Celebrate the Holiday Season Across the Carolinas

Holiday Cheer Across the Carolinas

The Carolinas sparkle like nowhere else during the holidays, and our Holiday 2025 issue is full of everything from twinkling lights and festive markets to cozy cabins and snowy mountain escapes. This season, the region is brimming with ways to celebrate: plan memorable family outings, explore small towns, enjoy local culture, or simply cozy up for a winter getaway. Whether you’re a Carolina native or visiting for the season, there’s magic around every corner.

The Ultimate Carolina Gift Guide

Finding meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts is easier than ever with Carolina-inspired options. For art lovers, Seagrove pottery offers handmade mugs, bowls, and vases that tell the story of generations of artisans. Gullah sweetgrass baskets, coastal décor, and sea salts bring the Carolinas’ spirit into any home. Jewelry from local designers, books by Carolina authors, curated experiences like cooking classes, dance lessons, or concert tickets, VIP Carolina Traveler subscriptions, and charitable donations in someone’s name round out a thoughtful, locally sourced gift guide. Read more!

Day Trips

Take a break from the holiday rush with short escapes to Myrtle Beach! When the holidays roll into Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand swaps beach towels for twinkle lights. Palm trees shimmer with tinsel and the town’s famous theaters and restaurants wrap their Southern hospitality in festive cheer. Whether you’re planning a quick coastal escape or want to make a full weekend of it, Myrtle Beach shines as the Carolinas’ most spirited day trip destination.

Holiday Adventures For The Whole Crew

Skip the malls and make memories that last a lifetime. Families can enjoy winter hikes at Craggy Gardens or Pilot Mountain, ride the Polar Express on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, or take on a gingerbread challenge at the Omni Grove Park Inn. Kids and teens will love laser tag, snowless night tubing at The Chutes, and winter amusement-park evenings, while horse-drawn carriage rides and botanical garden light shows add old-fashioned holiday charm.

North Carolina Gets Trolled

Danish artist Thomas Dambo brings magic and whimsy to the Carolinas with his giant recycled-material trolls. Raleigh’s Dix Park hosts five permanent trolls, High Point has a solo installation, Charlotte gets a city-based surprise, and Asheville’s NC Arboretum displays twelve interactive “baby trolls,” six of which join the Winter Lights display. Part treasure hunt, part public art, these sculptures are perfect for families, road trips, and community engagement, with each troll crafted from reclaimed wood and local materials. Discover where to find the trolls here….

Events

Communities across the Carolinas host festive parades, markets, and family events. Explore Whalehead Candlelight tours and Corolla markets on the Outer Banks, Currituck’s parade and tree lighting, Topsail and Wrightsville boat flotillas, Burgaw’s Blueberry Drop on New Year’s Eve, Folly Beach’s Flip-Flop Drop, or Dillsboro’s luminaries. Each offers unique local traditions, lively entertainment, and family-friendly fun to fill your calendar through the holiday season. Check out the Holiday Events Guide! 

Must-See Holiday Lights

The Carolinas’ light displays are not to be missed. Walk among thousands of candles at Brookgreen Gardens’ Nights of a Thousand Candles or marvel at Daniel Stowe’s Holidays at the Garden. Greensboro’s Winter Wonderlights, FestiBull of Lights in Durham, Charlotte’s million-light trail and Motor Speedway drive-through, James Island’s Festival of Lights, North Myrtle Beach’s Great Christmas Light Show, and Magnolia Plantation’s Garden Holiday Nights all offer unforgettable festive evenings. This single guide gives dates and ticket basics to plan your perfect holiday outing. Learn more…

Carolina Snow Escapes

Winter fun is closer than you think. Sugar Mountain offers 115 acres of slopes, Beech Mountain delivers high-elevation runs, Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock caters to families, Cataloochee in Maggie Valley has a relaxed vibe, and Hatley Pointe near Asheville provides boutique lodging. Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, and cozy slopeside accommodations make these destinations ideal for all levels and ages seeking a snowy getaway. Plan your winter getaway…

Christmas County

Gaston County turns into a seasonal wonderland. Visit McAdenville’s famous Christmas Town USA, explore Holidays at the Gardens at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, or take in Kings Mountain’s old-fashioned celebrations and the Nutty for Nutcrackers Museum. Snowless night tubing at The Chutes and winter programs at the Whitewater Center add outdoor fun, while local shops and eateries offer a small-town festive charm that’s perfect for a weekend escape. Read more…

Cozy Cabin Getaways

North Carolina cabins deliver warmth, charm, and adventure. Stay in Peach’s Paradise, a hand-built eco-cabin near Asheboro, choose a sleek Postcard Cabin in Randolph County, experience state-park comfort at Morrow Mountain, unplug at The Dolly on a working farm, perch on Raven Rock cliffside cabin for sweeping views, or enjoy a romantic vineyard retreat at The Barrel at Chateau Jourdain. Each cabin combines firelight and charm with nearby activities for the ultimate holiday getaway. Check out the full article…

Holiday Entertainment

From ballet to Broadway, the Carolinas’ theaters are full of holiday classics. Carolina Ballet’s Raleigh production of The Nutcracker with live NC Symphony dates, South Carolina Ballet tours, the Grand Kyiv Ballet’s Snow Queen in Asheville, Durham’s Elf the Musical at DPAC, and Myrtle Beach’s Dickens Christmas Show & Festival highlight the season. Add in seasonal concerts, film-in-concert nights, and local productions at historic venues like Thalian Hall and Flat Rock Playhouse for a full calendar of festive performances.

Destinations

Plan your holiday travels with regional highlights. Thomasville’s century-old Everybody’s Day offers small-town sparkle, Randolph County provides a festive pottery trail and Zoo Lights, Cook’s Sports in Wilkesboro is a must for outdoor gear and fan gifts, Gaston County mixes lights and trails for adventure, and Burlington–Alamance features downtown festivities and local charm. These destinations combine shopping, sightseeing, and seasonal experiences for a memorable holiday trip. Learn more…