In November and December, you can find holiday and Christmas parades in every corner of the Charlotte area. Area holiday parades start before Thanksgiving at Concord, Monroe, and Mooresville, followed up by the biggest holiday parade of the season, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving Eve in Uptown Charlotte.
Then, many of the towns and cities around Charlotte, including Rock Hill, Belmont, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Davidson, and more, each stage their own holiday parade. There are even several lighted boat parades on Lake Norman and Lake Wylie.
Check out our huge day-by-day list of holiday events in the Charlotte area! We update it every day!
Also, please keep reading for a big list of holiday events, which is getting updated every day.
Christmas and Holiday Parades in the Charlotte Area
Concord Christmas Parade
98th Concord Christmas Parade
Saturday, November 21, 2026
2:30 p.m.
Downtown Concord
The parade begins at the intersection of Church Street N and Lake Concord Road, and continues over two miles along Church Street, Buffalo Avenue, and Union Street, ending at the intersection of Union Street and Corban Avenue. The judges’ stage will be near the intersection of Barbrick Avenue and Union Street.
Monroe Christmas Parade
Monroe Christmas Parade
Sunday, November 22, 2026
2 p.m.
Downtown Monroe, NC
Mooresville Christmas Parade
Mooresville Christmas Parade
Tuesday, November 24, 2026
3 p.m.
Main Street in Mooresville, NC
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade
Wednesday, November 25, 2026
5:30 p.m.
Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade is planned for Thanksgiving Eve again. This is the 78th year of the Charlotte Thanksgiving parade! The parade starts at Tryon Street at 9th Street, and progresses down Tryon to Good Samaritan Way.
Lincolnton Christmas Parade
Lincolnton Christmas Parade
Sunday, November 29, 2026
4 p.m.
Downtown Lincolnton, NC
The theme this year is Christmas Through the Decades.
Belmont Christmas Parade
Belmont Christmas Parade
Tuesday, December 1, 2026
3 p.m.
Main Street, Belmont, NC
Rock Hill Christmas Parade
Rock Hill Christmas Parade
Friday, December 4, 2026
6:30 p.m.
Downtown Rock Hill, SC
Cornelius Christmas Parade
Cornelius Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
10 a.m.
Cornelius, NC
Due to construction, the traditional North Meck Holiday Parade, which normally goes from Davidson to Cornelius, is being split into two town events. This is the Cornelius parade. Also from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., celebrate at Town Hall with Santa photos, kids’ activities, vendors, food and drink and more.
North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade (Davidson)
44th Annual North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
1 p.m.
Davidson, NC
Due to construction, the traditional North Meck Holiday Parade, which normally goes from Davidson to Cornelius, is being split into two town events. This is the Davidson parade. After the parade head to the Town Green for the tricycle races.
Fort Mill Christmas Parade
Fort Mill Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
11 a.m.
Fort Mill, SC
Mint Hill Christmas Parade
Mint Hill Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
5 p.m.
Downtown Mint Hill
The parade will travel from Bain School down Matthews Mint Hill Road to Publix. Santa will leave after the parade and return to Town Hall for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. After the parade, meet at Town Hall for the Town’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
Kings Mountain Christmas Parade
Kings Mountain Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
3 p.m.
Downtown Kings Mountain, NC.
After the parade, head to Patriots Park, 220 S Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, for Christmas lights, carriage rides, Santa and more, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Mount Holly Christmas Parade
Mount Holly Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
3 p.m.
Downtown Mount Holly
Indian Trail Christmas Parade
Indian Trail Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
4 p.m.
Downtown Indian Trail
Followed by Winterfest at Chestnut Square Park from 6 to 9 p.m.
Gastonia Christmas Parade
Gastonia Christmas Parade
Sunday, December 6, 2026
4:30 p.m.
Downtown Gastonia
The Gaston County Jaycees Christmas Parade starts at 5 p.m. It starts at Main Avenue at Chester and ends at Main Avenue at Broad. Then the Keep Gastonia Beautiful Tree Lighting will begin at the Rotary Pavilion, following the conclusion of the parade. There will be a Christmas Market at Rotary Pavilion from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Kannapolis Christmas Parade
Kannapolis Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 12, 2026
6 p.m.
Downtown Kannapolis
The parade will begin at the intersection of Main Street and Laureate Way at the parking deck of the North Carolina Research Campus, travel down Laureate Way past Kannapolis City Hall & Police Headquarters, turning on West Avenue at the Gem Theatre and traveling down West Avenue ending at the intersection of Vance Street and West Avenue.
Indian Land Christmas Parade
Indian Land Parade
Saturday, December 12, 2026
4 p.m.
Indian Land Middle School, 8063 River Road, Indian Land, SC.
The parade is followed by a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. at CrossRidge Center, 2007 Parkway Drive, Indian Trail, South Carolina.
Lake Wylie Christmas Boat Parade
Lake Wylie Boat Parade
Saturday, December 12, 2026
6 p.m.
Papa Doc’s Shore lub
3990 Charlotte Hwy, Lake Wylie, SC
The parade starts and ends at Papa Doc’s.
Waxhaw Christmas Parade
Waxhaw Christmas Parade
Saturday, November 21, 2026
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Waxhaw, NC
Lake Norman Christmas Lights Boat Parade
Lake Norman Christmas Lights Boat Parade
Saturday, December 19, 2026
5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The parade starts at Blythe Landing, then goes to Ramsey Creek Park, and then to the Duke Energy Explorium. Each of the parks will be open until 30 minutes after the parade has passed each location. At the Energy Explorium, there will be food trucks and a visit from Santa. Please bring unwrapped toys as a donation to Little Smiles.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
More Holiday Events
Check out our comprehensive day-by-day list of holiday events in the Charlotte area.
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