Plan your holiday adventure in Gastonia with our comprehensive event guide. For Gastonia natives and newcomers alike, our guide illuminates the best of the city's holiday offerings.
Experience the twinkling magic of Christmas Town USA, a beloved festive tradition featuring enchanting lights. Take a drive through the dazzling light displays and festive setup at Speedway Christmas, offering a unique holiday experience. And don't forget to explore the mesmerizing Holiday Lights at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, a visual spectacle you definitely don't want to miss. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Gastonia
See these and even more events listed below!Gastonia Holiday Markets and Shopping
Santa's Bag Craft Show
What to Expect:
Craft show featuring handmade holiday gifts and decorations
Description:
Santa's Bag Craft Show overflows with handcrafted holiday treasures. Local artisans display their wares, from intricate ornaments to cozy quilts. The air is filled with the scent of cinnamon and pine from handmade candles and soaps. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts like glass blowing and wood carving. This event celebrates Gastonia's rich crafting heritage, which dates back to the early settlers who made everything by hand.
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Gastonia Other Holiday Activities
Gaston Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Small-town parade with a focus on local community
Description:
Gastonia's Christmas Parade marches through downtown, bringing the community together in a display of hometown pride. Floats adorned with tinsel and lights roll down Main Street, accompanied by the cheerful sounds of local marching bands. Children can catch candy tossed from passing floats. The parade has been a Gastonia tradition for over 50 years, reflecting the city's growth and changes through the decades.
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Nearby Events
Christmas Town USA (McAdenville)
What to Expect:
Entire town transformed into a Christmas spectacle
Description:
McAdenville transforms into a dazzling holiday spectacle, earning its nickname "Christmas Town USA." The tradition began in 1956 when the local men's club decorated a few trees around the town center. Today, nearly every home and business participates, creating a sea of twinkling lights. Visitors can stroll through the illuminated streets, admiring the elaborate displays. The town's rich textile history is woven into the celebration, with many decorations crafted from locally produced materials.
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Speedway Christmas (Concord)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light show at a NASCAR speedway
Description:
Speedway Christmas revs up holiday cheer at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This unique event merges racing heritage with holiday spirit, featuring over 4 million LED lights along a 3.75-mile course. The speedway's infield transforms into a Christmas village, complete with a 50-foot Ferris wheel. As you cruise through the light show, tune your radio to synchronized holiday music. The event pays homage to NASCAR history with light displays featuring famous race cars and drivers.
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Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Holiday Lights (Belmont)
What to Expect:
Botanical garden transformed into illuminated winter landscape
Description:
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden blazes to life with thousands of twinkling lights. This horticultural haven becomes a luminous landscape, showcasing nature's beauty in a new light. Topiary animals spring to life, adorned with glowing outlines. Visitors can warm up with hot cocoa while exploring the garden's winding paths. The event honors the garden's founder, Daniel Stowe, who envisioned a place where people could connect with nature year-round.
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Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Holiday Lights
Holiday on Ice (Charlotte)
What to Expect:
Outdoor ice skating in the heart of Charlotte
Description:
Holiday on Ice brings winter fun to the heart of Charlotte. An open-air ice rink pops up in the city center, offering a slice of winter wonderland in the South. Skaters glide across the ice under the glow of the city's skyline. You can practice your figure eights or simply enjoy a leisurely lap around the rink. This event harkens back to Charlotte's first outdoor ice rink, which opened in the 1950s and became a beloved winter tradition.
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Christmas at the Billy Graham Library (Charlotte)
What to Expect:
Christmas celebration focused on faith and Billy Graham's legacy
Description:
Christmas at the Billy Graham Library illuminates the religious roots of the holiday. The grounds come alive with nativity scenes and biblical quotes etched in light. Visitors can tour Graham's restored childhood home, decorated as it would have been in the 1930s. The event emphasizes Graham's message of hope and faith, with each display carefully crafted to reflect his ministry. Live music fills the air with hymns and carols, creating a reverent atmosphere.
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Christmas at the Billy Graham Library
Downtown Belmont Christmas Village (Belmont)
What to Expect:
Historic downtown transformed into a European-style Christmas market
Description:
Downtown Belmont Christmas Village transports visitors to a charming European-style market. The historic Main Street becomes a bustling holiday bazaar, with wooden stalls offering unique gifts and treats. Carolers in Victorian attire serenade shoppers as they browse. You can sample traditional German pastries while admiring the town's beautifully preserved 19th-century architecture. This event pays homage to Belmont's textile mill history, which brought many European immigrants to the area.
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Downtown Belmont Christmas Village
Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals (Myrtle Beach)
What to Expect:
Victorian-era themed Christmas celebration
Description:
The Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals brings Victorian England to life in Myrtle Beach. This elaborate event recreates the atmosphere of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," complete with costumed characters and period-accurate decorations. Visitors can browse through a Victorian holiday marketplace, filled with unique gifts and antiques. The show features live performances of Dickens' works, immersing guests in 19th-century holiday traditions. This event has been transporting visitors back in time for over 35 years.
Website:
Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals
Brevard Christmas Parade and Twilight Tour (Brevard)
What to Expect:
Combination of daytime parade and evening home tour
Description:
Brevard's Christmas Parade and Twilight Tour offers a day-to-night holiday experience. The parade marches through downtown in the afternoon, featuring floats inspired by local folklore and the area's famous white squirrels. As night falls, historic homes open their doors for a candlelit tour, showcasing stunning holiday decorations. Visitors can admire the intricate details of these preserved 19th-century homes. This event celebrates Brevard's rich architectural heritage and close-knit community spirit.
Website:
Brevard Christmas Parade and Twilight Tour
Holiday Tea at Duke Mansion (Charlotte)
What to Expect:
Elegant tea service in a historic mansion
Description:
Holiday Tea at Duke Mansion serves up refinement and history in equal measure. This Charlotte landmark opens its doors for an elegant afternoon tea service amidst lavish holiday decorations. Guests can savor delicate sandwiches and pastries while admiring the mansion's exquisite architecture. The event offers a glimpse into Charlotte's Gilded Age, when the Duke family entertained in grand style. Each room of the mansion tells a story of the city's past, beautifully preserved for modern visitors.