The best places to see 2020 holiday lights at homes and businesses near Charlotte
The holidays are upon us, even though it might not feel like it this year. It is so easy to go through the motions this season, but don’t let the chaos of 2020 keep you from getting a touch of holiday spirit.
Several places in and around Charlotte will be putting on light shows to bring some cheer this season, taking care to create additional COVID-19 safety measures that comply with CDC guidelines. Jaw-dropping lights displays aren’t just for businesses. Some area homeowners are channeling their inner Clark Griswold this year with homes you can see from space.
Take some time to grab the people you live with and spend a night admiring some of these holiday light shows:
Private homes offer photo-worthy displays
Charlotte
- Sherwood Forest Drive in Olde Providence South: The homeowners are collecting donations for Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Make sure to drive by with your window down so that you can hear the holiday music.
- Gaynelle Drive off of Hickory Grove Road: Inflatables fans should swing by by for a two-home front yard display entitled “Santa’s Inflate•a•land”.
- Middlebury Place in Idlewild Farms: Check out Santa in a camper on the roof of this house.
- Mallen Drive in Idlewild South: There are a few homes worth seeing on Mallen Drive, but the house with icicle and string lights dripping off the home and the trees is a can’t-miss.
- Eastover Road: We’ve seen a lot of cool inflatables this holiday season, but this house on Eastover Road may have the tallest ones we’ve seen yet. Don’t miss the train of gifts in the front yard, Santa’s sleigh on the roof or Mr. and Mrs. Claus waving from the balcony.
- Hampton Avenue near Queens University: Take a drive down this street behind Myers Park Methodist Church for a festive tree-lined holiday experience.
- 2311 Sanford Lane, Charlotte, with white lights framing the home, trees wreaths and garland, hearkening an elegant Christmas spirit.
Davidson
19009 Park Terrace Lane, Davidson. This dancing house grooves to the beat of the music along with the neighbors. “We’ve had such a great turnout and feedback — people have gotten out and danced to the music in the street, one lady said her 6-year-old son loved it so much and said ‘I wish there was no coronvirus so I could go in their house and hug them,” homeowner Becca Ridenhour emailed CharlotteFive.
Huntersville
- Cambridge Grove Drive, Huntersville: Bob Hlastala has turned his home into a full-on show (seriously, bring snacks), with lights dancing to the music of a private radio station that you play in your car. “I love this time of year,” he told CharlotteFive. “Everyone is a little nicer to each other. I wish Christmas was all year round.” While you’re there, don’t miss two other homes worth mentioning: a neighbor across the cul-de-sac has an impressive inflatables display and another one up the street features lights worth stopping for the ‘Gram.
MacAulay neighborhood, Huntersville: The MacAulay neighborhood offers an array of holiday lights displays. Park and walk around two homes on Carbert Lane. Then hop back in your car and drive by the homes on Hugh McAuley Road and Harvington Drive. Both homes have radio stations to go along with the dancing lights.
Landis
- West Rice Street at the corner of Meriah Street in Landis: Steven Zollars’ home is a 37-minute drive from uptown Charlotte but if you happen to be up that way after dark, swing by for a photo opp while you’re there.
Waxhaw
- Millbridge Parkway in Waxhaw: Drive through the bridge, lit up in lights, and see the individual homes at the 900+ acre Millbridge community.
Weddington
- Maple Valley Court in Lake Forest Preserve, Weddington: John Fyans said he and his neighbors worked together to create a multi-home holiday display that serves as a lights destination.
Which other homes should we visit to take photos of lights? Email us photos of your neighbor’s house (or yours!) to CharlotteFive@CharlotteFive.com for consideration.
Charlotte-area businesses with socially distanced lights displays
(1) Carowinds
What: Taste of the Season, an outdoor holiday celebration featuring tasty food, festive themed areas and live shows throughout the park. Lights displays will be around the park but won’t be to the same scale seen at previous Winterfest events.
Where: 300 Carowinds Blvd., Fort Mill, SC
When: Select days Nov. 21-Dec. 20
Cost: A bundle with three tastings is $39.99, and a bundle with 6 tastings is $54.99.
COVID-19 safety: All guests will need to make a reservation before attending to monitor the park’s capacity. Before entering, customers will use the touchless temperature screening and will be required to wear face coverings. Social distancing markers and hand sanitizer stations are also stationed throughout the park.
(2) Charlotte Motor Speedway
What: Speedway Christmas will be featuring a drive-through light show with about 4 million lights over 3.75-mile course, and this year’s display theme is North Pole. The Speedway has also added an ice rink and will continue to show holiday movies.
Where: 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Concord
When: Nov. 21-Jan. 17 (closed Christmas Day)
Cost: Until Christmas Eve, tickets cost $25 per car during weekdays and Sundays. On Friday and Saturdays, tickets cost $30 per car. Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 19, tickets will cost $25 per car on Thursday and Sunday and $30 per car on Friday and Saturday. Starting on Dec. 30, prices will drop to $20 per car Monday through Sunday.
COVID-19 safety: For this event, Charlotte Motor Speedway will be partnering with Count on Me NC, a public health initiative to help keep everyone safe from COVID-19. One of the best ways to social distance during this event is to simply stay in your car with the people you came with. If you wish to walk around, guests are required to wear a cloth face covering, other than while actively eating or drinking.
By completing a purchase of any kind, guests acknowledge and agree to the Notice of Risk and Policies waiver outlined on the website, which covers all COVID-19 protocols.
(3) Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
What: Holidays at the Garden is an event where people can walk through the garden and admire the holiday lights and blossoming cherry trees. The event will also feature food trucks, marshmallow stations and warm beverages.
Where: 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont
When: Nov. 27-Jan. 3, from 5-9 p.m.
Cost: Adult tickets are $14.95, senior tickets (60+) are $12.95 and children’s tickets are $7.95.
COVID-19 safety: This year’s event will be held on a smaller scale. There will not be an appearance from Santa or live music. For increased safety, staff and visitors are required to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors in the presence of other people.
(4) McAdenville
What: Christmas Town USA is a drive-through event that welcomes more than 500,000 visitors every December to the entire town of McAdenville, NC. This year, trees will be lit in the downtown area from the Pharr Family YMCA to the Spruced Goose Station.
Where: There are a few ways to get to McAdenville, depending on where you are coming from. From the Gastonia area, take NC Highway 7, U.S. Route 29-74 E or Interstate 85 N. From the Charlotte area, take U.S. Route 29/74 South and West or Interstate 85 South.
For more information on directions, take a look at the website.
When: Dec. 1- Dec. 26 from 5-10 p.m.
Cost: Free
COVID-19 safety: Because of COVID-19, there will not be refreshments or photo opportunities, and there will not be a tree lighting ceremony.
(5) Queen’s University’s Chanukah menorah street art murals
What: Eight artists in different cities are creating Chanukah menorah murals as part of a national Jewish streeet art effort. At Queens University, artist Mike Wirth painted a menorah in the shape of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissent collar. Each night, a different community leader paints a flame via Facebook Live.
Where: Queens University, on the front lawn to the right of the horseshoe driveway on Selwyn Avenue.
When: Each night of Chanukah, from Dec. 10-18.
(6) Stowe Park and Main Street, Belmont
What: Festival of Trees. Stowe Park and Main Street in Historic Downtown Belmont are lined with trees and other holiday decor. It’s the perfect place to take a chilly stroll.
Where: 24 S. Main Street, Belmont
Cost: Free
(7) Truist Field
What: Light the Knights and the Charlotte Christmas Village. This year, the Charlotte Knights has a new walkthrough experience, featuring tens of thousands of lights. Enjoy wandering through Christmas Tree Lane or the Snowtastic Winter Wonderland. At the end, you can wander into the Charlotte Christmas Village, with shopping from around the world and a European-style market featuring bratwursts, schnitzel and strudel; gluhwein, hot cider, beers and hot chocolate.
Where: 324 S. Mint Street
When: Thursdays-Sundays through December 23
Cost: $10, plus a $2 fee if purchasing online.
COVID-19 safety: Face coverings are required except when actively eating or drinking. The team asks guests to practice social distancing while enjoying the holiday display.
(8) U.S. National Whitewater Center
What: Each year, the U.S. National Whitewater Center showcases Lights, a half-mile walking trail of holiday lights, created by artist Meredith Connelly.
Where: 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy.
When: Now through February from 6-10 p.m.
Cost: Free; parking is $6 without a parking permit
COVID-19 safety: All guests and staff are reminded to wear face coverings and social distance from others whenever possible.
Rogelio Aranda contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 19, 2020 at 4:04 PM.
