UPDATED FOR 2023

One of our favorite holiday activities is scoping out Charlotte’s biggest and best Christmas holiday lights! Charlotte is filled with holiday festivals that have incredible displays, but we also love the local homes and neighborhoods that go all out. So gather the family, warm up some hot cocoa, and hop in the car because we have your updated 2023 list on where to see the best Christmas lights this year in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

P.S. We do our best to get the accurate scoop on these house displays and neighborhood light shows, but plans may change. Please don’t forget to tag us at @ScoopCharlotte on Instagram or @ScoopCLT on TikTok when you visit or find any areas we missed.

Where to See Christmas Lights in Charlotte

Favorite Neighborhood Lights Displays:

Sherwood Forest Drive in Southpark

This home’s lights have become a favorite in the Charlotte area. The owner is often dressed as Santa and standing outside to greet the cars passing by. They take donations for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Address: 7323 Sherwood Forest Drive

Hillside Avenue Holiday Hunger Drive Through in Myers Park

Hillside Avenue has a tradition of creating chicken-wire Christmas balls and hanging them throughout the trees in the neighborhood. They accept cash or food donations for Loaves and Fishes. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for updates.

Address: Hillside Avenue in Myer’s Park

Beverly Drive from Providence to Sherwood Drive

The Scoop: Beverly Drive is decorated with millions of lights for the holidays. Click the link above for directions.

Eastover Road Display

You can’t miss this larger-than-life display located in the Eastover neighborhood. Expect 20-foot inflatables, millions of sparkling lights, and a Ferris wheel made of lights with a display that reads “let it snow”.

Address: 323 Eastover Road Charlotte, NC

Wilhelminia Avenue Display in Plaza Midwood

This Plaza Midwood house is surrounded by Christmas dozens of inflatables. You won’t be able to miss it when driving by!

Address: 2101 Wilhelminia Avenue Charlotte, NC

Harbin Family Christmas Lights in Cameron Wood Neighborhood

Their annual Christmas light display has raised over $20,000 for Make-A-Wish Central & Western Carolina. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Address: 10223 Summer House Court, Charlotte, NC 28210

Queen Family Christmas in the Montibello Neighborhood

This home offers lots of lights and inflatables and even a live nativity on certain nights. They raise money for Charlotte Rescue Mission and Bethany’s Butterflies.

Address: 3943 Black Sycamore Drive, Charlotte, NC 28226

Perkins Lights in South CLT

Tune your radio to 89.5 to see the lights synced to the music. They raise money for Child’s Play

Address: 216 Port Royal Drive Charlotte, NC 28105

Hillwood Ct. Holiday Lights in South CLT

So many twinkling lights and holiday inflatables can be found at this home in the Starmount neighborhood.

Address: 1410 Hillwood Ct. Charlotte, NC

Wade Ardrey Road

The Scoop: Hundreds of Charleston-style homes are decked out for the holidays with dazzling lights and Christmas decor. Type in Wheatfield Road on your GPS for a good starting point.

Lights on Mountain Laurel in Matthews

Starting the day after Thanksgiving, this home’s Christmas light display in the Fairhaven Neighborhood will be on every night until New Year’s Eve from 5 PM to midnight. They even have a festive walking path. Check out their Facebook page for more info.

Address: 1001 Mountain Laurel Court Matthews, NC

Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail

This is a walking display through the lights on this 5 acre horse farm. Entry is free. Check out their Facebook page for updates.

Address: 3999 Fincher Road Indian Trail, NC 28104

Nikitas Christmas Wonderland in Indian Trail

This home has a beautiful light display that has been popular in our area for years. Visit their Facebook page for updates.

Address: 1417 Deer Spring Court Indian Trail, NC

Arndt Christmas Lights In Huntersville

Thousands of lights and a colorful Christmas display at this family favorite house. Free, but donations are welcome.

Address: 14904 Carbert Lane, Huntersville

Zimnowski Light Show in Huntersville

Get in the holiday spirit by driving through the Macaulay neighborhood, specifically to this Huntersville home. Light shows are set to music and repeat regularly throughout the season…this year there’s something special for the Swifties. For updates, stay tuned to their Facebook page.

Address: 15419 Hugh McAuley Road, Huntersville

Lights on Indian Beech in Concord

A beautiful synchronized holiday light show. Tune in to 87.9 FM and watch as the lights move with the music. Log in to https://lightsonindianbeech.remotefalcon.com/ to choose the next song for the display. FREE.

Address: 9592 Indian Beech Ave., Concord

The Hard Family Christmas Lights in Concord

The Hard Family’s display is back this year, and shining brighter than before. Tune in to 91.5 to listen along as the lights are synchronized to make for a fun holiday show. Watch out as members from the family will randomly pass out candy and visit with guests. FREE.

Address: 1641 Shadow Creek St, Concord

Other neighborhoods with great lights:

• Ardrey in Ballantyne
• Park Crossing off Park Road
• Eastover neighborhood in central CLT
• Brightmoor in Matthews
• Hembstead in S. CLT

Professional Lights Displays

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.

• 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.

• 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 per person.

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.

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.

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.