Club Holiday Events Taking Place This Year at The Cliffs, Plus Regional Excursions with The Cliffs Outdoor Pursuits Team
Having the opportunity to spend the holiday season with family, friends, and loved ones is the greatest gift of all. With unforgettable holiday events, The Cliffs helps you create cherished memories all season long.
Now that the holiday season is just around the corner, it is the perfect time to begin planning your social events for the end of the year. We have compiled a list of events to look forward to at, and around, The Cliffs to help you get organized early on. Let’s look at what the holiday events for this year look like!
1. Holiday Hoopla & Tree Lighting | Friday, December 1
The Cliffs at Keowee Falls will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting event to kick off the holiday season. A magnificent Christmas display is created by carefully placing each ornament on the tree. During this family-friendly event, there will be a cocktail reception with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, followed by the tree lighting with special guests, Santa & Mrs. Claus. A la carte dining will include warm holiday beverages and tasty sweet treats.
2. Flotilla | Saturday, December 2
Why hang festive lights on your home when you can hang them on your boat? Members in The Lake Region congregate at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards for tthis annual event. This unique event brings members together over their love for holiday decorations, boating, and camaraderie. Boats and boat owners will decorate and parade with Christmas-themed lights, costumes, and music centered around the annual theme. This year – candy canes! The reception at the Lakehouse will welcome both spectators and boaters – with a popular hot chocolate bar and steak hibachi station, fried oysters, bang bang shrimp, and carved turkey sliders among other beverages and festive flavors. Take a look at last year’s event and get your candy cane decorations ready for this year!
3. Toys for Tots Holiday Celebration | Saturday, December 2
Giving back to those in need this holiday season is easy with Toys for Tots, a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve that aims to provide Christmas gifts to children whose families cannot afford them. Donations for the fundraising event can be made at The Cliffs Valley the week prior, so please stop by and support this worthwhile cause. Join us at the clubhouse as we celebrate everyone’s charitable donations and meet Santa.
4. Ugly Sweater Party | Wednesday, December 6
Nothing says the holidays like an ugly sweater Christmas party, with its colorful lights and festive garland. It is our pleasure to invite you to The Cliffs at Walnut Cove to savor food stations from around the world and live music sponsored by Cliffs Realty! Let’s grab our “ugliest” sweaters and head over to The Tavern for delicious Asian-, French-, Italian-, and Indian-inspired stations, drinks, and a good time.
5. Menorah Lighting at The Cabin | Thursday, December 7
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem. Join us at The Cliffs at Mountain Park for a la carte dinner reservations that will be available after the menorah lighting.
6. Holiday Classic Golf Tournament | Saturday, December 9
Get ready for a round of competitive golf this December at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. With its natural backdrop of streams, woodlands, and fields of farmland, this Jack Nicklaus-designed course offers a golfing experience unlike any other. Participants will be divided into two teams, team Naughty and team Nice. The captains of each team will create two-person teams that will play a tramble, match play format. Holiday attire is encouraged!
7. Santa Brunch | Sunday, December 10
Santa is coming to the Tavern at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove! Bring the whole family and enjoy a delicious brunch menu, gifts for the kids, and photos with Santa! Menu favorites include a waffle station, parfait bar, smoked salmon and smoked trout dip with bagels, and an assortment of baked goods and sweets.
8. Rudolph’s 4-Club Challenge | Monday, December 11
This holiday event at The Cliffs at Mountain Park features a scramble format with a twist! Golfers for each four-player team may only use four clubs plus their putter during this match and teammates cannot use each other’s clubs. The professional staff will also enter a team…do you think you can beat their score? We’ll also have some little elves out on the course to spread holiday cheer!
9. Couples 12 Holes of Christmas | Tuesday, December 12
On the 1st Hole of Christmas, my Golf Pros gave to me: a spirited couples game of golf at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards! This Tom Fazio signature course features eight holes on Lake Keowee shores and several more within the vineyards. During this unique 12-hole event, each hole will have a different format themed around the Christmas holiday. You can arrange your own foursome or request to be paired with another couple. Please register early to ensure your spot!
10. Feast of Seven Fishes | Saturday, December 9 at The Cliffs Valley and Saturday, December 16 at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards
These events will have an American-Italian theme and feature the history of seven fishes. On the eve of some holidays, including Christmas Eve, it is customary not to eat dairy or meat. Many times in the Bible, the number seven is repeated – and in Catholicism, there are seven sacraments. Fish dishes and other seafood are served at the Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes (Parta dei sette pesci). It is our chef’s pleasure to present both of these dinners to you and to serve Italian wine at each dinner. Some dishes to look forward to are courses with caviar, salt cod brandade, anchovy, octopus, and halibut. Salute!
11. National Gingerbread House Display Competition | Thursday, December 14
Join The Cliffs Outdoor Pursuits Team for a trip to The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC to view the 29th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition. The competition began with a small group of gingerbread houses built by community members in 1992 to celebrate the holiday season and grew into one of the nation’s most celebrated and competitive holiday events. The panel of judges represents nationally renowned food, arts, and media professionals and the competition has merited broadcast coverage by NBC, TODAY show, ABC, Good Morning America, the Travel Channel, and the Food Network. It has become a true family holiday tradition and a magical experience.
12. Polar Bear Open | Friday, December 15
At The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, cross-country golf is played backwards! A “backwards” hole is played from the tee box of one hole backwards to the green of the previous hole. At The Cliffs, this event consists of a four-person scramble over 12 holes.
Two types of courses are available, a fun course and a Polar Bear course. Designed for our novice or beginner players, the fun course consists of more par threes and short holes. On the other hand, the Polar Bear course provides players with a much longer, more challenging, and more creative experience! Take part in some of the thrilling end-of-season holiday events and experience the golf course from an entirely new perspective.
While at Keowee Springs, be sure to stop by the new Clubhouse!
13. Holiday Cookie Workshop | Saturday, December 16
Indulge your sweet tooth at The Cliffs at Glassy where local cookie artist, Elizabeth Guettler, with Liz Made Cookies of Greenville, will be leading a cookie decorating class! Liz & her assistant will take you step-by-step on how to decorate fun, holiday-themed cookies.
14. Ski Sugar Mountain | Monday, December 18
Come play in the snow with The Cliffs Outdoor Pursuits Team at Sugar Mountain! This resort has the longest runs in all of North Carolina (1200’ vertical drop), and recently received a new, high-speed lift, which means more descending and less waiting in the lift-line. You won’t want to miss this trip to the slopes!
15. The Biltmore Estate “Christmas at Biltmore” Trip | Tuesday, December 19
Venture with The Cliffs Outdoor Pursuits Team to Asheville, NC as they head up to The Biltmore Estate to enjoy “Christmas at Biltmore” when America’s largest home – and the entire estate – are at their most enchanting. Participants will enjoy a local dinner prior to making their way to the estate to awe the candlelit beauty. A majestic Norway spruce and pathway luminaries welcome you to America’s Largest Home®. Inside, thousands of ornaments reflect the soft glow of candles, fireplaces, and twinkle lights. The magic continues in Antler Hill Village, adorned with glittering lights, ornaments, and displays. Members may bring their family, enjoy the evening romantically, or experience the beauty with the entire group as all enjoy this local treasure.
16. Home for the Holidays | Saturday, December 24
For members who are not traveling during the holiday season and will be staying at The Cliffs, we offer a Home for the Holidays menu for Christmas Eve. Turkey, ham, beef tenderloin, and other proteins are available in a variety of forms, each priced per pound. This also includes side dishes such as vegetables and casseroles, as well as gravy, rolls, sauces, and pies. If you would like to learn more about the services offered by your club, please contact your member services department.
17. New Year’s Eve Celebration | Saturday, December 31
In 2024, we can all look forward to new beginnings -– and what better way to ring in the New Year than with your friends and family at The Cliffs! As part of this year’s celebration, we will be at 6 communities: The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, The Cliffs Valley, The Cliffs at Glassy, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, and The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards.
Seasonal Fun Awaits at The Cliffs
Our team at The Cliffs hosts a number of private holiday events throughout the year at our clubhouses and private venues. Whether it is competitive tennis and golf tournaments or themed dinners, there is always something happening at The Cliffs.
Take part in the fun year-round by contacting our Real Estate Sales Team. As they walk you through our seven premier communities, they will answer any questions you may have. Upon completion of the initial consultation, a tour will be scheduled to assist you in selecting the most suitable community for your lifestyle. Now is the time to begin your new life at The Cliffs. Click below to get started.
