Winter Events in North Carolina

Check out fun events happening across the state in winter.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival

Nov. 16, 2025-Jan. 13, 2026, Cary

The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival returns to the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary this holiday season with a dazzling display of illuminated lanterns. In partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc., this family-friendly event combines the ancient Chinese tradition of lantern-making with the latest in modern lighting technology to create a unique walk-through experience featuring hundreds of colorful, larger-than-life lanterns. The festival takes place nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. (ending at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day).

For more information, visit boothamphitheatre.com/chinese-lantern-festival or call 919-462-2025.

Kersey Valley Christmas

Nov. 30-Dec. 23, 2025, Archdale

Kersey Valley Attractions’ annual Christmas celebration offers the perfect opportunity to get into the holiday spirit starting the day after Thanksgiving. This fun family event includes a ride on the Kersey Valley Express Train, wagon rides around the farm to see the Christmas lights, kid-friendly zip lines, pedal carts, bungee trampolines, fire pits for s’mores-making, reindeer stalls behind Santa’s Workshop where you can see the elves at work and much more.

For a complete list of activities or to purchase tickets, visit kerseyvalleychristmas.com or call (336) 431-1700.

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum

Late Nov. through Dec. 31, 2025, Asheville

The North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville has converted its popular holiday light show into a drive-thru event for 2021, allowing visitors to admire the spectacular holiday lights from the comfort of their own vehicles. The mile-long light show will feature beautifully lit landscapes, nature-themed displays and more. Guests can also tune in to a special radio station featuring holiday music to accompany the show. To get your tickets, visit ncarboretum.org or call (828) 665-2492.

Country Christmas Train

Select dates in November and December, 2025, Denton

This holiday season, make your way to Denton FarmPark for the annual Country Christmas Train.

A 20-minute ride on the decorated train includes thousands of twinkling lights and a video about the story of Christmas. Stop by the Gingerbread House for a fresh cookie and hot chocolate, and then follow the pathway to the old-time general store, a service station and the doll museum. Children can take part in pony rides and a petting zoo, and Christmas gifts are available for purchase.

The Country Christmas Train is open on select dates throughout December. Find a full schedule on its website at dentonfarmpark.com or by calling (336) 859-2755.

Miracle on Main Street

Dec. 2025, Mount Holly

Visit downtown Mount Holly on Friday, Dec. 1, for the annual Miracle on Main Street holiday celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. The event features a tree-lighting ceremony, live music performances, vendors and special visitors from the North Pole. Come hungry because there will also be several food trucks. For more information on this and other Mount Holly events, visit mtholly.us.

Jacksonville Winterfest

Dec. 2025, Jacksonville

Celebrate winter in Jacksonville with holiday shopping and activities for all ages. The festival’s Artisan Market includes a gingerbread house workshop, pet photos with Santa and activities as artisans fill the space inside Jacksonville Commons Recreation Complex with a wide variety of goods for sale. On Saturday, families can enjoy sledding, ice skating, pony rides, photos with Santa and more at Riverwalk Crossing Park.

Winterfest admission is free and all events are open to the public. For details, visit jacksonvillenc.gov/winterfest or call Jacksonville Recreation at (910) 938-5312.

Hope Plantation Open House

Dec. 2025

Christmas open house will be held at Hope Plantation in Windsor from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2022. The Hope mansion and King Bazemore house will be decorated with period decorations. Join us for live holiday music, refreshments, and horse drawn carriage and wagon rides. There is no charge but donations are appreciated. Historic Hope Plantation is located on 132 Hope House Road off NC308 just north of Windsor. For more information, call (252) 794-3140 or visit hopeplantation.org.

Candlelight Christmas Tour

Dec. 2025, Murfreesboro

Winter Wonderland at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences

Dec. 2025, Rocky Mount

The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences in Rocky Mount welcomes visitors for its annual Winter Wonderland event on Sunday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. This family-friendly celebration features indoor falling snow, musical performances, visits with Santa, holiday craft stations, an inflatable play area, and seasonal shows in the Children’s Museum and Theatre. For more information and a complete lineup of activities and events, visit imperialcentre.org/winter-wonderland or call (252) 972-1266.

New Year’s Eve Blueberry Drop

Dec. 31, 2025, Burgaw

Visit Burgaw for the annual Blueberry Drop & Firework Show on New Year’s Eve. Festivities take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The giant blueberry is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks display that visitors can enjoy from the event area or designated viewing stations throughout town. The event also hosts food trucks and vendors offering delicious fare from local eateries and hot chocolate. To learn more, visit burgawnc.gov/events or call (910) 300-6401.

First Day Hikes at NC State Parks

Jan. 1, 2026, Statewide

What better way to kick off the new year than to get outdoors and explore North Carolina’s beautiful state parks? On the first day of January each year, parks across the state invite visitors on a First Day Hike. Many state parks offer ranger-led hikes in time slots throughout the day as well as self-guided options of varying lengths and difficulty levels all day. To learn more and plan your hike, visit ncparks.gov/first-day-hikes.

Wine & Brine

Jan. 16, 2026, Morehead City

Visit Southern Salt Seafood Company and Waterfront Restaurant in downtown Morehead City in January for an evening of wine and delicious seafood at Wine & Brine. Presented by The North Carolina Seafood Festival and the North Carolina Coastal Federation, the event welcomes more than 300 guests to meet local shellfish growers while sampling their harvest alongside expertly paired wines. The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m., and tickets include samples of oysters and clams from local providers, additional fare from Southern Salt, two tickets for alcoholic drinks and a wine glass for sampling hand-selected wines.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ncseafoodfestival.org/events or call 252-726-6273.

Crime Stoppers BBQ

Jan. 16, 2026, Monroe

Union County Crime Stoppers is holding its 34th annual Crime Stoppers BBQ fundraising event in January. This event is the only fundraiser the nonprofit organization holds each year, and funds are used to provide cash rewards for those who offer information that leads to an arrest of someone responsible for a crime in the county. (The caller may remain anonymous when providing information.)

The event takes place at the Union County Agricultural Center in Monroe beginning at 8 a.m. for drive-thru pickup and 10:30 a.m. for dine-in participants.

For more details, visit unioncountycrimestoppers.com/bbq.

Blowing Rock WinterFest

Jan. 29, 2026, Blowing Rock

Celebrate the fun side of winter at the annual Blowing Rock WinterFest. This seasonal celebration includes ice carving demonstrations in Memorial Park, free admission to the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, hayrides through downtown, a silent auction and raffle, and a polar bear plunge in Chetola Lake for the most adventurous festivalgoers. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (800) 295-7801 or visit blowingrockwinterfest.com.

Carolina Chocolate Festival

Feb. 7-8, 2026, Morehead City

Enjoy all things chocolate at the Carolina Chocolate Festival in Morehead City. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and raises money for nonprofit organizations in Carteret County. Roam the aisles of unlimited chocolate to try cakes, cookies, truffles and more. Other activities include hourly pudding tastings, door prizes and a golden ticket giveaway. For more information, visit carolinachocolatefestival.com.

Great Outhouse Races

Feb. 8, 2026, Sapphire Valley

Visit Sapphire Valley Ski Area for a one-of-a-kind race at the end of the ski season in February. At the annual Great Outhouse Races, competitors in teams of three get together to race homemade outhouses on skis down a two-lane track of packed snow or ice at Sapphire Valley Resort. Teams consist of two pushers and one person sitting inside the outhouse, which is equipped with one seat and one roll of toilet paper.

In addition to the excitement of the races, attendees can go skiing, snowboarding, zip lining, and snow tubing throughout the day, enjoy the live music, or just relax and warm up beside the fire.

To learn more, visit skisapphirevalley.com or call (828) 743-7663.

Tidewater Camellia Club Show

Feb. 28, 2026, Wilmington

The Tidewater Camellia Club is hosting its annual plant show and sale this February at the New Hanover County Arboretum in Wilmington. Camellia exhibitors from across the Southeast will gather to present hundreds of beautiful blooms for judging, and the public is invited to stop by to see the flowers from noon to 3 p.m. In addition to the judged blooms display, the event also includes a camellia sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., garden tours, hands-on camellia workshops, children’s camellia art, floral displays by local clubs and more.

For more information or a complete schedule of the day’s activities, visit tidewatercamelliaclub.org.

Beaufort’s Mardi Gras Celebration

Feb. 21, 2026, Beaufort

The Town of Beaufort celebrates Mardi Gras with a weekend waterfront festival, including feasts, parades, costumes, music and family-friendly entertainment. The community-wide event kicks off on Friday, Feb. 20, with the Masquerade Ball featuring delicious food, live music and entertainment. The celebration continues Saturday with a parade and festival on Front Street and Middle Lane. Festivities include a gumbo competition and tasting, children’s activities, and several live entertainers.

Find more details and a schedule of activities at visitbeaufortnc.com.