High Point, NC, transforms into a holiday wonderland each winter, offering an array of festive activities and experiences. Visitors can enjoy the High Point Holiday Carousel, a vintage merry-go-round featuring hand-painted holiday scenes and intricately carved animals, perfect for creating lasting family memories. The annual Christmas Parade lights up downtown, spotlighting the city's rich furniture-making heritage with elaborately decorated floats, marching bands, and, of course, Santa Claus.
For a truly dazzling spectacle, don't miss the Festival of Lights, where over a million LED lights illuminate a winding drive-through path synchronized to holiday tunes. Whether you're a local or a visitor, High Point's holiday events promise to fill your season with magic and merriment.
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The Top Christmas Events in High Point
- High Point Holiday Carousel
- Christmas Parade
- Santa's Workshop
- High Point Ballet’s Nutcracker
- Holiday Pop-Up Market
- Christmas by Candlelight Tour
- Christmas Open House
- Holiday Craft Fair
- Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
- Tree Lighting Ceremony
High Point Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Pop-Up Market
What to Expect:
Rotating selection of local vendors in a historic downtown building
Description:
High Point's Holiday Pop-Up Market breathes new life into a historic downtown building. Each week, a rotating selection of local vendors fills the space with handcrafted gifts, artisanal foods, and unique holiday decor. The market's ever-changing lineup ensures a fresh experience with each visit. You can sample locally-made treats while browsing one-of-a-kind items. This innovative approach to holiday shopping supports small businesses and showcases the diverse talents of High Point's creative community.
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Christmas Open House
What to Expect:
Local businesses showcase holiday offerings with special demonstrations
Description:
High Point's Christmas Open House transforms downtown into a hub of holiday cheer. Local businesses throw open their doors, offering special demonstrations and behind-the-scenes looks at their holiday preparations. Furniture showrooms unveil festive displays, while restaurants serve up seasonal specialties. You can watch artisans create custom holiday pieces in real-time. This event highlights High Point's community spirit and entrepreneurial drive, showcasing the diverse talents that make the city unique.
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Holiday Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Focus on traditional Appalachian crafts and folk art
Description:
The Holiday Craft Fair in High Point celebrates the rich tradition of Appalachian craftsmanship. Artisans from across the region gather to showcase their skills in woodworking, quilting, pottery, and more. The air is filled with the scent of pine and cinnamon as visitors browse handmade ornaments, folk art, and traditional toys. You can try your hand at simple craft projects guided by experienced makers. This fair pays homage to the cultural heritage of the North Carolina Piedmont, preserving age-old techniques and passing them on to new generations.
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High Point Holiday Shows and Entertainment
High Point Ballet’s Nutcracker
What to Expect:
Local dancers perform alongside professional guest artists
Description:
High Point Ballet's production of The Nutcracker combines the talents of local dancers with guest artists from renowned companies. The performance features lavish costumes and sets inspired by High Point's furniture design heritage. Tchaikovsky's iconic score fills the theater as dancers bring the beloved story to life. You can marvel at the intricate choreography, blending classical ballet with contemporary elements. This annual production has been a cornerstone of High Point's cultural calendar for over three decades, nurturing local talent and inspiring future generations of dancers.
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High Point Ballet’s Nutcracker
High Point Other Holiday Activities
High Point Holiday Carousel
What to Expect:
Vintage carousel with hand-painted holiday scenes
Description:
A cherished High Point tradition, the Holiday Carousel spins to life each winter. This vintage merry-go-round features hand-painted holiday scenes on its ornate panels, transporting riders through a whimsical journey. The carousel's tinkling melodies fill the air as families create lasting memories. You can choose from an array of intricately carved animals to ride, including reindeer and polar bears. Dating back to the 1920s, this carousel has been a part of High Point's holiday celebrations for nearly a century.
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Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Furniture-themed floats showcasing local industry
Description:
High Point's Christmas Parade marches through downtown, showcasing the city's rich furniture-making heritage. Elaborately decorated floats feature furniture-inspired designs, paying homage to the local industry. Spectators line the streets, cheering as marching bands, classic cars, and community groups pass by. Children eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus, who concludes the parade atop a specially crafted sleigh. This annual event has been uniting the community in holiday spirit since the 1930s.
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Santa's Workshop
What to Expect:
Interactive toy-making stations for children
Description:
Santa's Workshop in High Point buzzes with activity as children become honorary elves for the day. This hands-on experience features interactive toy-making stations where young visitors can craft their own holiday creations. The workshop's decor draws inspiration from High Point's furniture-making legacy, with custom-built workbenches and tools. You can watch skilled artisans demonstrate traditional woodworking techniques used in toy production. This event pays tribute to High Point's history as a manufacturing hub, blending education with holiday cheer.
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Christmas by Candlelight Tour
What to Expect:
Guided tour of historic homes decorated for the holidays
Description:
The Christmas by Candlelight Tour illuminates High Point's architectural heritage. Visitors explore beautifully preserved historic homes, each adorned with period-appropriate holiday decorations. Candlelight flickers, casting a warm glow on antique furnishings and festive arrangements. Knowledgeable guides share stories of High Point's past, bringing the city's history to life. You can admire the craftsmanship of these century-old residences while learning about holiday traditions of bygone eras. This intimate tour offers a unique perspective on High Point's evolution from a small village to a thriving city.
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Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
What to Expect:
Multi-denominational services held in historic churches
Description:
High Point's Christmas Eve Candlelight Services unite the community in a spirit of harmony. Multiple historic churches open their doors for these reverent gatherings, each offering a unique perspective on the holiday. Centuries-old sanctuaries glow with the soft light of hundreds of candles as voices join in familiar carols. You can participate in time-honored rituals or simply absorb the peaceful atmosphere. These services reflect High Point's diverse spiritual heritage, fostering a sense of unity and reflection as the year draws to a close.
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Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Community-decorated tree with ornaments representing local organizations
Description:
High Point's Tree Lighting Ceremony unites the community in a collaborative display of holiday spirit. The towering evergreen is adorned with handcrafted ornaments, each representing a local organization or business. As the switch is flipped, thousands of lights illuminate the night, accompanied by a chorus of gasps and cheers. You can admire the diverse array of ornaments, each telling a unique story of High Point's vibrant community. This tradition, started in the 1950s, has evolved into a symbol of the city's collective creativity and unity.
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Nearby Events
Festival of Lights (Greensboro)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display with synchronized music
Description:
High Point's Festival of Lights illuminates the night with a dazzling drive-through experience. Visitors cruise through a winding path of twinkling displays, each synchronized to holiday tunes broadcast on their car radios. The route features over a million LED lights, forming intricate scenes and playful animations. You'll encounter towering light sculptures, including a 50-foot Christmas tree. This eco-friendly event uses energy-efficient technology, aligning with High Point's commitment to sustainability.
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Christmas at Korner's Folly (Kernersville)
What to Expect:
Victorian-era holiday decorations in a unique 22-room house
Description:
Korner's Folly, a peculiar 22-room Victorian house, transforms into a holiday time capsule during Christmas. Each room showcases authentic Victorian-era decorations, offering a glimpse into 19th-century yuletide celebrations. The house's eccentric architecture, featuring 15 different levels, adds to the charm of the experience. Visitors can explore hidden passages adorned with period-appropriate garlands and ornaments. Built in 1880, Korner's Folly preserves the holiday traditions of High Point's past, allowing guests to step back in time.
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Winterfest (Greensboro)
What to Expect:
Ice sculpture garden with live carving demonstrations
Description:
High Point's WinterFest centers around a stunning ice sculpture garden, where master carvers transform blocks of ice into glistening works of art. Visitors witness live carving demonstrations, marveling at the sculptors' skill and precision. The event also features an outdoor ice rink, allowing you to glide beneath twinkling lights. WinterFest celebrates High Point's creative spirit, showcasing both traditional and contemporary ice art techniques. This cool attraction has become a highlight of the city's winter calendar since its inception in 2015.
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Holiday Market Show (Greensboro)
What to Expect:
Artisan market featuring locally crafted furniture and decor
Description:
The Holiday Market Show in High Point spotlights the city's renowned craftsmanship. Local artisans and furniture makers display their finest creations, offering unique holiday gifts and home decor. The market buzzes with activity as visitors browse handcrafted wooden toys, custom upholstered pieces, and intricate holiday ornaments. You can watch live demonstrations of furniture-making techniques passed down through generations. This event honors High Point's status as the "Furniture Capital of the World," blending holiday shopping with a celebration of local artistry.
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Old Salem Christmas Events (Winston-Salem)
What to Expect:
18th-century Moravian holiday traditions
Description:
Old Salem comes alive with 18th-century Moravian Christmas traditions. The historic district's cobblestone streets are lined with buildings adorned in simple, period-appropriate decorations. Costumed interpreters demonstrate colonial-era crafts and share stories of early American holiday customs. You can participate in a traditional love feast, a Moravian service featuring sweet buns and coffee. Established in 1766, Old Salem offers a unique glimpse into the holiday celebrations of the area's early settlers, preserving their cultural heritage.
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Santa Train (Spencer)
What to Expect:
Vintage train ride with Santa through scenic countryside
Description:
The Santa Train in High Point offers a nostalgic journey through the picturesque Piedmont countryside. Passengers board a beautifully restored vintage train, greeted by the cheerful sound of carols. The scenic route winds through frost-covered landscapes, providing stunning views of the winter scenery. You can enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while Santa visits each car, listening to children's wishes. This unique experience harkens back to the golden age of rail travel, celebrating High Point's historical connection to the railroad industry.
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Christmas in Davidson (Davidson)
What to Expect:
Small-town celebration with live nativity and horse-drawn carriage rides
Description:
Christmas in Davidson captures the essence of small-town holiday charm. The quaint streets come alive with the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages and the soft glow of twinkling lights. A live nativity scene, complete with local farm animals, brings the Christmas story to life. You can warm up with spiced cider while browsing charming boutiques offering unique gifts. This event harkens back to simpler times, preserving the close-knit community spirit that has defined Davidson for generations.