UPDATE: Congratulations to Martha!
Speedway Christmas returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a ninth year. Drive through and see the lights every night from November 18th, 2018 to December 31st, with the exception of Christmas Day.
Enter to win an Express Pass, which gets your car or van (up to 10 people) into the attraction, and lets you jump to the head of the line to reduce your wait time. To enter, just scroll down and leave a comment on this post. You’ll need to be an email subscriber of Charlotte on the Cheap to win. Subscribe here if you’re not already receiving Charlotte on the Cheap emails.
- Free things to do this week
- Discounts on concert tickets, kids' activities, restaurants, more
- Most spectacular Christmas light displays
- Where to get free pictures with Santa
- Big list of free things to do with friends and family Thanksgiving Weekend
- Tree Lighting Celebrations in the Charlotte area
- Hanukkah celebrations in the Charlotte area
- Day by day list of holiday events
- Charlotte area holiday markets
- Free Christmas and holiday concerts
- Self-guided walking tour of Uptown Charlotte Christmas lights and attractions
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 (new this year)
- Photos with Santa
- Games
- Fire pits for s’mores roasting
- More
Classic Christmas movies will be shown on the big screen too, every night that the Christmas Village is open. (See schedule below.) They’ll show twice, starting at 6:30 p.m.
The price varies depending on the day of the week. The price is per vehicle.
*Advance internet and phone order prices reflect Friday & Saturday pricing
*Tickets can be purchased upon arrival as well.
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)
Discounts at Speedway Christmas
- Military/First Responders/Educator Discount: $5 off
- Bring a bottle or can from a Coca-Cola product and receive a $5 discount on purchases at the gate. One discount per car good any night
- Show your AAA Carolinas membership card on Tuesday nights and receive a $5 discount on purchases at the gate
- Bring an unwrapped toy for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department toy drive each Thursday night and receive a $5 discount on purchases at the gate
Express Pass: Add $20 to above pricing. This allows you to skip the line to enter.
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.
Speedway Christmas movie schedule
Movies will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a second showing immediately after. Tune to 105.1 FM to listen.
Nov. 18 “Home Alone”
Nov. 22-25 “The Santa Clause”
Nov. 29- Dec. 2 “The Polar Express”
Dec. 6-9 “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
Dec. 13-16 “The Star”
Dec. 20 – 24 – “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, The Grinch (1966)”
Dec. 26 – 30 – “Home Alone”
To enter to win an Express Pass, which gets your car or van (up to 10 people) into the attraction, and lets you jump to the head of the line to reduce your wait time, scroll down and leave a comment on this post. You’ll need to be an email subscriber of Charlotte on the Cheap to win. Subscribe here if you’re not already receiving Charlotte on the Cheap emails.
The winner will be randomly selected on Thursday, December 6th, 2018, and will have 48 hours to respond to the email with a mailing address. So be sure to check your inbox and spam folder.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
Janet says
Fun Christmas tradition! Thanks!
Elaine Guice says
Hope to win!
Laura Lambert says
Love the Speedway Christmas Lights!
Alexis says
This sounds like so much fun!!
Jennifer says
Favorite holiday tradition!
Alexis Byers says
Entering to win Motor Speedway Express Pass!
Melissa says
This would be amazing to go to… we’ve never been!
Jackie says
My kiddos would LOVE this!!!!
Kristina Pappas says
My husband and I have never been and would love to go!!!!!!
Linda says
Would love to see this!
Deb says
Love to win
Sonja says
I love seeing Christmas lights.
Maureen Earl says
Oh to bypass a line at Christmas !🎅🏻
Merry McKeown says
Would love to take my kids!! 🤞🏼
alma owens says
would love to visit the speedway
S. Pritchard says
COTC is the BEST RESOURCE for anyone and everyone in Charlotte!
Fran Kurlander says
Would be great to do with visiting grands
Ricardo says
First time at Speedway Christmas, coming from Curitiba, Brazil, we’ll love to be there soon and have so much fun with you!!! Can’t wait to be there and have a wonderfull and Very Very Mery Christmass for all!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️☃️☃️☃️⭐️⭐️⭐️😇✨😇✨😇☃️☃️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Janeea Wilda says
My family has never been and we would love to go!
Tim Hart says
Need to drive on the track, with all those lights!
Brianne Baity says
My family would love to go, we have never been! Merry Christmas!!! 🥁🎡🎅☕️🏎
Kaylee Miller says
Christmas lights are the best!!! Hope to win!
Eugenia Washington says
WOW! What a great way to celebrate Christmas!!!
Isabel Almontes says
I hope to win that Express Pass and happy holidays to everyone!
Melissa says
We love this website! Always so many fun things to do!!!
Patty K says
Me, me, please!!
Merry Christmas!!
Channa says
It’s a family tradition! IT would be a nice honors to win and bring along more family and friends!
Nicole says
I can’t wait to see the lights with the kiddos.
Valerie Kaye Crockett says
I have never seen the lights at the speedway. Looks beautiful!!!!!!
Jill Maconald says
Pick me!
Tawana Crowder says
My family would love to go!
Katherine Kil says
Our family would love to win! Thank you!
Elizabeth Lamb says
Happy holidays! 🤞
Heidi Fleming says
Would love to win this!!
Tiana says
I love your post and Information. It has been great in helping me plan a surprise vacay for me and my kids to Charlotte! We would love to go!! Merry Christmas.
Martha says
BEST DAY EVER!!
Hopefully !! 😊😁
Nekeisha Lindsey says
I never knew about this site until today…I can’t wait to see all of the cool things to do!!!
Crystal Brauer says
Would love to take my boys!!!
Cory Brown says
This will be my first time going to Speedway Christmas! I am a recent transfer student from Oklahoma State University to UNC Charlotte. Pick me!
Carolyn Vitti says
Would love to go to Speedway Christmas, it would be our first time!!! 🙂
Stephanie says
Would be amazing to win!! My international student would love this!!
Ashlee A. says
My boys would absolutely love this!
Sherry Nance says
I’ve never been & would love to take my family❤️
Nicholas Josef Reese says
Never seen the lights and we live right next to the speedway!!! Would love to take the family <3
Michelle Gould says
Our family has never been and it would be so fun!
Dewey Dunn says
We love going and taking family and friends.
Denise says
Looks like fun!
Russ R says
We’d love to attend
Julie Dunbar says
Pick me please!!!
Delores George says
I would Love to fill my Pilot up with family and go to this exciting event. We can add it to our list of holiday entertainment.
Kelley Moore says
We love Charlotte on the Cheap emails!!
Sharon C. says
Would love to win! Thanks for the opportunity!
Hazel says
Please with sugar on top let us win. We love Nascar and fast cars! Thanks the winning family 🙂
Rasha Atiya says
We love Charlotte on the Cheap emails. So much fun for the whole family
Nancy says
Would love to go!
Diane says
My kids would freak out if we could drive on the Speedway and see the lights!
Heidi Sue Isaac says
We would love to go!
Valerie says
Sounds like lots of fun!
Rebecca L Griggs says
We are looking forward to our first trip to the speedway lights this year!
Karla Cornell says
My kids would love to see the lights this year!
June Strait says
Would love to go with my family and see this. Thanks for the opportunity
C. Thompson says
Love this. Can take visiting family including our senior seniors in a van. Everyone can be together to view the beautiful lights.
Reagan says
Never been been and really want to go!
Quenteda says
Hope I win so me and my girls can experience the lights!!!!
Nikki Parham says
My family really enjoyed last year’s lights, indoor holiday market, movie, food, displays, “snow,” and amusement park rides!! I have visitors from California coming this holiday and would LOVE for them to also enjoy this experience. Hoping to win!!!!!
Blake says
We are new to the area, so this would be quite a treat! Hope I win! Merry Christmas to all!
Natalie Alvarez-Browne says
We have never been so this would be exciting for our kids.
Renita Harris says
Never been, thank you Charlotte on the cheap for the opportunity
Allyson Burns says
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!!!!!
Judy B says
My daughter just got out of the hospital for the 14th time this year. This would be an amazing opportunity to have some Christmas fun, while avoiding germs!
Billy I says
Have never been, would be a nice gift!
Niambi says
My boys would love to go see the Christmas light show at the raceway!
Christine Godbold says
I’ve never been and would loved to go see it!
Jessie says
I would love to take my 2 daughters and 4 year old granddaughter. We have never seen something as wonderful and grand as The Charlotte Speedway. I can just see the wonderment in their eyes as they look at all the lights and sing Christmas carols.
Cami Maher says
My little girl and I would love to see this!
Katie Carsten says
Commenting for a win 👆🏼🤶🏻
Tayler says
Thank you for all the useful and helpful information.
Allyson says
Skipping the line with two toddlers =bliss!
Amy Chandler says
We have never been and would love the opportunity to go see all the beautiful lights!
Anita says
Need some holiday sprit this year! Never been and would love to take the family. Love reading this site. Very helpful.
Lizette K says
Love the Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas lights!!!
Alyson Sherlock says
Would love to see the lights!! Thank you!
Sherry says
Millions of lights to put you into the Christmas spirit!
Karen R. says
My family’s coming to Charlotte for Christmas. This is MUST DO activity for us. Wouldn’t it be cool to tell them that I won admission by entering a contest? YES IT WOULD!
Sarah Rose says
WOULD LOVE TO TAKE MY 2 KIDDOS THIS YEAR!
Steve Benson says
Haven’t been in a few years
KAREN says
Would be great to bring our family to visit the Speedway when they come to visit!
Meredith says
Please pick me! I’ve never seen these lights!
Amanda Adams says
My family of 4 would love to go!
De'Anna Winters says
Well this sounds like an interesting concept. I’d love to check it out!
Kelly Lowe says
Merry Christmas!
Chris Easterly says
Pick me please.
AJ Hart says
We are new to Charlotte and moved here from Indiana. My kids have never been to a race track or seen a large scale light event. Please select us and make their Christmas dreams come true!!
Mike Martinez says
Merry Christmas
Robert says
What a contest, What a deal, what Christmas excitement!
Eugenia Washington says
Would love to see the show!!
Dawn Brown- Evans says
We arguing for the 1st time with our 4 kids to celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary! so Excited!
Dwayne Stone says
We have never been and would love to see this!
Ava says
PICK MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Janet Davis says
Family in town and ready to visit!!