We’ve made our list – and checked it twice – of the best Christmas events in North Carolina and South Carolina. From an eye-popping fireworks exhibition at a NASCAR speedway to a multi-course variety show and wine tasting, these four 2023 holiday events will keep you marinated in merriment throughout the holiday season!
Christmas and fireworks — a match made in heaven.
Christmas Kaboom — 2023 Holiday Events Are Sure To Make A Bang
November 25, 2023 (Gates open at 4:30 PM; fireworks show starts at 6:40 PM)
Hickory Motor Speedway, 3130 US 70, Newton, NC
Website
Celebrate the holidays with a boom at America's grandest Christmas fireworks show! Hold on to your Santa hats as thousands of pyrotechnics and lights explode in perfect synchronization to your favorite Christmas tunes. 2023 is bringing bigger booms, more mind-blowing special effects, and a flourish of festive activities to entertain you before the big kaboom!
Indulge in Santa-approved treats at the Christmas market, rev up your excitement with monster truck rides, and bounce like a reindeer who ate too much candy corn in the holiday bounce house. The fire pits will be ready for patrons to fashion gooey s’mores, and holiday selfie stations will be sprinkled throughout the speedway.
Down Home Country Christmas is the perfect event for the person who can't wait to belt out Christmas songs the day after Halloween!
Down Home Country Christmas
Select dates through November and December
Duplin Winery at Rose Hill, 505 N Sycamore St, Rose Hill, NC 28458
Website
If all you want for Christmas comes in opaque glass bottle packaging, you’ll want to attend a wine tasting, decadent dinner, and spectacular variety show at Duplin Winery. With a reputation as one of the best 2023 holiday events on the East Coast, Down Home Country Christmas is sure to satisfy all your senses.
As you take in local performers' musical, side-splitting, and story-telling talents, you’ll be served a special meal arranged by Chef Bert and Pastry Master Chef Tabatha, which may or may not feature a slice of Christmas tree cheesecake… A reformed Ebenezer Scrooge himself couldn’t put together a spread as extravagant as the multi-course meal you’ll enjoy when you book a table for up to eight revelers. Secure your spot for a Christmas celebration as jolly as it is delicious!
Mauldin is a great place to visit fora holiday weekend.
A Very Mauldin Christmas
November 30, 2023, from 5-8 PM
Mauldin Outdoor Amphitheater, 101 E Butler Rd, Mauldin, SC 29662
Website
If you haven’t visited the burgeoning town of Mauldin, SC, A Very Mauldin Christmas is the perfect opportunity to see what the buzz is all about! This is one of several 2023 holiday events that will be filled with live holiday music, a market bustling with local vendors, photo ops with Santa Claus himself, and a most magical tree lighting.
This celebration is perfect for those in search of 2023 holiday events with pets, as leashed dogs are permitted to participate in the revelry. As you hop from one food truck and brew station to another, you’ll be sure to feel that one-of-a-kind joie de vivre that accompanies a small-town Christmas celebration.
Dillsboro looks like he popped right out of a holiday fairy tale.
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
December 1-2 and 8-9, 2023, from 5-9 PM
Downtown Dillsboro, 42 Front St, Dillsboro, NC 28725
Website
Move over, McAdenville! There’s a new Christmas town in North Carolina. Take a step back in time as you relish the 40th anniversary of Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries, nestled in a captivating Christmas village of more than 2,500 candles and twinkling lights.
Wassail through downtown streets made joyous by the melodies of traveling carolers. Take a horse and buggy ride or explore century-old shops and galleries in search of handcrafted gifts as you sip on cider or hot cocoa, while Grammy-nominated singer Darren Nicholson croons in the background. Regaled as one of the top 20 2023 holiday events in the Southeast for December, the light show is a must-see holiday bucket list event in western NC.
