Concord Events
Sea of Lights
Family Friendly
Dive into a world of holiday wonder at Sea Life Aquarium, where festive lights dance with the rhythm of the sea. Join them for a season of sparkles, joy, and marine magic
Speedway Christmas
Family Friendly | $45+ per vehicle, Santa Photos
Experience the 14th season of Speedway Christmas, the Southeast’s largest drive-through holiday light show at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Enjoy over five million lights across a four-mile course. The show runs rain or shine, with synchronized lights-to-music on 101.3 FM and drive-in movies on the massive Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night until Christmas.
Christmas Open House
Family Friendly | Santa Photos | Free Admission
Share an old-fashioned Southern Christmas with the Historic Bost Grist Mill! Shop, enjoy hot apple cider and light refreshments, outdoor vendors, and a special visitor from the North Pole will be there for photo sessions.
CABCO Movie Night: Elf
Family Friendly | FREE Event
Aurora Star Lit Cinema is back at Cabarrus Brewing Company for this awesome FREE outdoor movie, Elf! Starting at 6pm, arcade games (free to play) and holiday music. Concessions will be available for purchase.
Holiday Wine Glass Painting
21+ | Tickets: $20+
Get ready to unleash your creativity and sip on some delicious wine at USVI Wine Company as you paint and personalize your very own holiday wine glass at this fun Holiday Wine Glass Painting.
Wreaths Across America
Family Friendly
This holiday season, join the Cabarrus Black Boys Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in remembering and honoring veterans at Oakwood Cemetery. Attend the ceremony at noon where 1600 wreaths will be placed on Cabarrus County veterans’ graves, teaching the next generation about the sacrifices made for our freedom.
Santa at the Market
Family Friendly | FREE Santa Photos
Spend your afternoon at Concord’s locally sourced food hall (Gibson Mill Market) and spend time with SANTA! Christmas crafts will also be available for small children. A photographer will not be present; parents are welcome to take photographs for free.
2023 NC Christmas Festival
Family Friendly | FREE Santa Photos
Head over to the Cabarrus Arena for the perfect holiday experience. Free pictures with Santa Claus, free toy giveaway for the kids, free gift wrapping, Christmas coloring & word search, ornament decoration and more! Show your holiday cheer by wearing family ugly Christmas sweaters!
Holiday Vendor Market
Family Friendly
Cabo Winery invites you to shop from local vendors to pick up gifts for loved ones or even something special for yourself!
PJs and Pancakes with the Grinch
Family Friendly / Grinch Photos / FREE Event
Put on your best Christmas pjs and join Epworth United Methodist Church for breakfast with the Grinch himself! Featuring a craft station and a photobooth set up with the Grinch! Cost is free, but donations are welcome!
Procrastinators Vendor Market
Family Friendly
Are you a procrastinator who likes to shop last minute for the holidays? Well are you in luck! Buzzed Viking Brewing Company is having a “procrastinators” sip and shop market. Support local vendors this holiday season.
Flashlight Candycane Hunt
Family Friendly / FREE Event
Join Concord Parks and Recreation for its annual Flashlight Candycane hunt at Les Myers Park! There’ll be hot cocoa, a train ride, and snow! Bring your flashlight and a friend!
Gingerbread House Decorating Day
Family Friendly | Tickets: $25 per gingerbread house
Join Table 11 for their annual gingerbread decorating night. This is a fun night to get your friends and family to come have some holiday cheer. Each house is $25. That includes the house and lots of extra candy and icing. A dinner menu will be available and fun holiday drinks. There are two different sessions, 4pm and 6:30pm. Call 980-255-8596 to make your reservation.
¡Celebra! Bilingual Family Holiday Concert
Family Friendly | Tickets: $5+
Immerse yourself in a vibrant bilingual family holiday concert with Criss Cross Mangosauce at the Davis Theatre! Experience the magic of culture, music, and a powerful message of hope, reconciliation, and peace. Sing along to popular holiday tunes, traditional Latin American Christmas carols, and captivating stories from around the world. Don’t miss this interactive performance that’ll have both kids and adults moving to the rhythm in English and Spanish!
Murder In the Tasting Room Ugly Sweater Christmas Party
21+ | Tickets: $55+
USVI Wine Company is hosting an ugly Christmas sweater party again this year. Join them for a night of fun, role playing, great wine and chef curated dinner. All tickets include a choice of chicken dinner or vegetarian pasta for 1 guest, along with a glass of house red or white wine. Non-Alcoholic substitutions are available.
13th Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party
21+
The Friday before Christmas every year is the Lil’ Robert’s Place sweater party. Pull out those sweaters that have been hiding in your closet all year long, and lets see ’em! LIVE MUSIC WITH 90S BAND DOGWATER @ 8PM SWEATER CONTEST @ 9PM Best male, female, and couple sweater, with prizes! Let’s get ugly!!
New Year Countdown and Wine Paring Extravaganza
21+ | Tickets: $50
Join USVI Wine Company to ring in the New Year in style! DRESS TO IMPRESS and DANCE! Ticket price includes entrance for 1 guest, 1 complimentary glass of champagne or sparkling cider at midnight for our toast, and 5 wine samples paired with appetizers. Drinks will be on sale all night!
Kannapolis Events
Celebration of Lights
Family Friendly / FREE Santa Photos
Come to Village Park and enjoy all the beautiful lights and displays in celebration of the holidays. Area choirs and school groups will perform on select evenings. Bring your wish list for your visit with Santa – you are welcome to take your photo with him at no charge. Other activities include making a holiday craft, enjoying smore’s around the fire pit and much more. Local craft and artisans will be on hand on the weekends so come prepared to do your Christmas shopping. Food trucks will have food and drinks for sale.
Cookie Decorating
Family Friendly | Registration Required $25
Get into the holiday spirit by joining the City of Kannapolis for a Cookie Decorating Class at the Kannapolis Train Station. (201 South Main Street, Kannapolis). Participants will receive three cookies to decorate as instructors teach different decorating techniques. After the class, participants may take their cookies home to enjoy.
Christmas with Cody Webb
Family Friendly | Tickets: $15+
Don’t miss the performance of Cody Webb, an accomplished singer, songwriter, and musician, at The Swanee Theatre. With his distinctive guitar skills and captivating vocals, Cody has garnered thousands of fans nationwide, with his 2019 single “Jon Boat” amassing over 1.5 million streams and 2.5 million views on its music video.
Best.Gift.Ever. Drive Thru Nativity
Family Friendly | FREE Event
Experience the first Christmas portrayed, from the birth of Jesus to His resurrection, in a multi-scene drive-thru event with a live cast and animals at Central Baptist Church. This is a FREE event to everyone. Invite your family and friends to join you.
Christmas @ Editions
Family Friendly
Head to Editions Coffee and Bookstore for a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” for the kids and their annual Christmas Classics Trivia at 2:30pm. Cash prizes and themed drinks.
Wintersaurus Festivus
Family Friendly
Join Guitars n’ Cars for its second annual Wintersaurus Festivus! This FREE event is open to everyone! Kid activities, special deals on inventory and lessons, cool cars, and vendor shopping.
Josh Daniel: The North Carolina Waltz
Family Friendly | Tickets: $15+
An All-star Tribute to THE BAND’s Last Waltz!
Rockin’ New Years Eve with the Cat5 Band
Ring in the new year with Cat5 at The Swanee Theatre!
Christmas Celebration Concert
Family Friendly / FREE Event with Registration
Join Charity Baptist Church for a Christmas Concert Celebration with Michael O’Brien. Michael is the former lead singer of Newsong. Tickets are free, you just need to register and you can do that at: https://www.charity.church/events
Mount Pleasant Events
Christmas Cocktails and Crafts Vendor Faire
Join Southern Grace Distilleries for its 3rd annual Christmas Cocktails & Crafts Faire! There will be vendors, cocktails, and FREE tours!
Shopping and Story Time with Mrs. Claus
Family Friendly / Free Mrs Claus and Santa Photos
Down South on Main invites you out for a fun day of shopping. Stations will be set up with items that are $1, $5, $10. Kids can shop for their loved ones, friends, pets, and family! While you are there, snag a FREE photo with Santa and Mrs Claus.Be sure to be there at 5:30 for story time with Mrs. Claus and you may just get a treat from her too!
Behind Bars Tours with Santa
21+ / Santa / Tickets
Tour Southern Grace Distillery with none other than the man in red himself, Santa! Tours will be at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm. Let Santa tell you all about his favorite distillery and bourbon!