Best Christmas light displays in the Charlotte area for 2020 — with a map you can add to!

Looking for the biggest, best Christmas lights in the Charlotte area for the 2020 Christmas season? Here’s what you have to look forward to.

This list includes professional displays, town events, and private homes.

New for this year, we’re putting together 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.

If you want to submit a display for the map please fill out this form. The map can include any great display that anyone finds, but in order to have the display listed on this post, we need permission from the homeowner. If you are a homeowner who would like to be included on this page, just email info@charlotteonthecheap.com. If you maintain a website or Facebook page for the display, please let us know.

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: We’ve removed some displays because the homeowner was getting too much traffic and asked to be removed.

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.

 

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Professional and city or town Christmas light displays in the Charlotte area

McAdenville Christmas
December 1st through December 26th, 2020
Every night: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
McAdenville

McAdenville’s famous Christmas lights will be lit in the downtown area, from Pharr Family YMCA on Main Street to the Spruced Goose Restaurant on Wesleyan Drive, but not around the lake. Families will make the decision individually about whether they want to host a Christmas light display. There won’t be any festivals this year.

Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord
November 21st through January 17th, 2021, with the exception oof Christmas Day.

Drive through the infield and see 800 displays made up of more than 4 million holiday lights. The lights are synchronized to Christmas music that you can listen to on your car radio, on 101.3 FM. They will also be showing drive-in Christmas movies on the giant Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday.

N.C. Transportation Museum In Lights: A Drive Thru Experience
1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer

It takes place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on these evenings:

• November 20th to 22nd, 2020
• November 27th to 29th, 2020
• December 4th to 6th, 2020
• December 10th to 13th, 2020
• December 15th to 23rd, 2020
• December 26th to 30th, 2020

Tickets are $8 per car.

This first ever museum offering will allow visitors to enjoy this historic site, illuminated by thousands of holiday lights, all from the comfort of their car. The drive-thru experience is 1.25 miles long.

The museum’s historic structures and antique railroading equipment will be part of the scenery. The gift shop will be open, and Santa will be available for (socially distanced) pictures.

McGill’s Winter Wonderland
McGill Rose Garden, 940 N. Davidson Street
Free

Check back soon to see if this is taking place in 2020.

Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
Free to walk through the park; $6 for a row on Winterland Express Train (3 children or 2 adults)

You can walk through the park for free and take in the impressive display of Christmas lights, or take the Winterland Express for $6 a row. The attraction also features music, Santa visits (take your own picture for free), marshmallow roasting and more. You’re encouraged to reserve your rows online, but if there are any unsold tickets will be available at the park.

Holidays at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont
November 28th, 2020, to January 3rd, 2021
Wednesday through Saturday each week
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Advance tickets will be available for 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m. arrival times
Adult: $14.95; Senior (60+): $12.95 Child 2-12: $7.95; Child 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. There will not be live entertainment or visits from Santa this year.

Zootastic Park Christmas Wonderland of Lights
Zootastic Park
385 Ostwalt Amity Road, Troutman
November 25th, 2020, to January 1st, 2021.  

Drive through the light display and walk through part of the animal park. 
Check back soon for 2020 details.

Lights at Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Starting November 12th, 2020.
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Free (parking is $6.)

Lights returns to the U.S. Whitewater Center!

Lights is a half-mile walking trail through the forest that leads viewers through a series of immersive light installations (not Christmas lights) designed by Charlotte artist Meredith Connelly. 

Lights includes 173 separate sculptures in 15 different installations, inspired by natural elements like honeycombs, streams, vines, crystals and roots and birds nests.

Ice skating will be available as well, but you’ll need to buy a Single Activity Pass ($20.)

Light the Knights at Charlotte Christmas Village
Truist Field, 324 S Mint Street
December 10th to December 31st, 2020 (select dates)
Start time varies by day, end time is 10 p.m.
$7 before 5 p.m. and $10 after 5 p.m.

Charlotte Christmas Village, a popular Uptown attraction the last few years, is moving to Truist Field in 2020, and has become a ticketed attraction. It’s a great place to shop for the perfect gift from unique vendors. It opens November 27th, and starting December 10th, will be enhanced by a Christmas lights display by the Charlotte Knights. Enjoy thousands of lights, trees and displays as you walk through the ballpark’s concourse.

Scroll down for the Christmas Light Map!

Add to the Charlotte Christmas Light Map

Christmas light displays on houses in the Charlotte area

Note: Any addresses included here have been made publicly available by the homeowner on a website or Facebook page. However, if a homeowner lets us know that they don’t want to be listed, we’ll take that address off this list.

Also, 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.

Arndt Christmas Lights
14904 Carbert Lane, Huntersville
November 29th to December 31st, 2020
5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Verified for 2020.

Fantetti Christmas Light Show
263 Palaside Drive NE, Concord
Every night from November 29th to December 25th, 2020 
26 minute show of over 100,000 lights synchronized to Christmas music. All donations benefit a dog rescue TBA.
Verified for 2020.

Brookhaven Subdivision
1010 Elsmore Drive, Matthews
Every night from November 29th to January 1st
Light shows at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.
Radio station 88.1
Verified for 2020.

Union Street in Concord
From the 800 block of Union Street South to the 200 block of Union Street North, in downtown Concord
The community takes great pride in holiday spirit, and the lights are beautiful on the historic homes. This is a wonderful stroll to take.
Verified for 2020.

Hammond Family Light Show
508 Chamberlain Court, McAdenville
Dates TBA.
Verified for 2020.

Lights on Indian Beech (Concord)
9592 Indian Beech Avenue, Concord
November 27th, 2020, to January 3rd, 2021.
Holiday light show featuring thousands of lights and singing bulbs set to music. Tune to 87.9 FM.
Verified for 2020.

Hard Family Christmas Lights
1641 Shadow Creek St , Concord
November 29th to New Year’s Day
5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Check Facebook page for updates to times.)
Listen on 91.5 FM
Verified for 2020.

Queensdale Drive Lights
20517 Queensdale Drive, Cornelius
Light show synchronized to music. Tune into 89.5.
Verified for 2020.

Isenhour Lights
411 E Dixon Street
Lincolnton
November 27th, to December 31st, 2020
Sunday to Thursday: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The show lasts about 28 minutes and is synchronized to music.
Verified for 2020.

Lights on 13th Street
319 W 13th Street
Newton
November 20th, 2020, to January 2011
5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. every night
Tune to 93.9 FM, and there will also be speakers outside.
Verified for 2020. 

Providence Pointe Neighborhood
15238 Prescott Hill Avenue
December 1st, 2020, to January 1st, 2021
Sunday through Thursday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Through New Year
Verified for 2020.

A Sweitzers Christmas
1001 Sunnyview Circle Matthews, NC 28105
November 29th to December 25th, 2020
Sunday to Thursday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
(107.3 FM)
Shows will last approximately 20 minutes.
Verified for 2020

Zimnowski Light Show
15419 Hugh Mcauley Rd. Huntersville, NC 28078 (87.9 FM)
Starts November 27th and ends December 31st, 2020
Verified for 2020.

Harbin Family Christmas Lights
10223 Summer House Court
December 1st to 31st, 2020
Accepts donations for Make-A-Wish
Verified for 2020.

Christianfamily Lights
Concord, NC 28027 (Message Christianfamily Lights through Facebook for the exact address)
Scheduled to start Thanksgiving, November 26th, 2020
Sunday to Thursday: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Light show synchronized to music
Verified for 2020

cltELF Holiday Lighting Display
631 Ennis Road
November 26th, 2020, to January 7th, 2021
The theme is “Candy Cane,” with lots of pure white and red throughout the front acre.
Verified for 2020.

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. 
Accepts cash or food donations for Loaves and Fishes.  Follow Hillside on Facebook.

Sherwood Forest Drive (off Colony Road)
There are usually several big displays in neighborhood, especially 7323 Sherwood Forest Drive. In past years, Santa was outside handing out candy canes. There was Christmas music and a collection for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. We’ll update when we learn what’s going on in 2020.

Add to the Charlotte Christmas Light Map

Google Map of Christmas Light Displays in Charlotte Area

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More upcoming holiday events in the Charlotte area

Check out our huge list of holiday events in the Charlotte area, or look at a few of them here:

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Friday, December 4, 2020

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Monday, December 7, 2020

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Thursday, December 10, 2020