Last Updated on January 4, 2024
Get in the holiday spirit when you take in some of the best and brightest events across North and South Carolina.
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- Charlotte holiday activities
- Western North Carolina holiday events
- Highlands holiday activities
- Boone/Blowing rock holiday events
- Triad holiday activities
- Triangle holiday events
- Upstate holiday activities
Charlotte holiday activities
Winterfest at Carowinds – Winterfest is the area’s most immersive holiday event. Nov. 17th-Dec. 24th Details
Speedway Christmas Lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway–Come see more than 5 million lights in 4 miles at this spectacle of an event. Nov. 17th-Jan. 7th Details
Light the Knights Festival at Truist Field–One of Charlotte’s newest events allows guests to snow tube, ice skate, see lights and more! Nov. 22nd – Jan. 1st Details
Holiday Lights Spectacular at Ballantyne’s Backyard— Witness over 1 million lights on a half-mile walking trail, plus a visit from Santa every night! Dec. 12th – 31st Details
Gingerbread Lane at The Ballantyne Hotel— A classic family tradition, view gingerbread houses from all age groups. Dec. 11th – Dec. 24th
Christmastown USA in McAdenville— One of the top attractions in NC, McAdenville is Christmastown, USA. Dec. 1st – Dec. 26th Details
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights-– Come see lights and The Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra. Nov. 18th – Dec. 30th Details
Olde Meck Brewery Christmas Market— Over 140 vendors, lights and santa! Nov. 24th – Dec. 17th Details
Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden— A walking tour of lights through the gardens. Nov. 24th-Dec. 23rd Details
Pirates Christmas Lights at High Seas Mini Golf–Mini golf and lights—what could be better? Begins Nov. 17th Details
Ice skating at Carowinds, Birkdale Village, Whitewater Center and Camp North End
Western North Carolina holiday events
Gingerbread house competition at Omni Grove Park Inn–Nov 27-Jan 2 Details
Biltmore Village Dickens Christmas Festival–Get in the spirit as you celebrate the history, culture, arts, and architectural treasure for which the Village has become renowned. Dec 1-2
Christmas at Biltmore–America’s largest home, all lit up for the holidays. Nov 3- January 7 Details
Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum–Dubbed the brightest holiday tradition in Asheville. Nov 17-Dec 31 Details
Canton ice skating rink–The ice skating rink is slated to open Dec 1, just in time for the festivities in Sorrells Street Park. Details
Waynesville’s “A Night Before Christmas” street fair–A winter wonderland featuring hundreds of luminaries lining the brick sidewalks, and twinkling balls in the trees and windows of downtown shops, plus live music and carolers. Details
Winterfest @ TIEC Drive through Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Drive — Nov 17-January 1 Details
Saluda Hometown Christmas–Dec 8 Details
Light up the Night in Brevard–Twinkling lights, illuminated snowflakes and beautifully decorated storefronts–Dec 1 Details
Highlands holiday activities
Ice skating–The town of Highlands Ice Skating is a holiday tradition that can’t be beat! Open for the season Nov 17. Details
Snow tubing–Highlands Outpost is open for snow tubing. Open now through the end of the season. Details
Home for the Holidays–Celebrate the most magical time of the year at Highlands PAC with their annual holiday spectacular. Dec 8-24 Details
Cashiers Christmas Parade–Saturday, Dec 2, 3 p.m. Details
Boone/Blowing Rock holiday events
Festival of Lights at Chetola Resort Tour the Chetola Resort all decked out for Christmas. Nov 24-Jan 28 Details
Choose and cut your own christmas tree Open for the season now through Dec 17. Details
Boone Holiday Parade Dec 9, 2 pm Details
Blowing Rock Holiday Stroll See all the shops decorated for Christmas and enjoy refreshments along the way. Dec 8 Details
Tweetsie Christmas Holiday activities for the whole family including a 20 minute open-air night train ride. Nov 24- Dec 30 Details
Triad holiday activities
Nutcracker Ballet–See the holiday tradition at the Tanger Center in Greensboro. Dec 7-10 Details
Winter Wonderlights–Experience wonderlights at the Greensboro Science Center. Open now through Dec 31 Details
Tanglewood Festival of Lights–Tanglewood Park transforms into a shimmering Winter Wonderland with more than a million twinkling lights aglow. Nov 17-Jan 1 Details
Greensboro Holiday Parade— Dec 2, 12 p.m.
Festival of Lights–For 40 years Greensboro residents have enjoyed this tradition, which includes a community sing-along, lighting of the tree, carolers, and treats. Dec 1 Details
Winterfest–This event will feature numerous vendors, bounce houses, game trucks, Santa, and of course, the amusements of City Lake Park. Dec 9 Details
Triangle holiday events
Holidays in the Park–Join us at the Museum of Life and Science as we light up the park in celebration of the holiday season! Select nights in Dec. Details
See “How the Grinch Stole Christmas“– Live at the DPAC. Select nights in Dec. Details
Christmas by Candlelight Welcome the splendor of the season with Christmas music and decorations at Duke Chapel’s annual Christmas by Candlelight. Dec 13, 12-2 p.m. Details
Wool E. Bull’s Winter Wonderland–Come see the ball field all decked out for the holidays and enjoy snow tubing, lights, a holiday market and more. Nov 22- Dec 31 Details
Angus Barn–If you missed the chance to book reservations for the Angus Barn, check out their Wild Turkey Lounge! No reservations needed and you can still check out all the decorations!
Skate at the Rink–Skate in a wintery village right in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Nov 18-Jan 15 Details
Downtown Raleigh Illuminate Artwalk— Downtown Raleigh comes to light with Illuminate, a light-based art walk. Dec 1-Jan 5 Details
Trans-Siberian Orchestra–See the ultra-talented group in person at PNC Arena. Dec 13 Details
Lake Myra Christmas Lights–Experience this spectacular, drive-in-style light show, featuring more than 400,000 total lights synced to holiday music. Nov 22-Dec 31 Details
NC Chinese Lantern Festival–Come see Booth Amphitheater in Cary transformed into a magical setting of all-new illuminated lanterns. Nov 17-January 14 Details
Upstate holiday events
Christmas in Woodruff–Horse-drawn carriage rides, Tree lighting, holiday stroll and more. Details
Dickens of a Christmas–This free Victorian holiday extravaganza is sure to get any Scrooge in the festive spirit! Dec 5 Details
Christmas at the Farm–Where picking your tree is a holiday event with cocoa, vendors, games, crafts and more! Nov 24-26 & Dec 2-3 Details
Ice on Main–Glide your way into the holiday season at United Community Ice on Main. Nov 15-Jan 15 Details
Night of Lights–Come watch Main Street light up while you rock around the 30-foot Christmas tree adorned with 25,550 LED lights. Dec. 1 Details
Greenville Christmas Market–Experience the charming festivities of a European Christmas Market blended with Southern holiday traditions. Nov 24-Dec 31 Details
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