See the Crown Jewels of Charlotte, North Carolina, This Winter

Charlotte’s tourism tagline proclaims, “Charlotte’s Got A Lot.” Both visitors and locals attest to the Queen City’s wealth of attractions, arts, events, shopping, food and drink. The city is ranked among the fastest-growing in the country. However, there are places to see and things to do that still deliver local, small-town pleasures. And, while any season is good for a visit, Charlotte offers loads of holiday cheer and cold-weather fun.

1. Light the Knights Festival

Nearly every part of the Charlotte Knights’ uptown stadium is decorated with thousands of festive lights for the Light the Knights Festival. Come see a family-friendly winter wonderland. Ice skate and go tubing against the backdrop of the city skyline. Then, visit Santa’s Workshop and shop for gifts in the Christmas Village. Stroll among wonderfully decorated trees and watch a choreographed light show set to holiday tunes.

2. Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont

The always delightful Daniel Stowe Conservancy is transformed into a magical place with thousands of twinkling lights illuminating the plantings and fountains. Gather around an outdoor fire (and make s’mores) while you indulge in special treats and warm beverages. There’s even an adults-only speakeasy featuring exclusive holiday cocktails.

3. Billy Graham Library

Year-round at the Billy Graham Library, you can follow Graham’s journey from his childhood home to his rise to fame as a renowned minister. Around the holidays, the grounds are even more magical with horse-drawn carriage rides, a live Nativity scene featuring a camel, donkey, lambs and other animals, carolers performing holiday favorites, and readings from Christmas books in Ruth’s Attic Bookstore.

4. Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville

If you’ve ever wanted a glimpse of what owls do in the dark, head to the Carolina Raptor Center for an Owl Prowl. You’ll get up close and personal with a resident owl, learn more about these winged creatures then embark on a guided, educational in-the-dark hike around the Raptor Trail. Cap off the adventure with s’mores at the end of the prowl.

5. Sullenberger Aviation Museum

The Sullenberger Aviation Museum offers an immersive experience into the history of flight, showcasing an extensive collection of aircraft and artifacts. A highlight is the Miracle on the Hudson exhibit featuring the plane that safely landed in New York’s Hudson River in 2009. The museum is close to one of the runways at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, offering great views of planes coming and going.

6. Charlotte Motor Speedway

Get revved up while you take a lap on the Charlotte Motor Speedway track beneath a dazzling 4-mile display of 5 million holiday lights during the annual Speedway Christmas celebration. Stroll the Christmas Village set in the infield, where you can visit Santa, shop for NASCAR-related gifts and even enjoy a holiday-themed drive-in movie. Post-holidays, you can schedule a tour of the Speedway, which includes a ride through two infield racetracks.

7. Atherton Mill

Located in the city’s South End, once a textile mill, Atherton Mill was repurposed into a shopping and dining destination. Situated along the Rail Trail, a 3.5-mile trail connecting several neighborhoods with cafes, galleries, public art and more, the mill offers stunning views of the Charlotte skyline in addition to its specialized boutiques, dining spots, coffee shops and breweries.

8. Shop Local

If shopping helps shake off the winter chill, Charlotte has an abundance of options. SouthPark Mall is the region’s premier destination for luxury shopping and dining. For a truly local experience, head to The Market at 7th Street in Uptown. This nonprofit food hall and retail space serves as a business incubator so you can purchase directly from small business entrepreneurs and local food artisans. Arts abound here too, with Uptown home to the Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Harvey Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.

9. Outdoor Adventure

The popular Carowinds theme park has more than 60 rides and live entertainment throughout the year. During the holidays, it lights up the night with Winterfest, featuring ice skating, shopping and the nightly Wonderland Parade. Over in Charlotte’s Ballantyne Backyard, you’ll discover a half-mile walking trail ablaze under over a million colored lights and lined with hundreds of Christmas trees and oversized snow globes. The Alpine Avalanche Snow Tube Slide is also a big favorite.

10. Top Dining

Winter fun is bound to heat up your appetite, and Charlotte can satisfy your taste buds with local, regional and international flavors. The city has found the national spotlight with chefs recognized by the James Beard Foundation and proving themselves on Food Network competition shows, not to mention the city will be on display for the upcoming season of Top Chef. Visit charlottesgotalot.com/eat-drink for the full menu.