A Guide to the Best Christmas Light Shows and Holiday Events in North and South Carolina

 By Beth Mack

November 24, 2023

Wherever your holiday travels may take you, the Carolinas offer a plethora of lights displays across the state to get you and yours in the holiday spirit. Events can be found at an assortment of venues across the state from farms to zoos to parks, and often offer more than just the illuminating lights. Visits from Santa, children’s rides, fire pits, tubing, and roasting s’mores, are just some of the activities that can be found at these winter holiday destinations. 

Speedway Christmas

Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Pkwy S
Concord, NC 28027

November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024 (Closed December 24)

In its 14th year, the Charlotte Motor Speedway presents one of the largest Christmas light displays in the Southeast, Speedway Christmas. Located just north of Charlotte, this drive-through event features over five million lights with hundreds of displays across its four-mile track. Thursday through Sunday evenings, you can ride down a new 250-foot tubing hill, stop by the infield Christmas Village equipped with fire pits to roast s’mores, take a photo with their 360-degree camera, shop numerous vendors, and visit Santa. If you want to stay nice and toasty in your car, you can catch a classic Christmas movie on their 16,000-square-foot Speedway TV (schedule below). Also new this year is an illuminated walking trail that can be found in the Christmas Village infield. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person and range from $35-$45 per car (15 people max). The drive-through light show is not required to access the tubing hill, but unlimited daily rides are $20 without a purchase and $15 with proof of Speedway Christmas ticket. Kids 12 and under are $10 for the unlimited daily tube rides. 

Website 

Movie Schedule:

Nov. 17-19: Christmas Vacation
Nov. 23-26: The Grinch
Nov. 30-Dec 3: Classic Christmas shorts
Dec. 7-10: White Christmas
Dec. 14-19: Elf
Dec. 20-23: The Polar Express
Dec. 28-31: Home Alone

Light the Knights Festival 

Truist Field
324 S Mint St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

November 22, 2023 – January 1, 2024  

In the heart of uptown, Truist Field has transformed into a winter wonderland for its third year. Walk through the concourse inside the stadium to take in the various light displays, enjoy the artificial snow, visit with old Saint Nick and Mrs. Claus, peruse the Holiday Market vendors, or grab a cup of cheer from either the concession stands. The outfield boasts a regulation-size ice skating rink and a larger, ten-lane snow tubing track complete with concessions and seating to take in the sights and sounds of the holiday season. New to the festival this year is a 300-foot tunnel of lights for guests to walk through and enjoy the choreographed light show. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office with general admission starting at $10 for all above the age of four. You can purchase an All Activities pass for $40 that includes unlimited ice skating and snow tubing.

Website 

Tweetsie Railroad Christmas

Tweetsie Railroad
300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane
Blowing Rock, NC 28605

November 24 – December 30, 2023

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Boone and Blowing Rock is a North Carolina favorite, Tweetsie Railroad, a small Wild West amusement park and heritage railroad site. Each year for the holidays, the park is decked out with lights for a holiday experience for all ages. Guests can take an open-air train ride on one of their historic steam locomotives that is adorned with over one million lights. You can also catch a live holiday show, roast s’mores over a crackling fire, and even visit with the big man in his gingerbread house. Admission is $60 for adults, $40 for children (3-12), and free for children two and under, which includes one train ride and access to the park. 

Website 

Christmas Wonderland of Lights at Zootastic Park

Zootastic Park
448 Pilch Rd
Troutman, NC 28166

November 18, 2023 – January 1, 2024

Sunday-Thursday: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

For a more exotic holiday light show, take a 40-minute trip (from Charlotte) north on I-77 to Troutman’s Zootastic Park. The drive-through safari experience has decked out its route with four million lights to help ring in the holidays. For animal lovers, you can opt to take a pony ride or feed giraffes, tigers, and barnyard animals. You can also stop in for a visit with Santa and get a photo with him and a baby kangaroo, just don’t let Rudolph know. In addition, you can roast s’mores or take a ride on a carousel or train. Admission is $10 per person and children under two are free. 

Website 

Christmas at Biltmore

Biltmore Estate
1 Lodge St.
Asheville, NC 28803.

November 3, 2023 – January 7, 2024

Tour America’s largest home, the Biltmore house, as each of the 250 rooms of the historic French Renaissance chateau is elegantly adorned with Christmas trees, lights, garland, and ribbon. The Biltmore Estate’s Antler Hill Village, which features shops, restaurants, a farm, a winery, and a hotel, is also aglow with Christmas decor and lights. Daytime admission starts at $100 and includes a self-guided walking tour of the Biltmore house, access to its 8,000 acres of gardens and grounds, Antler Hill Village, complimentary wine tasting, parking for the day, and next-day access to the grounds. Evening admission (Candlelight Christmas Evenings) starts at $115.

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Christmas Town USA

McAdenville, NC 28101

December 1-26, 2023

Consistently in the top 10 for the best public holiday light display in the nation by USA Today, is the community of McAdenville. Since the 1950s, McAdenville residents along Main Street deck their houses and front yards with lights and displays for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The 1.3-mile stretch of lights can be viewed for free either walking along the sidewalks or from the convenience of your car through the heart of downtown McAdenville, located just 15 minutes west of Charlotte.

Website

Carowinds WinterFest

Carowinds
300 Carowinds Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28273

November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024

Carolina’s largest amusement park has curated an immersive holiday light show for its WinterFest. With over five million lights, the park boasts an extensive amount of additional festive experiences such as ice skating, live holiday shows, select amusement rides, a 70-foot Christmas tree, holiday-themed games, live Christmas carolers, holiday gift shops, cookie decorating, seasonal food and beverages, and of course, Santa. Your visit will be capped off with the WinterFest Wonderland Parade, the park’s nightly 9 p.m. parade complete with music, performers, and ornate floats. New to WinterFest this year, you can reserve your very own private igloo where you can sip on hot chocolate, have food delivered, and bask in the holiday spirit. Admission is $32.99 for ages 3 to 61 or above 48 inches tall, $19.99 for adults 62 years and older, with children under 48 inches tall and under the age of two free.

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Winter Wonderlights

Greensboro Science Center
4301 Lawndale Drive
Greensboro, NC 27455

November 22 – December 31, 2023

Winter Wonderlights will glow again this holiday season at the Greensboro Science Center for the third straight year. This walk-through indoor and outdoor event boasts unique zones of light displays with themes ranging from dinosaurs to gingerbread houses, also including Revolution Ridge, the Greensboro Science Center’s 11-acre zoo, and the aquarium. Warm up with some hot chocolate or apple cider available for purchase and watch one of the many synchronized light shows, stroll through their 100-foot light tunnel, or try indoor sock skating. Admission for non-members is $25 for those ages 3 and up, and children under the age of two are free. Discounts are available for members of the Greensboro Science Center, groups of 15-plus, and on select “discount days.” 

Website

Winter Lights at NC Arboretum

North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, NC 28806

November 17 – December 31, 2023

The North Carolina Arboretum’s walk-through light display Winter Lights display returns for its 10th year. Touted as Asheville’s brightest holiday tradition, the outdoor event features over one million lights and serves as the Arboretum’s largest fundraiser. Expect vibrant light displays, including the iconic 50-foot Tree of Light, live music (on select evenings), fire pits, and a hot cocoa shack offering s’mores kits, snacks, beverages, and of course, hot chocolate. New this year is a second Cocoa Cabin to warm you up as you peruse the Winter Lights gift shop. Tickets are sold per vehicle with tiered pricing starting at $40. The Arboretum does limit the number of guests per evening, so it is advised to purchase tickets in advance.

Website 

Denton FarmPark Country Christmas Train

Denton Farmpark
1072 Cranford Road,
Denton, NC 27239

November 24 – December 27, 2023

Denton FarmPark, located just 45 minutes southwest of Greensboro, hosts its 14th annual Country Christmas Train. Walk down the candy cane path to the train station where Santa will greet you before you board the train. Once aboard the Handy Dandy Railroad, sit back and enjoy the lights, live nativity scene, and elves on the 1.5-mile track. After you disembark, check out the numerous activities offered at the Christmas Village such as the petting zoo, carriage rides, food and craft vendors, children’s rides, and pictures with Santa. Tickets include one train ride and access to all of Christmas Village. Adult tickets are $20, $6 for children 5-11, and free for those under the age of four.

Website

Holidays at the Garden

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 S New Hope Rd
Belmont, NC 28012

November 24 – December 23, 2023

Located just 30 minutes from uptown Charlotte in Belmont, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden hosts its annual Christmas light display, Holidays at the Garden. Stroll through the magnificently manicured gardens to take in the lights on the 90-minute walking tour. Sit by their fire pit to enjoy a beverage (beer, wine, coffee, and hot chocolate) or enjoy a bite to eat from one of the food trucks listening to joyful Christmas music. This year on select evenings, the garden will be hosting special nights like Santa Paws (dog-friendly) and date nights (no children). Adult tickets will run you $25, seniors (60 and up) $23, children (3-12) $15, and free for children two and under. Tickets are sold in two-hour time slots and are limited, so it’s advised to purchase your tickets online.

Website

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival

Koka Booth Amphitheatre
8005 Regency Pkwy
Cary, NC 27518

November 17, 2023 – January 14, 2024

While the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival may not be exactly holiday themed, the light show that occurs each winter is not to be missed. In its eighth year, this year’s festival features 40 new light displays that were crafted in Zigong, China specifically for this event. Each larger-than-life display features thousands of lights capped off by a 200-foot dragon lantern that floats on Symphony Lake. To round out the experience, they host nightly cultural performances and have added Asian-inspired dishes to their regular food offerings such as egg rolls, wonton soup, and a Korean fried chicken sandwich. Ticket prices vary depending on the date of your visit but start at $20 for adults, $15 for children ages 3-12, and free for those two and under. If you want to learn more about the cultural history and significance of the lanterns and how the displays come together, they also offer a guided 45-minute VIP tour. 

Website

Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express

Village Park
700 W C St.
Kannapolis, NC 28081

November 18 – December 30, 2023

Each holiday season Kannapolis Parks and Recreation wraps its Village Park in over 250,000 lights to ring in the holiday season. This year the park has enlisted the beloved Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra animatronic band to delight guests with their 30-minute holiday hits show at the top of each hour. To add to the festivities, guests can roast marshmallows, shop their craft vendors, take a ride on their carousel or train (Winterland Express), and indulge in snacks and seasonal food offerings from one of their vendors. Entrance to the park and its festivities is free, but tickets to ride the Winterland Express and the carousel are $2 per person. 

Website

Carolina Light Spectacular

Ballantyne’s Backyard
11611 N. Community House Rd,
Charlotte, NC 28277

December 7 – December 30, 2023

Ballantyne’s Backyard’s Carolina Light Spectacular returns for its second season, almost doubling in size. Stroll through over one million lights on the half-mile walking trail featuring larger-than-life holiday scenes and oversized snow globes. For some holiday cheer, check out their rotating lineup of food trucks or stop by one of their concession stands for hot cocoa or adult beverages. Carolina Light Spectacular has all of the ingredients for a magical evening with children’s activities, nightly visits from Santa through December 23, live entertainment, an Alpine Avalanche snow tube slide, and a Holiday Village with boutiques and shops. Tickets vary by the time and date of your visit but start at $10 for guests (3 and up) and are free for those two and under.

Website

Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights

Tanglewood Park
Manor House Cir.
Clemmons, NC 27012

November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024

Each holiday season for the past 32 years, Tanglewood Park (located just ten minutes west of Winston-Salem) is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights. The drive-through light display boasts over one million lights with 80 displays. S’moresville, where you can purchase s’mores kits and roast marshmallows, has returned this year as a mid-route pit stop. To really wow that special someone, opt to tour the lights by horse-drawn carriage ride or by tractor-pulled hayride. Tickets can only be purchased on site and are $20 per car if paid by cash and $23 if paid by credit card. 

Website

Winterlights at Elizabethan Garden

Elizabethan Garden
1411 National Park Dr.
Manteo, NC 27954

November 17 – December 30, 2023

Should your holiday travels take you to the Outer Banks, stop by the Winterlights at Elizabethan Gardens. Stroll through their 10 acres of gardens transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland. Warm up by their crackling open-air fire pits or check out one of the many events, including a visit from Santa, children’s face painting, musical guests, and holiday story time around the fire pit. Tickets run $18 for adults, $14 for youths (6-17), $8 for children (3-5), free for children two and under, and $6 for dogs.

Website

Wild Lights at the Riverbanks Zoo 

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
500 Wildlife Pkwy
Columbia, SC 29210

November 17, 2023 – January 14, 2024

After 35 years of their traditional Lights Before Christmas, Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo has completely revamped its holiday light experience. While most of the animals will be off exhibit to get some sleep, Wild Lights has nearly 60 larger-than-life nature-inspired lanterns ranging from plants, animals, insects, and even dinosaurs. In keeping with holiday traditions, the zoo will still offer interactive experiences with holiday-themed photo ops, visits from Santa, bonfires for roasting s’mores, carousel and train rides, and nightly artificial snowfall. Advance tickets are required and prices vary by the date of your visit, but start at $19.99 for adults, $14.99 for children (2-12), and free for children two and under and zoo members.

Website

Sweet Valley Ranch Festival of Lights

Sweet Valley Ranch
2990 Sunnyside School Road
Fayetteville, NC 28312

November 24 – December 26, 2023

Each holiday season the 300-acre Sweet Valley Ranch lights up the night with its Festival of Lights. The drive-through light show not only features over one million lights, but you can get a glimpse of the farm’s 350 animal residents ranging from potbelly pigs, cows, llamas, peacocks, and zebras. As an added bonus, directly across the street from Sweet Valley Ranch is Tiny’s Winter Wonderland where you can get out of your car to enjoy rides, shop from one of their local vendors, grab a snack, and visit with Santa. Tickets start at $10 per person (children two and under free) with discounts offered for larger groups. 

Website

Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms

Hill Ridge Farms
703 Tarboro Rd
Youngsville, NC 27596

November 23 – December 30, 2023

A short 30-minute drive north of downtown Raleigh sits Hill Ridge Farms and their drive-through Festival of Lights. Cruise the mile-long route featuring over one million lights from the comfort of your car. They do not offer concessions, but you’re welcome to bring your own food and beverages. Entrance is $20 per car if you pay by cash, which is preferred to keep the lines moving, or $23 if you pay by credit or debit.

Website

Enchanted Airlie

Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Rd
Wilmington, NC 28403

November 24 – December 21, 2023

Since 2005, Airlie Gardens have provided the Wilmington area with the sights and sounds of the season with their Enchanted Airlie lights display. Meander along the outdoor half-mile, self-guided walking tour to take in the glow from the lights whilst holiday music plays in the background. This year select snacks and beverages from David’s Deli, Noni Bacca, and Mad Mole Brewing will be available to purchase on site. Tickets ($30 per car) for the popular light show are only sold in advance in one-hour increments and often sell out. 

Website

Festival of Lights at Lu Mil Vineyard

Lu Mil Vineyard
438 Suggs-Taylor Rd
Elizabethtown, NC 28337

November 24 – December 23, 2023

Located approximately an hour west of Wilmington, you can find Lu Mil Vineyard’s Annual Festival of Lights. This drive-through synchronized light exhibit has something for both children and adults to ensure there is enough holiday cheer for all. Children will enjoy photos with Santa, a kiddie land with rides, and a candy shop. Adults can enjoy wine tastings from the vineyard and a meal at their country buffet for $14 per person, or make it an overnight trip, booking one of their cabins for the night. Admission is $10 per person with children under the age of five, free. 

Website

Holiday Lights on the River

Saluda Shoals Park
5605 Bush River Rd
Columbia, SC 29212

November 23 – December 31, 2023

One of South Carolina’s biggest drive-through light shows is hosted in Soda City’s Saluda Shoals Park. Journey through a million colorful lights featuring over 400 animated light displays that stretch three miles. After driving through, stop by the Environmental Center for additional festivities including a winter wonder tube slide, laser light shows, letter writing to Santa, marshmallow roasting, and a hay or train ride with refreshments available for purchase. Admission is $25 per car and includes all of the above activities.

Website

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