Posted in North Carolina Winter October 08, 2022 by

4 Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Displays In North Carolina The Whole Family Can Enjoy

Deck the halls this holiday season with a carload of new memories to cherish at one (or all) of these dazzling drive-thru Christmas light displays in North Carolina. Pile everyone into one car and make an evening out of seeing brilliant holiday-themed displays and millions of twinkling lights – and be sure to dress warmly, because once you’ve driven through the lights, you can park and enjoy even more family fun. Each Christmas light drive-through display on this list will surely bring you holiday joy!

1. Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights - Clemmons
Google Local/Michael Bennett
Google Local/Michael Bennett
Our list of incredible drive-thru Christmas lights in North Carolina begins at Tanglewood Park. A family tradition for years, the annual lights show at Tanglewood is a treat for the entire family. The drive-through display features more than a million lights and is only minutes outside of Winston-Salem. It can get very busy on the weekends and on the few discounted ticket nights, so if you want to avoid long wait times that can climb into several hours, plan your visit for very early in the season and avoid weekends and discount nights. Ticket prices, dates, and times can be found on the Tanglewood Park website. This Christmas light show in North Carolina has been going strong for over 30 years!
Manor House Circle, Manor House Cir, Clemmons, NC 27012, USA
2. Christmas Town U.S.A. - McAdenville
Christmas Town U.S.A.
Christmas Town U.S.A.
While many Christmas drive-thru lights displays in North Carolina take place in a park, or other closed arenas, the lights found in Christmas Town U.S.A. are found right along the town's streets, in the front yards of the town's residents, and around the town lake. A variety of Norman Rockwell-esque activities take place throughout the holiday season in Christmas Town U.S.A., but the lights are the real starring attraction. Drive through as many times as you'd like and even get out and stroll along the sidewalks as you admire the millions of twinkling lights. The best part? It's FREE. The lights go on nightly from December 1 through December 26 at 5:30 p.m. and stay illuminated until 10:00 p.m. Learn more at McAdenville Christmas Town website or the Christmas Town U.S.A. Facebook page.
McAdenville, NC, USA
3. Speedway Christmas (at Charlotte Motor Speedway) - Concord
Facebook/Charlotte Motor Speedway
Facebook/Charlotte Motor Speedway
If you've never attended the Speedway Christmas event, then start your engines and get ready to experience Charlotte Motor Speedway in a whole new way this holiday. Not only will you get to drive on the track through 3.75 miles of twinkling lights (over four million of them!), but you'll also make it onto the infield to the magical Christmas Village where Santa, hot cocoa, shopping, and more await. Speedway Christmas is open nightly from late November through mid-January. But note: the Christmas Village is only open on select nights so be sure to read the dates and info on the Speedway Christmas website carefully before purchasing tickets and making plans. You can also get updates about this drive-thru Christmas light event on the Speedway's Facebook page.
5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027, USA
4. Zootastic Park - Troutman
TripAdvisor/calicoCL
Facebook/Zootastic Park
For those who love combining a trip to the zoo with a family holiday adventure to cherish, a drive through Zootastic's deer forest and Wonderland of Lights during the holidays is a can't-miss. After, park and walk through some more enchanted displays as you visit with some friendly animal residents. Take a carousel ride, a train ride, visit with Santa, and even have a chance to feed a tiger! It's open every night from late November through New Year's Day. Check the official website for hours of operation and admission prices and the zoo's Facebook page for updates. It's such a wonderful Christmas light show in North Carolina.
Zootastic Park, 448 Pilch Rd, Troutman, NC 28166, USA

What are your favorite Christmas drive-through light displays in North Carolina? Did we leave out any drive-through displays on this list? Know of a neighborhood that really goes all-out with decor and lights? Tell us about it in the comments!

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The OIYS Visitor Center

drive-thru Christmas light displays in North Carolina

November 20, 2020
Beth C.

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