Holiday lights and Christmas events in Charlotte 2026

Last checked Nov. 2, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates come from each organizer’s own page, linked below; times and prices can change, so check before you go.

Updated Oct. 25: Billy Graham Library carriage ride prices added; Speedway Christmas has Value Nights and Village Nights; Grinch musical venue confirmed.

Updated Oct. 26: Speedway Christmas is closed Dec. 24; full pages for Speedway Christmas and the Nutcracker added.

Updated Nov. 2: the Panthers and Charlotte FC Tree Lighting is Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Bank of America Stadium, free with a mobile ticket.

The Charlotte holiday season starts with the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Our parade and tree lighting page covers the parade route and the Bank of America Stadium tree lighting. This page covers the light shows, Santa visits, holiday concerts and menorah lightings.

Who to call

• County holiday events: CharMeck 311, 704-336-7600, or the listing linked for each event
• Grinch musical tickets: ImaginOn, 704-416-4600
• Symphony tickets: charlottesymphony.org
• Emergency: 911

Light shows

Speedway Christmas, Nov. 20 to Jan. 3. Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord runs what it calls the Southeast’s largest drive-thru holiday light show: more than 5 million lights on a four-mile course around the oval, pit road and infield road course. It is open 6 to 10 p.m., rain or shine, closed Dec. 24, with lights synchronized to music on 101.3 FM and drive-in movies on the speedway’s giant screen. The speedway says Friday and Saturday nights in December are the busiest, and suggests Sunday or Thursday for a shorter wait. Value Nights are a lower-priced drive-through without the Christmas Village; Village Nights add the village and extra holiday activities. Tickets and the nightly calendar: charlottemotorspeedway.com. Passes, Express Lane, the Christmas Village and the movie schedule are on our Speedway Christmas page.

WinterFest at Carowinds, Nov. 27 to Jan. 3. The amusement park reopens for the holidays with light displays, live shows, Santa and up to 29 rides and attractions. Carowinds says live shows, light displays, select activities and most rides are included with park admission; food, drink and some holiday experiences, including cookie decorating and Santa visits, cost extra. Operating days: carowinds.com.

Christmas at the Library, Dec. 1-23. The Billy Graham Library, 4330 Westmont Drive, puts up its Christmas lights with a live Nativity, carolers and story time every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission and parking are free; reserve a time on the library’s site. Carriage rides are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12, and the Christmas dinner (Thursday to Saturday, seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.) is ticketed. Details: billygrahamlibrary.org.

Santa visits

• Swim with Santa, Friday, Dec. 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Santa gets in the pool at Ray’s Splash Planet, 215 N. Sycamore St., and leads water games, with photos and winter snacks. Small fee; register on the county listing.
• Carowinds WinterFest: Santa appears in the park and in the holiday musical Tinker’s Toy Factory.
• Holiday Pops, Dec. 18-20: the Charlotte Symphony’s carols concert at Knight Theater includes a visit from Santa, with a family performance on Saturday, Dec. 19 (details).
• Letters to Santa: North County Regional Library in Huntersville holds a Letters to Santa writing group from Dec. 1 (listing).

Free county holiday events

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation lists these in Charlotte (sign up on each listing):

• Holiday Express, Friday, Dec. 4, 6 to 8 p.m., Southview Recreation Center: a pajama party for children 5 to 12 and their families (listing; check for a fee).
• Nature Holiday Celebration, Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2986 Rocky River Road: free drop-in, with a fire, cider and cocoa (listing).
• An Ivory Christmas Celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 6 to 8 p.m., Ivory/Baker Recreation Center: free games, crafts, music and hot chocolate (listing).

Holiday shows and concerts

• Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker, Dec. 4-23, Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., with the Charlotte Symphony playing live; Charlotte Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker is Dec. 4-6 at CPCC’s Halton Theater. Show times, parking and the VIP add-on: our Nutcracker page.
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Nov. 21 to Dec. 23, McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn, 300 E. Seventh St. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is staging the Grinch musical for the first time. Ticketed; performances on Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Grinch page.
• Charlotte Symphony holiday season (full list): Grinch in Concert at Ovens Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28; Majestic Brass and Organ at First United Methodist Church, 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29; Handel’s Messiah at Knight Theater, Dec. 4-6; Festival of Lights, Dec. 10; Cirque de Noel, Dec. 11-13; and Holiday Pops, Dec. 18-20.

Hanukkah and menorah lightings

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, and the eighth candle is lit on Friday, Dec. 11, according to the Hebcal calendar. The Charlotte Symphony’s Festival of Lights concert on Thursday, Dec. 10, at Knight Theater brings together voices from Charlotte’s Jewish communities. As of Nov. 2, no public menorah lighting in Charlotte had posted 2026 details; we will add them when organizers do.

What this means for you

• Go to Speedway Christmas early in the week to avoid long lines.
• Driving Uptown for a concert: check our road construction and closures page and our getting around page for decks and the LYNX lines.
• Many county events need a free registration; sign up early, as spots fill.
• More holiday plans: Black Friday and holiday shopping, New Year’s Eve and our trash pickup holiday schedule for Christmas week.

Frequently asked questions

When does Speedway Christmas open in 2026?

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway runs Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, to Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly, rain or shine.

When is WinterFest at Carowinds 2026?

WinterFest runs Nov. 27, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, on the park’s operating days. Light displays, live shows and most rides are included with park admission.

Where can kids see Santa in Charlotte?

Santa appears at Carowinds WinterFest and at Mecklenburg County’s Swim with Santa at Ray’s Splash Planet on Friday, Dec. 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Charlotte Symphony’s Holiday Pops concerts Dec. 18-20 also include a visit from Santa.

When is Hanukkah 2026?

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, with the first candle, and ends Saturday, Dec. 12. The Charlotte Symphony’s Festival of Lights Hanukkah concert is Thursday, Dec. 10, at Knight Theater.