Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love seeing all the lights, all the cheer, and seeing how many different people & cultures celebrate. Just West of Charlotte is McAdenville, North Carolina – AKA Christmas Town USA. This is a popular Christmas lights viewing place.
Everything you need to know about Christmas Town USA
There are lots of things that you should consider as you head over to Christmas Town USA. Below I’ll detail all the information you need to have the best experience!
Where is McAdenville?
The drive from Charlotte to Christmas Town USA is about 22 minutes. As you get closer to the town there will be sheriffs and police officers that will be directing traffic. Bring patience because the lines can be long.
The drive from Asheville is about 2 hours. If you’re in Asheville and not looking forward to a 2-hour drive check out North Carolina’s Polar Express in the mountains. When you’re in Asheville you might as well check out some of the winter activities.
The drive from Winston-Salem is 1 hour 20 minutes.
When is the Christmas Display?
Starting December 1-26 the whole town lights up. You can see the lights from 5:30pm-10:00pm. There will be a lot of people and the car line to get through the town is quite long. The closer you get to 10pm the less likely you are to see all the lights because they will turn off the lights.
Should you drive or park to see the Christmas Town USA lights?
The car tour of the town, while easier, does not allow you to go at your own pace or go down the no-outlet roads. If you can find parking the walking tour does allow you to take your time, go down on outlet roads, and see the details of the lights.
Where to park?
There are 5 main parking areas in McAdenville, all of which are free. They include:
🚙Behind McAdenville Baptist Church (192 Main St)
🚗On Poplar Street, behind the Downtown McAdenville business district
🚙Beside the small lake, in the heart of Christmas Town USA (102 Main St)
🚗McAdenville Elementary School (275 Wesleyan Dr)
🚙The Catawba Riverkeeper location on Dickson Road
Christmas Town USA Events
Along with the Light show, there are many different activities to do while you’re in McAdenville. Below I’ll detail my top 10 favorite things to do while you’re visiting this town.
Christmas Shopping at Mona’s Boutique
Mona’s Boutique is an adorable shop in the heart of downtown. Located at 121 Main Street, this boutique is the ideal place to get some of your Christmas shopping done. Since it’s in the heart of downtown this boutique is going to be packed during the height of the Christmas season. They limit the number of people that are allowed inside the shop.
The shop also has a charitable component having donated over $20,000 to various charities over the years.
Drink Hot Cocoa with Cramerton’s Firemen
One of the best parts about McAdenville is the small-town Hallmark movie feel. One movie moment is the hot cocoa available at McAdenville Firehouse 44. Everyone is welcome to a free cup of hot cocoa. This is definitely needed on the cooler days of December.
Explore the McAdenville Christmas Lights
This is why you came here! If you decide to park and explore the lights you have several hours of exploring ahead of you. There are many streets and nooks that are much easier to access on foot than in the car.
You can explore all the lights by car too. There is a line of cars that are directed through downtown Christmas Town USA. This lets you see the majority of the houses and decorations.
🎅🏼 Meet Santa Claus
Of course, no Christmas event is complete without meeting Santa. While there is no professional photographer to take the pictures, pictures are encouraged. Santa is sitting in a sled ready to meet with everyone!
Grab a Drink at the River Room
McAdenville has several breweries. All of them are decorated for the season. The reason why River Room stands out is that you’re grabbing a drink for a cause.
River Room is owned and operated by Catawba Riverkeeper. This local non-profit uses all the proceeds of the River Room to maintain, clean, and preserve local rivers.
Have Dinner at Terra Mia
McAdenville does not have a lot of options when it comes to dining. Terra Mia in an Italian restaurant on Main street. During Christmas Town, USA light season has a limited menu for Christmas. They have a 45-minute wait on the weekends of the busy Christmas season.
Listen to the Carols of the McAden Mills Bell Tower
Located in McAdenville’s historic district is the Mills Bell Tower. Ever since 1956, The Local Men’s Club started decorating the bell Tower. While the lights are on the Mills Bell Tower plays Christmas classics. It really adds to the holiday feeling.
Watch the Christmas Light Show Over the Lake
Right next to the McAden Mills Bell Tower is a little lake. This offers the best views of the Christmas lights.
If you go to the bell tower from the River Room side and go around the lake’s shoreline, you can get an incredible view of lighted Christmas trees. The trees are about 12-40 feet tall. In the middle of the lake, there’s a huge fountain that shoots water into the air. The lights change color from clear to red to green.
If you enjoy looking at the lights you should also check out the Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary, NC.
See the Nativity Scene
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the Nativity Scene. Across the street from the McAdenville Baptist Church (192 Main st) is McAdenville’s life-size Nativity Scene. The Star is perfectly placed above the manger in the tall trees.
Fill up on Sweet Treats at Floyd and Blackie’s Bakery
Christmas sweets and treats are a must-have for our household! Floyd and Blackie’s Bakery is decorated for the season just like the rest of town. Inside you’ll find all sorts of delicious goodies as well as hot cocoa, apple cider, and hot coffee.
Tips to see the Lights
- Arrive Early
- Bring snacks
- Have patience
- Look on all sides of the car for lights
- Consider doing a walking tour
- If possible, support a local business while there
Final Thoughts about Christmas Town USA
Controversially, I didn’t think they had the best lights around. Our local area TV station has a map of all the best lights, which Larry and I enjoyed much more than Christmas Town USA. But it’s worth it for an incredibly coordinated town; who really does an amazing job decorating. The downside is that it’s not a hidden gem so the lines of cars going through town are looooong.
If you enjoy Christmas events, also check out Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami!
