101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Charlotte - 2025
KidsOutAndAbout is Charlotte's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Charlotte, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun in 2025!
Santa Sightings
Old-Time Christmas
| Multiple dates starting Dec 2, 2024 | Christmas at Billy Graham Library |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Holidays on the Homesite - Charlotte Museum of History |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 2024 Yule Log Parade at Christmas Town U.S.A. |
| Dec 14, 2024 | A Night at the Museum: A Holiday Fundraiser - Museum of the Waxhaws |
| Dec 14 & 15, 2024 | Christmas Candlelight Tours - Culture & Heritage Museums |
Light Displays
Holiday Races
| Nov 22, 2025 | 2025 Charlotte Jingle Bell Run |
| Nov 23, 2024 | GingerSnap 5K / Girls on the Run Race |
| Nov 27, 2024 | Bright Lights 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run |
| Nov 30, 2024 | ChristmasTown 5K 2024 |
| Dec 1 - 31, 2024 (Virtual) | Santa Hustle 2024 VIRTUAL |
| Dec 7, 2024 | We Believe - Santa 5K and Dog Jog |
Holiday Theatre
Holiday Concerts
Christmas Tree Experience
| Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2024 | Millstone Creek Orchards |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 23, 2024 | Cedar Lake Tree Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2024 | Penland Christmas Tree Farm - York, SC |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2024 | Cherry Place Farm |
Ice Skating
| Multiple dates starting Nov 16, 2024 | Founders Holiday Ice Rink |
| Seasonal | Ice Skating at United States National Whitewater Center |
| Year Round | Extreme Ice Center |
| Year Round | Pineville Ice House |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Oct 4, 2025 | 24th Annual Holiday Craft Show & Boutique Market |
| Oct 24 - 26, 2025 | 44th Annual Christmas Made in the South |
| Nov 1, 2025 | The Rose & Cherry Christmas Market |
| Nov 1, 2025 | A Holly Jolly Christmas Show at Union County Agricultural Center |
| Nov 8, 2025 | Christmas Market 2025 in Thomasville, NC |
| Nov 8, 2025 | 48th Annual Craft Fair - Thomasville, NC |
| Nov 8 & 15, 2025 | Mistletoe Markets at Millstone Creek Orchards |
| Nov 15, 2025 | Carolina Christmas Bazaar |
| Nov 11, 2025 | Kefi's North Pole Pop-Up |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Sun Valley Commons Holiday Spectacular |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Lexington Holiday Spectacular |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Sun Valley Commons Holiday Spectacular |
| Nov 22 & 23, 2025 | The Mistletoe Market at Uwharrie Vineyards & Winery |
| Nov 29 & 30, 2025 | 4th Annual Christmas Extravaganza at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center |
| Dec 5, 2025 | The Merry Market at Benford Brewing Co. |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Christmas in the Park at Stallings Municipal Park |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Merry Pop-Up Market at New Sarum Brewing Company |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 2025 Winter Holiday Market at Anne Springs Close Greenway |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Mistletoe Market at Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Christmas Bazaar - Town of Monroe, NC |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2025 | 2nd Annual Columbia Christmas Extravaganza |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Old Waxhaw Christmas by Sunny Day Markets |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Christmas Market at Bush-N-Vine |
| Dec 13, 2025 | WinterFest 2025 at 760 Craft Works |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Christmas Market at Koren Farms |
| Dec 20, 2025 | WinterFest in Downtown Matthews! |
| Dec 20, 2025 | Santa’s Village in Wesley Chapel |
| Nov 9, 2024 | Holiday Merry Market at The Grand Hall - Catalyst Mercantile |
| Nov 9, 2024 | A Candy Land Christmas Downtown Open House - Lincolnton, NC |
| Multiple dates Nov 14 - 24, 2024 | 2024 Southern Christmas Show |
| Nov 16, 2024 | Holiday Pop Up Market at Ballantyne Village |
| Nov 23, 2024 | Lincolnton's 11th Annual Handmade for the Holidays |
| Dec 4 - 7, 2024 | The Winter Wonderland Shop |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2024 | Create In Us Art Studio's Annual Christmas Bazaar |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Holiday Market - Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
Diwali
| Oct 20, 2024 | Diwali Shopping Expo & Carnival |
| Oct 27, 2024 | Kids Diwali Celebration 2024 |
| Oct 28, 2024 | Multicultural Family Storytime: Diwali Festival of Lights - North County Regional Library |
| Oct 28, 2024 | Pajama Storytime: Diwali Festival of Lights - Pineville Library |
| Nov 9, 2024 | ELRC: Diwali Festival 2024 |
Hanukkah
| Dec 7, 2024 | 6th/7th Grade Chanukah Glow Party - Temple Beth El Charlotte |
| Dec 13, 2024 | LIBERTY Latke Lock-In - Temple Beth El Charlotte |
| Dec 26, 2024 | Menorah Lighting 2024 - Town of Waxhaw |
| Dec 27, 2024 | Chanukah Shabbat Evening Service - Temple Beth El |
| Dec 27, 2024 | Congregational Chanukah Dinner - Temple Beth El |
Kwanzaa
| Dec 18, 2024 | Holiday Family Storytime - North County Regional Library |
| Dec 27, 2024 | Lionel Lee Jr. Center for Wellness Kwanzaa Celebration |
| Dec 31, 2024 | CADDC's Annual Kwanzaa Performance (with Kwanzaa Charlotte) |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 31, 2025 | New Year's Eve at WinterFest 2025 - Carowinds |
| Dec 31, 2025 | New Year's Eve Bash - Town of Cornelius, NC |
| Dec 28, 2024 | New Year Countdown! - Iredell Museums |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Noon Year’s Eve Celebration - SEA LIFE Aquarium |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Noon Year's Eve Party - Matthews, NC |
| Dec 31, 2024 | 2024 Apple Drop NYE Street Party! - City of Lincolnton |
| Dec 31, 2024 | CLT NYE |
| Dec 31, 2024 | New Year New Season - NASCAR Hall of Fame |
Miscellaneous
| Nov 1, 2025 | Davidson Cookie Crawl |
| Nov 23, 2025 | Christmas Open House - Uptown Lexington |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Ugly Sweater Contest - Town of Davidson, NC |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Holiday Family Farm Day with Greenway Stables |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Holly Jolly Movie Night at Stallings Municipal Park |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 3, 2024 | Merry Moo-mories: Highland Cow Mini Sessions |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 10, 2024 | Angel Tree at Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 11, 2024 | Holidays for Heroes: Presented by Toyota & The NASCAR Hall of Fame |
| Nov 22, 2024 | Holiday Star Party Food Drive at Jockey's Ridge State Park |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2024 | Poinsettias - Patterson Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 25, 2024 | Winter Barn & Playground - Patterson Farms |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2024 | Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Millstone Creek Orchards |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2024 | Holly Jolly Farm Days - Patterson Farm |
| Nov 30, 2024 | A Very Murray Christmas Festival - Murray's Mill Historic District |
| Dec 1, 2024 | Gingerbread Workshop - Rowan Museum |
| Dec 1, 2024 | Community Holiday Movie Night with Matthews United Methodist |
| Dec 1 - 8, 2024 | Gingerbread House Competition - Lake Norman State Park |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 4, 2024 | Christmas Mini Sessions - Picture Project CLT |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2024 | Holiday Tea at The Ballantyne |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Christmas-Themed Parent's Night Out - Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Holiday Trees for Wildlife - Winghaven |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Christmas in the Park - Sunny Day Markets |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Grinch Pajama Party - Open Door Studios |
| Dec 7 & 8, 2024 | Gnome for the Holidays - Culture & Heritage Museums |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Wreath Making - Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Creating Magic in Gingerbread - North Carolina Museum of Dolls, Toys, & Miniatures |
| Dec 10, 2024 | Holiday PJ Storytime - Gaston County Public Library |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Christmas in the Grove - Rowan Museum |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Movies in the Park: A Christmas Story - Belmont, NC |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Holiday Tea & Fun with Mrs. Claus - North Carolina Museum of Dolls, Toys, & Miniatures |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Wreaths Across America 2024 - Town of Waxhaw |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Very Merry Youth Christmas Party - Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Dec 15 & 16, 2024 | Rainbow Express Live Nativity |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 15, 2024 | Gingerbread Lane - The Ballantyne |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 16, 2024 | Jingle in the Jungle - North Carolina Zoo |
| Dec 18 - 20, 2024 | Carols After Work - Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Dec 20 & 21, 2024 | Belmont Christmas Carriage Rides |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Selfies with The Grunch! - Picture Project CLT |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Silly Santas - Culture & Heritage Museums |
| Dec 22, 2024 | Children’s Nativity (During Worship Dec 22) - Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Dec 23, 2024 | Nutcracker Magic - Open Door Studios |
| Dec 26, 2024 | "Undeck" the Hall! - NASCAR Hall of Fame |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 26, 2024 | Winter Train Rides - North Carolina Transportation Museum |
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com and BeyondTheNest.com at ross@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
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