Christmas in Lake Norman

Ring in the holidays in Lake Norman at all of the area events in each lake town. The festivities get started each year with the downtown favorite, Christmas in Davidson. A charming event full of warm drinks, shopping, family, friends and everything to get you in the holiday spirit. Additional popular celebrations include Huntersville Christmas, North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade and Light Up Cornelius.

2022-2023 Events

Zootastic Park Christmas Wonderland of Lights

November 18 - January 1
Zootastic Park  |  Event Details

Drive through over 4 million lights while listening to Christmas music, and when you're finished be sure to stop inside and meet Santa and his baby kangaroos! We'll have s'mores, hot chocolate, carousel rides, train rides, and so much more! Guaranteed to be a night filled with magic and Christmas joy for the whole family.

Speedway Christmas

November 18 - January 8 (Closed Christmas Eve)
Charlotte Motor Speedway  |  Event Details

One of the Southeast’s largest and most-anticipated holiday traditions, Speedway Christmas presented by Continental Tire and Tire Pros features four million lights strewn across a remarkable four-mile course, with hundreds of creative displays and lights synchronized to Christmas-themed music. The show is open 6-10 p.m. rain or shine and also features synchronized lights to music on 101.3 FM.

Embrace the season with holiday music from crooning carolers and find joy in Christmas activities and holiday attractions for the entire family. Help children write letters to Santa and watch their eyes grow as thousands of glimmering holiday lights appear during the Carowinds' Christmas tree lighting, one of the largest in the area.

After an evening of FUN, get caught up in the merry procession of the WinterFest Wonderland Parade, a nightly Christmas parade with lavishly decorated floats, festive music and performers.

Birkdale on Ice

November 19 - January 16
Birkdale Village  |  Event Details

Tis’ the season to lace up your skates and glide into the holiday spirit at Birkdale on Ice! For the first time ever, Birkdale Village will have an ice skating rink and they can't wait to lace up their skates with you.

Tickets are available now! Guests will need to book ice skating reservations in advance to ensure a skating time slot. Walk-ups are also welcome, but they cannot guarantee you will be able to skate at that time.

11th Annual Light Up Cornelius

November 26
Cornelius Town Hall  |  Event Details

Join the community for the annual tree lighting on the lawn! Festivities will include local performers, horse-drawn carriage rides, craft vendors, photos with Santa Claus, a s'mores station, a model train display, food vendors, and the tree lighting ceremony. Don't forget your camera!

Concessions available for purchase includes Eleven Lakes Brewing, Big City Bites, It's Poppin! Gourmet Kettle Korn, and S&K Funnel Cakes.

Christmas Market

November 26
Lost Worlds Brewing  |  Event Details

Celebrating Small Business Saturday by putting local makers and artisans on stage at their largest market of the year. More than 45 small businesses come together to kick off the holiday season. The back lot of the brewery is turned into aisles of gifts from jewelry and candles to unique gifts for foodies. Other highlights include 10am Yoga before the market opens, food trucks, special beer releases and a place to gather with family and friends

Christmas in Huntersville & The Holiday Market

November 26-27 & December 2-3
Veterans Park  |  Event Details

The Holiday Market will run in conjunction with Shop Small Weekend on Saturday, Nov 26 and Sunday, Nov 27 from 2-6pm each day. We will have a variety of artisan vendors, food, and beverages. Santa will be onsite too!

Friday, Dec 2, 6-9pm | Town Tree Lighting

We invite you to shop the variety of artisan vendors, local food and beverages. Santa will be onsite too! Our traditional children's rides and activities will be open. The lighting of the tree will kick off the festivities at 6:30pm.

Saturday, Dec 3, 2-8pm | Christmas in Huntersville

Free activities include; children’s rides, Artisan Ice Sculptures, holiday performances on stage from a variety of local groups, Carolers of Christmas Past, glitter tattoos, face painting, balloon twisters, roaming holiday characters, letters & pictures with Santa, and much, much more!  Shop with local vendors who have the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your list.  Food & beverages will be onsite for purchase as well. 

Christmas in Davidson

December 1-3
Downtown Davidson  |  Event Details

As the largest and most popular Davidson event, Christmas in Davidson will immediately put you into the holiday spirit. Take a ride on the trolley, stroll down the beautiful and picturesque Main Street, start your holiday shopping early at the many wonderful and unique specialty shops, take a journey through the Giving Tree Village on the Village Green and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment. 

Visit the many participating Davidson businesses who will be offering everything from reindeer food and art projects for the kids to live music and complimentary beverages.  Enjoy the find foods and beverages at the many fantastic restaurants Davidson has to offer and also enjoy the treats offered by our Christmas in Davidson food vendors as well.

North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade

December 3
Starts at Main Street Davidson  |  Event Details

Watch a variety of high school bands, school groups, organizations, and more march in the annual parade. At the conclusion of the parade, enjoy the second Merry Main Street Tricycle Race in which four-person trike teams sponsored by Davidson businesses race through an obstacle course down Main Street.

Christmas in Cornelius

December 4
Cornelius Town Hall  |  Event Details

Join us on Sunday, Dec 4 from 12-6pm and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon emceed by Patrick of live bands, Christmas carols & choirs, food trucks, craft breweries, holiday kids activities, and even a visit from Santa himself! Christmas in Cornelius will feature over 80 local artists and craftsmen, making this the PERFECT opportunity to get those one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones!

Huntersville Half Marathon & Holiday 5k

December 9-10
Birkdale Village  | Event Details

The Huntersville Holiday 5k will start on Friday night at 7pm. The Huntersville Half Marathon and 10K will start on Saturday morning at 8am. With this schedule it will allow runners to bundle two events if they are up for the challenge. Please be very careful while registering and make certain you are registering for the correct event or the challenge.