The nearby City of Kannapolis always goes above and beyond in its holiday festivities, and 2023 will be no exception. Read on to learn about the Tree Lighting, the Celebration of Lights, and the Christmas parade.
Downtown Kannapolis has undergone an incredible revitalization. Learn about all the fun things to do in Downtown Kannapolis!
Check out our huge day-by-day list of holiday events in the Charlotte area! We update it every day!
Tree Lighting Ceremony
The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 6 p.m., at Village Park, 700 West C Street, Kannapolis. Enjoy live music and entertainment, kids’ activities and even fireworks. This is the first night of the Celebration of Lights. Free admission.
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
Kannapolis’ Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express returns for 2023, at Village Park, 700 West C Street.
It will take place November 18 through December 30, 2023, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Hours are:
- Sunday through Thursday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
There are more lights than ever, over 250,000. Admission to the park and viewing the lights is again FREE. Walk through the park and see if you can spot all “12 Days of Christmas!”
Rides on the Winterland Express and carousel rides are $2 each. The Winterland Express is Village Park’s g-24 scale replica CP Huntington engine, decked out for the holidays!
The City of Kannapolis has just announced that they’ve added a second Winterland Express train for 2023! So they will be able to handle twice the number of train riders through the holiday season (and the rest of the year.)
The metallic black and chrome CP Huntington G24 Engine #425 will pull three coaches and accommodates adults and children. It has an electric engine and is handicap accessible.
The City’s original bright red CP Huntington Engine #262 is 30 years old and has been an integral attraction at Village Park for years. It will continue to also operate during the holiday season.
The Village Park Carousel, which was manufactured in Italy, features 1,800 lights, Brazilian oak decking, and handpainted Venetian murals.
Again, this year, kids of all ages will be able to visit Santa in his studio each night. There’s no charge for the Santa visits.
Also, Leonard Bearstein and his animatronic orchestra will be performing nightly!
Make s’mores around the fire pit, do a craft, and listen to the Kannapolis Singing Bears perform.
Kannapolis Christmas Parade
The Kannapolis Christmas Parade takes place December 9, 2023. It starts in downtown Kannapolis at 6 p.m. It will travel through the streets of downtown Kannapolis and will end around 7:30 p.m.
Holiday Market
The City of Kannapolis is holding a Holiday Market at The Laureate Center, 401 Laureate Way, from November 24 to 26, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. It will be inside of City Hall. Shop from local artists and vendors.
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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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