The magic of Christmas is finally upon us, which means baking cookies, digging out the decorations, and adorning mantles with garlands and stockings. With everything going on around the holidays, it can be difficult to really focus on the reason for the season. Spending time with loved ones is important, and what better way to be together and celebrate the magic of Christmas than enjoying gorgeous light displays? These decked out homes around the greater Charlotte area offer impressive light attractions for you to watch from the comfort of your cars and are fun for all ages. Keep an eye out for Santa Claus, he’s known to visit one or two of these each year!
Huntersville Christmas Lights
This award-winning Christmas light display is free to watch from the comfort of your car and is synchronized with music from 89.3 FM. They string up over 21,000 LED lights and have won the national award for “Most Creative Display” for the last two years. They also accept donations for A Child’s Place and raised close to $3,000 last year. They are located at 13513 Melrose Meadow Ln, Huntersville, NC 28078. You can check them out on their website: www.huntersvillechristmaslights.com
Sherwood Forest Drive
This neighborhood in South Charlotte has many different impressive light displays from multiple homes. The Miller’s house, located at 7323 Sherwood Forest Drive, is one of the most popular destinations not just because of their amazing light displays, but also because Santa is there to offer candy canes to all of the cars stopping by (there were 12,000 handed out last year!). They also take donations for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Fountainbrook Fallatts
This home choreographs their impressive light show with holiday music and is one of the favorites in the area. They accept donations for Union County Christmas Bureau. Located at 1028 Fountainbrook Dr. Indian Trail, NC 28079, it’s worth the drive! You can watch last year’s light show on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FountainbrookFallatts
A Sweitzers Christmas
Synchonized with 107.3FM, the Sweitzers have decked their home out for their neighbors every year for the past seven years. Their show times run every 30 minutes, from 6pm-11pm, and they usually give a warm Christmas greeting and a candy cane to each car that stops to watch. You can find them locally in Matthews at 1001 Sunnyview Circle, Matthews, NC 28105. You can learn more by visiting their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ASweitzersChristmas
Zimnowski Light Show
This gorgeous and over-the-top light show even includes a visit from Santa Claus, who greets viewers from their upstairs window. This family has put on a synchronized light show with radio music (tune into 87.9FM) every year this since 2010. Their home is located at 15419 Hugh Mcauley Rd. Huntersville, NC 28078. You can watch videos of past displays to get you excited for this year on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ZimnowskiLightShow
Harbin Family Christmas
This light attraction takes weeks to create and is also includes a new feature every year, including a sleigh! You won’t know where to look between the light displays on the house, the lawn, the flashing Christmas trees and the ornaments hanging in the trees. This home is located at 10223 Summer House Court. Charlotte, NC 28210. The Harbin Family accepts donations to Make a Wish Foundation by either visiting their house or by visiting their page: http://site.wish.org/goto/HarbinChristmas. You can keep up to date with the decorating process with here: www.facebook.com/harbinfamilychristmaslights/
Hillside Drive in Myers Park
The Hillside Drive, located on Hillside Ave in Charlotte, is not just one house– it’s a whole street! They are known for their balls of light which seem to suspend from the sky as you drive under them down the street. They make these balls with chicken wire and Christmas lights and string them in the trees to give them the floating sensation. Throughout the month of December, you can donate food items for Loaves & Fishes. Check them out on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Hillsidefooddrive
Garden Oak Holiday Lights
This ever-growing display changes year after year ever since their debut in 2012. Now with tens of thousands of LED lights, each light is individually controlled with unique colors and is matched with holiday music. They are open this year from November 26th until January 1st and their show times run from 6pm to 10pm (except for school nights, then they close an hour early). They accept donations for cancer research, which you can do online, and to date they have raised thousands of dollars. They are located in the Brandon Oak Subdivision at 4026 Garden Oak Drive, Indian Trail, NC 28079 and you can visit their website at www.goholidaylights.com
