Here's your ultimate guide to the holidays in Monroe! Find all the best festive events and attractions. From Monroe aficionados to first-time guests, our guide is your gateway to holiday wonder.
This season, visit Santa's Workshop, where families can delight in making crafts and meeting Santa himself in a cozy, cheerful setting. Another highlight is the Southern Christmas Show, showcasing local artisans, holiday treats, and festive décor to inspire your Christmas spirit. And the 71st Annual Union County Christmas Parade is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring vibrant floats, community groups, and local talent. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Join the Monroe Discussion!
Top Holiday Events In and Around Monroe
- Southern Christmas Show (Charlotte)
- Santa's Workshop
- Christmas at Billy Graham Library (Charlotte)
- 71st Annual Union County Christmas Parade
- Holiday Merry Market at The Grand Hall (Charlotte)
- ELF™ IN CONCERT - Charlotte Symphony (Charlotte)
- Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring "The Nutcracker" & More (Charlotte)
- Ice Skating at United States National Whitewater Center (Charlotte)
- Lincolnton's Annual Handmade for the Holidays (Lincolnton)
- Mistletoe Markets at Millstone Creek Orchards (Ramseur)
See these and even more events listed below!
Monroe Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Market 2023 - City of Kannapolis
What to Expect:
Unique holiday light displays and live performances.
Description:
The Kannapolis Christmas celebration features over 250,000 twinkling lights, live music, and nightly performances by the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra and the Kannapolis Singing Bears. Enjoy rides on the Winterland Express and the Village Park Carousel, visit Santa, and participate in holiday crafts and activities.
Where: Kannapolis | More Info: Holiday Market 2023 - City of Kannapolis
Monroe Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Merry Market at The Grand Hall
What to Expect:
Local vendors selling unique gifts and seasonal items.
Description:
The Holiday Merry Market at The Grand Hall in Mount Holly features a variety of local vendors selling unique gifts and seasonal items, along with live music and food trucks.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Holiday Merry Market at The Grand Hall
Mistletoe Markets at Millstone Creek Orchards
What to Expect:
Local shopping with festive atmosphere and holiday activities.
Description:
The Mistletoe Markets at Millstone Creek Orchards offer a delightful holiday shopping experience with local vendors, live music, sweet apple treats, and Santa visits.
Where: Ramseur | More Info: Mistletoe Markets at Millstone Creek Orchards
Lincolnton's Annual Handmade for the Holidays
What to Expect:
Local artisans showcase handmade gifts and crafts.
Description:
The Handmade for the Holidays event at the Lincoln Cultural Center features local artists and artisans showcasing their handmade gifts and crafts, offering special shopping opportunities.
Where: Lincolnton | More Info: Lincolnton's Annual Handmade for the Holidays
Southern Christmas Show
What to Expect:
Unique shopping experience with local vendors and festive activities.
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 treats, and enjoy interactive activities like the LeafFilter Entertainment Stage and Designer Rooms Dcor Competition.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Southern Christmas Show
Holiday Pop Up Market at Ballantyne Village
What to Expect:
Seasonal shopping with local vendors.
Description:
The Holiday Pop Up Market at Ballantyne Village features a variety of Charlotte's favorite vendors offering seasonal items and gifts, creating a vibrant atmosphere perfect for shopping and socializing.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Holiday Pop Up Market at Ballantyne Village
Huntersville Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Free holiday activities with local vendors and Santa.
Description:
Huntersville Holiday Market features free activities including rides, artisan ice sculptures, holiday performances, and shopping with 50 local vendors. Enjoy children's rides, glitter tattoos, balloon twisters, and visits with Santa.
Where: Huntersville | More Info: Huntersville Holiday Market
The Winter Wonderland Shop
What to Expect:
Family-centric shopping event emphasizing kindness and community outreach.
Description:
The Winter Wonderland Shop at Children's Theatre of Charlotte offers a family-centric shopping event with pre-wrapped gifts, low-cost options, and a focus on kindness. Children aged 12 and under can shop for their loved ones while parents relax in the exclusive Caregivers Lounge.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: The Winter Wonderland Shop
Winter Artisan Market at Anne Springs Close Greenway
What to Expect:
Unique blend of local shopping and festive activities.
Description:
Shop local at the Winter Artisan Market at Anne Springs Close Greenway, featuring 50 vendors with handmade goods, including home decor, candles, soaps, holiday gifts, and family items. Enjoy live music, a farm animal photo station, and delicious food and drinks from the Gateway Canteen.
Where: Fort Mill | More Info: Winter Artisan Market at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Millstone Creek Orchards
What to Expect:
Unique holiday activities combining shopping, food, and family fun.
Description:
Millstone Creek Orchards offers a variety of holiday activities, including Christmas hayrides, wreath-making workshops, and local shopping markets. Visitors can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy hot apple cider and donuts, and participate in festive photo sessions with highland cows.
Where: Ramseur | More Info: Millstone Creek Orchards
Monroe Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Santa's Workshop
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday activities with Santa Claus.
Description:
Santa's Workshop is an event where children can meet Santa Claus and engage in holiday activities, crafts, and games in a festive downtown setting.
Where: Monroe | More Info: Santa's Workshop
Shabbat Evening Service - Celebrating Chanukah
What to Expect:
Traditional prayers and musical presentations during Chanukah.
Description:
Join us for a meaningful Shabbat Evening Service, where we celebrate Chanukah with traditional prayers, musical presentations, and a Torah service. This service is a time for reflection, prayer, and connection with our community.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Shabbat Evening Service - Celebrating Chanukah
Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring "The Nutcracker" & More
What to Expect:
Live performance of holiday classics and excerpts from "The Nutcracker" under candlelight.
Description:
The Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring "The Nutcracker" & More is a live, multi-sensory musical experience at the Great Aunt Stella Center in Charlotte. The event features a diverse holiday medley, including "Hark Herald Angels Sing," "O Holy Night," and excerpts from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker." The concert is set under the gentle glow of candlelight, creating a serene and festive atmosphere.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring "The Nutcracker" & More
ELF™ IN CONCERT - Charlotte Symphony
What to Expect:
Live symphony orchestra performance of the Elf soundtrack.
Description:
Buddy the elf travels to New York in full elf uniform, searching for his real father. This holiday adventure features a live symphony orchestra performing the iconic score of Elf.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: ELF™ IN CONCERT - Charlotte Symphony
MAJESTIC BRASS - Charlotte Symphony
What to Expect:
Resplendent brass and traditional organ works in a historic church setting.
Description:
The Charlotte Symphony's Majestic Brass & Organ event features a resplendent brass section performing alongside traditional organ works at First Presbyterian Church. Bright, triumphant peals of jubilant Christmas favorites fill the space with warmth and joy, conducted by Christopher James Lees.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: MAJESTIC BRASS - Charlotte Symphony
Christmas with The Petersens
What to Expect:
Family-friendly Christmas concert with tight harmonies and sibling humor.
Description:
The Petersens, an American roots music band from the Ozarks, bring their tight harmonies and warm sibling humor to a full concert of Christmas classics, creating a heartwarming reminder of the season's true spirit.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Christmas with The Petersens
Handel's Messiah - Charlotte Symphony
What to Expect:
Enduring holiday tradition with classical music and choral performances.
Description:
Handel's Messiah is a timeless oratorio filled with passion and exquisite beauty, featuring the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Master Chorale, and four soloists.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Handel's Messiah - Charlotte Symphony
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
What to Expect:
Unique blend of classical and electronic elements in a holiday concert setting.
Description:
Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas concert, led by Chip Davis, features classic holiday music and multimedia effects in an intimate setting, blending orchestral sections with electronic elements.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
¡Celebra with Criss Cross Mangosauce: A Bilingual Family Holiday Concert
What to Expect:
Bilingual Carnival celebration with mask-making and parade.
Description:
Join Criss Cross Mangosauce for a vibrant Carnival celebration at the Charlotte Museum of History. Enjoy exciting music, upbeat dance, and traditional stories inspired by Brazil's Carnival Festival. Create your own Carnival mask and participate in a fun parade around the museum. This bilingual program is perfect for young learners aged 2-10 and their families, exploring Latin American culture and traditions.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: ¡Celebra with Criss Cross Mangosauce: A Bilingual Family Holiday Concert
Soulful Christmas - Charlotte Symphony
What to Expect:
Black-centered holiday music celebration with global carols.
Description:
The Charlotte Symphony's Soulful Christmas features Black-centered Christmas music, including spirituals, contemporary favorites, and world music, showcasing classics by Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, along with global carols like the traditional South African melody Sizalelwe Indodana.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Soulful Christmas - Charlotte Symphony
Holiday Pops - Charlotte Symphony
What to Expect:
Heartwarming holiday music with special surprises by Santa and friends.
Description:
The Charlotte Symphony's Holiday Pops features beloved seasonal classics, timeless carols, and spirited renditions of festive favorites, with dazzling arrangements and heartwarming melodies.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Holiday Pops - Charlotte Symphony
Cirque de Noel - Charlotte Symphony
What to Expect:
A symphony orchestra collaborating with aerial flyers, contortionists, dancers, and jugglers.
Description:
Cirque de Noel - Charlotte Symphony is a unique blend of circus acrobatics and symphonic music, featuring awe-inspiring performances and holiday favorites.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Cirque de Noel - Charlotte Symphony
Monroe Other Holiday Activities
71st Annual Union County Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with local floats and children's participation.
Description:
The 71st Annual Union County Christmas Parade is a festive event in downtown Monroe, featuring fire trucks, church floats, and joyfully smiling young children. It is a fundraiser for the Alliance for Children, supporting programs that have a lasting impact on young children.
Where: Monroe | More Info: 71st Annual Union County Christmas Parade
Menorah Lighting 2023 - Town of Waxhaw
What to Expect:
Traditional Menorah lighting ceremony with pre-lighting children's activities.
Description:
The Menorah Lighting ceremony in Waxhaw, NC, features a Menorah lighting at 5:30 PM on W. N. Main Street, with pre-lighting children's activities starting at 5 PM. The event takes place underneath the Big Oak Tree bandstand near the Railroad Overhead Bridge.
Where: Waxhaw | More Info: Menorah Lighting 2023 - Town of Waxhaw
Christmas at Billy Graham Library
What to Expect:
Live nativity scene with real animals.
Description:
Celebrate the birth of Jesus with a live nativity, petting zoo, horse-drawn carriage rides, and Christmas dinner at the Billy Graham Library. Enjoy story time, carolers, and holiday goodies in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Christmas at Billy Graham Library
Ice Skating at United States National Whitewater Center
What to Expect:
Unique skating space with ice trails and free skate zones.
Description:
The United States National Whitewater Center offers an extensive ice skating experience with over 24,000 square feet of ice, divided into four distinct skating areas including two ice trails and two free skate zones. An on-ice Airstream serves hot and cold beverages, providing a convenient break for skaters.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Ice Skating at United States National Whitewater Center
Extreme Ice Center
What to Expect:
Comprehensive ice skating and hockey programs with top coaches.
Description:
Extreme Ice Center is a premier ice skating facility in Charlotte, offering public skating, learn-to-skate programs, ice hockey leagues, figure skating training, and more. The center features a mini rink, Pilates studio, tavern, and various amenities.
Where: Indian Trail | More Info: Extreme Ice Center
Pineville Ice House
What to Expect:
Year-round ice skating programs for all ages and skill levels.
Description:
Pineville Ice House is Charlotte's home for hockey, figure skating, and recreational skating since 1995. It offers public skating, youth and adult hockey, figure skating classes, and cool camps. The rink also features a pro shop for hockey and figure skates, protective gear, sticks, and accessories. Additionally, there is a bar and grill with a tavern-style bar and snack bar window offering meals, appetizers, beer, wine, soda, sports drinks, and hot beverages. TVs are tuned to college and professional sports.
Where: Pineville | More Info: Pineville Ice House
Helms Christmas Tree Farm
What to Expect:
Train rides and wagon rides available.
Description:
Helms Christmas Tree Farm offers a variety of Christmas trees, including Fraser Fir, White Pine, and Leyland Cypress, for choose-and-cut or pre-cut options. The farm features train rides, wagon rides, and Santa visits, making it a fun and festive destination for families.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: Helms Christmas Tree Farm
Cherry Place Farm
What to Expect:
Interactive farm activities with a focus on family fun.
Description:
Cherry Place Farm in Rock Hill, SC, offers a self-guided tour featuring a two-acre cornmaze, hayrides, animal visits, and barnyard play areas for children. The farm also has pumpkins for sale and is family-friendly, but not pet-friendly.
Where: Rock Hill | More Info: Cherry Place Farm
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Indian Trail (9 miles)
- Matthews (13 miles)
- Mint Hill (15 miles)
- Charlotte (24 miles)
- Rock Hill (27 miles)
- Concord (29 miles)
- Huntersville (34 miles)
- Kannapolis (35 miles)
- Cornelius (39 miles)
- Gastonia (41 miles)
- Mooresville (44 miles)