7 Dazzling Holiday Celebrations to Enjoy in Charlotte, North Carolina
It’s Christmastime and families are eagerly in search of exciting, fun, and unique events. Whether it’s spectacular light shows, visits with Santa, or viewing traditional holiday musical productions, Charlotte, North Carolina has something intriguing for the entire family. Residents in the city or guests visiting from out of town have an opportunity to revel in these special celebrations that will add to the joy of the holiday season.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Friday, November 19, 2021 — Sunday, January 16, 2022
Themed “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, this marvelous, synchronized lights show is well worth the visit. Gather your family members in one vehicle or large group on a bus, drive up to Charlotte Motor Speedway, and set the radio to 101.3 FM. Be prepared for a truly magical time. Presented by Continental Tire and Tire Pros, the enthralling tradition features more than four million colorful lights winding through a four-mile course. Feel free to park your car on the infield and visit the Christmas Village. It includes holiday shopping, fire pits to roast s’mores, photos with Santa, and FOX Charlotte Movie Nights. The presentation is open from 6 pm to 10 pm and takes place rain or shine. The cost of vehicle passes, and bus passes vary.
Truist Field
Thursday, December 2, 2021 — Thursday, December 23, 2021
The remarkable Uptown skyline meets the fantastic holiday décor of Light the Knights presented by Truist. There are Instagram worthy backdrops at every turn as families stroll through this Winter Wonderland. Numerous delightfully decorated trees are found throughout this holiday experience. Kids get an opportunity to take part in interactive activities. The Charlotte Christmas Village offers a holiday market featuring tasty sweets like fudge, glazed nuts, and cotton candy as well as creative handmade gifts. A special addition is “Bark in the Park” in which attendees can bring their dogs on Sunday, December 5 and Sunday, December 12. Tickets prices are $10.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Friday, November 26, 2021 — Sunday, January 2, 2022
The enchanting Holidays at the Garden event has commenced. The beauty of the florals and plants with twinkling lights throughout gets everyone in the Christmas spirit. As guests observe beautiful holiday décor, they can roast marshmallows on a fire, dine on cuisine from food trucks, and listen to their favorite holiday melodies. The times are from 5 pm to 9 pm and prices vary.
Billy Graham Library
Monday, November 29, 2021 — Thursday, December 23, 2021
Behold the wondrous Live Nativity which depicts the birth of Jesus Christ. It is complete with shepherds, and animals. The beautiful Christmas events include horse-drawn carriage rides, story time on the patio with specially curated books from Ruth’s Attic Bookstore, Christmas Dinner featuring turkey, ham, and all the fixings, Christmas Carolers, a petting zoo, and much more. Prices and times vary.
North Carolina Transportation Museum
November 12–13, 19–21, 26–28 and December 3–5, 9–12, 14–23
This exciting and magical train ride is inspired by the fantasy movie The Polar Express. While listening to the songs from the movie’s soundtrack, passengers can enjoy hot chocolate and cookies on their trip to the North Pole. Upon arrival, you can hop off and meet Santa. Children of all ages are invited to wear their pajamas as they revel in the ride. Ticket prices and times vary.
Charlotte Ballet
December 3 — December 23, 2021
It’s the 50th Anniversary Season of the Charlotte Ballet. To really get into the Christmas spirit, purchase tickets to this holiday classic which is presented by Bank of America and held in the Belk Theater. Tchaikovsky’s music is performed by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Attendees twelve years of age and older must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID test. Ticket prices and performance times vary.
The Fourth Ward Holiday Sip & Stroll
9th & N. Poplar Streets
December 2–4, 2021
The American time-honored tradition of sauntering or riding by and admiring beautifully decorated homes for Christmas continues. But in The Fourth Ward neighborhood of Charlotte, there’s a really unique twist. For more than 40 years, this much anticipated event of holiday décor and festive music has mesmerized guests from near and far. This year, excited strollers sampled spirits from Muddy River Distillery, Petty Thieves Brewing, Southern Distilling Company, Woodford Reserve, Great Wagon Road Distillery, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Additionally, vendors offered complimentary clam chowder, kettle corns, hot chocolate, small pizza bites, petite tres leches, and cookies. While this event has passed, it will be great to add to your holiday calendar next year.
Accommodations in Uptown
When making plans to visit Charlotte to experience the amazing holiday events, it would be great to select budget-friendly hotels in Uptown. A really good choice is the moderately priced Hampton Inn Charlotte-Uptown. The property features guestrooms and suites, has views of the skyline, offers complimentary breakfast, and is in walking distance of restaurants, attractions, and specialty stores. Also, it’s decorated beautifully for the holidays. Its sister property, the Hilton Garden Inn, provides moderately priced stay as well. Both offer microwaves and mini fridges. In-suite whirlpool bathtubs are available in select rooms. Upscale hotels to consider in Uptown include The Ivey’s Hotel, Omni Charlotte Hotel, and The Westin Charlotte. For additional accommodations, click on this link for Featured Places to Stay.
Exceptional Eateries in and Around Town
Excellent restaurants abound in and around Charlotte. When you hit the town, just eat, drink, and be merry! Click on this link to discover cafes, bars, breweries, vineyards, and the hottest rooftop spots in the city. You also, want to explore eateries in towns just outside of the city limits. Check out this list of 101 Must-Try Restaurants.
Medium.com Contributor Leslie E. Royal is a global travel writer, author, micro-influencer, and multi-media journalist. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications including: ESSENCE, AAA Midwest Traveler, Black Enterprise, The Ashro Blog, FORTUNE.com, Medium, Upscale Living, and AAA Southern Traveler. She is an Ashro Brand Ambassador and the host of their popular video series called Onward and Upward with Leslie E. Royal. The creator of the Leslie’s Lane consumer information blog, she has two books: Leslie Lane The Book!: Your One Stop Internet Resource Guide to Links for Jobs, Inspiration, Discounts, FREE Stuff, Scholarships, Travel & More ( $14.95) and How to Write and Self-Publish Your Book for FREE with Amazon’s KDP: An Easy Way to Complete Your Manuscript in Seven Stress-Free Steps ($9.95). Follow Leslie on Instagram @LesliesLane and see her Amazon Author Page
