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20% off tickets to Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular

POSTED BY
Jody Mace

UPDATE: The contest has ended and the winner is Carole H***erg. Name obscured for privacy. We’ve emailed you!

The 4th Annual Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular is bringing holiday magic back to Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N. Community House Road, Charlotte, NC, this Christmas season.

Tickets are on sale now. We have a discount to share and we’re giving away four tickets! Read on or just jump to the contest:

Check out our huge day-by-day list of holiday events in the Charlotte area! We update it every day!

aerial view of Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Photo courtesy of Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular

Immerse yourself in over a million Christmas lights along a half-mile walking trail.

The attraction will take place every night from November 28 to December 30, 2025, except for Christmas Day. Hours will be 5:30 to 10 p.m.

What to Expect

Child in wagon with wand
Photo: Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular

What to expect:

  • A half-mile walking trail featuring 40 percent more light displays and dazzling new scenes
  • The glowing walk-through Ice Castle and Princess Carriage
  • Beloved Frosty’s Fun Land with REAL SNOW and the illuminated Elf Playground
  • Magical interactive wand elements, available as a $20 add-on, invite guests to unlock surprises hidden throughout the light displays.
  • Nightly appearances by Santa Claus through Dec. 23
  • Life-sized snow globes and performances by ballerinas and live entertainers on select evenings
  • The Holiday Village features charming local boutiques, a changing lineup of food trucks, and festive drinks to warm both hands and spirits.

New in 2025

Photo: Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular

New in 2025 is The Winter Wonderland Carnival. Included with general admission, the Winter Wonderland Carnival features the Sooper Jet kiddie coaster for young thrill seekers, the Bear Affair spinning ride, and a rapid slide sure to delight guests of all ages. For those looking to elevate the fun, the classic Ferris wheel, offering twinkling skyline views, is available as a $20 add-on.

All pathways are now concrete or decked for a smoother experience, making the route accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, and scooters. (A few gentle hills remain.)

Follow Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular on Facebook for updates.

Children posting with light-up snowmen
Photo: Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular

Discount for Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular

Use the promo code CHEAPLIGHTS20 for a 20% discount on tickets. This discount is available all season! The discount doesn’t include add-ons like the wands or slides, and it can’t be applied to other promotional offers. There might occasionally be other discounts, and we’ll mention them here too.

Tickets for Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular

Please note that these prices are before fees.

  • Starting at $10 (Monday – Thursday, 8 to 10 p.m.)
  • $15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Monday – Thursday and 8 to 10 p.m., Friday – Sunday
  • $20 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Friday – Sunday
  • $25 for Any Night General Admission tickets (these are limited and will sell out)

Remember to use the promo code CHEAPLIGHTS20 to get 20% off the above prices!

Purchase tickets

Win Tickets!

UPDATE: The contest has ended and the winner is Carole H***erg. Name obscured for privacy. We’ve emailed you!

One Charlotte on the Cheap subscriber will win 4 tickets to Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular! You can use these 4 tickets any night it’s open.

To enter the contest, just make sure you have subscribed to Charlotte on the Cheap! And then scroll down this post and leave a comment.

We will email the winner with a link to the tickets on Monday, November 24, 2025, so make sure that you’re monitoring your inbox (and spam folder, just in case!)

Also, make sure that you leave the email address you subscribe to Charlotte on the Cheap with. Put the email address in the email address field, not the comment section. It will not be visible to the public.

Subscribe to Charlotte on the Cheap
20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time)
When
Weekly on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday @ 5:30 pm-10:00 pm (November 28, 2025 - December 30, 2025)
Cost
$10.00-$25.00
What
20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time)
Where
Ballantyne’s Backyard

Ballantyne’s Backyard

11611 N. Community House Road
Charlotte, NC

Get Directions

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. Heather H says

    This sounds like a fun family activity! I’d love the opportunity to take them. Thank you for continuing to hold such exciting contests

  7. Megan Smith says

    I would absolutely love to win I have never been and haven’t wanted to go !!! Christmas is my favorite holiday !!

  8. Anais Maldonado says

    So excited! We weren’t able to make it in previous years but we’re planning to go this year as our first year. I think this will be such an amazing time for my little family! Can’t wait!

  11. Elizabeth Ames says

    Just moved back to the area and instantly added this to the list of things we wanted to do this holiday season! It looks like the perfect family event!

  12. Trinity Thompson says

    This looks so exciting and I would love to my family! Our two girls would be so happy🫶🏽.

  19. Katie Enjaian says

    We just relocated from Norfolk VA. my daughter is 10 years old, and we need some new traditions! This looks amazing, we would love the free tickets. Thanks for sharing!!

  24. Beverly P says

    I’m so excited to visit Charlotte this year to take in some of the holiday lights and happenings! And… super excited Mustang Week will be held in Charlotte 2026! I’ll be looking for more fun things for grandkids to do while we visit the Queen City!

  25. Martha Walters says

    I’m excited about this opportunity to win tickets for such a fun and memorable experience. Christmas lights and their display jump start the season, and I can’t get enough of them! Thank you!

  36. Iris says

    Oo Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year to spend time with family and do all the festivities. We win some tickets this year

  49. Judy B says

    It’s mostly inaccessible for 3 of us in wheelchairs, so it would be nice to win tickets and not have to pay full price for my family of six!

  50. Thomas Jacome says

    Best Christmas decorations in Charlotte and nice atmosphere. Highly recommend.😀🎄🎅

  55. Grisel Josie Canto-Randolph says

    I would love to go and enjoy the sight. My 12 year old would love it. ❤️ Tickets would be gladly appreciated.

  69. Summer Adderley says

    Last year was our first year visiting and it was spectacular!! Would love to go again this year and take some friends.

  81. Kathleen S says

    Looks like fun. My family has never gone and would love to win to be able to go this year! Good luck to everyone.

  88. Sharon Madill says

    Holiday lights bring so much joy to our needed world! We are fairly new to the area (never been to Ballantyne) and would very much like to attend. I love that this event is so family friendly. 🎄

  92. Barbara Womack says

    This would be wonderful, to get to win tickets for me and my family. I love Charlotte on the Cheap!! 💗☺️🙏🏻

  98. Lisa Clouse says

    Would love to take my family and first
    Grandson to see these lights for the first time. So excited to go. ❤️

  106. Melissa Fox says

    one of my favorite things at Christmas is looking at the pretty light displays.
    I would be honored to win and attend this spectacular.

  113. Beline McBride says

    We have not been to Ballantyne Backyard and would love to go! A great way to celebrate the holiday

  114. Debbie Tyson Lamb says

    This looks like a good time! my Grandson would Love this! Would be so awesome to win these tickets!

  125. JoAnn Kalman says

    Charlotte on the Cheap is the best for everything Charlotte. can’t wait to see the lights

  142. Stephanie Evans says

    I work near here and can see the set up process but never have had a chance to go. I would love to be able to see the lights this year!

  145. Latricia says

    I’ve never been and I would love to take my family to see this amazing celebration of lights!

  149. Mary says

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Attending the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular would be such a great way to start the holiday season. Taking the little ones and seeing their face light up to all the lights would be priceless. 🎄🎅🏼🧑🏼‍🎄🎁💝🌟

  155. Catherine McGovern says

    What a fun time! We haven’t been and would love to go with the family! 🎄🎅🏻

  163. Jacqueline Thompson says

    I would love to finally show my son what christmas lights are in real life. WOuld be great

  170. Barbara Eckenrod says

    It looks magical and the lights are so beautiful! Bits be so fun to go with the grandchildren!🎄❤️

  176. Judy says

    This would make for special Christmas memory for kids and grandkids coming to Charlotte for Christmas this year. Thanks Charlotte on the Cheap for the opportunity to win some tickets!

  184. Mary Germano says

    We went last year, it was gorgeous! And they change things every time. The kids truly enjoyed it.

  185. Mary Germano says

    We went the last 2 years, it was gorgeous! And they change things every time. The grand kids truly enjoyed it.

  187. Jill Coluccio says

    Would love to attend with my granddaughter!! So many comments though so im sure it will be difficult to win!! Hopefully we will be there!! Wishing a Very Merry Christmas to all!!
    🎄

  188. Tia Taylor says

    I would love to have some quality time with my family this season! It looks like a fun event that would be enjoyed by all ages.

  213. Sarah L Daniel says

    this would make a great gift for my family. things have been hard on the family since my dad has been sick.

  244. Karen Cromwell says

    What an amazing event! I’ve lived in Charlotte 6 years and haven’t been to this event before. As a grandma, it would be wonderful to be able to take my grandbabies!

  256. Michael Hall says

    Would love to win tickets. Never been to see the lights. My 7 year old keeps talking about it.

  264. Kayla says

    My kids (6.5, 4, and 2) have had to miss every other year because of sickness, but we’re bound and determined to make it this year!

  275. Tami Williams says

    Pick me and maw maw. Please!!!! Granddaughter and daughter would love to come too. 4 generations.

  280. Amanda C. says

    Christmas was my Grandma’s favorite holiday and when she passed away I continued her holiday spirit. This event looks perfect and I would love to take my family. The winner is even announced the day before my birthday.

  285. Josephine Giambanco says

    This would be awesome. We’re trying to get to know the neighborhood area and this would be a great way to start knowing the neighborhood moved to four months ago.

  292. Kip says

    perfect timing!! My MIL is coming to town from out of the country and it would be great to take her to this. She loves the lights of the holiday season in the US

  304. Granree says

    My grandson is turning three in December and all he says when he sees Christmas lights is it’s Christmas Granree, It’s Christmas! He would absolutely love going to this. Thank you for offering this!

  305. Cecilia Echeandia says

    What a fantastic event!! Thank you for hosting a giveaway especially in these times of stress during the holidays. It will be a fantastic outing for many families this year!

  309. Christine Halton says

    My husband and I would love to attend, with my daughter, her husband and my Grandson. We just purchased a house in NC, after leaving NY in October. WE would love to experience the Christmas Lights at Carowinds!

  313. Cindy Dupuis-Swigart says

    I have never been and have no idea what to expect. It looks fun from the pictures online. I love Christmas lights.

  318. AshDaQueen says

    JUST GIMME THE LIGHTSSSSS 🎄🎶 and lots of SNOOO-OOO-OW☃️! and a warm cup of HOT COCO or JOE ☕. 🎶 Gotta grab our COOO-OO-OATS🧥, so no ones gonna catch a COLD! (Sean Paul Remix)
    WOULD LOVE THOSE TICKETS❤️!

  323. Elizabeth Hamrick says

    We love these lights for the kids! Such a special event. We would love to win tickets. Thanks for offering this!

  337. georgeina marlow says

    it would be the magic of the season to take my grandchildren to this. they don’t get to do much and I would love to surprise them.

  341. Mrs Grey says

    This year I had planned on experiencing with family after living in Ballantyne for 6 years and missing it each year

  352. Patricia Manger says

    We’ve been going with our kids and grandkids every year since you opened. It’s become a much loved tradition and experience!!

  353. Nicole Manger says

    Im so excited to go to this again! My family and I go every year and we’d love to win tickets.

  354. Leina Morales says

    This is such an exciting context. We have never visited the Lights so we would love to win tix and go. I have a family of 4- with two children. Thank you and Happy holidays to all.

  371. Amanda Humphrey says

    would love to surprise my daughter and take her! she would love every minute of it. 🙏 Merry Christmas!

  377. Katie says

    I would love to check this out with my daughter! We haven’t been yet, we are starting new traditions since we just moved here.

  386. Darlene says

    Thank you for giving a family the opportunity to enjoy some holiday magic! Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to everyone!

  390. Jenny Dyachuk says

    We went for the past two years and it was a lot of fun and it looks like this year has even more activities added! Can’t wait!!!

  392. Shonda Tucker says

    Would love tickets!! My niece is bringing her family for Christmas and would love to take the family!!!

  393. Renee Robbins says

    I took my 7 year old granddaughter and daughter in law last year and unfortunately my granddaughter didn’t feel well and was so tired, she didn’t really enjoy like she should. I would love to win tickets to take her back this year for her to really enjoy it like she should have last year!! Beautiful displays!!

  400. Ashley Ellis says

    First time in this area and pretty excited to see this! Have a 1 year old who would love to see the lights and just kill some energy running around

  411. tonya bowe says

    Would love to attend this year! Ballantyne Bowl is so fun but with Christmas lights it would be even better!
    Thank you kindly!

  412. Kelli Hamilton says

    We are new to the area and have heard this is great! Would love to attend!! Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

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