Nov27to Dec 30
Santa at WinterFest
Carowinds · Charlotte, NC
- When
- WinterFest days Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026
- Time
- Noon–8 p.m. (Saturdays and Dec 26 to 9 p.m.)
- Price
- Included with park admission
Good to know: Santa schedule is in the park app.
Christmas break 2026Charlotte · The Queen City
Christmas break with kids in Charlotte, 2026.
What to do with kids in Charlotte over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by two museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus 13 dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
What’s open over Christmas in Charlotte
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
PlaceDec 24Dec 25Jan 1Source
Daniel Stowe Botanical GardenTheir page says: “Daniel Stowe Conservancy is closed for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.”Christmas EveClosedChristmas DayClosedNew Year’s DayClosedHours page ↗ · Oct 21
Lake Norman State ParkTheir page says: “The park is closed on Christmas Day.”Christmas EveNot postedChristmas DayClosedNew Year’s DayNot postedHours page ↗ · Oct 21
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
The break, one day at a time
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Christmas Eve
Thursday, Dec 24. Many places close early, so check each card’s times.Nov6to Dec 24
Santa Photos at SouthPark Mall (NC)
SouthPark Mall (NC) · 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211-3531
- When
- Nov 6–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving)
- Time
- Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
- Price
- See photo packages on the booking page
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Nov27to Dec 24
Santa Photos at Charlotte Premium Outlets
Charlotte Premium Outlets · 5404 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, NC 28278
- When
- Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026
- Time
- Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
- Price
- See photo packages on the booking page
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 2 evenings (Nov 29, Dec 6).
Nov20to Dec 24
Santa Photos at Northlake Mall
Northlake Mall · 6801 Northlake Mall Drive, Charlotte, NC 28216
- When
- Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving)
- Time
- Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
- Price
- See photo packages on the booking page
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Nov27to Dec 24
Santa Photos at Carolina Place
Carolina Place · 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134
- When
- Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026
- Time
- Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
- Price
- See photo packages on the booking page
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 6 evenings (Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 14, Dec 15).
Nov20to Dec 24
Santa Photos at Concord Mills
Concord Mills · 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC 28027
- When
- Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving)
- Time
- Most days 2–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
- Price
- See photo packages on the booking page
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Nov27to Dec 24
Santa Photos at Carolina Mall
Carolina Mall · 1480 Concord Pkwy North, Concord, NC 28025
- When
- Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026
- Time
- Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
- Price
- See photo packages on the booking page
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
The days in between
Saturday, Dec 26 to Wednesday, Dec 30. Light displays and holiday rinks still running.Nov20to Jan 3
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway · Concord, NC
- When
- Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- Time
- 6–10 p.m., rain or shine
- Price
- General admission and Express Lane per vehicle (prices in ticket calendar; value nights cheaper)
Good to know: 5M+ lights on a 4-mile course; music on 101.3 FM; drive-in movies. Fri/Sat in December busiest; try Sun/Thu.
Nov27to Dec 30
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Ballantyne's Backyard · Ballantyne, Charlotte, NC
- When
- Select nights Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026 (30 nights)
- Time
- 5:30–9:30 p.m.
- Price
- From $10 (twilight); prices rise at the gate; free parking
Good to know: 40+ scenes, interactive wands, free live entertainment, free Santa photos through Dec 23.
Dec1to 26
Christmas Town U.S.A.
Downtown McAdenville · McAdenville, NC
- When
- Dec 1–26, 2026
- Time
- Nightly (tree lighting Dec 1 at 5:30 p.m.)
- Price
- Free
Good to know: Walk or drive the downtown lights. Yule Log Parade Dec 10.
Nov27to Dec 30
WinterFest at Carowinds
Carowinds · Charlotte, NC
- When
- Nov 27–29; Dec 5–6, 12–13, 18–23, 26–30, 2026
- Time
- Noon–8 p.m.; Saturdays and Dec 26 noon–9 p.m.
- Price
- Included with park admission
Nov28to Dec 30
Holidays at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Conservancy · Belmont, NC
- When
- Nov 28 – Dec 30, 2026
- Time
- Time not yet posted
- Price
- Not listed
Good to know: More than a million lights in the gardens. The trackless train runs Friday nights Dec 4, 11 and 18, and Santa is in on December weekends.
Nov25to Jan 3
Light the Knights Festival
Truist Field · 324 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
- When
- 28 dates from November 25, 2026 through January 3, 2027
- Time
- See the schedule for each date
- Price
- Not listed
Good to know: A walk-through at the ballpark with a Tunnel of Lights and a vendor market, and kids ages 3 and under are free.
New Year’s Eve
Thursday, Dec 31. Noon countdowns and early celebrations.Dec31Thu
NOON Year's Eve 5K and Kids Dash
East Charlotte · Charlotte (28212)
- Time
- Kids Dash 12:45 p.m.
- Price
- Kids Dash $16; 5K $40
Good to know: Every kid gets a finisher medal. On Nov 7 the Kids Dash still had 30 spots at $16 (12:45 p.m.) and the 5K was $40, with that 5K price rising after Nov 30.
New Year’s Day
Friday, Jan 1.Nov20to Jan 3
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway · Concord, NC
- When
- Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- Time
- 6–10 p.m., rain or shine
- Price
- General admission and Express Lane per vehicle (prices in ticket calendar; value nights cheaper)
Good to know: 5M+ lights on a 4-mile course; music on 101.3 FM; drive-in movies. Fri/Sat in December busiest; try Sun/Thu.
Nov25to Jan 3
Light the Knights Festival
Truist Field · 324 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
- When
- 28 dates from November 25, 2026 through January 3, 2027
- Time
- See the schedule for each date
- Price
- Not listed
Good to know: A walk-through at the ballpark with a Tunnel of Lights and a vendor market, and kids ages 3 and under are free.
Rainy-day backup
Indoor places to try
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
More for little kids in Charlotte
November: things to do in CharlotteEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in CharlotteEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in CharlotteFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in CharlotteFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in CharlotteIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in CharlotteStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branch
Ice skating in CharlotteHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in CharlotteParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in CharlotteParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in CharlottePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in CharlotteBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in CharlotteChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas tree farms in CharlotteChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in CharlotteDates, times and what the organizer posts for kids
Splash pads in CharlotteSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hours
Birthday party places in CharlotteStarting prices, ages and what’s included
Youth soccer and T-ball in CharlotteSoccer and T-ball for kids under 6, with sign-up dates
More things to do with kids in Charlotte this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Christmas break in Charlotte: the FAQ
Of the two places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and Lake Norman State Park are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.
On the calendar: Santa at WinterFest, Santa Photos at SouthPark Mall (NC), Santa Photos at Charlotte Premium Outlets and Santa Photos at Northlake Mall.
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.
On the calendar for Jan 1: Speedway Christmas and Light the Knights Festival. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Speedway Christmas, Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular, Christmas Town U.S.A., WinterFest at Carowinds and Holidays at the Garden. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
The month’s dated listings are on the December page, and rink dates and skate aids are on the ice skating page.
Choose-and-cut farms within about 40 miles, with wagon rides, Santa, cocoa and kid notes, are on the Christmas tree farms page.
Dates, times and what each organizer posts for kids are on the tree lighting page.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
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