If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
Winterfest at Carowinds
If you are looking for a great time in the Carolinas during the holiday season, then you have to head to Winterfest!
Winterfest is an annual event at Carowinds theme park in Charlotte on the North Carolina/South Carolina border.
You can save up to 53% on a ticket to Carowinds’ Winterfest here.
We made a video of highlights for a few visits my family took from a past Winterfest:
And we’ll go through the park and give you a few highlights of what you can expect in 2024.
WinterFest Wonderland Parade
I absolutely love parades, and I love Christmas, so you can imagine my excitement at the Winterfest parade! It’s got holiday characters (like Jack Frost, the Snow Queen, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Gingerbread Men, etc.), beautiful floats, lights, performers, and more! You can see it for yourself here
The holiday lights begin right when you walk in at Celebration Plaza.
This is where the Christmas tree lighting takes place every night. As you can see, the Christmas tree here is beautiful. And they also have a great show in front of the tree called Cool Yule Christmas. It features a lot of great singing and dancing, and we included parts of it in our video tour.
Celebration Plaza is where you’ll find the North Pole Post Office. The North Pole Post Office is where kids can write letters to Santa and get them sent straight to the North Pole! You can also get that perfect photo with Santa at St. Nick’s Pics.
Snow Flake Lane is a beautiful area with an ice skating rink.
Snow Flake Lake Ice Skating is a great experience at Carowinds. Nearby that, you can find Jack Frost’s Igloo Village. You can rent one of these and then enjoy some privacy in a warm spot! It comes with food, drinks, and concierge services!
Over in nearby Harmony Hall, you can find the show A PEANUTS Guide to Christmas. Charlie, Lucy, and Linus lead a holiday-sing-along.
Carowinds Theater is where you can see Tinker’s Toy Factory. This is a show with a at talented cast of performers. The plotline is that Santa, Tinker, and the elves discover the importance of friends and family.
Over at the Carolina Boardwalk, you can find Twas: A Merry Mishap. This is a retelling of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas that is well a bit off-kilter.
Over in Carousel Park, you can enjoy the musical stylings of the MistleTones. They perform classic Christmas songs in a 1940s style.
You can feel like you’re at your grandparents for a traditional Christmas celebration when you visit Blue Ridge Country Christmas.
This is also where you can find the Down Home Duo, who perform Christmas songs in a bluegrass style.
Artisan Alley is located in Blue Ridge Junction. Local artists and craft vendors will be there selling their items that could make great, unique gifts this holiday season!
Over in Crossroads, you can find Sally’s Christmas Crafts. This is where children 12 years old and younger can decorate ornaments or create holiday cards.
This is also where you’ll find Snow and Glow. All the buildings around the Hometown Gazebo are full of snow during Winterfest – and snow will fall while lights sparkle to the soundtrack of holiday music in a very special moment. It’s neat to see snow here too because as someone who grew up in Charlotte, I know a White Christmas rarely happens here!
Songs of the Nativity takes place at Crossroads Gazebo. You can enjoy holiday favorites right in front of a traditional Nativity scene.
You can also decorate your very own Christmas cookies over at Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen.
Winterfest Food & Drinks
Winterfest also has a special food and drink menu for the event.
Funnel Cake Emporium
- Churro Sundae: Ginger-spiced churros with ice cream and topped with a caramel drizzle
- Gingerbread Funnel Cake: Classic funnel cake topped with powdered sugar, gingerbread spices, caramel & whipped cream
Tinker’s Treat Shop
- Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread: Cinnamon sugar bread with sprinkles & vanilla icing
- S’Mores Kit: Graham crackers, marshmallow & chocolate bar
- Build Your Own Hot Chocolate:
- Toppings: Holiday sprinkles, crushed peppermint, or miniature chocolate chips
- Drizzle: Caramel or chocolate
Harmony Hall
- Maple Toffee Cheesecake: Sweet and salty cheesecake with toffee chips & white chocolate drizzle
- Cinnamon Sugar Cupcake: Snickerdoodle cupcake with a winter-spiced frosting
- Christmas Tree Brownie: Holiday-themed brownie with sprinkles & frosting
- Rocky Road Crispy Treat: Puffed rice treat with chocolate chips
- Eggnog Parfait: Creamy dessert with eggnog cheesecake filling & crunchy gingerbread crumbles
- Hot Cocoa Parfait: Creamy dessert with marshmallow & chocolate
Sugar Plum’s Hot Cocoa
- Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate: Peppermint hot chocolate topped with peppermint bark, white chocolate & chocolate syrup
- Cinnamon Roll Hot Chocolate: Cinnamon sugar hot chocolate topped with cinnamon streusel crumbles & brown sugar
- Salted Caramel Truffle Hot Chocolate: Hot chocolate topped with a salted caramel sauce & house-made truffle
Leonardo’s Italian Hometown Food
- Leonardo’s Cinnamon Knot: A large knot of cinnamon sugar bread with sprinkles & icing drizzle
- Peppermint Mocha Cupcake: Mocha cupcake with peppermint chips, peppermint frosting & a crunchy cookie straw
- Maple Toffee Cheesecake: Sweet and salty cheesecake with toffee chips and white chocolate drizzle
Blue Ridge Fixin’s
- Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread: Freshly baked cinnamon sugar bread with sprinkles and vanilla icing
Soup Nook
- Chicken Noodle Bread Bowl: A broth of chicken, vegetables & noodles in a rosemary olive oil bread bowl
- Chili Bread Bowl: Beef chili in a rosemary olive oil bread bowl
- Broccoli Cheddar Bread Bowl: Creamy cheddar soup with broccoli in a rosemary olive oil bread bowl
Joy’s Desserts
- Build Your Own Cannoli Flight: Choice of filling, toppings, and drizzle for three miniature cannoli
- Filling: Traditional, mixed berry or salted caramel
- Toppings: Holiday sprinkles, crushed peppermint, miniature chocolate chips, or powdered sugar
- Drizzle: Chocolate, raspberry, or caramel
- Joy’s Peppermint Bites: Buttery shortbread bars layered with peppermint bark
- Build Your Own Hot Chocolate:
- Toppings: Holiday sprinkles, crushed peppermint, or miniature chocolate chips
- Drizzle: Chocolate or caramel
Blue Ridge Country Kitchen
- Carved Turkey: Hand-carved turkey breast, marinated in herbs
- Honey Baked Ham: Tender ham, sliced and in a honey glaze
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: Fluffy mashed potatoes with roasted garlic and turkey gravy
- Sweet Potato Fries: Freshly fried potatoes, tossed in cinnamon sugar
- Apple Sonker: A deep-dish, baked dessert with a cinnamon apple filling
Candy Cane’s Sugar Shack
- Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread: Freshly baked cinnamon sugar bread with vanilla icing and sprinkles
- S’Mores Kit: Graham crackers, chocolate bar, and marshmallow
- Build Your Own Hot Chocolate
- Toppings: Holiday sprinkles, miniature chocolate chips, or crushed peppermint
- Drizzle: Chocolate or caramel
Juke Box Diner
- The Gobbler: Turkey breast, cranberry mayo, cornbread stuffing & turkey gravy; served on a house-made roll
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: Fluffy mashed potatoes with turkey gravy & roasted garlic
Discount Tickets
Looking for discount tickets to this great holiday event? Buy your ticket here and you can save up to 53% off your ticket. No discount code or promo code is needed as the coupon is automatic!