In November and December, you can find holiday and Christmas parades in every corner of the Charlotte area. Area holiday parades generally start before Thanksgiving at Concord, Monroe, and Mooresville, followed up by the biggest holiday parade of the season, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade 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
TrueCare Pharmacy 95th Concord Christmas Parade
Saturday, November 18, 2023
2:30 p.m.
Downtown Concord
The route is from Lake Concord Road, traveling south on Church Street to Buffalo Avenue, turning
right on Buffalo, left on Union Street, traveling south on Union Street to Cabarrus Avenue.
Union County Christmas Parade
Union County Christmas Parade
Sunday, November 19, 2023
2 p.m.
Downtown Monroe
Mooresville Christmas Parade
Mooresville Christmas Parade
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
3 p.m.
Main Street in Mooresville, NC
Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade
Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
6 p.m.
Tryon Street, Charlotte
The Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade is planned for Thanksgiving Eve again. This is the 77th year of the Charlotte Thanksgiving parade! The parade starts at Tryon Street at 9th Street, and progresses down Tryon to Brooklyn Village Avenue.
Lincolnton Candy Land Christmas Parade
Historic Lincolnton Candy Land Christmas Parade
Sunday, November 26, 2023
4 p.m.
Downtown Lincolnton
Following the parade, the tree lighting will take place at Court Square, at Main Street and Aspen Street, around 6 p.m.
Belmont Christmas Parade
Belmont Christmas Parade
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
3:30 p.m.
Main Street, Belmont
Rock Hill Christmas Parade
Rock Hill Christmas Parade
Friday, December 1, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Downtown Rock Hill, SC
Lake Norman Yacht Club Christmas Flotilla and Lighted Boat Parade
Christmas Flotilla and Lighted Boat Parade with Lake Norman Yacht Club
Saturday, December 2, 2023
4 to 10 p.m.
This lighted boat parade ends at Lake Norman Yacht Club, with public viewing available at Hello Sailor, 20210 Henderson Road, Cornelius. If you’re interested in watching, you would probably want to make dinner reservations.
North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade
40th Annual North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 2, 2023
1 p.m.
Davidson and Cornelius
The parade starts in Davidson at the intersection of Griffith Street and Highway 115 and ends in Cornelius at the intersection of Highway 115 and Catawba Avenue.
Fort Mill Christmas Parade
Fort Mill Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 2, 2023
11 a.m.
Fort Mill, SC
Mint Hill Christmas Parade
Mint Hill Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 2, 2023
5:30 p.m.
Downtown Mint Hill
This nighttime parade will travel down Matthews-Mint Hill Road from Bain School to the Mint Hill Library. 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 2, 2023
3 p.m.
Downtown Kings Mountain, NC.
After the parade, at 5 p.m., head to Patriots Park, 220 S Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, for the Winter Wonderland Festival, where you’ll find Christmas lights, carriage rides, interactive characters, and Santa.
Indian Trail Christmas Parade
Indian Trail Christmas Parade
Sunday, December 3, 2023
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Downtown Indian Trail
Gastonia Christmas Parade
Gastonia Christmas Parade
December 3, 2023
3 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 3 to 7 p.m.
Canceled: e Northern Lights of Lake Norman Lighted Boat Parade
Northern Lights of Lake Norman Boat Parade
Saturday, December 9, 2023
5 p.m.
Apps & Taps
155 Pinnacle Lane, Mooresville
UPDATE: This event has been canceled, due to low lake levels. Typically, though, Apps & Taps would be a good place to watch from, as would be Toucans, at 167 Pinnacle Lane, Mooresville. The parade would have gone the Stumpy Creek Boat Ramps, but that was not an official viewing spot.
Kannapolis Christmas Parade
Kannapolis Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 9, 2023
6 p.m.
Downtown Kannapolis
Indian Land Christmas Parade
Indian Land Parade
December 9, 2023
4 p.m.
Indian Land Middle School, 8063 River Road, Indian Land, SC
The parade is followed by carols and a tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at the intermediate school.
Waxhaw Christmas Parade
Waxhaw Christmas Parade
December 10, 2023
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Waxhaw
Mount Holly Christmas Parade
Mount Holly Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 16, 2023
6 p.m.
Downtown Mount Holly. This colorful, light-filled parade moves down Central Avenue and Main Street.
Catawba Nation Christmas Parade
Catawba Nation Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 16, 2023
2 p.m.
The Longhouse
996 Avenue of the Nations, Rock Hill, South Carolina
Lake Wylie Boat Parade
Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade
Saturday, December 16, 2023
5 p.m.
Papa Doc’s Shore Club
3990 Charlotte Hwy, Lake Wylie, SC
The decorated boats gather at Papa Doc’s Shore Club and then parade around Lake Wylie.
Lake Norman Christmas Lights Boat Parade
Lake Norman Christmas Lights Boat Parade
Saturday, December 16, 2023
5:30 p.m. to 7 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, enjoy food trucks and 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 growing day-by-day list of holiday events in the Charlotte area or see a few here.
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