Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular - Charlotte, North Carolina

Lena K.

Beautiful lights display! this place is definitely less crowded on weekdays! food trucks are there with spacious seating area. hot chocolate/coffee shops located throughout the park! Overall, very fun family experience for all ages. park is stroller/wheelchair friendly.

Amy R.

Beautiful displays, easy to navigate and great hot chocolate! The music in time with the tree/lights was fantastic! Wheelchair and stroller friendly. Santa has his own house- with games and crafts for the littles. Great for all ages.

Preston B.

5-Stars - The Ballantyne Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular Outshines Them All!

First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude and a resounding shout-out to Greg Nivens, Al & Cheree Garr, Lisa Shackelford, Shayna Kluge, and the entire team who brought the Ballantyne Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular to life. The countless man-hours spent installing over a million lights, coordinating vendors, greeting guests with warmth, and meticulously placing every enchanting detail truly shone through. Your collective passion and hard work created a magical, immersive holiday atmosphere that my family and friends will remember for years to come.

As someone born and raised in South Charlotte, I’ve attended numerous holiday light shows across the city (Uptown, Huntersville, Lake Norman, etc.). Yet, this year’s Ballantyne Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular rose head and shoulders above the rest. The 40% increase in show features and imaginative new scenes were immediately evident. Wandering along the half-mile walking trail lined with over one million lights felt like strolling through a winter fairy tale, and the Alpine Avalanche Snow Tube Slide delighted both kids and adults alike. The bustling Holiday Village, complete with charming boutique vendors and diverse food trucks, made the event feel like a festive community gathering.

Accessibility was clearly a priority this year. The improved pathways ensured that strollers, scooters, and wheelchairs could glide easily through the displays, ensuring no one missed out on the fun. The stable wooden walkways and well-planned rest spots allowed us to enjoy the lights at a leisurely pace, taking in every sparkling detail while sipping hot cocoa.

****** VIP Experience Worth Every Penny ******
Opting for the VIP tickets was the best decision we made. From the very start, the VIP Entrance Line welcomed us with a sense of exclusivity. Receiving a souvenir hot chocolate mug with bottomless refills was not only a charming touch but also a practical perk on a chilly December evening. The VIP Lodge & Bar and VIP Washrooms elevated the experience, providing a comfortable, private space to warm up, relax, and gather around the firepits. This attention to guest comfort truly set this event apart from all others.

Parking was a breeze—simply park near Cabo Fish Taco, take the elevator to the main floor, and you’re there. This convenient setup, combined with ample space to stroll, explore, and mingle, added to the overall sense of ease and enjoyment. In comparison to other cramped, hard-to-navigate venues, this event delivered on both spectacle and convenience.

Conclusion
For my family and me, the Ballantyne Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular has become a cherished annual tradition. To Greg, Al, Lisa, Shayna, and the entire team: thank you for pouring your hearts, creativity, and dedication into this event. You’ve created a winter wonderland that outshines the competition and leaves us excited to return year after year. Five stars aren’t nearly enough to capture the magic you’ve shared with us!

Greg S.

Great holiday festival. Upgraded paths and walking trails and well worth the money for general admission.

Megan S.

Oh my goodness, please do not waste your money on this. Go to the Botanical Gardens instead. It's less expensive and BY FAR more lovely. This is $25 per person (including anyone over the age of 3). The cost includes simply walking around--EVERYTHING is an extra cost (slide=$15 for one ride down it, $25 for a cheap 'magic' wand lol), and the food trucks take forever and the food isn't great. Just no.

Vickie

Don't waste your money. Tried to attend this event. Unfortunately it was further than I initially thought. I reached out to eat.drink.play and NClights via social media and email multiple times without a response on how to get a refund or reschedule the event. There is no actual person to assist with ticketing issues and no phone number to contact anyone. There are plenty of free experiences and better ones closer to Charolette. This has been the most unprofessional experience.

It’s A.

Worst experience ever as a vendor! Fellow vendors please stay away from this event. Everything was horrible from the beginning. It’s not a worthy investment and to top it off items were stolen and no one has answers, no one is helpful! We had until the 31st to pick up items and items were taken out of our tent before then, a lot of inventory was missing and of course no one knows anything! Just stay away.

Jeff D. (.

Wonderful Christmas lights. Easy for the family to walk with children. Beautiful scenes. Focus on the Christ of Christmas. Great singers and dancers. Enjoyable music. Really well done.