CLT Holiday Activities

❄️ Holiday Activities Guide

Check out these 75 holiday activities happening in the Charlotte area! There is a variety of fun things to enjoy this holiday season - ice skating, snow tubing, holiday lights, gingerbread houses, winter markets, and so much more!

🗓️ November Events

Nov 7 - Dec 24: The ultimate holiday tradition awaits. And Santa is making a list and checking it twice – so reserve your photos with Santa today at SouthPark Mall.

Nov 8 - Dec 23 (select dates): Inspired by the hit movie, this holiday favorite comes to life as you and your family take a magical trip on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

Nov 8 - Dec 23: Holiday House & Co. is a holiday pop-up shop that has all the decor you need to turn your house into a holiday wonderland this season, plus 8 Holiday photoshoot sets where you can take family photos.

Nov 9 - Jan 31 (select dates): The winter season will be full of Charlotte Checkers Hockey games to attend with friends and family.

Nov 14 - 24: Attend the south's largest Christmas show for holiday décor, apparel, food, jewelry, toys, and more at the Southern Christmas Show.

Nov 15 - Jan 4: Gather with friends and family to make lifelong memories at Carowinds' WinterFest, the Carolinas’ most immersive holiday event.

Nov 15 - Mid Feb: From the Winter Trail, Ice Skating and Winter Market (with Christmas Trees), to new activations for kiddo’s and pups alike at Wildwoods and Off Leash, celebrate Winter at Whitewater.

Nov 16: Light up the holidays with Northlake Mall at their tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 16th.

Nov 16: Bring your pup to the Hi-Wire Brewing taproom for a festive photo op with Santa, and help support Catering to Cats and Dogs while you're at it.

Nov 16: Attend the Annual Tree Lighting at LangTree Lake Norman.

Nov 16 - Dec 30: Celebrate the Christmas spirit all month long in Kannapolis with the Celebration of Lights plus The Winterland Express takes riders through the lights at the park.

Nov 17 - Dec 20: Shop unique, meaningful gifts and support 8 local artists right here in Charlotte at Carolina Clay Matters’ Holiday Pottery Pop-Up.

Nov 18 - Dec 31: Royal Tot will once again turn into a Sippin’ Santa Tiki holiday pop-up.

Nov 20 - Dec 29: Miracle at Backstage Lounge returns this year with holiday decor and extravagant themed cocktails.

Nov 21-23 & Jan 4: Outdoor Hockey returns to Truist Field with 4 games featuring 8 college hockey teams.

Nov 21 - Dec 22: Papa Doc's pop-up Christmas Bar, Tinsel Town, will have over the top decorations, insta-worthy photo ops, and a specialty holiday cocktail menu.

Nov 22 - Jan 1: Join Zootastic Park for a spectacular drive-through experience and enjoy other fun activities for the kid at their Christmas Wonderland of Lights.

Nov 22: Piedmont Town Center's Annual Tree Lighting will feature photo opportunities with Santa and characters, hot cocoa, train rides, and more.

Nov 22 - 23: Holiday traditions return to Downtown Concord with the 27th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday and the 96th Concord Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Nov 22 - Jan 5: Join Camp North End as they transform into Camp North Pole for the holiday season with their annual Ice Skating rink!

Nov 22 - Jan 5: The 15th season of the Southeast’s largest drive-thru holiday light show features more than 5 million lights on a four-mile course that includes the legendary oval, pit road and infield road course, all at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Nov 22 - TBA: Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf is a family-friendly nautical and holiday-themed mini golf course.

Nov 23: Join Blakeney Town Center for All is Bright, a festive event where they light up the town center tree and spread holiday cheer.

Nov 23: Families are invited to eat a holly, jolly Chick-Fil-A breakfast and visit with Santa at the Northlake Mall Food Court + enjoy music, games and crafts.

Nov 23: Rea Farms is hosting their Holiday Magic event featuring photos with Santa, character visits, hot cocoa, cookies, train rides and more.

Nov 23: Experience a wonderful evening of festive activities, including meeting Santa Claus, savoring delicious hot chocolate, and taking an exhilarating ride aboard the Polar Express at UCity Lights Winter Celebration.

Nov 23 - Jan 26: For the second year, Birkdale Village will have an ice skating rink.

Nov 24: The Waxhaw Holiday Market will have local vendors with many great handmade products, live music from 12 to 3 pm, comedy & animal balloons, and more!

Nov 24: The 71st Annual Union County Christmas Parade will be held Sunday, November 24 at 2:00pm in Historic Downtown Monroe.

Nov 26: The Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC will host the 11th annual Tree Lighting Festival at Bank of America Stadium.

Nov 26: The 80th Annual Mooresville Christmas Parade will be held on Tuesday, November 26 at 3:00pm along Main Street in Downtown Mooresville. 

Nov 27: The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade returns to light up the night on Tryon Street once again this year featuring local, regional, and national talent and performers, your favorite floats, larger-than-life balloons, marching bands, and dance units.

Nov 27 - Jan 3: The 5th Annual Light the Knights Festival will feature ice skating, snow tubing, shopping, holiday treats, tens of thousands of lights, decor, and more.

Nov 29: Celebrate the small businesses that make up our communities at the Holiday Market at Petty Thieves Brewing Co. on Black Friday.

Nov 29 - 30: Experience Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale as only the Muppets can tell it at The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

Nov 29 - Dec 22: Experience the festive atmosphere of OMB's Christmas Market, featuring over 50 vendors, delicious food, cheerful music and lights, traditional Gluhwein, hot cocoa holiday beer, and cozy fire pits. 

Nov 29 - Dec 29: Prepare to be mesmerized by the twinkle of a thousand lights, the shimmer of dancing fountains, and the festive holiday spirit that blankets every corner during Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.

Nov 29 - Dec 31: Tinseltown holiday pop-up returns to Billy Sunday with holiday-themed cocktails.

Nov 30: Shop Small Saturday will kick off on November 30 with open-air shopping markets alongside unique retail at Atherton and along Camden Road.

Nov 30 - Dec 23: House of Krampus continues this year with a ticketed experience featuring a one of kind drink menu, holiday snacks, and many other surprises at Humbug.

🗓️ December Events

Dec 1: Wear your best holiday gear and celebrate at the annual Christmas Parade in Indian Trail.

Dec 1 - 26: Each December, just west of Charlotte, the quaint town of McAdenville becomes a Christmas wonderland that is visited by people from across the country.

Dec 2 - Dec 30: Step into a Winter Wonderland each December during the enchanting Festival of Trees display in Downtown Belmont. 

Dec 2 - 23: Celebrate the birth of Christ during the month of December at the Billy Graham Library.

Dec 3 - 7: Vintage Market Days of Charlotte will be featuring the best vendors from North Carolina, as well as artisans and makers from many other states.

Dec 4 - 7: At The Winter Wonderland Shop, benefiting Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, children up to 12 years old are invited to shop on the Wells Fargo Playhouse stage for pre-wrapped gifts at low-cost to give to their loved ones.

Dec 5: Bring the whole family to explore how early settlers in the Carolina backcountry marked the season with unique traditions, festive decor, and holiday cheer during Holidays on the Homesite at the Charlotte Museum of History.

Dec 5: Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with exclusive shopping and dining offers, seasonal treats and beverages, festive activations, and more at the following stores and restaurants at the Phillips Place Holiday Celebration & Shopping Stroll.

Dec 5 - 7: Celebrate the season with a festive outdoor evening stroll through Historic Fourth Ward, beautifully decorated for the holidays during the Fourth Ward Holiday Sip & Stroll.

Dec 5: The Town of Fort Mill Christmas Village and Lighting of the Tree will feature the lighting of the Town's 50-foot Christmas tree, performances from school choirs, dance teams, and a variety of entertainment.

Dec 5 - 29: The Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular is returning to Ballantyne once again with an outdoor half-mile walking trail that will be filled with over a MILLION illuminated lights, enchanting holiday scenes, and incredible music.

Dec 5: Join Pineville Parks & Rec and Santa for their Annual Tree Light plus S'mores, Hot chocolate, craft tent, candy cane hunt, train ride, entertainment, and SNOW.

Dec 5 - 28: The Waterman will be hosting a holiday cocktail bar “Nauti North Pole” with winter-themed cocktails, music and more.

Dec 6: Join The Bowl at Ballantyne for a festive evening at The Jingle Bowl featuring free selfies with Santa, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, Frozen princesses, s'mores, a live DJ and more!

Dec 6 - 7, 13-14 & 20-21: Meet the jolly man himself and capture some unforgettable memories this holiday season at Blakeney Town Center.

Dec 6 - 22: In the heart of Uptown Charlotte at the Belk Theater, the Snow King and Queen bring about frosty festivity this holiday season during the Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker.

Dec 7: Join Ballantyne Village for their 5th Annual Holiday Spectacular - this family-friendly event is free and will include many fun holiday activities.

Dec 7: Carolina Commercial Kitchen is hosting their 2nd Annual Holiday Market at Park South Station featuring 30+ vendors, food trucks, coffee trucks and festive Holiday Music.

Dec 7: The Town of Stallings is hosting their Annual Christmas Tree lighting plus a new Christmas Village Vendor Market.

Dec 7: Santa is coming to Optimist Hall, plus a complimentary hot cocoa bar.

Dec 7: Get in the holiday spirit at Christmas Market & Jam at Primal Brewery Huntersville with local crafts with Makers Market CLT, live music, and Christmas trees.

Dec 7: Shop Local at the Winter Holiday Market at Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Dec 7: Celebrate the magic of the holiday season at the Promenade on Providence’s December to Remember event.

Dec 7, 14 & 21: Get into the holiday spirit at Mistletoe Market at Camp North End on the first Saturday of December for a day full of festivities, gifts, and seasonal treats.

Dec 8: The Noda Christmas Tree Lighting at the Johnston YMCA will have food trucks, local vendors, a visit from Santa and more.

Dec 8: Waxhaw's Christmas Parade will be held in downtown Waxhaw featuring  local school marching bands, entries and floats by 70 businesses and members of the community and an appearance from a special guest from the North Pole.

Dec 13: Join Mint Hill for a night of family fun at the Holiday Mingle & Jingle featuring The Polar Express on the big screen, food trucks, free train rides around the park and more.

Dec 14: Come support local vendors during Downtown Monroe’s Christmas Pop-Up Event.

Dec 14: Santa Claus is coming to town during Merry Midtown at Metropolitan with free digital images, cookies, photo opportunities with the Grinch, face painting and more.

Dec 14: Downtown Kannapolis, Inc. invites families to enjoy holiday fun while taking advantage of great last-minute gift shopping opportunities at Merry Mingle.

Dec 14: The Kannapolis Christmas Parade is a special nighttime parade that travels through the streets of downtown Kannapolis and usually lasts until 7:30pm.

Dec 14 - 21: Experience eight days of festive fun at the Holly Jolly Festival in Mooresville at Liberty Park featuring a rotating selection of over 30 vendors each night.

Dec 15 - 29: Visit The Ballantyne Hotel to view an enchanting display of gingerbread creations from novice to professional bakers at Gingerbread Lane.

Dec 16: Since 2016, Tosco Music has gathered for a festive concert each December for Tosco Music Holiday Party, transforming Knight Theater into Charlotte's living room for an evening of holiday songs and singalongs.

Dec 17: Ice skate, Snow Tube, & Watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas at our exclusive Charlotte Knights Charities Food & Film Event.

Dec 20 - Jan 4: ‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil's first holiday show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore.

Dec 21: Shop from 80+ vendors at Winterfest in Downtown Matthews.

Dec 22 - 23 & 26 - 30: Join the NASCAR Hall of Fame for holiday programming featuring high-octane race trivia, hands-on engineering experiments and a creative craft workshop inspired by the upcoming season.

Dec 25: Light Up the Night: Chanukah Celebration at Symphony Park will have food, music, and family-friendly entertainment, culminating in a grand menorah lighting and special performance at 5:30pm.

Dec 27 - 29: Clara's Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story is coming to the Booth Theatre.