Charlotte’s Best Residential Holiday Light Displays
Go on a magical Christmas ride across Charlotte for these stunning neighborhood light extravaganzas
Whether you’re looking to stay in the neighborhood or want to scout out the surrounding areas, Charlotte has no shortage of holiday cheer, including an array of bright, twinkling holiday light displays. Gather the family together, get in the car, and discover the dazzle.
Light Displays in Charlotte’s Neighborhoods
Hillside Avenue in Myers Park is known for its large glowing globes, (actually light-covered chicken-wire balls) strung high in the trees each holiday. Neighbors get together every year to make and hang the balls and host the Hillside Holiday Hunger Drive Through. Anyone is welcome to drive or walk through to gaze at the glowing balls and are encouraged to donate canned food items for those in need. Food items are being collected each night through Dec. 25.
The Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association will have a holiday workshop at which neighborhoods can build their own Christmas balls to light up the neib.
Sherwood Forest Drive. Jim Miller has been turning his house into a show of 10,000 lights for years. His home is located on Sherwood Forest Drive, off Colony Road, in south Charlotte. Santa is also a regular at the Miller’s passing out candy canes to passersby. Lights usually come on at 6 pm.
The lights at 7323 Sherwood Forest Lane, just off Colony Road, come on around 6 pm each night.
Photo by Charlotte Parent Staff
The Queen Family Christmas, which takes place in the Montibello neighborhood at 3943 Black Sycamore Drive, raises money for the Charlotte Rescue Mission and Bethany’s Butterflies. Follow all the festivities on Instagram.
The Harbin Family Christmas Lights takes donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Visit the display at 10223 Summer House Court. Follow them on Facebook.
Concord Light Displays
There are so many light shows in Concord, they get their own category! Take a drive through this city and marvel at the lights.
The Fantetti Christmas Light Show is up and running! Head to 263 Palaside Drive NE for a synchronized light display, nightly from 6 pm; it ends at 9 pm on weekdays and 9:30 pm on weekends. The weekends also see a bake sale benefitting Mt. Pleasant Animal Hospital.
The Hard Family is celebrating 30 years of setting up Christmas lights, with LED lights and pixels in sync to music. Tune in and listen on 91.5 FM. Shows run nightly from 5:30-10 pm, with longer hours on the weekend. Visit them at 1641 Shadow Creek St.
Lights for Joy is a feast of lights put on by local realtor Bryan Kalentek. Not only does Kalentek help to brighten his neighborhood—navigate to 2634 Lansing Street NW—he also raises money for local charities.
Set your radio to 87.9 FM and head to Lights on Indian Beech, where thousands of bulbs sing. Find it at 9592 Indian Beech Avenue.
Christian Family Lights hosts light shows set to every imaginable style of tunes—contemporary Christmas, pop, soundtracks, techno, even Bollywood! Get the music at 93.9 FM. and stay tuned to its Facebook page for announcements (and to message for the address). Light shows run Sun.-Thu., 5:30-9 pm; Fri.-Sat., until 10 pm.
Additional Light Displays
The Zimnowski Light Show at 15419 Hugh McAuley Road in Huntersville opens on Dec. 4 and is on until New Year’s Day; lights come on around 6:30 pm each night. The light display is synced to music, so each stanza of each song is a new show. The schedule is subject to change with weather, so check the Facebook page to be sure the lights will be on the night you plan to go.
The Zimnowski light show is at 15419 Hugh McAuley Road in Huntersville.
Source: Facebook/Zimnowski Light Show
Also in Huntersville is the over-the-top Ardnt Christmas Lights, which can be found at 14904 Carbert Lane. The display runs the entire month of December, from 5:30-9 pm.
Broda’s Light Show has more than a dozen songs synced to Christmas lights, in addition to a 25-foot-tall pixel tree. Tune into 94.3 FM and visit Sun.-Thu., 6-9 pm and Fri.-Sat., 6-10 pm. 109 Graham Hall Court, Weddington.
Lincolnton’s Isenhour Lights features three different playlists depending on the night you visit: Dasher’s List plays Mon. & Fri.; Prancer’s List Tue., Thu. & Sun.; and Blitzen’s List Sun. & Wed. 411 E. Dixon St., Lincolnton. Shows play Sun.-Thu., 5:30-10 pm; Fr.-Sat. until 11 pm.
Discover themed light programs at Lights on 13th Street—past themes have included ’80s night and Trans-Siberian Orchestra Night. Open from 6-11 pm nightly. Stay tuned to its Facebook page for updates.
