Things to do › Holiday Lights and Christmas Events
Holiday lights, Christmas parades, tree lightings and train rides across North Carolina, with the long-running shows listed apart from the single-date events.
57 holiday and Christmas events are on our calendar: 15 that run for weeks (light shows, train rides and garden displays) and 42 with a single date (parades, tree lightings and markets), across 28 towns.
57Holiday Events
15Run for Weeks
42One-Date Events
28Towns
Events come from our North Carolina events dataset (last re-checked Oct 21, 2026); each date and price was read on the organizer’s own page, and “See event page” means the organizer does not publish one. Plans and rules change, so check the organizer or park page before you drive.
Holiday and Christmas Events With Dates
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanglewood Festival of Lights: Paws in the Park Our guide | Nov 9-10: not published (reserve a spot online) | Clemmons · Triad | See event page |
| Southern Christmas Show Our guide | Nov 11-22 | Charlotte · Charlotte Region | See event page |
| A Magical Cirque Christmas | Sun, Nov 15 (Doors 5:00 PM; show 6:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Greensboro Science Center Winter Wonderlights Sensory Friendly Night | Tue, Nov 17 (5:30 PM - 9:00 PM) | Greensboro · Triad | See event page |
| Grandfather Mountain Holiday Tree Arrival | Fri, Nov 20 (11:00 AM-12:00 PM) | Linville · High Country | See event page |
| Lowes Foods Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting | Fri, Nov 20 (5:45 PM) | Hickory · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| 80th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade | Sat, Nov 21 (11:00 AM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| 82nd ABC11 Raleigh Christmas Parade Our guide | Sat, Nov 21 | Raleigh · Triangle | See event page |
| Craftsmen's Christmas Classic Art & Craft Festival | Nov 27-29 (Fri 9 AM-6 PM; Sat 10 AM-6 PM; Sun 10 AM-4 PM) | Greensboro · Triad | See event page |
| Festive in Flight: A Holiday Drone Show Celebration | Fri, Nov 27: Event 5:00 PM; 500-drone show begins 7:00 PM (about 15 min) | Pinehurst · Sandhills | See event page |
| Holiday Tree Lighting | Fri, Nov 27 (5:00 PM-8:00 PM) | Hendersonville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| North Carolina Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach Our guide | Nov 27-29 | Wrightsville Beach · Coast | See event page |
| Dowdy Park Tree Lighting | Sat, Nov 28 (5:00-7:00 PM; Santa arrives 5:30 PM) | Nags Head · Coast | Free (town says its events are free) |
| Old Salem Christmas Kick-Off | Sat, Nov 28 (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) | Winston-Salem · Triad | See event page |
| Very Merry Christmas (Opera House Theatre Company) (Thalian Hall) | Nov 28-29 (times not published on the listing) | Wilmington · Coast | See event page |
| City of Wilmington Holiday Parade | Sun, Nov 29 (6:00-8:00 PM; Front St closed 5:00-7:15 PM) | Wilmington · Coast | Free |
| Downtown Morganton Christmas Parade | Tue, Dec 1 (6:00 PM) | Morganton · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting | Thu, Dec 3 | Fuquay-Varina · Triangle | See event page |
| The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight (Crown Coliseum) | Thu, Dec 3 (Doors open one hour before show time; show time not published) | Fayetteville · Sandhills | See event page |
| Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker (Thalian Hall) | Dec 4-5 (showtimes not published on the page) | Wilmington · Coast | See event page |
| Chamber Music by Candlelight (Tryon Palace) | Fri, Dec 4 (7:00-9:00 PM) | New Bern · Eastern Plain & Inner Banks | See event page |
| Oak Island Christmas Tree Lighting (Middleton Park Complex) | Fri, Dec 4 (5:00 PM-7:00 PM) | Oak Island · Coast | Free |
| Olde Fashioned Christmas with Santa on the Square | Fri, Dec 4 (5:00 PM-8:00 PM) | Hendersonville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Sylva Christmas Tree Lighting | Fri, Dec 4 (6:00 PM-7:00 PM) | Sylva · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| 29th Annual Santa on the Chimney | Sat, Dec 5 (11:00 AM-2:00 PM) | Chimney Rock · Asheville & Foothills | Included with park admission; more prices on the event page |
| Hendersonville Christmas Parade | Sat, Dec 5 (6:00 PM) | Hendersonville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Hometown Heritage Christmas Parade | Mon, Dec 7 (6:00 PM-8:00 PM) | Waynesville · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet | Mon, Dec 7 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Pentatonix: Christmas in the City Tour | Mon, Dec 7 (7:00 PM) | Raleigh · Triangle | Visit Ticketmaster.com for pricing (no dollar amount on the venue page) |
| Carolina Ballet: The Nutcracker | Dec 10-24 | Raleigh · Triangle | See event page |
| Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol (Big Dawg Theatre Company) (Thalian Hall) | Dec 10-20 (times not published on the listing) | Wilmington · Coast | See event page |
| Matthew West: Come Home for Christmas Live on Tour | Thu, Dec 10 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (Raleigh) | Thu, Dec 10 (7:00 PM; doors 6:00 PM) | Raleigh · Triangle | Visit Ticketmaster.com for pricing (no dollar amount on the venue page) |
| 27th Annual Fayetteville Rotary Christmas Parade | Sat, Dec 12 (10:00 AM-12:00 PM) | Fayetteville · Sandhills | See event page |
| An Enchanted Christmas at Reynolda | Dec 12-15 (Dec 12 and Dec 15, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM) | Winston-Salem · Triad | $25 adults, $10 youth; museum members $20 adults, $8 youth |
| Candlelight at Tryon Palace | Dec 12-19 | New Bern · Eastern Plain & Inner Banks | See event page |
| Gingerbread Jamboree (Marbles Kids Museum) Our guide | Dec 12-13 (Sessions 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM each day) | Raleigh · Triangle | $18 member | $20 general public per attendee; reusable gingerbread house $25 |
| Old Salem ChristmasFest | Sat, Dec 12 (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) | Winston-Salem · Triad | See event page |
| Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve | Sat, Dec 12 (Two shows: 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM) | Charlotte · Charlotte Region | See event page |
| Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam Our guide | Sat, Dec 12 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Fayetteville Marksmen Nightmare Before Christmas Night vs Pee Dee | Fri, Dec 18 (7:00 PM EST) | Fayetteville · Sandhills | See event page |
| Holiday Train Rides with Mountain Fresh Orchards | Sat, Dec 19 (5:00 PM-8:00 PM) | Hendersonville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
Holiday and Christmas Events Running for Weeks
Not checked for each date: these run for weeks, and some open only on certain days or nights. Check the organizer’s page for the day you want.
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore | Nov 3-Jan 9, 2027 (not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (Great Smoky Mountains Railroad) Our guide | Nov 5-Jan 3, 2027: not published (choose date/time at booking) | Bryson City · Smoky Mountains | Coach Class from $50.85 adult (13+), $33.52 child (2-12), $0.00 infant; more prices on the event page |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (NC Transportation Museum) Our guide | Nov 6-Dec 23 | Spencer · Charlotte Region | See event page |
| Tanglewood Festival of Lights Our guide | Nov 13-Jan 1, 2027 (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM daily) | Clemmons · Triad | Per family vehicle (cars, vans, trucks): Mon-Thu $20 cash / $23 card; more prices on the event page |
| Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum | Nov 13-Jan 3, 2027 (Gates open 6:00 PM, last entry 9:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Dowdy Park Holiday Markets | Nov 14-Dec 12 (Saturdays Nov 14, Nov 28, Dec 12, 9 AM-12 PM) | Nags Head · Coast | Free (town says its events are free and family-friendly) |
| National Gingerbread House Display at The Omni Grove Park Inn Our guide | Nov 17-Jan 3, 2027 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Greensboro Science Center Winter Wonderlights | Nov 18-Jan 3, 2027 | Greensboro · Triad | See event page |
| Speedway Christmas (drive-thru light show) | Nov 20-Jan 3, 2027 (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM, rain or shine) | Concord · Charlotte Region | See event page |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (11th year) Our guide | Nov 21-Jan 10, 2027 | Cary · Triangle | See event page |
| Sandhills Garden of Lights | Nov 27-Jan 9, 2027 (5:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays) | Pinehurst · Sandhills | See event page |
| Tweetsie Christmas | Nov 27-Dec 30 | Blowing Rock · High Country | Adults 13+ $65; children 3-12 $45; ages 2 and under free; parking free |
| Holidays at the Garden (Daniel Stowe Conservancy) | Nov 28-Dec 30 | Belmont · Charlotte Region | See event page |
| Visits with Santa and Carriage Rides, Courthouse Square | Nov 28-Dec 20 | Morganton · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Christmas Town U.S.A. light display (McAdenville) Our guide | Dec 1-26 (5:30 PM - 10:00 PM nightly; walk or drive through downtown) | McAdenville · Charlotte Region | See event page |
Keep Planning
- By month: November, December, January
- Regional event hubs: Asheville & Foothills, Triad, Coast, Triangle, Charlotte Region, Sandhills, Smoky Mountains, High Country, Eastern Plain & Inner Banks
- By day: Today, Tomorrow, This Weekend, Next Week, By Month
More Topic Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the big light shows start?
The dates are in the tables, read from each organizer. Shows that run for weeks sit in their own table, since some open only on certain nights.
Do I need tickets for the light shows?
Some are free to drive or walk through and some sell timed tickets. The price column shows what the organizer publishes, and “see event page” means they do not publish one.
Are there detailed guides for the biggest ones?
Yes: our events hub links guides for Christmas Town U.S.A., Tanglewood Festival of Lights, the Polar Express and others, and rows with a guide carry an “Our guide” link.
Sources
- Each event links to the organizer’s own page, where its date, hours and price were read; all rows are in the North Carolina events dataset with a checked date on every row.
How we check: editorial standards, verification log, corrections.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Holiday Lights and Christmas Events”, itsnorthcarolina.com/things-to-do/holiday-lights-and-christmas-events/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.