs held at the Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex. Admission is free so there’s no reason not to go but plenty of good ones to make your way over. Here are just a few:

Craft Fair

Everybody has that one friend or relative who’s so hard to shop for. Support local artisans at a craft fair with merchandise available for purchase. These are unique gifts you won’t find at the mall, and recipients will appreciate the thought put into something special.

Santa Pictures

Santa Claus is awfully busy this time of the year, but all month long he’s carving out time in his schedule for appearances at the fair to meet and greet youngsters. What a great time to take those pictures and create cherished family memories for years to come.

Children‘s Rides

Youngsters will love taking advantage of the fair-like atmosphere with rides and other fun activities like roasting marshmallows. Plus, while meeting Santa, they can sit in his lap and go over their wish list with him.

Benefits Charity

Feel good by doing good. Your participation helps those in need. Celebrate the Season is organized by Santee Cooper, Old Santee Canal Park and the Town of Moncks Corner and serves the community by raising money for Berkeley County charities—more than $750,000 since 2011. Come hungry because community charities will be selling food and drinks, with proceeds benefitting their organizations.

The driving tour is open seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 23 to Dec. 30, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Enter at Santee Cooper headquarters, One Riverwood Dr., Moncks Corner. Admission is $5 per vehicle, good for multiple loops on the date of purchase.

Admission to the Weekend Holiday Fairs is free. On Dec. 1 only, the fair begins at 4 p.m. Hours are 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 and for the next three weekends, Dec. 7-9, Dec. 14-16 and Dec. 21-23 at Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex, 418 E. Main St., Town of Moncks Corner.

Please leave family pets at home, unless they’re flying reindeer—in which case, Santa may have a job for them.

For more information, call Old Santee Canal Park, (843) 899-5200.