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Nothing captures the spirit of the holidays quite like going to see arrays of sparkling lights and ornaments. Experience the magic of seasonal light displays in gardens, at museums and resorts, and in small towns and downtowns across North Carolina. For a complete list of holiday light displays throughout the state, visit our events calendar.
Listicle View
Mike's Farm Festival of Lights
Come for the 10-layer chocolate cake at the farm’s bakery; stay for an after-dark hayride through the holiday light display. You can also reserve a table at the farm’s restaurant for a meal of classic fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum
Experience this 3-acre nightly tour of the arboretum's nationally known gardens, including its Quilt Garden and Bonsai Exhibition Garden. Designed to showcase the natural landscape, the displays feature colorful native butterflies and winter wildlife with a special insect-themed lantern exhibit on view.
Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights
From storybook scenes to holiday themes, more than 100 light displays fill a nearly 5-mile route at Tanglewood Park, 15 minutes outside Winston-Salem. You’ll enjoy everything from "S'moresville" to individual-family tractor-pulled hayrides and private horse-drawn carriages.
WinterFest at Carowinds
One of the South's most popular theme parks, Carowinds transforms into WinterFest with thousands of shimmering lights, a large Christmas tree, lavish displays, live shows and strolling performers, and special holiday dishes and desserts fill the midways.
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival includes all-new displays, each one comprising hundreds of parts and thousands of LED lights. A variety of ticket options — including Twilight and Any Night — make planning your visit a breeze. A sensory-friendly night is also on the calendar for Dec. 3.
Winter Wonderlights
Greensboro Science Center invites you to celebrate with loved ones at Winter Wonderlights. Featuring 12 magical realms of joyful sounds and shimmering lights, this walk-thru experience recommends making reservations online. Check the calendar before buying tickets; select weekdays are discounted, and you’ll find Santa most weekend days.
WinterLights at Elizabethan Gardens
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 permanent art elements — which include the world’s largest bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Meadow Lights
This farming community celebrates the season with a sparkling holiday display with more than 30 acres of lights. Your family will also enjoy the old-fashioned candy store, train rides, carousel rides and time with Santa.
Speedway Christmas
One of America’s largest holiday light shows, Speedway Christmas features more than 5 million lights over a 4-mile course that includes the oval, pit road and infield road course.
Winterfest at Tryon International
Roll down the windows as you cruise past the light-up snowmen, Christmas trees and reindeer that take over the equestrian resort each winter. When you finish your lap, lace up some ice skates and glide around the Tryon Stadium rink.
Enchanted Airlie
Gather the family for a stroll through Airlie Gardens to enjoy holiday flowers, festive lights, live music, a working model train and more.
Kersey Valley Christmas
From the same folks who bring to life one of the top haunted attractions in the country comes Kersey Valley Christmas. This huge family-friendly event features a village of 1 million Christmas lights, train and wagon rides, jumping pillows, Santa’s workshop — and even a Grinch Cave. Pro tip: Purchase a photo package online beforehand to guarantee meeting both Santa and the Grinch, and join the virtual queue as soon as you arrive so you can spend more time exploring.
Lu Mil Vineyard's Festival of Lights
Tune in to the specified FM radio station in this drive-thru Festival of Lights and soak in the millions of lights and decorations that are synchronized to the music. The vineyard also transforms into a Christmas Village featuring free photos with Santa, a hot chocolate booth, a country buffet and a gift shop.
Beary Merry Christmas
Beary Merry Christmas officially begins with "Light Up the Season," an annual family event that welcomes Santa and illuminates Bear Plaza with hundreds of lights. During the following days during this festive holiday celebration, you can enjoy Mistletoe Markets, a flotilla, live window displays and other activities.
Lights on the Neuse
Boyette Farms offers a holiday light park, which visitors experience by 20-minute tractor-pulled hayride. The merriment continues with photos of Santa and "Santa's Sweet Shoppe."
Country Christmas Train
The Handy Dandy Railroad chugs past Christmas light displays, a live nativity scene and dancing elves on its 1.5-mile track. Afterward, snag a photo with Santa at the train depot before heading to the Gingerbread House for cookies.
Holidays at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy
At the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, you and your loved ones can enjoy an elegant lighting display, food trucks, a fire pit for toasting marshmallows and making s’mores, and a host of other traditions in the Visitor Pavilion. The Orchid Tree, featuring more than 300 live orchids, stands sentinel over the Great Hall.
Chetola's Festival of Lights
This free Blowing Rock holiday tradition features nearly 30,000 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.
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
Wilmington and neighboring beaches launch the holiday season with a boat parade on the Intracoastal Waterway. More than two dozen boats, from personal watercraft to yachts, channel their owners’ creativity into delightful light displays against the night sky. The annual event includes an all-day festival and the main event, complete with fireworks afterward.
Downtown in December
Several events bring downtown Greensboro to life for the holidays. Festival of Lights takes place Dec. 1 with a laser show, live entertainment and the tree lighting. The parade takes place Dec. 2. Plus, outdoor ice skating, known as Piedmont Winterfest, continues through late January.
Christmas Town USA
In this mill town west of Charlotte, the hundreds of Christmas trees on display outnumber the households in a celebration that started in 1956 with nine evergreens. From modest (6-foot tree, 500 lights) to dazzling (90-foot tree, 5,000 lights), the displays blaze a trail to the heart of town. With about 600,000 visitors traveling the 2-mile route, be prepared to relax and enjoy a very slow ride, especially on weekends.
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Beginning at dusk, this Smoky Mountain town glows with thousands of luminaries and twinkling lights adorning every business. The stores serve goodies, Santa sets up shop, and the streets fill up with music, entertainment and Christmas cheer. Cozy up in a horse and buggy ride — they're available each night.