The holiday season is finally here and I love that Charlotte has so many family-friendly Christmas and Holiday activity options! To help you plan out the holiday season with your family, I’ve put together a full comprehensive list of all the holiday activities, events, shows, where to see Santa, and Hanukkah celebrations in the Charlotte area. Each title is clickable and will take you to the website for that specific activity so you can get more information.
Many of these activities get very busy so I recommend going early in the season or a weeknight to avoid lines and crowds if possible.
Make sure to follow along on Instagram for detailed posts and videos about many of these activities throughout the season.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
Carowinds Winterfest
Carowinds theme park is transformed into a winter wonderland with holiday live music, festive food, ice skating, holiday activities and tons of amazing lights displays. Select family rides are open including a few rollercoasters, most of the Camp Snoopy kids rides, and many of the carnival style rides.
We go every year and this is one of my favorite holiday activities in Charlotte. They do such a great job and it’s fun for a wide range of ages. Go early to avoid crowds and make the most of the visit before bedtime.
Where: Carowinds Theme Park
When: Select Days Nov. 17th – Jan. 1st 2024. Hours vary based on the day.
Price: Free for season pass holders or $32.99 for single day adult ticket and $19.99 for kids.
Speedway Christmas Lights
This is a drive-through light show inside of Charlotte Motor Speedway featuring more than 4 million lights that includes most of the speedway as well as the infield. The infield Christmas Village is back this year and open Thursday-Sunday nights. The village offers shopping, photos with Santa, food vendors, a few rides, fire pits, and indoor movies. Plan for about 45 min – 1 hour inside the speedway (not including the village).
Lines can get long for this one so it’s best to go on weeknights and get up there early to be at the start of the line. You can also buy a fast pass which will greatly reduce waiting. Tickets can be advanced tickets or bought at the gate.
Pro tip: Go early (in line by 5:30pm) and grab some fast food to eat in the car while you wait. Also bring a few treats to offer in the car if your kids get a little restless. Make sure to have kids use the restrooms before entering the speedway.
Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway
When: Nov. 17th – January 7th. Closed Dec. 24th
Time: Monday-Sunday 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Price: $35-$40 depending on the day of the week. Check out their website for more pricing. Fast Passes are now offered at $75 per vehicle and that allows you to skip the line.
Light the Knights Festival
The Light the Knights Festival is a walkthrough holiday experience at Truist Field in Uptown. You’ll walk through the lights displays at the ballpark which includes food and drinks, live entertainment, a market and Santa. On the field there is Ice Skating and Snow Tubing. This year they’ll have 10 snow tubing lanes helping to make this activity move faster and have shorter lines. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the stadium box office.
Personal bags are allowed within the size limit of 9X14X14 inches; all bags will be checked at the main gates. Strollers are allowed.
This is one of our favorite events each year and it’s a great for a wide variety of ages. The walk through lights in the concourse are especially great for toddlers and preschoolers.
Where: Truist Field Uptown
When: Nov. 22nd- Jan. 1st. Hours vary each day.
Cost: $10 per person for admission for walk through lights and market only. All access day pass for $40 which includes snow tubing and ice skating. You can also buy season passes. Children 3 and under are free.
Holiday Light Spectacular at Ballantyne’s Backyard
This is a walk-through holiday lights experience with over a million lights and displays on the half-mike walking trail. This year there will be 40% more show area and the paths will be even more stroller friendly. In addition to the lights they have an Alpine Snow Tube Slide, holiday village, face painting, and bounce houses. There will also be a Santa onsite through 12/23.
We really enjoyed this event last year and can’t wait to go back again!
Where: Ballantyne’s Backyard
When: Dec. 12th – 31st. 5:00pm-10:00pm daily. Also open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve.
Price: Pricing ranges from $15-$25 depending on the day of the week. Children under 3 are free. Parking is free.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Lights
Stroll through the garden and view their amazing Christmas light displays set to festive music. They also have food trucks, roasting marshmallow stations, and warm or cold beverage options.
We’ve done this one several times and always have a great time! It’s usually not very crowded so you can move at your pace – its a nice stress free activity option.
Where: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden about 30 minutes from uptown near Belmont, NC
When: Nov. 24th – Dec. 23rd, 5-10pm
Price: Adult: $25; Senior: $23, Child 2-12: $15; Child Under 2: Free. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Member receive 25% off.
Southern Christmas Show
This is the largest holiday show in North America with over 400 vendors! You can shop for gifts, treats, holiday décor, gourmet goodies and much more. There are also wine tastings, food vendors, periodic performances, and photos with Santa. You can easily spend hours shopping so be sure to plan enough time for your visit. There are many vendors that offer nice personalized gifts that can be done the same day which I really liked. Many of these are perfect for Grandparent Christmas presents. The event is mostly centered around shopping so if your kids won’t enjoy that then I would recommend making this an adults only outing.
When: Nov. 9th- 19th
Where: Park Expo Center
Price: General admission is $18 for ages 13 and up, $6 for kids ages 6-12, kids 5 yrs and under are free. Parking is $10.
White Water Center Ice Skating and Lights
The ice rink has grown to 24,000 sq ft and includes four distinct skating areas, including two ice trails and two free skate zones. There is also an on-ice Airstream serving hot and cold beverages. I like the separated skate areas which make it easier to go at your own pace.
Experience a new take on the Canyon with illuminated, night-activities. Traverse spans of wooded canyon via a series of suspension bridges, ziplines and accompanying rope bridges. Activity Pass & Reservation Required – can be purchased in advance or on site.
Also new is the Canyon Night Trail. Explore the woods at night with a walking trail featuring obstacles, play structures and discoveries for all ages. No pass or reservation required.
Available beginning November 17.
Where: White Water Center
When: Nov 17th – Mid. Feb
Price for skating: $25 for single activity skating pass. Lights walking trail is free. Parking is $12.
Gingerbread Lane Ballantyne Hotel
The Ballantyne Hotel holds a Gingerbread house contest each year and the houses are on display at the hotel. The public is allowed to come and view their work and vote for your favorite. Hot Cocoa is available to purchase at the Gingerbread hut open daily from 11am-7pm. Stop by Stream Park after visiting Gingerbread Lane which is right behind the hotel.
Holiday Tea is available Thursday – Sunday from 1-4pm. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel.
Where: The Ballantyne Hotel
When: December 11th-Dec. 24th
Price: Free but donations are appreciated which go to Levine Children’s Hospital
McAdenville “Christmas Town” Lights
For more than 60 years the Christmas lights display in this small town just west of Charlotte has drawn huge crowds. All of the houses in the town are decorated in lights as well as many other large light displays across the town. You can drive through to view the lights or park and walk through the town.
Tips: There can be really long lines to get into the town so going during the week is ideal or going as early as possible. Saturdays and Sundays can bring tons of traffic which means lots of waiting in your car to get into the town. If you wait to long for this one I feel it loses it’s magic so it’s best for plan to go during the week or very early if you must go on the weekend.
Where: McAdenville, NC
When: December 1st-December 26th, 5:30pm-10:00pm nightly
Christmas at Billy Graham Library
During the Christmas season the library offers a live nativity with petting zoo, horse-drawn carriage rides, story time, and Christmas carolers.
Tips: Generally, crowds are smaller in the beginning days of December, and a weekday visit may be less crowded. Plan for a significant wait for all activities on Friday and Saturday. Christmas-only events start at 5 p.m. and require a reservation.
Where: Billy Graham Library – 4330 Westmont Drive Charlotte, NC
When: Dec. 1st – 23rd. Mon-Thurs = 5-9pm and Sat and Sun = 5-10pm.
Price: Free but reservations are required. Carriage rides require a separate reservation.
Kannapolis Celebration of lights and Winterland Express
The Celebration of Lights includes thousands of Christmas lights, holiday displays, and the Kannapolis Singing Bears. Adults and children can take a ride on the Winterland Express and take a spin on the double decker carousel. Area choirs and school groups will perform on select evenings between 6 and 8 pm. We are trying this for the first time this year and I can’t wait!
When: Nov. 18th – Dec. 30th from 6-9pm.
Price: Free entry. Must make advanced reservations for train ride – tickets are $2 per person.
Olde Meck Brewery Christmas Market
They transform their biergarten into a German-style Christmas Village with traditional huts for shopping, holiday music, tons of lights, Gluhwein, hot cocoa, and festive food. Santa will make an appearances and those dates and times are listed on the website.
Where: Olde Meck Brewery
When: Nov. 24th-Dec. 17th on the weekends
Festival of Trees Belmont
Downtown Belmont and Stowe Park are filled with a display of festive trees for everyone to enjoy throughout the season. Enjoy the playground at Stowe Park when you visit.
Where: Downtown Belmont/Stowe Park
When: Nov. 27th-Jan.1st
Price: Free!
Mistletoe Market at Camp North End
Eat, drink and shop local vendors throughout the campus, where all three districts feature festive decorations and photo opportunities. Head into the Ford Building for hot chocolate, snacks and a family-friendly movie. Also enjoy ice skating for the first time this year!
Where: Camp North End in Noda
When: Dec. 2nd, 9th, and 16th
Pirates Christmas Lights Display at High Seas Miniature Golf
High Seas Mini Golf is a pirate and nautical themed miniature golf course in Indian Land. At the holidays they transform the course into a wonderful holiday attraction with 300,000 lights.
Where: 10001 Charlotte Highway, Indian Land, South Carolina, will again transform into Pirates Christmas for the 2023 holiday season.
When: Begins Friday, Nov. 17th and runs through Christmas.
Price: $10 for adults, $8 for kids ages 4-12, 3 and under are free with paying adult.
Additional Ice Skating Options:
Founders Holiday Ice Rink in Rock Hill
One Time Christmas Events:
Piedmont Town Center Tree Lighting – Nov. 17th
Rea Farms Holiday Magic Event – Nov. 18th
The Hunter Farm Holiday Market – Nov. 18th
Birkdale Tree Lighting – Nov. 18th
Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC Tree Lighting Festival – Nov. 21st
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade – Nov. 22nd
Christmas in Davidson – Nov. 30th-Dec. 2nd
Belmont Tree Lighting – Nov. 27th, Belmont Christmas Parade – Nov. 28th, Belmont Christmas Village – Dec. 2nd
Rock Hill Christmasville – Nov. 30th-Dec. 3rd, Rock Hill Christmas Parade – Dec. 1st
Blakeney “All is Bright” holiday event – Dec. 1st
UCity Holiday Lights – Dec. 1st
Huntersville Tree Lighting – Dec. 1st, Christmas in Huntersville – Dec. 2nd
Indian Trail Winter Fest and Tree Lighting – Dec. 1st, Indian Trail Christmas Parade – Dec. 3rd
Fort Mill Christmas Parade – Dec. 2nd, Ft. Mill Christmas Cookie Crawl – Dec. 9th
North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade – Dec. 2nd
Ballantyne Village Holiday Spectacular – Dec. 2nd
Matthews Winter Wonderlights – Dec. 2nd
Pineville Christmas Parade – Dec. 8th, Pineville Tree Lighting – Dec. 2nd
Kannapolis Christmas Parade – Dec. 9th
Waxhaw Christmas Parade – Dec. 10th
Phillips Place Holiday Celebration – Dec. 13th
Lake Norman Christmas Boat Parade – Dec. 16th
Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade – Dec. 16th
Hanukkah Celebrations in Charlotte:
Menorah Lighting at Stonecrest Shopping Center – Dec 7th
Menorah Lighting at Birkdale Village – December 7th
Hanukkah with Temple Kol Tikvah – Davidson Village Green – Dec 9th
Hanukkah on the Green in Davidson – Dec. 9th
Family Hanukah Breakfast with Clifford the Big Red Dog – JCC – Dec. 10th
Menorah Lighting in Matthews – December 11th
Waxhaw Menorah Lighting – Main Street – December 12th
Christmas Plays/Musicals:
Manheim Steamroller – Dec. 2nd
Clara’s Trip – Dec. 7th-10th
Soulful Christmas – Dec. 8th
Nutcracker Ballet – Dec. 8th – 23rd
Elf the Musical – Dec. 13th-14th
Holiday Pops by Charlotte Symphony – Dec. 15th-17th
The Nutcracker at the YMCA – Dec. 16th
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Nov. 17-19, 24-26, Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 20-22
A Magical Cirque Christmas – Dec. 27th-28th
Photos with Santa
I hope this is helpful and that you all have a wonderful holiday season. Be sure to follow along on Instagram for more posts on holiday activities in Charlotte.
This was such a helpful post! Many of the other Charlotte parent blogs are filled with pop-up ads and sponsored content that make it hard (and frustrating) to sift through for information that’s actually useful. This was the clearest and best family holiday event guide that I’ve found so far. Thank you!