Feel the joy of the festive season in Concord! Our guide has all the top holiday events and activities.
During the holiday season, the Concord Christmas Parade lights up the city streets with vibrant floats and marching bands. Venturing just a bit away, you'll find McAdenville transforming into Christmas Town USA with dazzling light displays that enchant visitors. And the Kannapolis Celebration of Lights is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering family-friendly activities and mesmerizing shows. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Concord
See these and even more events listed below!Concord Holiday Light Displays
Speedway Christmas
What to Expect:
Drive-through light show on a NASCAR track
Description:
Charlotte Motor Speedway roars to life with a different kind of excitement during Speedway Christmas. This event merges racing heritage with holiday cheer, allowing visitors to drive their own vehicles around the illuminated track. Over 4 million LED lights create stunning displays, synchronized to holiday music. The infield transforms into a Christmas village, where guests can ice skate on the track's first-ever ice rink. This unique celebration began in 2011, quickly becoming a regional favorite.
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Concord Other Holiday Activities
Concord Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Community-driven parade with local flair
Description:
Concord's streets transform into a lively procession of holiday cheer during the annual Christmas Parade. Colorful floats, adorned with twinkling lights, showcase local businesses and organizations. You can wave to Santa as he makes his grand appearance atop a vintage fire truck. This beloved tradition dates back to 1928, reflecting the city's rich history. Marching bands fill the air with festive tunes, creating a joyous atmosphere for all ages.
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Nearby Events
McAdenville Christmas Town USA (McAdenville)
What to Expect:
Entire town decorated with over 500,000 lights
Description:
McAdenville earns its nickname "Christmas Town USA" by adorning nearly every inch of the town with dazzling red, white, and green lights. This small textile town's transformation began in 1956 when employees of the local mill started decorating trees around the company. Visitors can stroll through the illuminated streets, taking in the breathtaking displays. The town's lake reflects the shimmering lights, creating a mesmerizing scene that draws over 600,000 visitors annually.
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McAdenville Christmas Town USA
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights (Kannapolis)
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and activities
Description:
Kannapolis Village Park bursts with holiday spirit during the Celebration of Lights. This event goes beyond static displays, offering interactive light installations that respond to visitors' movements. Children delight in the Santa's workshop area, where they can craft their own ornaments. The celebration honors Kannapolis' agricultural heritage with light sculptures depicting local crops. Guests can warm up with hot cocoa while exploring the illuminated walking trails.
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Kannapolis Celebration of Lights
Winterland Express Train Ride (Kannapolis)
What to Expect:
Scenic train ride through holiday-themed landscapes
Description:
The Winterland Express whisks passengers away on a journey through a frosty wonderland. This unique train ride showcases elaborately decorated scenes along the route, bringing holiday stories to life. Carolers serenade riders with classic holiday tunes, filling the air with melodious cheer. The experience pays homage to Kannapolis' railroad history, which played a crucial role in the city's development. Passengers can participate in a holiday trivia contest during the ride.
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Southern Christmas Show (Charlotte)
What to Expect:
Massive indoor holiday market with regional flair
Description:
The Southern Christmas Show brings together hundreds of exhibitors under one roof, creating a shopper's paradise with a distinctly Southern twist. This Charlotte tradition, running since 1967, showcases handcrafted gifts and decor from artisans across the Southeast. Visitors can sample regional holiday treats like pecan pralines while browsing the aisles. The show's centerpiece is a life-sized gingerbread house, constructed annually by local bakers.
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North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (Cary)
What to Expect:
Fusion of Eastern and Western holiday traditions
Description:
Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre glows with the vibrant hues of the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival. This event bridges cultures, blending traditional Chinese artistry with Western holiday themes. Skilled artisans craft intricate silk lanterns, some towering over 20 feet tall. Visitors can try their hand at Chinese paper cutting, a centuries-old art form. The festival, which began in 2015, has quickly become a cherished part of the region's holiday celebrations.
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North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
Christmas in Davidson (Davidson)
What to Expect:
Small-town charm with a focus on community engagement
Description:
Davidson's historic downtown sparkles with holiday spirit during Christmas in Davidson. This three-day celebration emphasizes community involvement, with local businesses and residents collaborating to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Visitors can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the charming streets, lined with buildings dating back to the 19th century. The event honors Davidson's commitment to sustainability by featuring eco-friendly decorations and activities.
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Holiday Pops Concert (Charlotte)
What to Expect:
Symphony orchestra performance of holiday classics
Description:
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra fills Belk Theater with the rich, resonant sounds of beloved holiday melodies during the Holiday Pops Concert. This annual tradition elevates familiar tunes with the full power of a professional orchestra. Guest vocalists join the ensemble, adding depth and variety to the performance. Audience members can marvel at the conductor's custom-made, holiday-themed baton, a tradition started in 1993. The concert program includes a mix of classical and contemporary holiday pieces.
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Light the Knights Festival (Charlotte)
What to Expect:
Baseball stadium transformed into winter playground
Description:
Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, trades baseball for snowballs during the Light the Knights Festival. This event reimagines the ballpark as a winter wonderland, complete with a towering Christmas tree in center field. Visitors can glide across an ice rink created on the infield, a stark contrast to the summer heat usually associated with the stadium. The festival pays tribute to Charlotte's baseball history with vintage-inspired decorations and memorabilia displays.
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Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (Raleigh)
What to Expect:
Immersive light show with cutting-edge technology
Description:
Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park comes alive with the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular, pushing the boundaries of traditional light displays. This event utilizes state-of-the-art projection mapping technology to create dynamic, ever-changing scenes on the park's historic buildings. Visitors can interact with light installations through smartphone apps, personalizing their experience. The spectacular honors North Carolina's diverse ecosystems with themed areas representing the mountains, piedmont, and coast.
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Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular