Plan your holiday fun in Winston-Salem with our detailed event guide. For Winston-Salem aficionados and curious cats, our guide is your ticket to holiday discoveries.
One highlight of the season is the Tanglewood Festival of Lights, where twinkling lights transform the park into a winter wonderland, inviting families and friends to enjoy the festive displays. Candle Tea Lovefeast offers a warm blend of tradition and community, featuring candlelight singing and delicious treats. And the Nutcracker at UNCSA is something you definitely don’t want to miss, showcasing the stunning ballet performance that captures the essence of the holiday spirit. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Winston-Salem
- Tanglewood Festival of Lights (Clemmons)
- Candle Tea Lovefeast
- Christmas in Old Salem
- The Nutcracker at UNCSA
- Winston-Salem Holiday Parade
- Christmas at Bethabara
- Salem Square Christmas Festival
- Christmas at Reynolda Village
- Winston-Salem Jingle Jog
- Bethabara Park Holiday Events
See these and even more events listed below!
Winston-Salem Holiday Light Displays
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Extensive holiday light display with interactive musical elements.
Description:
Tanglewood Festival of Lights features over a million twinkling lights, festive tunes, and interactive displays along a five-mile route. Enjoy holiday crafts, specialty foods, and handmade gifts at the Gift Shop, located halfway through the light show route. The event also includes marshmallow roasting at Smoresville and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Where: Clemmons | More Info: Tanglewood Festival of Lights
Christmas Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Community celebration with tree illumination.
Description:
The Christmas Tree Lighting event in Winston-Salem features the illumination of a festive tree, often accompanied by music and community gatherings.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Christmas Tree Lighting
Reynolda Mile Holiday Drive
What to Expect:
Large-scale drive-thru light display with interactive musical elements.
Description:
Tanglewood Festival of Lights is a spectacular holiday event featuring over a million twinkling lights along a five-mile drive-thru route. The event includes festive tunes, interactive musical displays, and various amenities like refreshments and a gift shop. Special events like horse-drawn carriage rides and hayrides add to the festive atmosphere.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Reynolda Mile Holiday Drive
Winston-Salem Holiday Markets and Shopping
Winterfest Artisan Market
What to Expect:
Local artisan market with holiday shopping and live entertainment.
Description:
The Winterfest Artisan Market at Jacksonville Commons offers a variety of holiday treasures, including handmade crafts, unique gifts, and festive treats. Visitors can shop from local vendors, enjoy live entertainment, and participate in fun activities like pet photos with Santa.
Where: Jacksonville | More Info: Winterfest Artisan Market
Scandinavian Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Traditional Scandinavian customs and folk performances.
Description:
The Scandinavian Christmas Fair is an authentic celebration of Nordic traditions, featuring traditional folk dances, live music, unique handicrafts, and a variety of homemade foods. Talented artisans and vendors offer unique crafts and gifts, while family activities include the Lucia Procession and dancing around the Christmas tree.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Scandinavian Christmas Fair
Winston-Salem Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Nutcracker at UNCSA
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
The Nutcracker at UNCSA features student-artists bringing Ilya Kozadayev's captivating choreography to life with Tchaikovsky's lighthearted melodies performed live by the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Chancellor Brian Cole.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: The Nutcracker at UNCSA
Christmas at Bethabara
What to Expect:
Immersive Moravian holiday traditions by candlelight.
Description:
Celebrate the season by touring the decorated 1788 Gemeinhaus, listening to a performance by Duo Licht, tasting Christmas treats made by Moravians in the 1800s, enjoying the sounds of a Moravian Brass Band, making Christmas crafts, dipping a candle, observing a potter, blacksmith, and woodworker, and meeting Sister Anna Catharina in a first-person dramatization.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Christmas at Bethabara
Winston-Salem Other Holiday Activities
Candle Tea Lovefeast
What to Expect:
Interactive exploration of Moravian traditions through hands-on activities.
Description:
Ardmore Moravian Church's Candle Tea is a traditional Moravian Christmas celebration where visitors learn about Moravian traditions, enjoy music and Moravian cookies, and participate in activities like cookie making and candle crafting.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Candle Tea Lovefeast
Winston-Salem Holiday Parade
What to Expect:
Lighted floats and entries in a winter evening setting.
Description:
The Winston-Salem Holiday Parade is a festive winter event featuring lighted floats and entries, celebrating the holiday season with community spirit.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Winston-Salem Holiday Parade
Salem Square Christmas Festival
What to Expect:
Historical reenactments of 18th and 19th century Christmas traditions.
Description:
Celebrate Christmas in 18th and 19th century Salem, North Carolina, with special activities and attractions each Saturday, including visits to historic sites like the Tavern Museum and Vogler House.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Salem Square Christmas Festival
Winston-Salem Jingle Jog
What to Expect:
Custom finisher medals that double as Christmas ornaments.
Description:
The Jingle Jog 5K in Winston-Salem, NC, is a festive holiday event featuring a 5K Run/Walk and Santa Strut Fun Walk & Run. Participants receive custom finisher medals that double as Christmas ornaments and enjoy hot drinks, cold craft beer, and fun costumes.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Winston-Salem Jingle Jog
Christmas in Old Salem
What to Expect:
Historical holiday traditions in a preserved Moravian town setting.
Description:
Celebrate Christmas in 18th and 19th century Salem, North Carolina, with special activities and attractions that highlight the town's rich history and traditions.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Christmas in Old Salem
Christmas at Reynolda Village
What to Expect:
Historic house tours with antique ornaments.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Reynolda Village with historic house tours, caroling, and festive art-making activities. The tranquil 170-acre setting offers a variety of experiences, including Christmas-themed historic house tours and antique decor. Authentic early 20th-century glass ornaments adorn the Christmas trees in R.J.’s Study and the Reception Hall.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Christmas at Reynolda Village
Bethabara Park Holiday Events
What to Expect:
Immersive Moravian holiday traditions with historical reenactments.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Historic Bethabara Park with tours of the decorated 1788 Gemeinhaus, performances by Duo Licht, and tastings of traditional Moravian Christmas treats. Enjoy the sounds of the Moravian Brass Band and participate in various crafts and activities.
Where: Winston-Salem | More Info: Bethabara Park Holiday Events
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Kernersville (10 miles)
- High Point (17 miles)
- Thomasville (18 miles)
- Greensboro (25 miles)
- Salisbury (32 miles)
- Asheboro (36 miles)
- Statesville (42 miles)