December 2026Charlotte · The Queen City

December in Charlotte with little kids.

31 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Charlotte in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

31 listings · 6 free

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

9 listings

Dec 1 to Dec 6

Dec5Sat

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend

The Mint Museum (Randolph and Uptown), Charlotte Museum of History, Harvey B. Gantt Center, and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art · Charlotte

Free dayFree
When
Dec 5 and 6
Price
Free general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID)
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec5Sat

Breakfast with Santa at Rankin Lake

Rankin Lake Park Clubhouse (City of Gastonia Parks & Rec) · 1830 Rankin Lake Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052

Santa
When
Saturday, Dec 5
Time
8–9 a.m.; free Santa at the Lake photos 10 a.m.–noon
Price
$9 plus fees and taxes; kids 16 and under get a small gift; register by Nov 15
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

3 listings

Dec 7 to Dec 13

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

2 listings

Dec 14 to Dec 20

1 listing

Dec 21 to Dec 27

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

2 listings

Dec 28 to Dec 31

14 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at SouthPark Mall (NC)

SouthPark Mall (NC) · 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211-3531

Santa
When
Nov 6 to Dec 24
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
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Concord Mills

Concord Mills · 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC 28027

Santa
When
Nov 20 to Dec 24
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
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Northlake Mall

Northlake Mall · 6801 Northlake Mall Drive, Charlotte, NC 28216

Santa
When
Nov 20 to Dec 24
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
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Speedway Christmas

Charlotte Motor Speedway · Concord, NC

Holiday lights
When
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Time
6–10 p.m., rain or shine
Price
General admission and Express Lane per vehicle (prices in ticket calendar; value nights cheaper)
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Carolina Mall

Carolina Mall · 1480 Concord Pkwy North, Concord, NC 28025

Santa
When
Nov 27 to Dec 24
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
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Carolina Place

Carolina Place · 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134

Santa
When
Nov 27 to Dec 24
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
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked

Guides

More December guides for Charlotte

Santa visits in CharlotteBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in CharlotteDrive-thru and walk-through displaysIndoor play for toddlersThings to do with toddlers in CharlotteChristmas train ridesDates, ages and ticket pricesIce skating for kidsHoliday rinks, prices and skate aidsChristmas break with kidsWhat’s open Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Every year in CharlotteAnnual events by month, with last year’s dates

Keep planning

More for little kids in Charlotte

November: things to do in CharlotteEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in CharlotteFree days, free events and places that never chargeFree 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 pricesLibrary storytimes in CharlotteStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branchIce skating in CharlotteHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in CharlotteParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayChristmas 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 flaggedChristmas markets in CharlotteChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas tree farms in CharlotteChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in CharlotteDates, times and what the organizer posts for kidsChristmas break in CharlotteWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Splash pads in CharlotteSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hoursBirthday party places in CharlotteStarting prices, ages and what’s includedYouth soccer and T-ball in CharlotteSoccer and T-ball for kids under 6, with sign-up datesMore things to do with kids in Charlotte this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

December in Charlotte: the FAQ

31 dated listings so far, including Christmas in Davidson Tree Lighting (Dec 3), Cookies and Cocoa with Santa (Dec 3), Opening Ceremony and Santa's Arrival (Dec 3) and Huntersville Town Tree Lighting (Dec 4). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

Cookies and Cocoa with Santa (Dec 3), Opening Ceremony and Santa's Arrival (Dec 3), Huntersville Town Tree Lighting (Dec 4), Bank of America Museums on Us weekend (Dec 5 and Dec 6) and Storytime with Santa at ChristmasVille (Dec 5 to Dec 6), plus 1 more marked Free below. For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in Charlotte.

Cold or rainy days are on indoor play for toddlers in Charlotte, with ages, prices and hours from each place’s own site.

Season dates, prices and skate aids are on the ice skating page.

Holiday hours for Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 are on the Christmas break page.

Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

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 Nov 12, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Charlotte that weekend.

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