Our Lake Norman communities offer an amazing array of festivities and celebrations during the holidays. From small town parades to Christmas bazaars, old fashioned horse-drawn carriages, hot apple cider, carolers, Santa and even a sailboat parade, you will find myriad ways to celebrate your holidays. It is amazing how Santa gets around Lake Norman!
Here are some of the biggest to get you started:
Christmas Tree at Birkdale Village’s main square
HUNTERSVILLE and BIRKDALE VILLAGE
Huntersville kicked off the holidays with the arrival of Santa and their annual tree lighting ceremony this past Sunday, November 17th at Birkdale Village. Sorry I am too late for this one! Mark your calendars for early November next year!
Saint Mark’s Christmas Bazaar: November 17th: 13th Annual Saint Mark Christmas Bazaar was Saturday, November 18, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Saint Mark Catholic. 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 FamilyCenter Free goody bags to the first 500 attendees. Gifts in all price ranges for all ages; $1 adult admission for adults. All proceeds go to benefit programs and charities at Saint Mark Catholic Church. 60+ Booths: Raffles, Bake Sale, Layered Gift Jars, Jewelry, Fleece Items, Kitchen Items, Home Décor, Religious Gifts, Wreathes, Jams & Jellies, Handmade Wooden Toys, Handmade Cards, Entertaining Items, Scrapbooking, Hair Bows, Original Art, Local Honey, Toys & Baby Items, Purses & Accessories, Holiday Decorations, Concessions and More!
This year the Town Of Huntersville is combining their annual Christmas Tree Lighting with their Huntersville Christmas into a two day event on Friday, November 30th and Saturday December 1st. The official tree lighting is Friday at 6/9pm. Festivities continue on the 1st including a skating rink and Santa Claus. Learn more by clicking on my link “Town of Huntersville” above!
Breakfast with Santa at Birkdale Village is Saturday, December 8th at 8:30am and 9:45. The rest of the season visitors of Birkdale Village can enjoy the beautiful displays/decorations and even photos with Santa . (Not to mention some of the best shopping and restaurants in Lake Norman!) Check out their Facebook Page for more details: Birkdale Village
MOORESVILLE
LangTree Lake Norman Annual Christmas Tree Lighting: Saturday, November 17th 5-8pm.
Mooresville’s Christmas Parade is before Thanksgiving? Yep, it is Tuesday, November 20th starting at 3:30. It is a long story, but I guess each town around Lake Norman and Charlotte was designated a different week for their parades and Mooresville ended up with the Tuesday before Thanksgiving!
This year is the 74th Annual Mooresville Christmas Parade. It just keeps getting bigger and better every year yet organizers work hard to make sure it retains its ‘home town’ feel. Entries include floats, bands, and performers traveling down Main Street in Historic Downtown Mooresville. These will include marching bands, Scout troops, dance schools, floats and Santa! 12,000 – 15,000 of our local residents come out each year to enjoy the fun so get there early, especially if you want a good spot in the heart of Downtown. The Grand Marshall this year is Shannon O’Hara from American Idol season 18.
November 30th Mistletoe Sip and Shop
November 25th: “Downtown’s Holiday Light Spectacular” | An orchestrated light show that includes over 115,000 lights set to music. Light show runs nightly through late December. On the lawn at Town Hall – 413 N. Main St. Free!
Dates TBD! December 8th and 15th: Celebrate the Holidays in Downtown Mooresville |Music, Santa visits, Christmas Tree Lane, Wagon Rides, 75,000 Holiday Light Spectacular & more!! 6pm – 8pm & activities take place on Broad & Main Streets. Loading and unloading for wagon rides takes place at the Christian Mission on Broad Street. Santa visit and wagon ride loading ends promptly at 8pm
December 2nd: The 9th Annual Holiday Children’s Party. Join in the fun and don’t forget to dress to impress because Santa and Rudolph will be there to take complimentary photos! From 9am-11am at The Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N. Main St. Brought to you by the Town of Mooresville.
DAVIDSON
Davidson’s Holiday Gala: November 26th and 28th : In its 6th season, the Holiday Gala continues to delight sold-out audiences. The unofficial beginning of the town’s annual “Christmas in Davidson” event, the Holiday Gala brings together the college choirs, symphony orchestra and jazz band with local community talent to ring in the holiday with dancing, singing, festive lights and seasonal sounds. Get your tickets before they’re gone and see for yourself why the Holiday Gala is our newest beloved holiday tradition!
Christmas in Davidson is, hand’s down, my favorite event of the season. Mark your calendars for November 29th, 30th and December 1st from 6-9pm! Christmas in Davidson is an event started by our business community 30 years ago. We try to honor its history as well as keep things current. As our core values state, the physical, social and intellectual well-being of Davidson citizens is fundamental to our community, so we will provide and encourage enjoyable, safe, and affordable recreational and cultural opportunities in town. There is something fun and entertaining for everyone of all ages at Christmas in Davidson!
Community Chanukah Party December 9th at Temple Kol Tikvahh of Lake Norman at 19600 Zion Ave. Cornelius.
CORNELIUS
DENVER
The 2018 Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 1st from 12:15 to 2:30pm, starting on North Pilot Knob and Hager’s Ferry Rd, proceeding north to Captain’s Cap. There is NO Rain Date.
STATESVILLE
Statesville’s 12th annual Christmas Parade: December 9th starting at 3:00pm in Downtown Statesville on Center Street. Sponsored by the 30th Masonic District
TROUTMAN
Troutman’s Christmas Parade and Toys for Tots: December 1st at 11:00am
OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS in our area:
- Winter Wonderland Ice Skating Rink is an open-air holiday experience in Charlotte, North Carolina nestled between SouthPark Mall and Symphony Park. It features a 5,000 square for ice skating rink, a pub and a coffee shop and features live music, special events, guests and activities.
The Latta Plantation as always has some wonderful Holiday events:
- Victorian Christmas November 23th & 24th, 2018 (10am-4pm)
- Candlelight Christmas tours December 1st and 8th, 2018 (6pm-9pm)
- Old Fashioned Christmas Tea December 8th and 9th (2-4pm)
Christmas Town USA, McAdenville, NC has the most amazing Christmas lights in the entire Charlotte/Lake Norman area. The official lighting of Christmas Town USA is Friday, November 30th.
Charlotte Christmas Village/ChristKindleMarkt: From Thanksgiving Day until Christmas Eve, Romare Bearden Park in Uptown becomes the Charlotte Christmas Village. Inspired by the German tradition of Christmas markets, vendors sell homemade crafts, gifts and specialty foods from wooden huts. Strudels, bratwurst, German beer, mulled wine and more flow freely!
The Annual Singing Christmas Tree: At Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, Carolina Voices presents a Christmas favorite. Join in on the lyrics on December 8th and 9th as the MainStage Choir sings your favorite Christmas jingles. The show incorporates dance, puppetry and a giant “singing” tree composed of talented members. A version for children takes place at an earlier time each day.
Charlotte Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”: At the Belk Theater from December 7th – 23rd. Elaborate sets and costumes and phenomenal choreography are accompanied by live music from the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: From November 23rd to January 6th, the garden becomes a winter wonderland via the beloved Holidays at the Garden spectacular.
Holidays at the Garden is bigger and better than ever! You’ll discover new displays, more lights than ever before and fun for the whole family. Experience an all-new musically-orchestrated topiary display, wander through the the new illuminated prairie garden (coming this fall), explore the extended lights of fire and ice in the perennial gardens, view an expanded display of quaint buildings from Department 56’s Dickens’ Village Series® and more.
Visitors will enjoy annual traditions including the towering orchid tree, live music (daily 6 to 8 p.m.), holiday shopping in The Garden Store, crackling fires to warm cold hands or roast a marshmallow, the Children’s Discovery Trail of activities, warm beverages, activities and more. Model train displays built by the Metrolina Model Railroaders can be found throughout the Garden.
Santa Claus will be available for professional photos with families on Monday, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (additional fee, reservations required). Santa will also be available Tuesday through Thursday from Nov. 27 to Dec. 20 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for personal photos (no fee). Mrs. Claus will visit the Garden Friday through Sunday evenings from Nov. 23 to Dec. 23 in addition to Christmas Eve from 6 to 8 p.m.
Food service will be available every night in addition to beverages including coffee, hot chocolate, cider, beer, wine and other spirits.
I will continue to write about additional fun festivities and happenings through the rest of the year. Email me your additions as well!
