2025 CLT-Area Holiday Event Guide

Grab your cocoa and cue the Mariah playlist—the holiday season has officially hit the Queen City! From tree-lighting nights that make you misty-eyed to twinkling light trails, cozy markets, and full-on festive chaos (the good kind), this is your ultimate guide to celebrating every merry minute around Charlotte and beyond.

A huge thanks to our friends at Atrium Health Levine Children’s for helping make the season shine bright. And if all that decking the halls has your family feeling a little… Grinchy, their team’s ready with expert tips to keep you healthy, happy, and holiday-ready.

From our Macaroni KID family to yours—here’s to a joyful, sparkly, and completely unforgettable holiday season!

Season’s Top Pick

Lights for Levine Children’s

Thursday, December 4, 2025 • Activities Begin at 6:00 PM Lights Start at 7:00 PM • Free
 Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital (Dilworth)
Bring flashlights to shine a little love toward patients—who shine right back from their windows. Free parking in the deck in front of the hospital. Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy or to make a donation to support patients and families during the holiday season. Event activities include card making, hot cocoa, surprise guests and more!  You can learn more about the event at this link. Can’t make it? Check out the Amazon Wishlist and send a gift directly to the patients. 

Holiday Shows

• Charlotte Ballet: Nutcracker — Belk Theater
  December 5–21, 2025 (multiple shows; tickets on sale)
  Snowfall on stage. Tchaikovsky. Tradition. Done.

• Children’s Theatre of Charlotte: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — McColl Family Theatre
   November 22–December 23, 2025 (all ages)

• Carolina Voices: The 71st Annual Singing Christmas Tree — Halton Theater (CPCC)
   December 13–14, 2025 (times vary)

• Charlotte Symphony: Cirque de Noël — Knight Theater
   December 19–21, 2025 (multiple shows)

• Harris YMCA Performing Company: The Nutcracker — Halton Theater
   December 20–21, 2025 (multiple performances; family-friendly pricing)

• Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story — Booth Playhouse
   December 12–14, 2025
  
  

Holiday Shopping & Markets

• Light the Knights Festival + Christmas Market
   November 26, 2025 – January 4, 2026 (select closures; ice skating & snow tubing)
  Truist Field, Charlotte

• OMB Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market)
  Weekends, November 28–December 21, 2025
  Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, LoSo & Ballantyne

• Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market
  December 2-23, 2025 | FREE | Upcycle Arts, Charlotte

• Mistletoe Market
  Saturdays, December 6, 13 & 20, 2025 • afternoon–evening (shop + vibes)
  Camp North End, Charlotte 

• Holidays in Huntersville
  December 6, 2025 | FREE | Veterans Park, Huntersville

• Maker's Market CLT at Fonta Flora
  December 6, 2025 | FREE | Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall, Charlotte

• Winter Holiday Market
  December 6, 2025  | Parking: $5 per vehicle for members, $15 per vehicle for non-members | Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill

• Haylo Healing Arts Lounge's 10th Annual Winter Market & Art Gallery
  December 7, 2025 | FREE | Haylo Healing Arts Lounge, Charlotte

• Gastonia Christmas in the City: Tree Lighting and Vendor Market
  December 7, 2025 | FREE | Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia

• Catawba Riverkeeper Christmas Market in Christmas Town, USA
  December 13, 2025 | FREE | Dynamo 31, McAdenville

• Sunny's Market Pop-Up Market -- Christmas Show
  Dec. 14, 2025 | Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis

• Starving Artist Market at Prosperity Village
  December 20, 2025 | FREE | Docia Crossing Road

Tree Lightings & Big Community Celebrations

• Monroe “Christmas on Main” & Tree Lighting — Downtown Monroe
   Saturday, December 6, 2025 • 3:00–8:00 PM
  

• Mint Hill Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting — Downtown Mint Hill
   Saturday, December 6, 2025 • 5:30–9:00 PM
  

• Indian Trail Winterfest & Tree Lighting — Chestnut Square Park
   Friday, December 5, 2025 • 6:00–9:00 PM
  

• Indian Trail Christmas Parade — Post Office Dr → Indian Trail Rd
   Sunday, December 7, 2025 • 4:00 PM
  

• Rock Hill Christmas Parade — Oakland Ave → Fountain Park
   Friday, December 5, 2025 • 6:30 PM 

• Holiday at the Plaza at Five Points Plaza
  December 13, 2025 | FREE | Five Points Plaza

• Waxhaw Christmas Parade — Downtown Waxhaw
   Sunday, December 14, 2025 • 3:00 PM
  

Lights & Can’t-Miss Attractions

• Speedway Christmas (Presented by Atrium Health) — Charlotte Motor Speedway (Concord)
  November 21, 2025 – January 4, 2026 • 6–10 PM
  Christmas Village open select dates; drive-in movies Thu–Sun through Dec 28. (Closed Dec 24.)
  

• Holidays at the Garden — Daniel Stowe Conservancy (Belmont)
  November 28 – December 27, 2025 (Flex tickets available)
  

• Christmas at the Library — Billy Graham Library (Charlotte)
  December 1–23, 2025
  Mon–Thu 5–9 PM; Fri–Sat 5–10 PM. (Closed Sundays.)
  

• Gingerbread Lane at The Ballantyne (Charlotte)
  December 14–28, 2025 • 9 AM–6 PM (closed Christmas Day)
  

• Christmas Town U.S.A. (McAdenville)
  December 1–26, 2025 • 5:30–10:00 PM nightly
  Yule Log Parade: Thursday, December 11, 2025 • 5:30 PM
  

• Lake Norman Lighted Christmas Boat Parade (Lake Norman)
  Saturday, December 20, 2025 • 5:30–7:00 PM
  Route: Blythe Landing → Ramsey Creek → Peninsula cove → Duke Energy Explorium (with Santa & food trucks).
  
  

Hanukkah (Dec 14–22, 2025)

Municipal menorah lighting details are still being posted. We’ll add Matthews, Waxhaw, SouthPark, and others once the towns (or local Chabad/community orgs) publish official times. 

First Night of Hanukkah on the Green (Davidson)

• Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• The Village Green, 119 S Main St, Davidson, NC
• Free entry
• Features Menorah lighting, crafts, donuts, hot chocolate, vendors.
  
  

Chanukah Celebration at Birkdale Village (Huntersville)

• Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 | 5:30 p.m.
• Birkdale Village on the Green, 8712 Lindholm Dr, Huntersville, NC
• Free entry
• Includes children’s crafts, latkes, donuts, gelt; presented by Chabad of Lake Norman.

Matthews Menorah Lighting
Stumptown Park, Matthews, NC — Sunday, December 14, 2025

Waxhaw Menorah Lighting
Downtown Waxhaw, NC — No confirmed exact date for 2025 

Outdoor Ice Rinks Around Charlotte

1. The Bowl at BallantyneLocation: 11115 Upper Avenue, Charlotte, NC

• Opens Nov 22 – Jan 4
• Admission includes skate rentals (bring your own for a small discount)
• Skate helpers available for younger/less-steady skaters
• Fun perk: Show your rink ticket at Postino for free Donut Dots
  
  

2. Camp North End
Location: 400 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC

• Open Nov 20 – Jan 4
• Adult tickets include rentals
• Reduced pricing for young kids (5 and under)
• Surrounded by markets, food stalls, and seasonal pop-ups — great for a full outing
  
  

3. Whitewater Center
Location: 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC

• Runs mid-Nov – mid-Feb
• Massive, 24,000-sq-ft ice “trail” with multiple skating zones
• Open 10 a.m.–10 p.m. weekends, noon–10 p.m. weekdays
• Requires a full-day pass; parking not included
• Feels more like an ice adventure park than a standard rink
  
  

4. Light the Knights at Truist Field
Location: 324 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC

• Open Nov 26 – Jan 4
• Includes skating, 10-lane snow tubing, lights, market, and Santa visits
• Pricing varies by activity
• Ideal for families wanting a big, immersive holiday night out
  
  

5. Birkdale on Ice (Huntersville)
Location: Birkdale Village – The Plaza

• Open Nov 22 – Jan 18
• Adult tickets include rentals; kids 16 and under get a discount
• Neighborhood-friendly setting with restaurants and shopping nearby
• Great choice for families north of Charlotte
  
  

6. Founders Holiday Ice Rink (Rock Hill)
Location: 300 E Main Street, across from Fountain Park

• Open Nov 18 – Jan 19
• Covered rink — skate rain or shine
• Admission includes 90 minutes on the ice plus skate rentals
• Perfect for families in Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Lancaster & Union County