Prepare for a holiday adventure in Hickory! Our guide has all the exciting festive activities. Whether you're a longtime resident or a curious visitor, our guide showcases the holiday highlights of Hickory.
Popular events include the Christmas at Biltmore, where the grand estate is transformed into a winter wonderland adorned with stunning decorations. The Southern Christmas Show features unique artisans and holiday treats, making it a perfect spot for festive shopping. And the Fayetteville Christmas Fair is something you definitely don't want to miss, with its lively atmosphere and local crafts. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Hickory
- Christmas at Biltmore (Asheville)
- Southern Christmas Show (Charlotte)
- Fayetteville Christmas Fair (Fayetteville)
- Hickory Christmas Expo
- Tweetsie Railroad Christmas (Blowing Rock)
- Cary Christmas Market (Cary)
- Old Salem Candlelight Tours (Winston-Salem)
- Huntersville Fall Renaissance Festival (Huntersville)
- Brushy Mountain Apple Festival (North Wilkesboro)
- Salisbury Autumn Jubilee (Salisbury)
See these and even more events listed below!
Hickory Holiday Light Displays
Tweetsie Railroad 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, and kid-friendly amusement rides. Meet Santa in his Gingerbread House filled with candied furnishings and enjoy roasting s’mores over an outdoor fire.
Where: Blowing Rock | More Info: Tweetsie Railroad Christmas
Hickory Holiday Markets and Shopping
Hickory Christmas Expo
What to Expect:
Unique, handcrafted gifts and specialty food items.
Description:
The Hickory Christmas Show is an event where attendees can find unique, handcrafted gifts, decorations, and treats from local artisans and crafters. The show features a variety of personalized gifts and specialty food items, making it an ideal place to shop for the holiday season.
Where: Hickory | More Info: Hickory Christmas Expo
Cary Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Local artisans selling handmade goods.
Description:
Cary Christmas Market offers a variety of local handmade goods, artisanal crafts, and seasonal items, perfect for unique holiday gifts.
Where: Cary | More Info: Cary Christmas Market
Fayetteville Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Largest holiday gift and craft show in Eastern North Carolina.
Description:
The 57th Annual Holly Day Fair is a one-stop holiday shopping event featuring over 150 vendors offering unique handcrafted and manufactured products, including holiday decorations, handmade crafts, stylish jewelry, and specialty food items.
Where: Fayetteville | More Info: Fayetteville Christmas Fair
Southern Christmas Show
What to Expect:
Interactive vendor list with local businesses.
Description:
The Southern Christmas Show is a premier holiday event featuring over 420 vendors offering holiday décor, apparel, toys, and more. Attendees can explore Christmas Tree Lane, sample festive foods, and enjoy special activities like the LeafFilter Entertainment Stage and Designer Rooms.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Southern Christmas Show
Holly Springs Fall Night Market
What to Expect:
Local artisans and live music.
Description:
Holly Springs Fall Night Market features live music, local artisans, and flash tattoos, creating a vibrant community event.
Where: Holly Springs | More Info: Holly Springs Fall Night Market
Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
What to Expect:
Largest one-day arts and crafts festival in the Southeast.
Description:
The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is a premier one-day arts and crafts festival in the Southeast, featuring over 300 vendors, 50 food concessions, and 3 music stages with Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Gospel, and Appalachian Heritage music. The event highlights Appalachian Heritage crafts like woodcarving, chair making, soap making, pottery throwing, and quilting. Local apple growers sell their apples, apple cider, and dried apples, paying tribute to the fruit grown and harvested each fall in Northwestern North Carolina.
Where: North Wilkesboro | More Info: Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
Asheville A-B Tech Conference Center Happy Fall Yall Market
What to Expect:
Pumpkin carving contest with vendor bucks.
Description:
Embrace the autumn vibes at the Happy Fall Y'all Art and Framers Market in Asheville, NC. Enjoy live music, delicious food, adult beverages, and more. Enter the pumpkin carving contest for a chance to win 'vendor bucks' redeemable at any booth.
Where: Asheville | More Info: Asheville A-B Tech Conference Center Happy Fall Yall Market
Durham Autumn Night Market
What to Expect:
Locally-made goods and diverse food options.
Description:
The Durham Autumn Night Market offers a vibrant showcase of locally-crafted treasures, live music, and entertainment. Triangle area artisans, food trucks, prepared food, and drinks come together to create an eclectic and diverse event experience.
Where: Durham | More Info: Durham Autumn Night Market
Thomasville Everybody’s Day Festival
What to Expect:
Community-supported arts and crafts festival with live music and carnival rides.
Description:
Thomasville Everybody’s Day Festival is a long-standing street festival featuring arts and crafts vendors, live music, carnival rides, and delicious food. It is a family-friendly event that supports the local community.
Where: Thomasville | More Info: Thomasville Everybody’s Day Festival
Hillsborough Fall Makers Market
What to Expect:
Community-driven showcase of local artisans and makers.
Description:
Hillsborough Fall Makers Market is a community art fair showcasing local artists and makers offering original, handmade work. It features a limited number of local community groups and special arts programming, including family activities and crafts.
Where: Hillsborough | More Info: Hillsborough Fall Makers Market
Ooh La La Curiosity Fall Saturday Market
What to Expect:
Local artists and musicians performing in a picturesque park setting.
Description:
Ooh La La Curiosity Market is a vibrant event in Downtown Asheville's Pritchard Park, featuring dozens of local artists and musicians showcasing their talents on select Saturdays throughout the season.
Where: Asheville | More Info: Ooh La La Curiosity Fall Saturday Market
Hickory Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas at Biltmore
What to Expect:
Step back in time to the very first Christmas at Biltmore House in 1895.
Description:
At Christmas at Biltmore, explore the grand Biltmore House and Antler Hill Village, featuring fragrant wreaths, glittering garland, and thousands of ornaments. The estate is gently illuminated by candles and fireplaces, creating a holiday vision made real.
Where: Asheville | More Info: Christmas at Biltmore
Huntersville Fall Renaissance Festival
What to Expect:
Interactive immersive entertainments with over 300 costumed villagers.
Description:
The Huntersville Fall Renaissance Festival is a 16th-century themed event featuring jousting knights, falconry, mermaids, and a vibrant artisan market with over 140 vendors. Enjoy continuous live comedy, music, dance, and circus entertainments, along with a variety of games and rides.
Where: Huntersville | More Info: Huntersville Fall Renaissance Festival
Hickory Other Holiday Activities
Old Salem Candlelight Tours
What to Expect:
Historic building tours highlighting rich Moravian history.
Description:
Step back in time to experience cherished traditions of 18th and 19th century Salem, North Carolina, with guided tours through historic buildings like the Old Salem Tavern Museum, Vogler House, and Boys School.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Old Salem Candlelight Tours
Salisbury Autumn Jubilee
What to Expect:
Celebrates fall with live music, food, and craft vendors.
Description:
The 43rd Annual Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park in Salisbury, NC, is a family-friendly event celebrating the season with live music, food vendors, craft vendors, and children’s activities.
Where: Salisbury | More Info: Salisbury Autumn Jubilee
Southern Pines Autumnfest
What to Expect:
Authentic arts and craft fair experience with local and regional entertainment.
Description:
Southern Pines Autumnfest is an intimate festival featuring arts, crafts, handmade items, live entertainment, and delicious food in Downtown Park.
Where: Southern Pines | More Info: Southern Pines Autumnfest
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Statesville (26 miles)
- Mooresville (32 miles)
- Cornelius (32 miles)
- Shelby (32 miles)
- Gastonia (34 miles)
- Huntersville (36 miles)
- Kannapolis (44 miles)
- Charlotte (45 miles)