Your official 2025 Charlotte Christmas Lights Guide is here, just in time for the most festive time of the year. We’ve got all the scoop on everything from neighborhood light spectaculars to winter wonderlands around the QC, so grab your hot chocolate, get in the car, and turn those Christmas tunes all the way up (or sync your radio to some of the light shows listed below).
Note: We’re getting ready to drive by these displays ourselves, so we’ll be updating with new info as we can!
Favorite Neighborhood Lights Displays
Sherwood Forest Drive in Southpark
Deemed a Charlotte holiday tradition by many, Sherwood Forest Drive is back for another year of spreading holiday cheer with Santa and donations for St. Jude.
Address: 7323 Sherwood Forest Drive
Hillside Avenue Holiday Hunger Drive Through in Myers Park
Known for their infamous chickenwire Christmas light balls, the festive street also accepts cash or food donations for Loaves and Fishes. If you’re lucky, you may catch some Christmas carolers during your drive-by.
Address: Hillside Avenue in Myer’s Park
Governor’s Square in South Park
Colorful lights and ornaments has become a staple of another great street to stop by during your CLT Christmas Lights tour.
Address: Behind the Foxcroft Wine on Fairview Rd
Eastover Road Display
You’ll know you’ve arrived once you spot the 20 foot inflatables amongst sparkling lights in this Eastover neighborhood.
Address: 323 Eastover Road Charlotte, NC
Queen Family Christmas in the Montibello Neighborhood
Beautiful light displays, inflatables, and even a live nativity on certain nights are the staples of Montibello’s holiday cheer. They raise money for Charlotte Rescue Mission and Bethany’s Butterflies, a great opportunity to support a good cause and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.
Address: 3943 Black Sycamore Drive, Charlotte, NC 28226
Ardrey Neighborhood Lights in South Charlotte
From synchronized light shows to all-out Christmas decor, hundreds of houses in Ardrey neighborhood take Christmas lights to the next level.
Address: Type in Wheatfield Road on your GPS for a good starting point.
Dilworth Santa House
The Dilworth Santa house is worth a drive by, with over 30 Santas camped out front.
Address: 906 Magnolia Ave, Charlotte, NC
Perkins Lights in South CLT
Grab your hot cocoa, get in the car, and tune your radio to 89.5 to see the lights synced to the music as you drive through Perkins Lights. Plus, they also raise money for Childs Play.
Address: 216 Port Royal Drive Charlotte, NC 28105
Hillwood Ct. Holiday Lights in South CLT
Plenty of twinkling lights and holiday inflatables can be found at this home in the Starmount neighborhood.
Address: 1410 Hillwood Ct. Charlotte, NC
Lights on Mountain Laurel in Matthews
Starting the day after Thanksgiving, this home’s Christmas light display in the Fairhaven Neighborhood will be on every night until New Year’s Eve from 5 PM to midnight. They even have a festive walking path. Newly added this year, they have 10 of Santa’s elves are hidden amongst the display! See if you can spot them all. Check out their Facebook page for more info.
Address: 1001 Mountain Laurel Court Matthews, NC
Lights on Blue Bonnet Lane
Through NYE from 5 pm to midnight, enjoy the blue-lit displays of Blue Bonnet Lane with a walking path and festive photo ops.
Address: 2111 Bluebonnet Lane, Stallings, NC
Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail
Enjoy a walk-through of lights on this 5 acre horse farm with free entry. Make your walk a little sweeter with their hot chocolate trailer, opening on December 5th. Check out their Facebook page for updates.
Address: 3999 Fincher Road Indian Trail, NC 28104
Nikita’s Christmas Wonderland
Christmas lights, immersive displays, and inflatables. The main display is in the backyard from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Address: 1417 Deer Spring Ct, Indian Trail
Arndt Christmas Lights in Huntersville
Thousands of lights and a colorful Christmas display at this family favorite house. Free, but donations are welcome. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Address: 14904 Carbert Lane, Huntersville
Zimnowski Light Show in Huntersville
Get in the holiday spirit by driving through the Macaulay neighborhood, specifically to this Huntersville home. Please stay in your car and tune your radio to 101.3. For updates, check their Facebook page.
Address: 15419 Hugh McAuley Road, Huntersville
Hollyhock Lane in Huntersville
Over 100 sculptures and inflatables including an ice hockey rink with penguin sculptures playing a game, woodland area, dog park, paths through the yard to get an up close view.
Address: 12623 Hollyhock Lane in Huntersville
Lights on Indian Beech in Concord
A beautiful synchronized holiday light show. Tune in to 87.9 FM and watch as the lights move with the music. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Address: 9592 Indian Beech Ave., Concord
The Hard Family Christmas Lights in Concord
The Hard Family’s display is back this year, and shining brighter than before. Tune in to 91.5 to listen along as the lights are synchronized to make for a fun holiday show. Watch out as members from the family will pass out candy canes. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Address: 1641 Shadow Creek St, Concord
Professional Lights Displays
Carowinds Winterfest
Winterfest is back for another year of holiday cheer, hot chocolate, and winter rides. Plus, enjoy festive light shows, visits with Santa, and more. WinterFest will run from Nov. 28, 2025 to Jan. 3, 2026, 11 AM to 7 PM. Check out their website for holiday musicals, select rides, and seasonal treats.
Speedway Christmas Lights
The Southeast’s largest drive-thru holiday light show features more than 5 million lights on a four-mile course circling the iconic oval, pit road and infield road course. The show is open 6-10 p.m., rain or shine, and features synchronized lights-to-music on 101.3 FM, plus drive-in movies on the gigantic Speedway TV.
Enjoy complimentary access to the festive Christmas Village in the infield with your ticket! The Village is open Dec. 4-7; Dec. 11-14; Dec. 18-23 and Dec. 25-28, but is closed on Christmas Eve.
Light the Knights Festival
The 6th Annual Light the Knights Festival, together with Truist, is coming soon at Truist Field. Enjoy ice skating, snow tubing, shopping, holiday treats, tens of thousands of lights, decor, and more. It’s everything you need for a fun-filled family day out. Buy your tickets in advance here.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Lights
From glowing lights shows and holiday train rides to live music and a speakeasy with holiday cocktails, Daniel Stowe is making sure this holiday season is merry and bright for all. Buy your tickets here.
4th Annual Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular at Ballantyne’s Backyard
The Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular is back for another year of holiday magic. Over a million twinkling lights, snow globes, and a winter carnival complete the spectacular experience. Tickets start at $10. The show is open nightly from 5:30 – 10 PM, closing early on Christmas Eve, and closed on Christmas Day.
McAdenville “Christmas Town” Lights
With a name like Christmas Town, it’s pretty hard not to include on our Christmas lights list. You can expect to drive through a Town that shines with holiday cheer, open from December 1 – 26, from 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
Keep in mind, lines can get very long, especially on the weekends. If you can, it’s best to go on a weeknight or plan to be in your car for a very long time.
Christmas at Billy Graham Library
Enjoy Christmas at the Billy Graham Library with a live nativity scene, petting zoo, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Generally, crowds are smaller in the beginning days of December, and a weekday visit may be less crowded. Plan for a significant wait for all activities on Friday and Saturday. Christmas-only events start at 5 p.m. and require a reservation.
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
Celebration of lights, Christmas caroling, and visits with Santa make this Winterland Express something you don’t want to miss. Admission to the park and viewing of the lights is free; tickets are required to ride the carousel and train. Reserve your Train Tickets here. If reservations are not available, walk-up tickets can be purchased every night at the carousel or park building.
DID WE MISS SOMETHING? If you know of one we should add, please send us the info using this form.