Holidays In NC

Holiday Light Shows Glow with Seasonal Cheer

This holiday, experience the magic of seasonal light displays in dozens of glistening gardens, festive neighborhoods, cheerful downtowns and luminous boat parades statewide. For a complete list of holiday light displays, visit our events calendar.

Christmas Town USA  
Opens Nov. 30, 2012
McAdenville 
This small Gaston County town has been transforming into Christmas Town USA for more than 50 years. Visitors can walk or drive the two-mile route at no cost to enjoy nearly 400 decorated trees, more than 200 festive wreaths, Santa and his reindeer and more.

Meadow Lights  
Opens Nov. 16, 2012 
Benson 
The farming community of Meadow celebrates the season with the largest holiday light display in the area. In addition to more than 30 acres of lights, Meadow Lights visitors can enjoy an old-fashioned candy store, train and carousel rides and time with Santa.

Tanglewood Festival of Lights
Opens Nov. 17, 2012
Clemmons
Tanglewood Park spreads 180 displays — 70 of them animated — along a four-mile stretch. This year’s display uses more low-energy LED lights (which are brighter and eco-friendlier) to create giant snowflakes, holiday scenes, storybook tableaux and the signature Driving Golfer. The Holiday Gift Village features a gift shop and concessions; hayrides and carriage rides are available by reservation.

Trail of Lights
Opens Nov. 20, 2012
Valdese
The foothills town illuminates its heritage with 100,000 lights. The display showcases the traditional Christmas theme and also features displays that are intertwined with the culture of the pilgrims who left Italy in the 1890s in search of religious freedom. 

Carolina Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway  
Opens Nov. 19, 2012
Concord
Carolina Christmas is the Charlotte region’s largest holiday light show, featuring more than 4.5 miles of holiday light displays. The show also includes Santa’s Christmas Village, which features a Bethlehem-themed village, petting zoo, food, music and photos with Santa. A new addition this year is an ice-skating rink open through the holiday season. The village is open Thursday through Sunday. 

Hometown Holidays 
Opens Nov. 24, 2012 
Forest City 
Feel the magic of more than half a million twinkling lights on the tree-lined streets of downtown Forest City. Enjoy carriage rides, hayrides and visits with Santa. Seasonal events throughout the Lake Lure & Blue Ridge Foothills area include choir performances, Santa’s “chimney” climb at Chimney Rock State Park and the New Year’s Day Polar Plunge.

Festival of Lights
Opens Nov. 22, 2012
Beulahville
Yes, Mike’s Farm is a farm, but it’s also a restaurant, a country store and more, and during the holiday season, it becomes a light park with hayrides through the festive scenery. Visit Thursday-Saturday to catch the Christmas Dinner Show or come on a Wednesday in December to dine with Santa.  

Holiday Lighting of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA  
Nov. 23, 2012
Wilmington
The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA will take part in the City of Wilmington’s annual downtown Christmas tree lighting Nov. 25 by illuminating the ship from the bow up to the masts and down to the stern. The ship is lit nightly from dusk until 11 p.m. and is best viewed from downtown Wilmington.

Chetola Resort’s Festival of Lights  
Opens Nov. 23, 2012
Blowing Rock
This Blowing Rock holiday tradition features more than 50,000 lights and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Drive around Chetola Lake to view glittering ice skaters, a nativity scene, Rudolph catching a big fish and more.

Holiday Lights at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden  
Opens Nov. 23, 2012 
Belmont
Holiday Lights will showcase half a million lights, a breathtaking Christmas tree created with hundreds of orchids, carriage rides, live entertainment and even a visit from Santa in a room designed to capture the essence of Christmas morning. Visitors create enduring memories as they experience lighting designs that combine contemporary and traditional displays with accents on nature.

Enchanted Airlie  
Opens Nov. 23, 2012
Wilmington
Gather the family for a stroll through the gardens to enjoy holiday flowers, festive lights, live music, a working model train and LEGO® display featuring more than 150,000 colorful bricks.

Island of Lights  
Opens Nov. 23, 2012
Carolina Beach
Families can enjoy a one-mile walk around Carolina Beach Lake decorated by holiday light displays. The month-long celebration also includes a Nov. 30 Christmas parade and Dec. 1 Holiday Flotilla lighted boat parade.

Lights on the Neuse
Opens Nov. 23, 2012
Clayton
Boyette Farms creates old-fashioned family fun with its holiday light park, which visitors experience by tractor-pulled hayride. The merriment continues at the Christmas Barn, where Rudolph, Santa and a winter wonderland await. Candy, cocoa and s’mores from Santa’s Sweet Shoppe round out a festive evening.  

Kites with Lights
Nov. 24, 2012
Nags Head
Watch the night sky magically transform as kites with lights glow in the sky atop Jockey’s Ridge State Park from 4 to 6 p.m. Enjoy hot apple cider and cookies beginning at 4 p.m. across the street at Kitty Hawk Kites.

North Carolina Holiday Flotilla  
Nov. 24, 2012
Wrightsville Beach
A Wrightsville Beach tradition, the Flotilla lighted boat parade and fireworks display has been named one of the Top 20 “Must See Events in the Southeast.” On the same day, families are invited to the annual Holiday Flotilla Festival in the Park, complete with arts and crafts booths, food, children’s games and more.

Festival of Lights  
Dec. 7, 2012
Greensboro
Savor the spirit of the season with live music, strolling carolers and Santa. Stroll along Elm Street from Center City Park and enjoy downtown Greensboro's shops, galleries and restaurants. Stop by the community tree at Center City Park, grab a warm cup of hot chocolate and embrace the spirit of the season.

Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Dec. 7-8 and 14-15, 2012
Dillsboro
Beginning at dusk, the Smoky Mountains town will be aglow with thousands of luminaries and twinkling lights adorning every business. The stores serve goodies, Santa sets up shop, and the streets are filled with music, entertainment and Christmas cheer.  

WinterLights
Opens Dec. 1, 2012
Manteo
Peacocks, butterflies, deer and other enchanting creatures take up temporary residence at the Elizabethan Gardens. Created with flowers, seeds and other natural elements, the lighted displays join the permanent art elements — which include the world’s largest bronze statue of Elizabeth I. 

added: November 11, 2009

updated: November 19, 2012