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2022 Chinese Lantern Festival Now Happening in North Carolina

How beautiful does a Chinese lantern festival sound? Lucky for us, this magical festival is happening in North Carolina until January 2023. The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival is happening…

lantern
Alexis Zarycki

How beautiful does a Chinese lantern festival sound? Lucky for us, this magical festival is happening in North Carolina until January 2023. The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival is happening just in time for the holidays. With over thousands of LED lights being used, there are over 40 unique displays you can witness. Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre is bringing more cheer with this holiday tradition of a festival. Only In Your State says that the festival brought in over 200,000 visitors last year. WOW!

The Chinese Lantern Festival is taking place from November 18, 2022, until January 8, 2023. This will be the festival's seventh year bringing some beautiful light displays to Cary, North Carolina. These larger-than-life lantern displays will leave you in awe. Take the time to walk through and experience the displays and see the true beauty of this culture. Enjoy seeing light displays of things such as Chinese dragons, flowers, animals, and more unique to Chinese culture.

Find out more about the Chinese Lantern Festival here.

16 Charlotte North Carolina Area Holiday Parades To Check Out In 2022

Halloween has come and gone which means it's almost time for Christmas! I can already hear the chiming of the jingle bells and Mariah Carey belting 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'. In fact, the Queen City Christmas events kick off the first week of November! We are starting quickly. And with so many different events from parades to festivals to concerts to shopping and lights, it can be overwhelming. But we are here to help you make plans to get everything done this holiday season. Let's start it off with 16 Charlotte area holiday parades you can check out this year.

Who doesn't love a good parade? Marching bands, performances, floats, candy, and tis' the season for a visit from Santa as well! You can find all of that in more in the numerous Christmas/holiday parades throughout the region. In fact, you can probably make a couple if you're a die-hard parade-aholic. While I'm not personally one I've worked with a few over the years! And it's Christmas after all, it's the most wonderful time of the year. So check out 16 of the Charlotte area holiday parades to attend this year below!

Have a parade I missed? Email full info to Melanie.Day@bbgi.com and I'll include it on this and our guide to everything holiday in the Queen City.

Happy Holidays!

Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade

Where: Tryon Street Uptown Charlotte

When: Wednesday, November 23 at 5:30 pm

What: The fourth largest parade of its kind in the country and the biggest in the Southeast.

Cost: Free but reserved tickets can be purchased

Mint Hill Parade

Where: Downtown Mint Hill

When: Saturday, December 3, 2022, 5:30-9:00 pm

What: Annual Christmas parade followed by a Tree Lighting

Cost: Free

Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade

Where: Lake Wylie/Papa Docs Shore Club

When: Saturday, Dec 10, 2022 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM 

What: Decorated and lighted boats will gather at Papa Doc's Shore Club and then parade around Lake Wylie.

Cost: Free to attend $25 per boat in advance $30 day of

North Meck Holiday Parade

Where: Main Street in Davidson traveling to Cornelius

When: Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.

What: Annual Christmas Parade

Cost: Free to attend

Concord Christmas Parade

Where: Downtown Concord

When:  Saturday, November 19 beginning at 2:30 p.m

What: The annual Concord Christmas Parade is one of the oldest and continuously running Christmas parades in North Carolina. The TrueCare 94th Concord Christmas Parade route begins at the intersection of Church Street N and Lake Concord Road.

Cost: Free

Belmont Christmas Parade

Where: Historic Downtown Belmont

When: November 29, 2022 3:30 PM

What: Annual Parade through downtown Belmont

Cost: Free to attend

Mooresville Christmas Parade

Where: Mainstreet Downtown Mooresville

When: Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at 3:00 pm

What: 78th Annual Christmas Parade

Cost: Free to attend

Lincolnton Christmas Parade

Where: Downtown Lincolnton

When: Sun November, 13th

What: Annual Christmas Parade followed by a tree lighting ceremony

Cost: Free to attend

Town of Troutman Christmas Parade

Where: Old Murdock Road Troutman

When: Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 11:00 am

What: Annual Christmas Parade

Cost: Free

Northern Lights of Lake Norman Boat Parade

Where: Mooresville

When: December 10th 5-7:00 pm

What: Lighted boat parade benefiting Hope of Mooresville and Tunnel to Towers

Cost: Donations encouraged

Waxhaw Christmas Parade

Where: Downtown Waxhaw

When: December 11 at 3 PM 

What: Annual Christmas parade

Cost: Free to attend

Union County Christmas Parade

Where: Monroe Downtown

When: November 20th, 2022, from 2 to 4:30 p.m

What: 69th Annual Christmas Parade

Cost: Free to attend

Rock Hill Christmas Parade

Where: Downtown Rock Hill

When: December 2, 2022 - 6:30 PM

What: Annual Christmas Parade

Cost: Free to attend

Gastonia Christmas Parade

Where: Downtown Gastonia and CaroMont Health Park

When: December 4th at 5pm

What: Gaston County Jaycees Christmas Parade followed by the City of Gastonia Vendor Marketplace and the Keep Gastonia Beautiful Tree Lighting

Cost: Free to attend

Kannapolis Christmas Parade

Where: Downtown Kannapolis

When: December 10 at 6 p.m.

What: Nighttime Christmas parade

Cost: Free

Indian Land Christmas Parade

Where: Downtown Indian Land beginning at Indian Land Middle School

When: December 10th 4pm

What: Christmas Parade

Cost: Free

Randi Moultrie is a Charleston, South Carolina native and has been in the radio industry for the last few years in Charlotte. Randi started with Beasley Media Group as an intern in 2019 and is now thriving in the digital world. Randi enjoys writing about her favorite foods (especially pizza) and all things fashion and travel. As one who loves taking trips to find new foods, it’s not surprising that she enjoys writing about both!