If you’re looking for a place in North Carolina where the holiday magic is alive and well, then search no further than WinterFest at Carowinds, which debuts on Friday, November 17, 2023. Checking all the boxes that scream Christmas fun while also offering rides galore, Carowinds is the perfect place for a family outing to ring in the holiday season.

Firstly, the park, which is situated precisely on the border of North and South Carolina, is aglow with holiday cheer.
Facebook/Carowinds
From one end of the park to the other, Carowinds is a winter wonderland you won't want to miss.
Facebook/Carowinds
WinterFest takes place on select nights between November 17, 2023, and January 1, 2024. Each night, you can expect to see the Wonderland Parade stir the excitement for Christmas into a cadence that howls family fun. But there are also other winter and holiday-specific events you'll want to check out:
In addition to the park-wide festive foods and exciting rides, you can head over to Snow Flake Lake, the park's very own ice rink.
Carowinds/ Facebook
There is something positively delightful about strapping on some ice skates and gliding around the ice at Christmastime. When the whole park is decorated, the experience is even better.

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Take a stroll around the park and witness millions of Christmas lights. This grand display is mesmerizing and a great way to fill the air with a certain holiday cheer. Elaborate designs and elegant displays make a simple walk from one park to the other an extravagant celebration of the holiday season.
Carowinds/ Facebook
Kids and adults alike will be thrilled to witness A PEANUTS guide to Christmas. This family fun sing-along features all your favorite Peanuts characters like Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy. This fun show depicts the characters preparing themselves for the most wonderful time of the year.
Carowinds/ Facebook
Live entertainment is in abundance at WinterFest. There are several shows slated throughout the event and you won't want to miss a single one.
Make sure the kids or the grandkids bring their letters for Santa.
Carowinds/ Facebook
They can partake in this long-standing Christmas tradition and then place the letter into the magic mailbox. Ms. Claus will also be there to help kids decorate cookies. Don't forget to visit jolly Saint Nick himself for a photo.
Whenever you go, there is one event that happens every single night that you will not want to miss. The WinterFest Wonderland Parade is a grand display of Christmas festivities. Nothing else in the park quite compares to this elaborate celebration with extravagant floats. Many of the floats are based off of classic Christmas themes like choo-choo trains, gingerbread houses, and toy boxes.
Carowinds/ Facebook
Many of the singers and dancers join in for the grand display and opulent Christmas celebration. Needless to say, you will not want to miss it, and rumors are that Santa himself will be joining in on the parade as well.

WinterFest at Carowinds opens just before Thanksgiving so you can get in on the holiday fun before you even gobble up some turkey. We can’t believe we have something this amazing within our own backyards for Christmastime.  When you are looking for a great way to break up the norm keep Carowinds in mind because this is one incredible celebration you will want to be a part of. For more information on all of the special WinterFest activities and to get tickets to all of this fun make sure you head on over to the official Carowinds website.

Looking for a place to stay the night so you can make the most of this Christmas event? Check out the SpringHill Suites Charlotte Carowinds for a next-door hotel!

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Carowinds, North Carolina, USA