Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting in Gastonia Dec 3

The City of Gastonia is hosting Christmas in the City on Sunday, December 3, 2023. The event includes a parade, a tree lighting and a vendor market.

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

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.

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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.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's

All Day | FREE | Various locations

Save 10% on Target GiftCards

All Day

The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary)

All Day | $34.00-40.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum

Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies)

All Day | $14.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village

Light the Knights (click for times and prices)

All Day | Truist Field

Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies)

All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End

Sea of Lights at SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord (price and times vary)

All Day | SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord

Elves in the Park

All Day | Rob Wallace Park, Midland

Christmas Toy Drive: Donate toy and get a free pizza

All Day | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co.

Mooresville Police Department presents Breakfast with Santa

7:30 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Mooresville Police Department

Breakfast with Santa

8:30 am to 11:30 am | $5.00 | Lincoln Cultural Center, Lincolnton

Cuthbertson Band Holiday Bazaar

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Cuthbertson High Shool, Waxhaw

Breakfast with Santa at Mt. Harmony Baptist Church in Matthews -- free photos with Santa

9:00 am | FREE | Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, Matthews

Santa's Workshop

10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Independence Harley-Davidson

South End Merry Market

10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church

Clayworks Holiday Sale and Open House

10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Clayworks

The Alpaca that Saved Christmas -- Event at Serenity at Stony Point

10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Serenity at Stony Point

Deck the Stalls: Open House and Artisan Market at Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary ($15 per car)

10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $15.00 | Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary, Albemarle

VTGCLT Pop -- pop-up vintage and handmade market

10:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End

Luminous Lane Artist Pop-up

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Luminous Lane

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus "Home for the Holidays" Concert

10:00 am | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center

Santa at Galleria Central Market (formerly El Mercadito)

10:00 am | FREE | Galleria Central Market

¡Celebra! with Criss Cross Mangosauce: A Bilingual Family Holiday Concert

11:00 am to 12:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Charlotte Museum of History

Meet animals at the Billy Graham Library

11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE

Holiday Spectacular at Ballantyne Village

11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Ballantyne Village

Winter Festival at Skiptown

11:00 am to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Skiptown

Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Fort Mill Christmas Parade

11:00 am | FREE | Downtown Fort Mill

Kwanzaa Charlotte Family Workshop

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library (formerly Beatties Ford Regional Library)

Santa at Cuthbertson Band Holiday Bazaar

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Cuthbertson High Shool, Waxhaw

Christmas at the Museum

12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum

Photos with Santa at Pet in the City (donation requested)

12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Pet in the City

Santa Paws at Armored Cow Brewing -- Pup Pictures with Santa

12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $10.00 | Armored Cow Brewing

Charlotte Geek and Grub Market -- Christmas Nightmare Edition

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Victoria Yards

Maker's Market CLT at Legion Brewing W. Morehead

12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing, W Morehead

VAPA Center Open Studios, including Art Market

12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Brewers at 4001 Yancey

12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey

Cramerton Holiday Market

12:00 pm | FREE

Petco: Free pet photos with Santa

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Various locations

Photos with Santa (Free, but donations accepted)

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney

Belmont Christmas Village

1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Main Street, Belmont

Regal Holiday Classics

1:00 pm | $5.00 | Various locations

40th Annual North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade

1:00 pm | FREE | Various locations

A Cappella Christmas -- a concert with Queen Charlotte Chorus and Gold Standard Chorus

1:00 pm | $10.00-29.00 | St. Stephen United Methodist Church

Santa at OMB Christmas Market

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE

Cookies with Santa

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Bethesda Fire Department Station Two, Rock Hill

Maker's Market CLT at Edge City Brewing

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Edge City Brewery

Maker's Market CLT at Primal Brewery Huntersville

2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville

Downtown Holiday Artisan Market in Kings Mountain

2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Joy Performance Center, Kings Mountain

Matthews Ballet and Dance: The Nutcracker

2:00 pm | $7.00 | Matthews Community Center

Christmas in the Park in Stallings, including free hot chocolate and a tree lighting

3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Stallings Municipal Park

Mistletoe Market

3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End

A Huntersville Christmas

3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville)

Kings Mountain Christmas Parade

3:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Kings Mountain

Canceled: Town of Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Mount Pleasant Town Hall

Matthews Winter Wonderlights Park and Tree Lighting

3:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews

Maker's Market CLT at OpenTap

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap

Queen City Ringers at Cooks Memorial Presbyterian

4:00 pm | FREE | Cooks Memorial Presbyterian Church

A Cappella Christmas -- a concert with Queen Charlotte Chorus and Gold Standard Chorus

4:00 pm | $10.00-29.00 | St. Stephen United Methodist Church

Canceled: Town of Mount Pleasant Tree Lighting

4:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Mount Pleasant Town Hall

Holiday Walk at Sweetwater Farms

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $10.00 | Sweetwater Farms

Holidays at the Garden

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-25.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Vendor Market at Pilot Brewing

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing

Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf

Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC)

NoDa Krampus Krawl

5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | NoDa

Christmas at the Library

5:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library

Kings Mountain Winter Wonderland

5:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC)

McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights

5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations

Mint Hill Christmas Parade

5:30 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Town Hall

Christmas in Davidson

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Davidson

Candy Land Christmas Nights

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Federal Park, Lincolnton

Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride)

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis

Speedway Christmas (Price varies per day of week. Price is per vehicle.)

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $35.00-45.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway

Mint Hill Christmas Tree Lighting

6:30 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Town Hall

Matthews Ballet and Dance: The Nutcracker

7:00 pm | $7.00 | Matthews Community Center

Joy Jubilee: An Immersive Christmas Shopping Experience Benefitting Bright Blessings -- Volunteer Opportunity, Santa Pictures, much more...

11:00 am to 4:00 pm | $10.00 | Bright Blessings

December 3, 2023 @ 3:00 pm-7:00 pm

What

Gastonia Christmas in the City: Tree Lighting and Vendor Market

Where

Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia

Cost

FREE

Add to Calendar: Google Outlook/iCal

When

December 3, 2023 @ 5:00 pm

What

Gastonia Christmas Parade

Where

Downtown Gastonia

Cost

FREE

Add to Calendar: Google Outlook/iCal

Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia

111 North South Street
Gastonia, NC

Get Directions

Downtown Gastonia

South Street and Main Street
Gastonia, NC