Charlotte On The Cheap

Live well in the Queen City on a budget

How to save time and money at Speedway Christmas

POSTED BY
Jody Mace
If you purchase a deal from Groupon or Goldstar from this page, Charlotte on the Cheap will earn a small commission.
 

Speedway Christmas returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a tenth year. Drive through and see the lights every night from November 22nd, 2019, to January 5th, 2020, with the exception of Christmas Day.

Make sure to check out these two discounts, while available:

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The Christmas Village will be open Thursday through Sunday each week, plus all Christmas week, with the exception of Christmas Day.  The hours are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

 

Drive through the infield and see 800 displays made up of more than 3 million holiday lights. The lights are synchronized to Christmas music that you can listen to on your car radio, on 101.3 FM.

Visit the Christmas Village, which includes:

  • A realistic Bethlehem-themed village
  • 50-foot Ferris Wheel
  • Photos with Santa
  • Games
  • Fire pits for s’mores roasting
  • More

Classic Christmas movies will be shown on the big screen too, every Thursday through Sunday.

The movies start at 6:30 p.m. and then are repeated. The only exception is opening night (November 22nd) when the movie will start around 7:45 p.m., after the fireworks.

Nov. 22 – Nov. 24 ELF
Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 Home Alone
Dec. 5 – Dec. 8 – Polar Express
Dec. 12 – Dec. 19 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
Dec. 20 – Dec. 24 The Star
Dec. 26 – Dec. 29 A Christmas Story

The price varies depending on the day of the week. The price is per vehicle.

VILLAGE OPEN PRICE: Thursday-Sunday Nights
Thursday & Sunday: $25 per car (max 10); $50 per van (max 36); $175 bus (max 57)
Friday & Saturday: $30 per car (max 10); $50 per van (max 36); $175 bus (max 57)

VILLAGE CLOSED PRICE: Monday-Wednesday Nights
$20 per car (max 10); $40 per van (max 36 people); $140 per bus (max 57 people)

Express Pass:
$20 extra, lets you skip the line.

Discounts at Speedway Christmas

Here are some ways to save at Speedway Christmas

  • Discount available on Goldstar
  • Discount available on Groupon
  • Open Day Discount Only: November 22: $10 per car
  • Military/first responder/educator discount: $5 off
  • Bring a bottle or can from a Coca-Cola product and receive a $5 discount on purchases at the gate. Any night.
  • Bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots any Thursday and receive a $5 discount on purchases at the gate.
  • December 8th: Bring 5 Food Lion brand non-perishable food items to the gate and get $10 off admission

Time saving tips for Speedway Christmas

  • If you just want to drive through, go Mon-Wed. There shouldn’t be a wait.
  • If you want to also go to the Christmas Village, Thursdays and Sundays less busy than Friday and Saturday (and cheaper.)
  • If you want to go Friday or Saturday, go EARLY. Get there before it opens.

 

Important: Mobile tickets will NOT be accepted for admission to Speedway Christmas. You must print your ticket and present it at the gate for entry. Failure to have your printed ticket will result in you having pay (cash or charge accepted) for an additional admission at the gate.

 

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Upcoming holiday events in the Charlotte area

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours)

All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops

Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel

All Day | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Free Santa photos and more at Cabela's Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours)

All Day | FREE | Cabela’s

Leonard Bearstein's animatronic Symphony Orchestra

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Founders Hall

Charlotte Christmas Village

11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | 7th Street and N. Tryon Street

Ice Skating at Whitewater Center

12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00 | U.S. National Whitewater Center

Outdoor Ice Skating at The Ice at Sun Valley Commons

3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Sun Valley Commons

Winter Wonderland outdoor skating rink at SouthPark Mall

3:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $12.00-17.00 | Symphony Park

Ayrsley Retro Holiday Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

3:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas

McGill Rose Garden's Winter Wonderland

4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | McGill Rose Garden

Holidays at the Garden (price varies by day of week)

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $7.95-18.85 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Christmas at the Library

5:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library

McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights

5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE

Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, $2 for train ride)

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway (price is per vehicle and varies according to day of week)

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-30.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway

Lights: Art Trail at Whitewater Center

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center

Zootastic Park Christmas Wonderland of Lights

6:00 pm | $8.00 | Zootastic

Talk About It Tuesday: The Seasoned Table - A Plant-Based Holiday

6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture

Ayrsley Retro Holiday Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas

Miracle off 4th Street: A Winter Wonderland Pop-Up Bar -- Christmas Card Photo Shoots with professional photographer

7:00 pm | FREE | Tin Roof

Community Singers of Lake Norman Christmas Concert: Gloria

7:30 pm | FREE | Huntersville Presbyterian Church

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours)

All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops

Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel

All Day | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Free Santa photos and more at Cabela's Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours)

All Day | FREE | Cabela’s

Holiday on Ice -- Uptown Ice Skating (operating hours vary)

$12.00-16.00 | NASCAR Hall of Fame

Leonard Bearstein's animatronic Symphony Orchestra

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Founders Hall

Charlotte Christmas Village

11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | 7th Street and N. Tryon Street

Ice Skating at Whitewater Center

12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00 | U.S. National Whitewater Center

Outdoor Ice Skating at The Ice at Sun Valley Commons

3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Sun Valley Commons

Winter Wonderland outdoor skating rink at SouthPark Mall

3:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $12.00-17.00 | Symphony Park

Ayrsley Retro Holiday Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

3:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas

McGill Rose Garden's Winter Wonderland

4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | McGill Rose Garden

Winter Wednesdays at Waverly

5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Waverly

The Christmas Market at CityChurch -- first 50 shoppers get a free glass of wine

5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | CityChurch Charlotte

Holidays at the Garden (price varies by day of week)

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $7.95-18.85 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

College Night at Holidays at the Garden: BOGO for college students, faculty and staff

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Christmas at the Library

5:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library

McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights

5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE

Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, $2 for train ride)

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway (price is per vehicle and varies according to day of week)

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-30.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway

Lights: Art Trail at Whitewater Center

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center

Zootastic Park Christmas Wonderland of Lights

6:00 pm | $8.00 | Zootastic

Ayrsley Retro Holiday Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours)

All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops

Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel

All Day | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Free Santa photos and more at Cabela's Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours)

All Day | FREE | Cabela’s

Holiday on Ice -- Uptown Ice Skating (operating hours vary)

$12.00-16.00 | NASCAR Hall of Fame

Free photos with Santa at Black Lion

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | BlackLion Park Road

Leonard Bearstein's animatronic Symphony Orchestra

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Founders Hall

12th Annual Community Nativity Festival

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Huntersville

Charlotte Christmas Village

11:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | 7th Street and N. Tryon Street

Ice Skating at Whitewater Center

12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00 | U.S. National Whitewater Center

Outdoor Ice Skating at The Ice at Sun Valley Commons

3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Sun Valley Commons

Winter Wonderland outdoor skating rink at SouthPark Mall

3:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $12.00-17.00 | Symphony Park

Ayrsley Retro Holiday Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

3:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas

McGill Rose Garden's Winter Wonderland

4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | McGill Rose Garden

Holidays at the Garden (price varies by day of week)

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $7.95-18.85 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Christmas at the Library

5:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library

McAdenville Yule Log Parade and Christmas Town Festival

5:30 pm to 8:45 pm | FREE

McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights

5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE

Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, $2 for train ride)

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway (price is per vehicle and varies according to day of week)

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-30.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway

Lights: Art Trail at Whitewater Center

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center

Zootastic Park Christmas Wonderland of Lights

6:00 pm | $8.00 | Zootastic

Hillside Light Night Run/Walk with YWCA Central Carolinas

6:00 pm | FREE | YWCA Central Carolinas

Winter Wonderland Light Show at Phillips Place

6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Phillips Place

Ugly Sweater Contest and Christmas Movie Trivia Night

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing

Ayrsley Retro Holiday Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas

Welcome to Bethlehem -- Musical Stage Play at Northside Baptist Church

7:00 pm | FREE | Northside Baptist Church

Free: Christmas concerts by North Mecklenburg Community Chorus

7:30 pm | FREE | Community in Christ Lutheran Church

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway (price is per vehicle and varies according to day of week)
When
Daily @ 6:00 pm-10:00 pm (November 23, 2019 - January 5, 2020)
What
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway (price is per vehicle and varies according to day of week)
Where
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Cost
$20.00-$30.00

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Parkway South
Concord, NC

Visit Website Get Directions

Reader Interactions

Comments

  9. Shaton White says

    Why won’t site let me register. I work on a group home with adults that have limited mental disabilities and we always look for things to do and this site is helpful

  11. Tammy M Queen says

    I would love to win this for our Granddaughter. She was recently crowned Young Miss Gaston County. She is our heart and my sunshine. She was a miracle baby because when she was born she saved her mother’s life. So this would be a great gift for the family to enjoy with her.

  14. Sarah says

    Love Christmas and would love to see these lights for the first time (only lived here a year) This time of year makes me so happy!! 🎄🎄🥰🥰

  22. Kathy Huval says

    Always a fun Christmas experience.
    Thanks Charlotte on the cheap, I would never know all the Fun/almost free things to do here!

  26. Elizabeth says

    Have not had a family Christmas for five years but so very excited. My daughter Jennifer is coming from London UK. Would love to take her. Many thanks

  30. Jorden Henderson says

    You know having younger siblings who are still very festive it would be awesome to get a fast pass. If I don’t win though I’ll still have an enjoyable holiday!

  35. Christy Scales says

    🤞🤞🤞Fingers crossed with grateful hearts! Would be our first time bringing the kiddos! 🥰🥰❤❤❤

  50. Beverly Mauldin says

    We have never been to the Speedway Christmas but would love to win and take our kids my husband and my in laws who are coming up for Thanksgiving weekend!!

  53. Beverly Bell Mauldin says

    I would love to win and surprise our children and my hard working husband! He loves Christmas like his late father. My husband works so hard and sacrifices so much to take care of us and I would so love to be able to surprise him and our 3 children who absolutely LOVE CHRISTmas and all the beautiful lights!!

  54. Melissa Carver says

    This would be a great time for me to take my homeschool group! We are new to Charlotte and would love the chance to go to this beautiful display of Christmas lights and fun! 🌲⛄🎁🎄

  57. Aaron C says

    I think Santa may be hiding amongst those 3 million lights somewhere. Can’t wait to experience this!

  65. Nikki says

    I would love to take my family to see all the lights and experience all that this event has to offer!!!!

  70. Adriana says

    The synchronized lights are amazing!! First time that I went with my kids they were too young to understand it. I’d love to come back to show them again!!

  71. Charlene Shipman says

    I love viewing Charlotte on the Cheap every day, and I would really LOVE to be able to share an Express Pass to Speedway Christmas with my friends from out-of-town. What a surprise that would be for them and totally jump-start our Christmas season. Thanks.

  84. JACQUELYN STOKES says

    We are coming to Concord to Celebrate Family Milestones: Birthdays and Retirements. It will be for a weekend with multigenerational family members. Speedway Christmas is on our itinerary for the weekend. We are coming from SC, Ohio, VA and PA to Celebrate in Concord!!! We can’t wait!!! Definitely a Family Affair!!!

  89. Thomas Mauldin says

    I would love to win the tickets so I can take my 3 little girls, my wife. We have never been to see the lights. My mother & her elderly mother will be coming from out of town. They would all really be thrilled to see all the lights.

  92. Mittra Varma says

    So excited to see the million lights synchronized with the music!! Would love to have the Express pass!!

  94. L'Oreal Salters says

    I would love to see the beautiful display of Christmas lights for the first time at the Speedway and experience the joy of Christmas!

  95. Dana M says

    ❤️ to win a trip to see speedway light for the first time. Will be in Concord NC to see son which is in college for Thanksgiving.

  99. Deb says

    This is our first grandchild’s first Christmas! What a treat it would be her to get to see the lights at the Speedway!
    Thanks to Charlotte On the Cheap for passing in these great ideas! We are looking forward to getting your emails of other fun events!

  102. Daniel Kronske says

    I’d love to do my best Ricky Bobby through Christmas Lights in my terrible Hyundai Accent, wondering exactly how I got there.

    Also, Christmas is my birthday. Best Birthmas present!

  107. Mary Stalcup Wilson says

    My brand new husband and I would love to be able to attend! We got married on the 9th and due to my grandmother’s passing we were unable to go on our honeymoon so this would be a great opportunity to get to spend time together and help cultivate the festive spirit

  117. Russell Rowe says

    Going to the Speedway for Christmas is one of our family traditions. We want to win the free entrance.

  123. Michelle Jolley says

    Love this newsletter. Great deals abs excellent advice. Merry Christmas hope to win the speedway of lights tickets

  124. Cheryl Johnson says

    I love Charlotte on the Cheap! Thanks for sharing the local events. Would love to go to Speedway Christmas!

  138. Sherry L Hardy says

    Would LOVE to take the family to see the beautiful lights and activities! Never been and since we’re originally from Ohio definitely want to have the experience! So please pick us! 😁

  139. Barbara Duncan says

    We haven’t had a chance to check out this event and would LOVE to win. Thanks for considering us!

  145. Liza Miranda says

    I am new here to Charlotte and heard so many good things about this display!! I cant wait to go ton experience it during my favorite holiday! Happy Holidays!

  151. Kathey Brown says

    Would be a wonderful experience for us all! Fingers crossed for a win and special visit soon!

  156. Julia Zilke says

    Looking forward to going to Speedway Christmas for the first time ever! We love Christmas lights!

  169. Bonnie says

    I’m just seeing this. It is our first Christmas here and our 1st Christmas married!! Would be forever grateful
    #Godbless and Thank you for the opportunity #charlotteonthecheap #charlottemotorspeedway #Christmas
    🤩🙏🎉😁

  176. AMANDA ADAMS says

    Our family has never had the opportunity to go!! We would LOVE a chance to see this gorgeous display of lights!!

  178. Travis Howard says

    Merry Christmas! Loved going a few years back would love to take the family this year to set what’s changed!

  181. Debby Pezza says

    I’ve lived here 20 years. Huge NASCAR fan. I would love to drive several of the senior citizens in my complex through the light show. Thank you.

  183. Ronald Fallatt says

    If its been a while since you have been to this event (and it was no worth it before) Go again, they have gotten so much better and it is definitely a good experience.

  185. Jennifer Monahan says

    This is our first year here and we would love to go! Everyone says it’s an amazing experience!

  190. Bradford Phelan says

    This is an awesome article w tips and detail about the Speedway Christmas. thank you. Hope i won the free fast pass:)

  192. Heather Lantz says

    Planning to go for the first time this year. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it and we all love everything Christmas!

  199. Sandra Worthey says

    I recently got emergency custody of 2 of my grandchildren and they have never had the pleasure of seeing the lights. This would be so awesome for them.

  202. Kevin V. says

    HI,
    Would love the chance to take the family to see the lights. We haven’t been there yet.
    Thank you,
    Kevin

  203. Bonnie Cole says

    Please, if not too late, I would like to enter to win a pass to the Christmas Village at Speedway. Blessings to all.

  222. Deborah Ford says

    Our family has never visited this attraction but would really love to experience it this year. It sounds like the fun has been “amped up” some for maximum excitement and joy!

  226. Edna Houston says

    This will be my first time going. So excited to see my grandson’s face when he sees it! It will be his first time too!

  227. Pam says

    They make it different every year!! Love to go!! Always fun to ride on the track 😁 Don’t forget to get warm mini donuts in the village 😋

  233. Linda Parra-Alvarez says

    Would love to see the lights. From San Antonio, Texas. Miss home. This looks like fun!

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