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.)
Santa at SouthPark Mall
Location: 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
When: Nov. 7-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.
Southern Christmas Show
Location: The Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
When: Nov. 14-24.
Visit more than 400 vendors at one place at the annual Southern Christmas Show, happening at The Park Expo and Conference Center. Browse through three halls of gifts, décor, gourmet goodies and much more while you enjoy holiday music.
Cost: $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12 at the door. You can also get them online through Nov. 13 for $18 or $20 afterward; and at participating Harris Teeter stores for $16 with a VIC card through the end of the show. Parking is $10, or you can valet for $20 cash.
Winter at Whitewater
Location: US National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28214
When: Canyon at Night, ice skating and more run mid-November to 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.
Ice Skating at Camp North Pole
Location: Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
When: Nov. 22-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.
Speedway Christmas
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway, Concord, NC 28027
When: Nov. 22-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:
Nov. 22-24: “The Muppet Christmas Carol”
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Dec. 5-8: “White Christmas”
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.
U City Lights
Location: The Shoppes at University Place, 8931 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262
When: Nov. 23. 1, 4-8 p.m.
At U City Lights, guests can engage in a group painting experience, ride the train, listen to Mrs. Claus tell stories, meet holiday characters and give Santa their wish lists while enjoying live performances. The lighting of a 22-foot tree will take place at 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Light the Knights
Location: 324 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202
When: Nov. 27-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.
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade
Location: From 9th Street to Good Samaritan Way along Tryon Street.
When: Nov. 27, 5:45 p.m., rain or shine
Watch balloons float through the sky and colorful floats drive by while musicians, dance groups and others entertain at the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade. The parade will also air live on WCCB at 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Holidays at the Garden
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC
When: Nov. 29-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.
McAdenville Christmas
Location: 102 Main St., McAdenville, NC 28101
When: Dec. 2-26, 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
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Location: Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277
When: Dec. 5-29, nightly
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.
Mistletoe Market
Location: Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
When: Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 from 3-8 p.m.
Shop, eat, drink and be merry at Mistletoe Market events on the first three Saturdays of December. There will also be a holiday pop-up shop curated by Vintage Charlotte in addition to vintage blow mold penguins you can take pictures with throughout the site.
Cost: Free
