Looking for Thanksgiving parades and other holiday events around Charlotte and Lake Norman? Following is a list of holiday events around Charlotte and Lake Norman.

Southern Christmas Show – Charlotte
November 14 – 24

The Southern Christmas Show is one of the most popular holiday shows in the nation. Close to 150,000 people will visit the Charlotte show over 10 days. Find virtually anything related to Christmas with 500 merchants, vendors and exhibitors. 2500 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte NC, 28205

Admission:
Adults: $10 at the door
Youth: $3 (Ages 6-12) Children under 6 free with paying adult
Advance Tickets: $9
Advance Tickets at Harris Teeter: $8.50 (With Your VIC Card)
Advance tickets will be available at regional Harris Teeter stores two weeks prior to the show.

Hours:
Mondays: 10am-6pm
Tuesdays:10am-6pm
Wednesdays: 10am-9pm
Thursdays: 10am-9pm
Fridays: 10am-9pm
Saturdays: 10am-9pm
Sundays: 10am-6pm

Parking: $6 at the Park Expo and Conference Center and Bojangles’ Coliseum

Valet Parking: The Park will be offering valet parking for the Southern Christmas Show. This front-door service will allow show guests to pull up right across from the show entrance, and also make loading those packages afterwards a snap. Valet parking can be purchased at the normal entrances to the main parking lot. Cost is $15 (cash only-normal parking charge is $6). If the main lot is full, there may still be valet parking available, so please let the police officers directing traffic know you want to valet park.

Christmas Wonderland of Lights – Troutman
November 15 – December 31

Drive through two miles of forest decorated with more than 1 million lights; enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo. $5. Sun.-Thurs., 6-9pm; Fri.-Sat., 6-10pm. zootasticpark.com

Ice Skating at NorthCross – Huntersville
November 20 – 24

NorthCross Shopping Center offers ice skating 10 am – 8 pm November 20 – 23 and 10 am – 5 pm November 24. Skating is free. Skate rentals are $6. Proceeds benefit North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue. ShopNorthCross.com

Holiday on Ice – Charlotte
November 22 – January 5

Holiday on Ice continues it’s tradition of bringing Charlotte the coolest place in the city, an outdoor ice skating rink in the heart of Uptown. Located at the corner of MLK Blvd and Brevard on The NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza.  http://www.wbt.com/holidayonice/

Concord Christmas Parade 
November 23

Cabarrus Events Association hosts the Concord Christmas Parade. The parade starts at 2:30pm and travels south from Lake Concord Road and Church Street, down Union Street and ends at Corban Avenue. cabarrusevents.org

Speedway Christmas – Concord
November 23 – December 30

Speedway Christmas is returning to Charlotte Motor Speedway and the spectacular holiday light show will be even bigger and better in its fourth year. With more than three million lights in 800 displays, an infield Christmas Village complete and the unique chance to drive the track, Speedway Christmas has become the area’s best new holiday tradition! Back by popular demand, Speedway Christmas will host movie nights on the world’s largest HDTV every Friday and Saturday night during the show!

Movie night schedule (subject to change):
Nov. 29 & 30 – “Polar Express”
Dec. 6 & 7 – “Christmas Vacation”
Dec. 13 & 14 – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Dec. 20 & 21 – “A Christmas Story”
Dec. 27 & 28 – “Elf”

The light show is open daily from Nov. 23 to Dec. 30 (closed Christmas Day) from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission into Speedway Christmas is $20 per car when the Christmas Village is open and $15 on nights the Village is closed. Group rates for vans and buses are available. http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/speedway_christmas/

Mooresville Christmas Parade 
November 26

The 69th Annual Mooresville Christmas Parade will be held on November 26, 2013 beginning at 3:00 p.m. The route begins at the intersection of Statesville Avenue and Main Street, travel south down Main Street and end just past Wilson Avenue at Merino’s Home Furnishings. Heavy crowds are expected and approximately 1.5 miles of Main Street will be closed. Alternate routes through downtown include Church Street and Broad Street. For more information on this year’s Christmas Parade, contact Ron Johnson at 704-431-5271.

Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade – Charlotte
November 28

The parade starts at 9:30am from 9th and Tryon Street and marches south on Tryon to Stonewall Street. Click here for the best viewing spots! The performance area will be at Levine Avenue of the Arts. The parade will last about two hours. This year’s parade will feature dance and choral performances, marching bands from around the region, larger-than-life floats, balloons and some of your favorite characters. http://www.charlottecentercity.org/business/events/novant-health-thanksgiving-parade/

Lake Norman Turkey Trot – Cornelius
November 28

The eighth annual Lake Norman Turkey Trot features a 5K, 10K and Distance Dare, in which runners run the 10K and 5K back-to-back. The 10K starts at 7:30 am, followed by the 5K at 9 am. Registration by November 26 costs $30 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K and $50 for the Distance Dare. EpicSportsMarketing.com

Plantation Christmas – Huntersville
November 29 – 30

Experience an 1860s Christmas as you walk through the plantation. See period Christmas decor, meet a Victorian St. Nick, see Christmas baking in the kitchen, and learn about period Christmas traditions. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, ages 5 and under free. lattaplantation.org

Light Up Cornelius
November 30

See the inaugural tree lighting, choirs, dance performances, children’s activities, carriage rides and a visit from Santa. Free. 2-6pm. Cornelius.org

Christmas at the Library – Charlotte
December 2 – 23

The Billy Graham Library hosts the sixth annual Christmas at the Library. The Library will open its doors for extended hours Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas activities begin at 5 p.m. and include:

• Horse-drawn carriage rides
• Christmas story time for children
• Live music from carolers
• A large, ornamented Christmas tree in the Billy Graham Library lobby
• A live Nativity, depicting the very first Christmas night
• A beautiful display of lights
• Traditional Christmas dinner

Visit billygrahamlibrary.org for more information.

Christmas Town USA – McAdenville
December 2 – 26

McAdenville is all aglow with lights and holiday decorations.
http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/

Christmas in Davidson 
December 5 – 7

Take a ride on the trolley or take a horse-drawn carriage ride down Main Street, experience the beauty of the live nativity, start your holiday shopping with vendors on the Village Green, and enjoy a variety of entertainment on the library stage. Visit Town Hall where can enjoy a holiday theater performance and kids can participate in ‘make and take craft’ projects. There is something for everyone.http://www.christmasindavidson.com/

Happy Holidays from The Marshall Team, your Charlotte and Lake Norman Real Estate Specialists.