Gather the whole family in the car and warm up some hot cocoa because it’s that time of year when holiday lights are out and shining bright. Whether it’s a family tradition, or you’re looking to get in the Christmas spirit, we have the Scoop on where to see the best Christmas lights this year in Charlotte and surrounding areas.
We’ve included big community displays as well as a few neighborhoods that go all out, and will continue to update this list as the season goes on and we find more lights. As always, don’t forget to tag us at @ScoopCharlotte when you visit or find any areas we missed.
Where to See Christmas Lights in Charlotte
Light the Knights & Charlotte Christmas Village
Truist Field, Uptown
When: Select Dates: Now – Dec. 23
Cost: $10 per person
The Scoop: Find an abundance of holiday cheer this year at Light the Knights and Charlotte Christmas Village, both held at Truist Field. Walk through tens of thousands of lights, trees, and displays as you walk the ballpark leading to the Christmas Village with unique shopping and a classic European menu to enjoy.
Fourth Ward’s Holiday Sip & Stroll
Historic Fourth Ward, Uptown
When:
Thursday, Dec 2nd: 5-9 p.m.
Friday, December 3rd: 5-9 p.m.
Saturday, December 4th: 5-9 p.m.
Cost: Day-Specific Tickets ($30) Weekend Flex Tickets ($40)
The Scoop: Get in the holiday spirit with this porch-style crawl as you nibble on delicious food and drink tastings from nearby restaurants, enjoy live music and holiday lights, and have the option to go on a carriage ride through the most walkable and picturesque Victorian-era part of Fourth Ward.
Hillside Holiday Hunger Drive Through
Hillside Avenue, Myers Park
When: Anticipated start date is December 5.
Cost: Free, but donations are welcome. Text HILLSIDE to 44321 to donate directly to Loaves & Fishes Charlotte Mecklenburg.
The Scoop: A Charlotte holiday tradition, the Myers Park Light orbs on Hillside Drive make the street shine bigger and brighter than ever before.
Queen Family Christmas
3943 Black Sycamore Dr.
When: Now through December 26th.
Cost: Free, but donations are welcome. The family is even going the extra mile to do a live nativity this year, December 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. where you can donate to Charlotte Rescue Mission’s addiction recovery programs.
The Scoop: The Queen family is back this year for their annual holiday light show in South Charlotte.
Harbin Family Christmas Lights
10223 Summer House Ct.
When: Sunday through Thursday – 6 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.
Cost: Free, but donations are welcome. Donations go to Make-A-Wish Central & Western Carolina. Donate at their house or online here.
The Scoop: The Harbin family is back for their eighth year creating a wonderful light display and donating to Make-A-Wish Central & Western Carolina.
Carowinds Winterfest
300 Carowinds Blvd
When: Select Nights Nov. 13 through Jan. 9 * Wonderland Parade debuts Nov. 22
Cost: Prices vary. Visit here to view ticket options.
The Scoop: Carowinds brings holiday magic by decorating the park with millions of lights, a larger than life Christmas tree, gourmet treats, exciting rides, and fun entertainment for the whole family. The Wonderland Parade (starting November 22nd) will bring extra Christmas joy to the park, and begins nightly at 9 p.m.
Concord
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord
Travel Time: Approximately 21 minutes.
When: Now through Sunday, January 16, 2022
Cost: Vehicle Pass Mon-Wed: $30, Thurs-Sun: $40
The Scoop: Ever wanted to drive on the Charlotte Motor Speedway track? Well now you have the chance to while being fully immersed in Christmas spirit. The four mile drive is illuminated with four-million lights and hundreds of creative displays, synchronized to Christmas themed music.
On Thursdays through Saturdays, the infield opens up to create a Christmas Village filled with vendors, photos with Santa, fire pits for roasting s’mores, and an indoor movie theater. Visit here for this year’s movie schedule.
Christian Family Lights
Concord
When: Sunday through Thursday – 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday – 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
The Scoop: The Christian family is back this year with their holiday music lights. This year, there’s something for everyone, from classic to contemporary Christmas songs, to techno and Bollywood songs, and everything in between. To listen, tune into 93.9 FM.
*Message them on Facebook here for their address.
Lights on Indian Beech
9592 Indian Beech Ave., Concord
Travel Time: Approximately 26 minutes.
When: Sunday through Thursday: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cost: Free.
The Scoop: An annual synchronized holiday light show. Tune in to 87.9 FM to listen to the music as you watch the light show.
Fantetti Light Show
263 Palaside Drive, Concord
Travel Time: Approximately 28 minutes.
When: Now through Christmas, repeating every 30 minutes.
Cost: Free, but donations are welcome. ALL donations and profits from sales go to MT Pleasant Animal Rescue.
The Scoop: A wonderful display for a great cause, the Fantetti house will be back this year to host their annual synchronized Christmas light show. Santa will be at the show on December 11th and December 18 from 6-8 p.m., and on weekends they will have hot cocoa, baked goods, and unique gifts for sale.
Huntersville
Arndt Christmas Lights
14904 Carbert Lane, Huntersville
Travel Time: Approximately 20 minutes.
When: Runs through New Year’s Eve, nightly from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
The Scoop: Thousands of lights and a colorful Christmas display at this family favorite house.
Zimnowski Light Show
15419 Hugh McAuley Road, Huntersville
Travel Time: Approximately 23 minutes.
When: Anticipated start date is Saturday, December 4th.
Cost: Free
The Scoop: Get in the holiday spirit by driving through the Macaulay neighborhood, specifically to this Huntersville home. The Zimnowski Light Show is so bright, you may need to bring a pair of sunglasses at night. Light shows are set to music and repeat regularly throughout the season.
McAdenville
McAdenville’s Christmas Town
Christmas Town, USA
Travel Time: Approximately 23 minutes.
When: December 1 – December 26, every night from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
The Scoop: Dubbed Christmas Town USA, McAdenville is best known for it’s Christmas light displays that are unlike no other. Join them December 16th for the annual Yule Log Ceremony and Parade that will approximately start at 5:50 p.m.
Belmont
Festival of Trees
Stowe Park and Historic Downtown, Belmont
Travel Time: Approximately 26 minutes.
When: Now through January 2nd
Cost: Free
The Scoop: Gather the family and take a stroll through Stowe Park to enjoy a wonderful display of trees all decorated festively. Each tree holds a story that you can learn by downloading the Belmont GO App tour. Participating downtown businesses will have booths along the way; visit here for the full list.
Holidays at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont
Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes.
When: Now through January 2, 2022 from 5 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Adult: $14.95; Senior 60+: $12.95; Child 2 – 12: $7.95; Child Under 2: Free; Members + up to 4 Guests: 30% off
The Scoop: A magical wonderland with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights and glowing displays. While you’re there, grab a bite from the food trucks (food truck schedule can be found here), roast marshmallows beside a fire, enjoy the rolling lights of the Piedmont Prairie, sing along to your favorite holiday music, and much more.
Mooresville
Holiday Light Spectacular
Downtown Mooresville, 413 N. Main St., Mooresville
Travel Time: Approximately 33 minutes.
When: Now through December 31.
Cost: Free
The Scoop: An annual tradition – 175,000 lights are synced to music to make up an orchestrated light show in Downtown Mooreseville.
Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
Village Park, 700 W C St, Kannapolis
Travel Time: Approximately 33 minutes.
When: Now through December 30th (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Cost: Admission is free; tickets to ride the train and carousel are $6.00
The Scoop: Village Park in Kannapolis will be shimmering with more that 250,000 lights the month of December. In addition to the light display, the park will have more entertainment options such as roasting s’mores, visiting Santa, and a 30 minute Christmas Carol performance from the Kannapolis Singing Bears each hour on the hour. Don’t forget to make a reservation here to ride the Winterland Express and see if you can find all 12 Days of Christmas.
Dallas
Dallas Lavender Lane
937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas
Travel Time: Approximately 37 minutes.
When: December 1-24; Market festival December 11th & 12th from noon to 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
The Scoop: Gather the whole family and head to Dallas Lavender Lane for it’s Express Christmas Light Show where there will be thousands of holiday lights and activities for everyone to enjoy. Walk the Christmas trail or take the Dallas Lavender Lane train for a small fee. You can also get your picture taken with Santa December 4th and 5th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Along with the light show, they will be hosting a winter market festival held on December 11th and 12th that will have food and craft vendors, a covered pavilion to watch Christmas movies, and lavender Coffee along with other warm delicious drinks.
Coleman Christmas Light Show
1212 Misty Creek Dr., Iron Station
Travel Time: Approximately 45 minutes.
When: Daily from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. unless it’s raining.
Cost: Free
The Scoop: An annual tradition from the Coleman family, head to Denver, NC to see this bright synchronized display.
Troutman
Zootastic Park Christmas Wonderland of Lights
385 Ostwalt Amity Road, Troutman
Travel Time: Approximately 39 minutes.
When: Sunday through Thursday: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cost: $10 per person ages 2 and up.
The Scoop: Walk through this colorful animal park or drive through the light display. Either way, you’ll be greeted with holiday cheer at Zootastic Park. While you’re there, say hi to Santa and take a picture with him and a baby kangaroo. Enjoy hot cocoa, roasted s’mores, and other holiday treats on your trail. Kids have the option to take a ride on the train, carousel, or pony ride. You can also feed a tiger, giraffe, and barnyard animals for a small fee.
Newton
Lights On 13th Street
319 W 13th Street, Newton
Travel Time: Approximately 58 minutes.
When: Now through January 2nd.
Cost: Free, but donations are welcome. Donations this year will go to Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry and can be made in person or here https://www.ecccm.org/donate (please add them in the comment section)
The Scoop: Bright holiday lights sychronized to music. Listen through their speakers or tune in to 93.9FM to follow along. This year, they will have themed nights such as:
- Monday: 80’s night
- Tuesday: Anything goes
- Wednesday: Disney and Starwars
- Thursday: Transiberian Orchestra
- Friday to Sunday: Christmas music with Christian Artists on Sundays
South Carolina
Night of A Thousand Candles
Brookgreen Gardens, 1931 Brookgreen Garden Dr., Murrells Inlet, SC
Travel Time: Approximately 3 hours and 38 minutes.
When: Select days through Sunday, January 2; from 4 – 9 p.m.
Cost: Members – Adult: $25; Children 4-12: $12.00; Non-members – Adult $30.00; Children 4-12 $15.00
The Scoop: We promise this one is worth the drive. Brookgreen Gardens comes to life with over 2,800 hand-lit candles and innumerable sparkling lights. Enjoy holiday music as you walk the garden pathways and take in the view with a hot drink in hand. Complete your night with bites from The Old Kitchen found in the heart of the sculpture garden, dining with Harvest Restaurant, or stopping by a food truck.
