OutdoorsOut in the open air, the next two weeks
Christmas Market at Cotton Hills Farm
Cotton Hills Farm’s fifth Christmas Market lines up 50-plus vendors, the Bradley Dulaney Band from 11 a.m., Santa photos, and a tractor train.
WHO Family
WhenSat Nov 7 · 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
WhereCotton Hills Farm — The Market, 2575 Lowrys Highway, Chester, SC 29706
CostFree admission and parking (tractor train $2 per rider)
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Carolina Renaissance Festival — A 25-acre 16th-century marketplace—140+ artisan shops, 16 stages, jousting, falconry, mermaids, and themed weekends—gates 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., free parking.
WHO Family
WhenSaturdays & Sundays Oct 3–Nov 22, 2026 (list through Oct 31) · Gates 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; pre-opening gate show 9:05 a.m.
Where16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
CostAdults 13+ $37.99 + tax; Children 5–12 $23.99 + tax; Ages 4 & under Free; Parking FREE
Turkey Dash Charlotte
Sign up for the timed 4-miler and run the 1-mile free, while the kids bounce in the Family Village.
WHO Everyone
WhenThu Nov 26 · 4-Mile 8:30 AM; 1-Mile 9:30 AM
WhereVillage at Robinson Farm, 8410 Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Cost4-Mile $44 entry; 1-Mile $31
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Christmas Market at Cotton Hills Farm
Cotton Hills Farm’s fifth Christmas Market lines up 50-plus vendors, the Bradley Dulaney Band from 11 a.m., Santa photos, and a tractor train.
WHO Family
WhenSat Nov 7 · 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
WhereCotton Hills Farm — The Market, 2575 Lowrys Highway, Chester, SC 29706
CostFree admission and parking (tractor train $2 per rider)
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Carolina Renaissance Festival — A 25-acre 16th-century marketplace—140+ artisan shops, 16 stages, jousting, falconry, mermaids, and themed weekends—gates 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., free parking.
WHO Family
WhenSaturdays & Sundays Oct 3–Nov 22, 2026 (list through Oct 31) · Gates 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; pre-opening gate show 9:05 a.m.
Where16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
CostAdults 13+ $37.99 + tax; Children 5–12 $23.99 + tax; Ages 4 & under Free; Parking FREE
Clover Highland Games
Town of Clover’s Highland Games at New Centre Park bring caber and stone athletics, music, crafts, and vendors — a Larne sister-city day.
WHO Family
WhenSat Nov 14 · 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
WhereNew Centre Park, Memorial Drive at Knox Street, Clover, SC
CostSee organizer website for details
LangTree Annual Tree Lighting
LangTree Lake Norman’s annual tree lighting puts Santa, vendors, a band, and bounce houses on site — ceremony at 7:30 p.m.
WHO Everyone
WhenNov 14, 2026, 5:00–9:00 p.m. (lighting 7:30 p.m.)
WhereLangTree Lake Norman, 401 Langtree Road, Mooresville (Iredell)
CostFree
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights
Village Park lights run free through Dec 30 — tree lighting Nov 13 at 6:30 with fireworks; carousel and train rides are ticketed.
WHO Everyone
WhenNov 13–Dec 30, 2026 (in-window Nov 13–Dec 5); Sun–Thu 5:30–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 5:30–10 p.m.
WhereVillage Park, 700 West C Street, Kannapolis (Cabarrus)
CostFree (Admission/light viewing free; carousel & train rides ticketed)
Turkey Dash Charlotte
Sign up for the timed 4-miler and run the 1-mile free, while the kids bounce in the Family Village.
WHO Everyone
WhenThu Nov 26 · 4-Mile 8:30 AM; 1-Mile 9:30 AM
WhereVillage at Robinson Farm, 8410 Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Cost4-Mile $44 entry; 1-Mile $31
University City Turkey Trot
Run the 13th annual 5K, then stay for the mini feast with food, games, music and a costume contest.
WHO Everyone
WhenThu Nov 26 · 5K 8:00 AM; Fun Run 8:45 AM
WhereUniversity City, 3024 Prosperity Church Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269
CostSee organizer website for details
Monroe Christmas Parade
City of Monroe’s Christmas Parade steps off through historic downtown at 2 p.m. rain or shine — free for spectators, with a new sensory area.
WHO Everyone
WhenNov 22, 2026, 2:00 p.m. (rain or shine)
WhereHistoric Downtown Monroe, Downtown Monroe corridor, Monroe (Union)
CostFree
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade steps off along Tryon Street Uptown Wednesday evening.
WHO Everyone
WhenWed Nov 25 · step-off 5:30 PM
WhereTryon Street corridor (9th Street to Good Samaritan Way), Charlotte
CostFree
'Tis the Season Spectacular
Salisbury’s ’Tis the Season Spectacular pairs a Main Street parade at 3 with the Bell Tower Green tree lighting, performers, and food trucks.
WHO Everyone
WhenNov 25, 2026, parade 3:00 p.m. then tree lighting at Bell Tower Green
WhereHistoric Downtown Salisbury / Bell Tower Green, Main Street corridor, Salisbury (Rowan)
CostFree
Lincolnton Christmas Parade
Lincolnton’s 68th Annual Christmas Parade — Christmas Through the Decades — steps off at 4 from East Main at Flint through Courtsquare.
WHO Everyone
WhenNov 29, 2026, 4:00 p.m. (line-up 2:00 p.m.)
WhereHistoric Downtown Lincolnton, East Main Street at Flint Street, Lincolnton (Lincoln)
CostFree
79th Annual Fort Mill Christmas Parade
Fort Mill’s 79th Annual Christmas Parade steps off at 11 a.m. through Historic Downtown — free for spectators.
WHO Everyone
WhenDec 5, 2026, 11 a.m.
WhereHistoric Downtown Fort Mill, Downtown Fort Mill corridor, Fort Mill (York)
CostFree
20th Annual IDNutrition Lake Norman Half Marathon, Turkey Trot 10K & 5K
Pick a half marathon, 10K or 5K for the 20th running, and bring food donations to the start.
WHO Everyone
WhenThu Nov 26 · Half 7:30 AM; 10K 7:35 AM; 5K 7:40 AM
WhereLife Fellowship Church, 20010 Chartown Dr, Cornelius, NC 28031
CostSee organizer website for details
CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot
Line up with 12,000-plus at North Carolina's largest road race, with a costume contest, a beer garden and a Tot Trot for kids 8 and under.
WHO Everyone
WhenThu Nov 26 · 1 Mile 8:00 AM; 8K 8:10 AM; Tot Trot 8:30 AM; 5K 9:10 AM
WhereSouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Cost8K/5K from $50 entry; 1 Mile $30; Tot Trot free
Davidson Turkey Trot
Run or walk 5K through downtown Davidson on a family-friendly course, with proceeds to Davidson nonprofits.
WHO Everyone
WhenThu Nov 26 · 5K 8:00 AM
WhereDowntown Davidson, 119 South Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
CostSee organizer website for details
Mooresville/Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K
Bring the kids for the fun run, then run the 16th annual 5K that backs The Christian Mission's food and housing help.
WHO Everyone
WhenThu Nov 26 · Kids Fun Run 8:30 AM; 5K 9:00 AM
WhereThe Christian Mission, 919 N Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115
Cost5K $40 entry; Kids Fun Run $15
ChristmasVille
Old Town Rock Hill’s ChristmasVille stacks about 70 holiday events — horse-drawn carriages, Dickens carolers, and an ice rink across Dec 3–6.
WHO Everyone
WhenDec 3–6, 2026, Contact organizer for hours
WhereOld Town Rock Hill, Main Street corridor, Rock Hill (York)
CostSee organizer website for details
Fort Mill Christmas Village and Lighting of the Tree
Fort Mill’s Christmas Village fills the amphitheater with vendors, choirs, and trackless trains — tree lighting at 6 p.m.
WHO Everyone
WhenDec 3, 2026, 5–8 p.m. (tree lighting 6 p.m.)
WhereFort Mill Amphitheater at Walter Y. Elisha Park, 345 North White Street, Fort Mill (York)
CostFree
Christmas in Chester
Free Christmas in Chester downtown — Fri tree lighting at 6 with merry-go-round and ice rink, Sat kids activities 8:30–1, Sun city parade at 3.
WHO Family
WhenDec 4–6, 2026; Fri tree lighting 6 p.m. (merry-go-round & ice rink 6:30–9 p.m.); Sat 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.; Sun Dec 6 city parade (CVB: 3 p.m.)
WhereHistoric Downtown Chester, Main Street / Gadsden Street corridor, Chester (Chester)
CostFree
Holidays at the Garden: Light Exhibit
Wander the conservancy’s gardens after dark; Monday–Thursday value nights save you a few dollars.
WHO Everyone
WhenSat Nov 28 – Wed Dec 30 (select nights) · 5–10 PM, last entry 9 PM; Dec 24 5–9 PM; closed Dec 25
WhereDaniel Stowe Conservancy, 6500 S New Hope Road, Belmont, NC 28012
CostAdults $28; kids 2–12 $25; Any Night $33; Mon–Thu value nights $24 adult / $18 child; under 2 free
Photo: Daniel Stowe Conservancy via danielstoweconservancy.org
Christmas Town U.S.A. Light Display
Walk or drive McAdenville’s streets under red, green and white lights, a tradition that dates to 1956.
WHO Everyone
WhenTue Dec 1 – Sat Dec 26 · nightly 5:30–10 PM
WhereDowntown McAdenville, Main Street, McAdenville, NC 28101
CostSee organizer website for details
Speedway Christmas
Drive a four-mile course of more than 5 million lights around the oval, pit road and infield, with the music synced on 101.3 FM.
WHO Everyone
WhenFri Nov 20, 2026 – Sun Jan 3, 2027 · 6:00–10:00 PM nightly, rain or shine
WhereCharlotte Motor Speedway, Concord
CostSee organizer website for details
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