Celebrate the joy of the season in Greensboro with our ultimate guide. From Greensboro old-timers to fresh faces, this guide ensures a holiday experience to remember.
One of the highlights of the season is Christmas at Biltmore, where the estate is transformed into a winter wonderland with stunning decorations and festive events throughout the grounds. Featuring millions of lights, WinterFest at Carowinds offers thrilling rides and seasonal attractions that bring a unique twist to holiday celebrations. And the Speedway Christmas is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it lights up the Charlotte Motor Speedway with an impressive display of holiday lights. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Greensboro
- Christmas at Biltmore (Asheville)
- WinterFest at Carowinds (Charlotte)
- Speedway Christmas (Concord)
- The Polar Express Train Ride (Bryson City) (Bryson City)
- Christmas Town USA (McAdenville)
- Tweetsie Christmas (Blowing Rock)
- The Polar Express Train Ride (Spencer) (Spencer)
- High Point Ballet's Nutcracker (High Point)
- Elf: The Musical
- Enchanted Airlie (Wilmington)
See these and even more events listed below!
Greensboro Holiday Light Displays
Speedway Christmas
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show on a historic speedway course.
Description:
Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health is a spectacular holiday light show featuring over five million lights along a four-mile course, including the legendary oval, pit road, and infield road course. The event is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., rain or shine, with synchronized lights and music on 101.3 FM. It also includes drive-in movies on the gigantic Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night until Christmas.
Where: Concord | More Info: Speedway Christmas
WinterFest at Carowinds
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday event with diverse activities and entertainment.
Description:
Carowinds WinterFest offers a holiday celebration with millions of shimmering lights, ice skating, family activities, live entertainment, and select attractions.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: WinterFest at Carowinds
Kersey Valley Christmas
What to Expect:
Immersive LED light display with interactive rides and characters.
Description:
Kersey Valley Christmas transforms into a vibrant winter spectacle with over 2 million LED lights, featuring unique sets like the Snow Blizzard with 5-foot snowflakes. Enjoy rides, interactive activities, and meet Santa and the Grinch amidst a festive atmosphere.
Where: Archdale | More Info: Kersey Valley Christmas
Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Extensive drive-thru light display with interactive musical elements.
Description:
Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights features a five-mile drive-thru display of over a million twinkling lights, interactive musical displays, and various special events. The festival includes refreshments, a gift shop, and activities like horse-drawn carriage rides and hayrides.
Where: Clemmons | More Info: Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights
Christmas at Biltmore
What to Expect:
Gently illuminated candles and crackling fireplaces evoke a childlike wonder.
Description:
Christmas at Biltmore features fragrant wreaths, glittering garland, and thousands of ornaments, creating a holiday vision in Biltmore House and Antler Hill Village.
Where: Asheville | More Info: Christmas at Biltmore
Tweetsie Christmas
What to Expect:
Holiday train ride with over 1 million lights.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Tweetsie Railroad with a 20-minute nighttime train ride through over 1 million Christmas lights, a heartwarming live Christmas variety show, kid-friendly amusement rides, and meetings with Santa in his Gingerbread House.
Where: Blowing Rock | More Info: Tweetsie Christmas
Enchanted Airlie
What to Expect:
Holiday light display supporting important garden projects.
Description:
A self-guided walk through holiday lights and music at Airlie Gardens, featuring sparkling sights and festive sounds.
Where: Wilmington | More Info: Enchanted Airlie
Christmas Town USA
What to Expect:
Historic community-wide holiday light display with synchronized lighting and community events.
Description:
Christmas Town USA in McAdenville transforms into a vibrant holiday display each December, featuring over half a million lights and festive decorations throughout the town.
Where: McAdenville | More Info: Christmas Town USA
Tryon Resort Winterfest
What to Expect:
Dazzling drive-through light show and festive village activities.
Description:
Tryon Resort Winterfest features a dazzling drive-through light show, ice skating in Tryon Stadium, and a festive Winterfest Village with holiday attractions, kids activities, live music, and performances.
Where: Mill Spring | More Info: Tryon Resort Winterfest
Festival of Lights at Chetola Resort
What to Expect:
Dazzling illuminations and festive holiday scenes around Chetola Lake.
Description:
The Festival of Lights at Chetola Resort features a sparkling display of lights each winter season. As you stroll around Chetola Lake, view glittering ice skaters, Rudolph reeling in big fish, strolling carolers, and many more captivating holiday scenes. The event is free and open to the public, illuminating the resort each evening.
Where: Blowing Rock | More Info: Festival of Lights at Chetola Resort
Greensboro Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Polar Express Train Ride (Spencer)
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with hot chocolate and a reading of "The Polar Express."
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride at the North Carolina Transportation Museum features a festive holiday experience inspired by the classic movie. Passengers enjoy a reading of Chris Van Allsburg's "The Polar Express," hot chocolate, cookies, and a visit to the North Pole where Santa presents the first gift of Christmas. All passengers who believe receive their own sleigh bell.
Where: Spencer | More Info: The Polar Express Train Ride (Spencer)
The Polar Express Train Ride (Bryson City)
What to Expect:
Special steam train trip with Santa Claus visit.
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride is a holiday excursion where guests embark on a 1.25-hour round-trip journey from Bryson City to the North Pole. The train is set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, offering warm cocoa and treats while listening to the story. Santa Claus greets each child and presents them with a silver sleigh bell.
Where: Bryson City | More Info: The Polar Express Train Ride (Bryson City)
Mannheim Steamroller
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday concert with multimedia effects and classic Mannheim Steamroller music.
Description:
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas features 15 musicians playing over 20 instruments in a show that captures the holiday spirit with dazzling multimedia effects and the distinctive Mannheim sound.
Where: Greensboro | More Info: Mannheim Steamroller
Elf: The Musical
What to Expect:
Hilarious musical about a human raised by elves.
Description:
Elf: The Musical is a hilarious modern Christmas classic about Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. Unaware he is human, Buddy's enormous size and poor toy-making abilities lead him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Where: Greensboro | More Info: Elf: The Musical
A Drag Queen Christmas
What to Expect:
Live performances by drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race.
Description:
A Drag Queen Christmas features a lineup of talented drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race, including winners and fan favorites, performing live on stage. The event includes a meet-and-greet with VIP ticket holders and a 20-minute intermission.
Where: Greensboro | More Info: A Drag Queen Christmas
High Point Ballet's Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
High Point Ballet's Nutcracker is a classic ballet featuring heroic toy soldiers, sword-fighting mice, and the glittering Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Beautifully presented through award-winning choreography, set design, and lighting, this holiday tradition brings Clara's dream to life.
Where: High Point | More Info: High Point Ballet's Nutcracker
Greensboro Other Holiday Activities
Piedmont Winterfest
What to Expect:
Outdoor ice skating and curling in downtown Greensboro.
Description:
Join us at Piedmont Winterfest for outdoor ice skating and curling in downtown Greensboro. Enjoy holiday fun with special events like Frozen 2 Skate and Skate with Santa Cow.
Where: Greensboro | More Info: Piedmont Winterfest
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- High Point (14 miles)
- Kernersville (16 miles)
- Burlington (20 miles)
- Thomasville (21 miles)
- Asheboro (25 miles)
- Winston-Salem (25 miles)
- Carrboro (42 miles)
- Danville (42 miles)
- Chapel Hill (43 miles)