This FAMILY TO DO in CHARLOTTE series is sponsored by CEENTA.
One of our favorite holiday activities is scoping out Charlotte’s biggest and best Christmas holiday lights. Yes, 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 a big list of 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 things can 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.
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
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
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
Ardrey Neighborhood Lights in South Charlotte
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.
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
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
Arndt Christmas Lights in Huntersville
Thousands of lights and a colorful Christmas display at this family favorite house. Free, but donations are welcome. Check their Facebook page for updates.
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. Check their Facebook page for updates.
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. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Address: 1641 Shadow Creek St, Concord
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.
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.
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.
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.
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-mile walking trail. In addition to the lights, they have an Alpine Snow Tube Slide, holiday village, face painting, and bounce houses. There is a Santa every night through 12/23.
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.
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.
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.
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