101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Charlotte - 2023 | Kids Out and About Charlotte <

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Charlotte - 2023

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 2023!

Santa Sightings

Multiple dates starting Nov 4, 2023 Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's
Multiple dates starting Nov 19, 2023 2023 Southern Christmas Show
Multiple dates starting Nov 10, 2023 The Polar Express™ Train Ride at N.C. Transportation Museum
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 WinterFest 2023 at Carowinds
Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023 Celebration of Lights - City of Kannapolis
Multiple dates starting Nov 23, 2023 Christmas Wonderland of Lights at Zootastic Park
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Christmas with the Kringles Adventure 2023 at Millstone Creeks Orchard
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Photos with Santa! - Northlake Mall
Multiple dates starting Nov 25, 2023 Morning with Santa at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Postponed until 2024 Charlotte Christmas Village
Nov 25, 2023 Annual Light Up Cornelius
Nov 26, 2023 65th Annual Lincolnton Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting!
Multiple dates starting Nov 27, 2023 Pet Photos with Santa at Northlake Mall
Nov 28, 2023 74th Annual Christmas Parade - City of Belmont
Multiple dates starting Nov 30, 2023 Christmas in Davidson 2023
Multiple dates starting Nov 30, 2023 2023 ChristmasVille in Rock Hill, SC
Dec 1, 2023 Rock Hill Christmas Parade 2023
Dec 1 & 2, 2023 Christmas In Huntersville
Dec 2, 2023 41st Annual North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade
Dec 2, 2023 2023 Breakfast with Santa - City of Lincolnton
Dec 2, 2023 Belmont's Christmas Village
Dec 3, 2023 Santa Paws in the Park - Town of Cornelius
Dec 3, 2023 Donuts with Santa & Mrs. Claus - Millstone Creek Orchards
Dec 3, 2023 Christmas Parade - Town of Indian Trail
Dec 8, 2023 A Classic Christmas in Mooresville
Dec 9, 2023 Kannapolis Christmas Parade 2023
Dec 9, 2023 9th Annual Christmas Enchantment in the Garden
Dec 9, 2023 Photos with Santa at Metropolitan
Dec 9, 2023 A December to Remember at Promenade On Providence
Dec 9, 2023 Campfire Christmas at the Lake
Dec 10, 2023 2023 Christmas Parade - Town of Waxhaw
Dec 16, 2023 2023 North Carolina Christmas Festival

 

Old-Time Christmas

Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023 Christmas at Billy Graham Library
Dec 5, 2023 Holidays at the Garden – Merry Krampus Night
Dec 14, 2023 2023 Yule Log Ceremony at Christmas Town U.S.A.

 

Light Displays

Multiple dates starting Nov 15, 2023 27th Annual Sandhills Children's Center Festival of Trees
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 SPEEDWAY CHRISTMAS 2023 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 Tree Lighting Ceremony at Northlake Mall
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 WinterFest 2023 at Carowinds
Nov 18, 2023 Light Up Waxhaw
Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023 Christmas Wonderland of Lights at Zootastic Park
Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023 Celebration of Lights - City of Kannapolis
Nov 21, 2023 Christmas Parade & Downtown Tree Lighting - Town of Landis
Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2023 Light the Knights Festival, Presented by Truist
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Holidays at the Garden 2023
Nov 25, 2023 Annual Light Up Cornelius
Nov 26, 2023 65th Annual Lincolnton Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting!
Multiple dates starting Nov 27, 2023 City of Belmont's 6th Annual Festival of Trees
Dec 1, 2023 Christmas In Huntersville 2023
Dec 1, 2023 Annual Christmas Tree Lighting 2023 - Town of Harrisburg
Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023 Holiday Lights of Christmas Town U.S.A. 2023
Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023 Sea of Lights 2023 at SEA LIFE Aquarium
Dec 2, 2023 Christmas Tree Lighting in Monroe
Multiple dates starting Dec 7, 2023 Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Dec 9, 2023 9th Annual Christmas Enchantment in the Garden

 

Holiday Races

Nov 22, 2023 Bright Lights 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
Nov 25, 2023 ChristmasTown 5K 2023
Dec 1 - 31, 2023 (Virtual) Santa Hustle 2023 VIRTUAL
Dec 9, 2023 2023 Jingle Bell Run - Charlotte, NC
Dec 9, 2023 We Believe - Santa 5K and Dog Jog

 

Holiday Theatre

Multiple dates starting Nov 3, 2023 The Real Christmas Story - NarroWay Productions
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical - Children's Theatre of Charlotte
Nov 25 & 26, 2023 Christmas with C S Lewis - Blumenthal Performing Arts
Multiple dates starting Dec 7, 2023 CLARA'S TRIP: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story
Multiple dates starting Dec 8, 2023 Scrooge! The Musical - Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts
Multiple dates starting Dec 8, 2023 A Christmas Carol presented by Theatre Charlotte
Multiple dates starting Dec 8, 2023 Charlotte Ballet - NUTCRACKER
Dec 9 &10, 2023 Nutcracker (in a nutshell) presented by Open Door Studios
Dec 20 - 23, 2023 Cirque de Noël & Charlotte Symphony
Dec 26 & 27, 2023 The Hip Hop Nutcracker 2023 - Blumenthal Performing Arts
Dec 27 & 28, 2023 A Magical Cirque Christmas - Blumenthal Performing Arts

 

Holiday Concerts

Nov 18, 2023 2023 Jazz at the Garden Holiday! featuring Kim Scott
Nov 24 & 25, 2023 ELF™ IN CONCERT - Charlotte Symphony
Nov 25, 2023 Rocky Mountain High Experience®, A John Denver Christmas - Blumenthal Performing Arts 
Nov 27, 2023 A Motown Christmas - Blumenthal Performing Arts
Nov 28, 2023 MAJESTIC BRASS - Charlotte Symphony
Nov 29, 2023 Christmas with The Petersens - Blumenthal Performing Arts
Dec 1 - 3, 2023 Handel's Messiah - Charlotte Symphony
Dec 2, 2023 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis - Blumenthal Performing Arts
Dec 2, 2023 ¡Celebra! with Criss Cross Mangosauce: A Bilingual Family Holiday Concert
Dec 8, 2023 Soulful Christmas - Charlotte Symphony
Dec 15 - 17, 2023 Holiday Pops - Charlotte Symphony
Dec 20 - 23, 2023 Cirque de Noel - Charlotte Symphony
Dec 22 & 23, 2023 Soulful Noel 2023 - Blumenthal Performing Arts

 

Christmas Tree Experience

Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023 Helms Christmas Tree Farm
Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023 Cedar Lake Tree Farm
Multiple dates starting Nov 19, 2023 Millstone Creek Orchards
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Penland Christmas Tree Farm - York, SC
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Cherry Place Farm

 

Ice Skating

Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023 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

Multiple dates starting Nov 9, 2023 2023 Southern Christmas Show
Multiple dates starting Nov 11, 2023 Mistletoe Markets at Millstone Creek Orchards
Mutiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 Lincolnton's Annual Handmade for the Holidays
Nov 18, 2023 Holiday Pop Up Market at Ballantyne Village
Postponed to 2024 Charlotte Christmas Village
November 24- 26, 2023 Holiday Market 2023 - City of Kannapolis
November 25, 2023 Huntersville Holiday Market
Nov 30 - Dec 2, 2023 The Winter Wonderland Shop
Dec 2, 2023 Holiday Pop-Up Marekt at Metropolitan
Dec 2, 2023 2023 Winter Artisan Market at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Dec 2, 2023 Belmont's Christmas Village
Dec 8, 2023 A Classic Christmas in Mooresville

 

Hanukkah

Dec 8, 2023 Shabbat Evening Service - Celebrating Chanukah / Temple Beth El
Dec 10, 2023 Porch Southern Fried Chanukah
Dec 13, 2023 Menorah Lighting 2023 - Town of Waxhaw

 

New Year's Eve

Dec 31, 2023 2023 Apple Drop NYE Street Party! - City of Lincolnton
Dec 31, 2023 New Years at Noon - NASCAR Hall of Fame
Dec 31, 2023 New Year’s Eve Trail Race
Dec 31, 2023 Countdown to Noon NYC Party - SAS Cupcakes
Dec 31, 2023 CLT NYE

 

Miscellaneous

Nov 8, 2023 Grinchmas Story Time at SAS Cupcakes
Nov 15, 2023 Wreath Making at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Millstone Creek Orchards
Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023 Holiday Tea at The Ballantyne
Dec 2 & 3, 2023 Sugar Plum Tea Party at Open Door Studios
Dec 3, 2023 FREE Holiday Community Movie Night
Dec 3, 2023 Community Holiday Movie Night with Matthews United Methodist
Dec 9, 2023 Flashlight Candy Cane Dash - Town of Cornelius
Dec 16, 2023 Wreaths Across America 2023 - Town of Waxhaw
Dec 24 & 25, 2023 Christmas Meals at The Ballantyne
Dec 26, 2023 UNDECK the Hall! - NASCAR Hall of Fame
Multiple dates starting Dec 26, 2023 Winter Holiday 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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