Looking for the biggest, brightest, best Christmas lights in the Charlotte area for the 2025 Christmas season? You’ve come to the right place.
This list will include professional displays, town events, and private homes.
We have a Google map with all the light on this page, and more! To see the map, just scroll down past the pictures of the lights, or jump right to the map. But we’ve just gotten started! It will grow a lot!
If you want to submit a display for the map or this post please fill out this form. If you have trouble with the form, just email info@charlotteonthecheap.com. If you maintain a website or Facebook page for the display, please let us know. That makes it easy for readers to keep up with your schedule.
The displays in private homes, often synchronized to Christmas music, are put on by regular people, at their own expense, and it takes an incredible amount of time and creativity. So visit and let them know you appreciate it.
Note: Every year we remove some displays because the homeowner was getting too much traffic and asked to be removed. We never want to contribute to a disturbance for a neighborhood, so make sure to let us know what works for you.
Some are collecting money for charitable causes. If a radio station is listed, tune your car radio to that station to listen to the coordinated music. Please be considerate of these folks’ neighbors.
If a website or Facebook page is listed, make sure to visit and check out the hours, start dates, and any additional information that you need to know. Most of these displays start shortly after Thanksgiving, but make sure to look at the schedule for each. Some families show videos and pictures of their works in progress as well.
Read on for Charlotte on the Cheap’s big list of Christmas lights!
Professional and Municipal Light Displays in the Charlotte Area
Christmas Town USA
McAdenville — Christmas Town USA
December 1 through December 26, 2025
Every night: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
McAdenville, NC
Free
McAdenville’s famous Christmas lights will be lit in the downtown area, and this year there will even be floating Christmas trees on the lake. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on December 1, and the Yule Log Ceremony and Parade will take place December 11.
You’ve probably seen those long lines of cars entering McAdenville at night for the lights. The best way to to experience the lights, if you are able to walk, is to get there early (around 5 or 5:15 p.m.) and park, enjoy dinner in downtown McAdenville, and then walk around to see the lights.
Also, the lines are longest on weekends, especially approaching Christmas.
Carolina Holiday Spectacular at Ballantyne’s Backyard
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
November 28 to December 30, 2025 (every day, except Christmas Day)
5:30 to 10 p.m.
Ballantyne’s Backyard
11611 N Community House Road, Charlotte, NC
$10 to $25, depending on date (use promo code CHEAPLIGHTS20 for a 20% discount)
This popular attraction, which debuted in 2022, returns in 2025 with more light displays and new scenes. New this year is the Winter Wonderland Carnival, with rides for all ages.
Santa will be there every night through December 23.
Pirates Christmas
Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf
10001 Charlotte Highway, Indian Land, South Carolina
Check back for dates, times and prices
For the fourth year, this nautical and pirate themed miniature golf course has transformed into Pirates Christmas. You’ll feel like you’re immersed in a giant treasure chest! There’s also a beer and wine garden. Play mini-golf or just enjoy the incredible displays.
Speedway Christmas
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway
November 21, 2025, to January 4, 2026 (every day except Christmas Eve)
6 to 10 p.m.
The cost is $46.41 for a car (up to 15 people) on days without the Christmas Village and $57.93 for a car on days when the Christmas Village was open. (We are on the lookout for any discounts.)
Follow the above link to see the schedule for the Christmas Village
The light show is along a 4 mile drive-thru course. The lights are synchronized to Christmas music that you can listen to from your car radio. There are more than 800 individual displays, including some that are eight stories tall. All in all, more than 4 million lights are in play.
When the Christmas Village is open, visitors can exit their cars and enjoy holiday activities like photos with Santa, making s’mores by the fire, and shopping for gifts.
On those nights there will also be popular Christmas drive-in movies to enjoy on the 16,000 square foot Speedway TV screen.
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
November 15 to December 30, 2025, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Free to walk through the park; Train rides and carousel rides are $2
You can walk through the park for free and take in the impressive display of Christmas lights, or take the Winterland Express for $2. The attraction also features music, Santa visits (take your own picture for free), marshmallow roasting and more. Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra’s ensemble of animatronic bears performs every evening.
Carowinds Winterfest
Carowinds’ Winterfest
Select nights from November 28, 2025, to January 3, 2026
14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Please check out this Groupon for 53% off!
Holidays at the Garden
Holidays at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont
November 28 to December 27, 2025 (select dates).
5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday to Thursday: Adult: $24; Seniors (age 60+): $22; Children (2 to 12): $18; Children under 2: Free
Friday to Sunday: Adult: $28; Seniors (age 60+): $25; Children (2 to 12): $20; Children under 2: Free
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will again be decorated with imaginative and elaborate holiday lights. Sing along to your wintertime favorites at the popular topiary display, take in the rolling lights of the Piedmont Prairie and stroll among the blossoming cherry trees. Grab a bite from the food trucks, roast a marshmallow beside a roaring fire, sip a warm or cold beverage and soak up the season’s cheer.
Trackless train rides will be available on Saturdays, December 6, 13 and 20.) Santa will be available Fridays and Saturdays in December.
Light the Knights
Light the Knights Festival
Truist Field, 324 S Mint Street
November 25, 2025, to January 4, 2026 (select dates)
Start and end time varies by day
$12 per person for just admission. $40 per person for admission, sledding and skating.
Light the Knights returns to Truist Field with the Christmas Village, Santa visits, holiday lights with the Uptown skyline backdrop, and lots of food and drink options. There is a full-sized ice skating rink and a 10-lane snow tubing slope in the outfield.
Christmas Light Extravaganza at Kings Mountain
Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain
Patriots Park, 400 S Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC
November 21, 2025, to January 1, 2026
5 to 10 p.m.
Free
The Christmas Light Extravaganza transforms Patriots Park into a storybook wonderland full of color and light, with over a million lights.
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC 27012
November 14, 2025, to January 1, 2026
6 to 11 p.m.
For a family car, van or truck: $20 by cash, or $23 by card.
Commercial vans, limos or minibus: $45 by cash, or $48 by card.
Motorcoaches: $115 by cash, $118 by card.
Discount nights:
- Monday, November 17
- Tuesday, November 18
- Monday, November 24
- Tuesday, November 25
Discount Prices:
- Family (cars, vans, trucks): $10 cash, $13 credit card
- Commercial (vans, limos, mini-buses): $25 cash, $28 credit card
- Motorcoaches and buses: $80 cash, $83 credit card
Christmas light displays on houses in the Charlotte area
We will be updating this section when we’ve been in touch with the homeowners and confirm that they’re doing the display in 2025.
Note: Any addresses included here have been made publicly available by the homeowner on a website or Facebook page, or they’ve emailed us asking to be included. If a homeowner lets us know that they don’t want to be listed, we’ll take that address off this list.
Please follow the links to the Facebook pages, if available, because changes to the schedule will usually be announced there, especially when due to weather.
This list got so big that we’re trying to make it easier for you and organizing by area. Also, once we update for 2025, you’ll be able to see a Google map with all the addresses.
Charlotte
Hillside Avenue in Myers Park
The neighborhood has a tradition of creating chicken-wire Christmas balls and hanging them from tall trees. It’s very impressive. You’ll see the Christmas balls in surrounding areas, but the area of highest concentration is on Hillside Avenue between Selwyn Avenue and Westfield Road.
Accepts cash or food donations for Loaves and Fishes. Follow Hillside on Facebook.
2025 update: We expect this stretch of Hillside Avenue to be lit up soon! (Check Facebook.)
McAlleyville
Bay Street, near Lamar Avenue, Charlotte, NC
This alley in Elizabeth, off of Bay Street, boasts a bunch of really fun decorations. You’ll need to get out of the car and walk down the alley that is nicknamed “McAlleyville,” a play on McAdenville.
2025 update: Check back soon
Sherwood Forest Drive (off Colony Road)
There are a couple very big displays in neighborhood, especially 7323 Sherwood Forest Drive. In past years, Santa was occasionally outside handing out candy canes. There is Christmas music and a collection for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
2025 updated: Haven’t checked yet, but most likely!
Cabarrus County
Sunday – Thursday 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Light show will start Thanksgiving night, November 27, 2025
Light show begins every half hour
Tune radio to 88.9 FM.
Christian Family Lights
565 Keystone Court NW, Concord, NC
Light show synchronized to music. listen along on 93.9 FM. Follow on ChristianFamilyLights on Facebook.
2025 update: Confirmed
Hard Family Christmas Lights
1641 Shadow Creek Street NW, Concord 28027
Moss Creek neighborhood
Starts Sunday, November 30, 2025
Listen on 91.5 FM. The lights are all synchronized to music. Follow The Hard Family Christmas Lights on Facebook. Will occasionally be passing out candy canes.
2025 update: Confirmed.
Gaston County
Mount Holly
113 Scaleybark Court, Mount Holly
This home features thousands of lights, and lots of giant hand-made giant props. Follow Isaac Alexander DIY on Facebook for lots of updates. This is a fantastic display. Also follow him on Youtube for tutorials.
2025 update: Confirmed.
Huntersville and Lake Norman
Gibson Family Light Show
178 Kilborne Road, Mooresville
Wyndham Shores
Opening November 28, 2025, through the first weekend of the New Year
Starts at 5:45 p.m.
This dazzling holiday tradition features over 40,000 synchronized LED lights dancing in perfect harmony with your favorite Christmas tunes! The music-sequenced light show transforms the season into a symphony of color and rhythm, where every twinkle, flash, and fade is timed to the beat.
The show runs nightly from the day after Thanksgiving through the first weekend of the new year, bringing joy, sparkle, and holiday spirit to visitors of all ages. Whether you’re driving by or stopping to watch, it’s a festive experience that captures the wonder of the season.
Tune in to 89.1 FM. Follow Gibson Family Light Show on Facebook and check them out on YouTube too. Turn your headlights off once you’ve parked. Don’t block neighbors’ driveways.
2025 update: Confirmed.
Lights at Chesapeake Pointe
317 Cove Creek Loop, Mooresville
Christmas light experience with over 18,000 pixels choreographed to music transmitted over FM radio. This year’s Christmas display is approximately 22 minutes long. Also, the entire neighborhood has a lot of lights, and there’s a gated cul-de-sac with thousands of lights. Follow Lights at Chesapeake Pointe on Facebook.
2025 update: Confirmed
Jordan Family Lights
107 Spartina Ct., Mooresville, NC
Tune to FM 107.1, and scan the QR code sign to choose from a large list of synchronized music. Follow Jordan Family Lights on Facebook.
2025 update: Confirmed
Zimnowski Light Show
15419 Hugh McAuley Rd. Huntersville, NC 28078 (87.9 FM)
Over 50 songs are in the rotation, with the lights synchronized to them. You can use your phone to select a song.
2025 update: We believe this is taking place in 2025. We’ll update if we hear differently.
2816 Gilbraltar Street, Davidson, North Carolina
This is a front and front and back yard display with a walking path. Park in the cul de sac at the end of the street to enjoy the full experience.
2025 update: Confirmed
Union County
Nikita’s Christmas Wonderland
1417 Deer Spring Court, Indian Trail, NC
Opens Thanksgiving night, November 27, 2025
5 to 10 p.m.
This is a walk-thru village with a lot of hand-made buildings.
Christmas on the Farm
3999 Fincher Road, Indian Trail, NC 28104
Check Facebook page (above link) for schedules
6 to 9 p.m.
Free to the public. Walk through Christmas light display on a 5-acre horse farm. 2 lighted acres with miniature horses, a donkey, an alpaca and more.
2025 update: Confirmed
2111 Bluebonnet Lane, Stallings, NC 28104
Check Facebook page for schedule
4 songs running with lights.
2025 update: Confirmed.
Lincoln County
Isenhour Lights
411 E Dixon Street, Lincolnton NC 28092
The show lasts about 28 minutes and is synchronized to music.
2025 update: Confirmed.
Duncan Family Christmas Light Show
3970 Highway 182, Lincolnton, NC
Starts Friday, November 21, 2025
Show starts at 5:30 p.m.
2025 update: Confirmed.
South Carolina
This light show begins at 6:30 and goes to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Please come and enjoy the lights to music with over 2 and a half hours of songs. It may not snow a lot in SC, but it snows everyday at this house! Please come and enjoy the fun, all new props, music and fun! With over 25,000 pixels, snow, lights all while you sit in your warm car listening to the music over the radio at 93.3 FM.
This year, they are doing a charity on behalf of Santiago Strong foundation, a foundation for DIPG cancer research. Every donation enters you, or someone on your behalf into a raffle to win a programming song of your choice and dedication in next year’s Christmas show. No donation is required.
Don’t forget the mailbox to Santa for kids to drop their letters in!
Catawba County
Lights on 13th Street
319 W 13th Street, Newton, NC 28658
Tune to 93.9 FM. There will be over 15,000 pixel lights all synchronized to music. You can help to choose the songs here!
2025 update: Confirmed
Matthews and Mint Hill
Christmas on the Hill
9451 Nugget Hill Place, Mint Hill, NC 28227
Bainbridge
Great display synchronized to music. Three houses participate. Tune your radio to 94.5. Follow Christmas on the Hill on Facebook.
2025 update: Confirmed
Add to the Charlotte Christmas Light Map
Google Map of Christmas Light Displays in Charlotte Area
We add to this map whenever new light displays are submitted!
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