The holidays are here. Festive events, light displays and more are on tap in Charlotte.
We’re here for holiday cheer — and all the fun things that come along with this time of year in Charlotte.
Visits with Santa, light displays, holiday markets and all sorts of activities are cranking into gear as we speed ahead toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
Listed in this guide to seasonal events are plenty of ways to get in the holiday spirit in the Charlotte area. (Make sure to watch this space, too — we’ll keep updating it with more events through the rest of the year as more details become available.)
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Location: Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277
When: Now-Dec. 29, nightly
Update: Due to inclement weather expected on Dec. 29, the last day of the Light Spectacular will be canceled. Tickets for Dec. 29 will be honored on Dec. 27 and 28 instead.
At the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular, walk through a half-mile outdoor trail filled with over a million illuminated lights and festive holiday scenes, plus music. You’ll also find a live Santa every night through Dec. 23, ballerinas and other performers on select nights, plus a Holiday Village offering shopping and food trucks.
Add-on experiences include:
- The Alpine Avalanche Snow Tube Slide, with unlimited slides ($12)
- A Snowflake Wand that you can use throughout the event to interact with some of the scenes ($20)
Cost: Ticket prices start at $10 per person for Monday-Thursday and $20 for Friday-Sunday. VIP admission starts at $39 and includes a souvenir hot chocolate mug with bottomless hot chocolate during the event, access to the VIP Lodge & Bar, along with VIP restrooms, and a special VIP entrance line.
Carowinds Winterfest
Location: 300 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
When: Select days now through Sunday, Jan. 1
Immersive yourself in twinkling lights at Carowinds, which is all decked out for the holidays. Ice skating is available, along with carolers, specialty shops and live shows, plus rollercoasters and Santa sightings. There’s also a nightly parade.
Cost: Tickets start at $37.99. Order online.
Holidays at the Garden
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC
When: Now-Dec. 29, Tuesday through Sunday from 5-10 p.m.
You can wander through Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, transformed with millions of twinkling lights, while you snack on seasonal treats and sip hot beverages.
New items this year are:
- Rides on the holiday train every Friday
- Visits with Santa on Saturdays and Sundays after Dec. 1
- An adults-only speakeasy with holiday cocktails ($5 cover charge)
Cost: Tuesday-Thursday, adults are $24+; 60 and over are $22+; children 2-12 are $18+ tax and children under 2 are free. Friday-Sunday, adults are $28+; 60 and over are $25+; children 2-12 are 20+ tax and children under 2 are free. Members receive a 20% discount.
Holiday Laugh and Lights Tour
Location: Funny Bus, 301 E. 7th St, Charlotte NC 28202
When: Now-Dec. 28
The Grinch is hosting 90-minute Holiday Laugh and Lights tours, which give a comedic look at some of Charlotte’s historic sites and holiday-decorated streets. Guests can bring beer or wine on the adults-only tour, but not food or hard liquor. Private tours with the Grinch are available, too.
Cost: $35 per person
Ice Skating at Camp North Pole
Location: Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
When: Now-Jan. 5 with hours Monday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-9 p.m. Closures can be expected during inclement weather.
Holiday hours: Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 27-Nov. 30, noon-10 p.m. daily Winter Break: Dec. 22-Jan. 3,noon-10 p.m. daily Christmas Eve: Dec. 24, noon-5 p.m.
Ice skate at Camp North End’s Camp North Pole, then wander into The Ford Factory, which will be decorated as a cozy chalet. NoDa Company Canteen will offer seasonal drinks and snacks.
Cost: Walk-up tickets only. General admission is $15 per person, with children 5 and under $10. Skate rentals are included in the price of admission, but guests can use their own skates.
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Light the Knights
Location: 324 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202
When: Now-Jan. 3, with hours varying
Light the Knights will fill Truist Field with a winter wonderland of ice skating, snow tubing, holiday shopping in The Market, Christmas decorations and lights.
Cost: $14.37 for general admission or $44.40 for an all-activities pass.
McAdenville Christmas
Location: 102 Main St., McAdenville, NC 28101
When: Now-Dec. 26, with the Yule Log parade Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
McAdenville’s annual tree lighting ceremony will start Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m., with the switch being pulled to begin the Christmas Town USA season. The annual Yule Log ceremony will take place Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Pharr Corporate Office, 100 Main St., McAdenville, NC 28101. A two-block parade will end at Legacy Park with the lighting of the Yule Log.
Cost: Free
Santa at Charlotte Premium Outlets
Location: 5404 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, NC 28278
When: Now-Dec. 24
Santa will set up shop for the season on Black Friday at Charlotte Premium Outlets. Photos will be available daily inside the Market Hall food court, but reservations are encouraged. There’s also a Crafts with Santa event on Dec. 7 from noon-3 p.m.
Santa at SouthPark Mall
Location: 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
When: Now-Dec. 24
See Santa at SouthPark and get professional photos taken. Other events will take place nearby throughout the holiday season, including:
- Pet Photos – Sunday, Dec. 1 from 6:30-8 p.m.
- Caring Santa for a private, sensory-friendly photo experience – Sunday, Dec. 8 from 9-10:30 a.m.
Cost: Varies, with required reservations for Santa photos.
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Location: Bass Pro Shop, 8181 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
Location: Cabela’s, 1000 Cabelas Dr, Fort Mill, SC 29708
When: Now-Dec. 24, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Reservations are available.
Celebrate Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s for a winter experience including Santa photo opportunities.
Cost: Free
Speedway Christmas
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway, Concord, NC 28027
When: Now-Jan. 5, open 6-10 p.m., rain or shine. (Closed Dec. 24)
What: Speedway Christmas illuminates nearly 5 million lights across a 4-mile course, with hundreds of creative displays and lights synchronized to holiday tunes. The infield Christmas Village is open Thursday-Sunday nights, with attractions including:
- photos with Santa
- merchandise vendors
- food and beverages
- fire pits for roasting s’mores.
The Cook Out Tubing Hill will be open every Thursday through Sunday from 6-10 p.m., with four 250-foot lanes. It’s $20 or $15 for kids 12 and under.
When the infield is open, Queen City News will host movie nights:
Dec. 12-17: “Elf”
Dec. 18-23: “Polar Express”
Dec. 26-29: “Home Alone”
Cost: Tickets for a car pass start at $35 Monday-Wednesday and $45 Thursday-Sunday with a maximum of 15 passengers. For $75, guests can skip the line and use the Express Lane at Entrance P off of Morehead Road. Purchase online.
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VTGCLT Pop
Location: Camp North End, 301 Camp Road, Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28206
When: Now open daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Dec. 23
VTGCLT Pop showcases handmade and vintage wares from more 90 local and regional creatives and vendors at Camp North End.
Cost: Free admission
Winter at Whitewater
Location: US National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28214
When: Now through mid-February
Winter at Whitewater encompasses multiple experiences, including an illuminated Winter Trail, ice skating, cask curling, nighttime canyon activities and a winter market where you can purchase Christmas trees.
Cost: No pass is required for the Winter Trail. Activities you can participate in with a $25 activities pass include ice skating. Tree prices will vary.
Birkdale Village menorah lighting
Location: Birkdale Village, 8712 Lindholm Dr #202, Huntersville, NC
When: Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m.
Lake Norman’s Jewish community will join in on a public Hanukkah celebration at Birkdale Village. This free event will feature the lighting of a giant Menorah, festive Hanukkah music, family friendly crafts and activities, hot drinks and a selection of latkes and doughnuts.
Cost: Free
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
