Ice skating & holiday lights
Skate the Southeast's largest outdoor rink and walk the free Winter Trail at Whitewater, cruise Speedway Christmas, and stroll McAdenville — Christmas Town USA.
Hours, prices and seasonal dates change often — always check the official website before you go. Info last reviewed November 2026.
Charlotte, NC
Winter at Whitewater (mid-Nov to mid-Feb): 24,000 sq ft outdoor ice rink, free illuminated Winter Trail with suspension bridges, Highland cows, tree lot and winter market.
Ice skating $25 incl. rentals; Winter Trail free; parking $13
Concord, NC
Drive-through holiday light show at Charlotte Motor Speedway with millions of lights and a Christmas village in the infield.
Good to know: 2026: Nov 20 – Jan 3, nightly 6–10 pm.
McAdenville, NC
Whole town lit up with hundreds of thousands of lights — free to drive or walk.
Good to know: 2026: Dec 1–26, 5:30–10 pm. Arrive early.
Belmont, NC
Walk-through holiday light display with Santa visits and a trackless train on select dates.
Kannapolis, NC
Free holiday lights in Village Park with the carousel and train running, plus tree lighting and fireworks on opening night.
Belmont, NC
Decorated Christmas trees fill Stowe Park all December — free.
Gastonia, NC
Big city park with a splash pad, playgrounds, occasional train rides, and holiday lights in December.
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte's big uptown holiday parade on Tryon Street with floats, bands and balloons — free to watch (reserved seats sold separately).
Good to know: 2026: Wednesday, Nov 25 at 5:30 pm.
Charlotte, NC
Huge outdoor adventure park on the Catawba River. Warm months: whitewater rafting, ziplines, climbing, ropes courses, Wildwoods family play area and 50+ miles of trails. Winter at Whitewater (mid-Nov to mid-Feb): the Southeast's largest outdoor ice rink (24,000 sq ft), a free illuminated Winter Trail, Highland cows, a Christmas tree lot and night zips.
Free entry; parking $13/vehicle. All Access Day Pass $79; Wildwoods pass $18; ice skating $25 incl. rentals
Good to know: The Winter Trail and trails are free with parking.
Charlotte / Fort Mill, NC/SC
Amusement park straddling the NC/SC state line with Camp Snoopy for little kids, big coasters for teens, and seasonal events. Now open year-round on select dates.
Indian Trail, NC
Indoor ice rink with public skating sessions year-round.
Pineville, NC
Indoor ice rink with public skate sessions and learn-to-skate classes.
Huntersville, NC
265-acre historic Scottish-heritage farm with trails, animals and events, home of the Amazing Maize Maze each fall.
Belmont, NC
Gorgeous gardens with fountains, a children's garden, and an orchid conservatory; spring blooms and holiday lights.
Kannapolis, NC
Shady park with a playground, seasonal splash pad, paved trail, a $1.50 Venetian carousel and a small train.
Good to know: Carousel and train rides cost a small fee.
Matthews, NC
Downtown Matthews park with a playground, summer concerts and community festivals.
Rock Hill, SC
Free 11-acre garden with azaleas, fountains and a pond — stunning in spring.
Concord, NC
Repticon is a family-oriented reptile and exotic-animal expo with vendors, educational exhibits and animals to see. It's a good indoor outing for older kids who like animals. Purchases are made from independent exhibitors, and always ask before touching any animal. Tickets are sold online only.
Online only. Super Ticket (both days) $20 adult; Saturday or Sunday all day $15 adult; Saturday after 1 p.m. $12 adult. Ages 5–12 $7; ages 4 and under free.
Good to know: Next show: December 12–13, 2026, at Cabarrus Arena in Concord. Kids 4 and under are free; ages 5–12 are $7.
Rock Hill, SC
Downtown Rock Hill's holiday festival. Confirm hours and admission on the official site.
See the official site for hours and admission.
Good to know: 2026 festival: Dec. 3–6 in downtown Rock Hill.
Concord, NC
Indoor waterpark resort kept at 84°F year-round — slides, wave pool, a giant tipping-bucket treehouse — plus MagiQuest, arcade and ropes course. Day passes available.
Day passes from about $55 (varies by date)
Charlotte, NC
Mecklenburg County's indoor water park uptown: 3-story Blue Comet slide, lazy river, Saturation Station kids' play structure, beach entry and lap lanes. Open Fri evenings and weekends.
Low-cost county admission
Concord, NC
Indoor aquarium at Concord Mills with an ocean tunnel, sharks, rays, touch pools and Lego-themed play.
Charlotte, NC
Uptown hands-on science museum with labs, live demos, an IMAX Dome theatre, a rainforest and aquarium exhibits. Field-trip planner for groups.
Huntersville, NC
Play-based STEAM museum for toddlers to early elementary: pretend-play town, building zones, water play and live shows.
Charlotte, NC
Small nature museum beside Freedom Park with live animals, a butterfly pavilion and kid-height exhibits — great for little ones.
Charlotte, NC
Uptown racing museum with race simulators, a pit-crew challenge, historic cars and the 'Glory Road' banked track display.
Charlotte, NC
Aviation museum at Charlotte Douglas Airport featuring the 'Miracle on the Hudson' plane, hands-on flight exhibits and dozens of aircraft.
Charlotte, NC
Interactive optical-illusion rooms and photo spots — a crowd-pleaser for tweens and teens on a rainy day.
Gastonia, NC
Natural history museum with dinosaurs, NC wildlife halls, a mineral gallery, planetarium, a Catawba Indian village and an 1700s backcountry farm on a nature trail. Free 2nd Tuesday evenings (4–8 pm).
Good to know: Free admission the second Tuesday of each month, 4–8 pm.
Concord, NC
Iconic NASCAR track offering speedway tours, race weekends, and seasonal family events like Speedway Christmas.
Concord, NC
Indoor skydiving wind tunnel near Concord Mills; kids as young as 3 can fly with an instructor.
Charlotte, NC
Big family entertainment center in Ballantyne: bowling, laser tag, ropes course, rock climbing, bumper cars and arcade.
Huntersville & Pineville, NC
Bowling, large arcade, escape rooms and restaurant under one roof at two locations.
Mint Hill & Cornelius, NC
Trampolines, climbing walls, ropes courses and indoor playgrounds.
Charlotte (Northlake) & Pineville, NC
Wall-to-wall trampolines, foam zones, dodgeball and toddler time.
Gastonia, NC
Trampoline courts, ninja course and foam pits in Gastonia.
Rock Hill, SC
Trampoline park with the area's largest ninja course, foam pits, flying trapeze and dunk zone.
Huntersville, NC
Indoor ninja/parkour gym with open-play passes and kids' classes.
Concord, NC
Indoor inflatable playground with bounce houses, obstacle courses and a toddler area.
Monroe, NC
Clean, spacious indoor playground with ball pits and climbing structures.
Matthews, NC
Indoor playground for kids 10 and under with ball pits, climbing structures and slides.
Gastonia, Charlotte & Monroe, NC
Glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf with monster-themed holes.
Concord & Pineville, NC
Big arcade and restaurant — good for rainy-day treats.
Concord, NC
Bowling, laser tag, arcade and bumper cars.
Charlotte, NC
Professional theatre for kids at ImaginOn, staging family shows and classes.
Rock Hill, SC
Natural history museum with an Ice Age Carolinas exhibit, the Settlemyre Planetarium, trails and gardens.
Rock Hill, SC
Pretend-play museum for ages 0–6 with dress-up, farm and kitchen exhibits.
Midland, NC
Site of the first documented gold find in the U.S.; underground mine tours, exhibits, and seasonal gold panning. Free admission.
Good to know: Gold panning is seasonal and has a small fee.
Pineville, NC
Birthplace of the 11th president with reconstructed log buildings, a visitor center and free guided tours.
Huntersville, NC
1800s living-history farm inside Latta Nature Preserve with heritage animals, a restored home and history camps.
Huntersville, NC
Walk a wooded trail past eagles, hawks, owls and vultures in Latta Nature Preserve; live bird programs.
Charlotte, NC
Home of the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander rock house, Mecklenburg's oldest home, plus exhibits on Charlotte history.
Charlotte, NC
North Carolina's first art museum. Free admission Wednesday evenings 5–9 pm, often with family crafts.
Good to know: Free Wednesdays 5–9 pm.
Charlotte, NC
Modern art museum uptown; Wednesday Night Live (5–9 pm) adds music and workshops.
Charlotte, NC
Uptown museum celebrating African-American art and culture with frequent free family programs.
Charlotte, NC
Free self-guided tour through the life of Billy Graham, starting with a talking-cow animatronic in a barn-shaped building.
Dallas, NC
Free museum in historic Dallas, NC with local history exhibits and a carriage collection.
Lancaster, SC
Free galleries on Catawba Nation history and pottery — great for NC/SC history units.
Lancaster, SC
Park at the birthplace of Andrew Jackson with a museum, replica 1700s schoolhouse, playground, trails, fishing and boat rentals.
Small SC state park entry fee; kids under 5 free
Waxhaw, NC
Local history museum on the Waxhaws region and Andrew Jackson's early life.
Blacksburg, SC (west of Gastonia), SC
Revolutionary War battlefield with a free visitor center, film and a 1.5-mile paved battlefield trail.
Huntersville / Lake Norman, NC
Free hands-on energy science center at McGuire Nuclear Station on Lake Norman, with a nature trail. Walk-ins Tue–Thu 12–3 pm; groups by appointment.
Charlotte, NC
Free gardens and greenhouse with rainforest plants, orchids and carnivorous plants.
Charlotte, NC
Kids' and teen library uptown with free storytimes, puppet shows, and a stop-motion studio.
Throughout Mecklenburg, NC
20+ branches with free storytimes, STEM programs and homeschool resources.
Gastonia & Gaston County, NC
Free kids' programs, storytimes and maker activities across Gaston County branches.
Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, NC
Free storytimes and family programs at branches across Cabarrus County.
Charlotte, NC
Indoor nature center, easy trails, and a unique fenced nature playground; frequent free family programs.
Charlotte (Steele Creek), NC
Nature center on Lake Wylie with live animal exhibits, trails, playground and weekly animal meet-and-greets.
Huntersville, NC
1,460-acre preserve on Mountain Island Lake; Quest nature center has a big aquarium and interactive exhibits, plus trails, horseback riding and paddling.
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte's beloved central park: large playground, lake, ducks, trails and a Play 60 NFL playground.
Charlotte, NC
Paved greenway linking uptown, Freedom Park and beyond — great for bikes and scooters.
Charlotte, NC
Paved trail alongside the light rail through South End with public art and murals.
Charlotte, NC
Stroll a colorful Victorian neighborhood uptown with Fourth Ward Park at its heart.
Kings Mountain / Gastonia, NC
Hiking with big views from Crowders Mountain and The Pinnacle, plus a lake for fishing and paddling. Free entry.
Fort Mill, SC
2,100-acre preserve with hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, farm animals and the Greenway Canteen.
Day passes or family memberships (from about $12–13/month)
Gastonia, NC
City of Gastonia lakeside park with walking trails, fishing and a playground.
Belmont, NC
Treehouse-themed playground on the Catawba River with wide paved paths and a public dock with bench swings.
Mount Holly, NC
Riverside park on the Catawba River with a playground and walking trails.
Concord, NC
Large Cabarrus County park with playgrounds, ballfields, a lake and walking trails.
Cornelius, NC
Lake Norman peninsula park with paved trails, playground and lake views.
Pineville, NC
Lakeside park with a large splash pad and three playgrounds.
Rock Hill, SC
Paved Catawba River trails and nearby parks at Riverwalk.
Pineville, NC
Free indoor kids' play area inside the mall — handy on rainy days.
Concord, NC
Huge outlet mall home to SEA LIFE, Dave & Buster's and more — easy rainy-day walking.
Multiple locations, NC
Free hands-on build projects for kids on the first Saturday of the month.
Charlotte, NC
Mecklenburg County off-leash dog park at Clarks Creek Park in the University area, with standard county hours and rules.
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Charlotte, NC
South Charlotte county dog park with separate fenced areas for small and large dogs, about 5 acres in all.
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Charlotte, NC
Smaller urban county dog park (about 1.3 acres) with sections for small and large dogs, connected to the Irwin Creek and Stewart Creek greenways.
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Charlotte, NC
Uptown Mecklenburg County off-leash dog park with standard county hours and rules.
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Charlotte, NC
Larger county dog park in the west Charlotte / Mountain Island area, with areas for small and large dogs at a 54-acre park that also has a playground and picnic shelter outside the dog area.
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Charlotte, NC
About 4 acres of off-leash space at Reedy Creek Park, which also has a nature center, playgrounds and trails (dogs on leash outside the dog park).
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Cornelius, NC
About 4 acres with sections for small and large dogs at this Lake Norman county park.
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Charlotte, NC
About 1 acre with sections for small and large dogs at McAlpine Creek Park near the Matthews area, with greenway and trails nearby (on leash).
Good to know: Mecklenburg County dog parks do not allow children under 12. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
Gastonia, NC
Five acres at the back of George Poston Park near Lowell: 1 acre for small breeds (25 pounds or less) and 4.5 acres for large breeds. Free.
Good to know: Open 7 a.m. to sunset daily. No one under 14 without an adult.
Dallas, NC
Gaston County dog park at Dallas Park, behind the old animal shelter and next to the lake, with separate fenced areas for small breeds (25 pounds or less) and large breeds.
Good to know: Open 7 a.m. to sunset daily. No one under 14 without an adult.
Gastonia, NC
City of Gastonia dog park with two areas: one for dogs under 25 pounds and one for dogs more than 25 pounds.
Good to know: Open 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Handlers must be 16 or older.
Cramerton, NC
Off-leash dog park at Goat Island Park, a 30-acre island park on the South Fork River with playgrounds, a 0.5-mile walking trail and picnic shelters.
Good to know: Park in the public lot across from the pedestrian bridge — not at the fire department or Cramerton Drug.
Mount Holly, NC
The City of Mount Holly lists a dog park at Tuckaseege Park (“Tuck Park”), which also has ballfields, a playground, picnic shelters, a skate park and a walking trail.
Good to know: Hours and layout aren't listed on the city page — follow posted rules.
Belmont, NC
A fenced-in dog park in a forest setting directly behind The Trailhead Store at The Village at Stowe. This is a Conservancy amenity, not a city park.
Good to know: Dogs aren't allowed inside The Farmhouse Garden Center or the Gardens.
Concord, NC
City of Concord bark park with a 0.5-acre small-dog park and a 1.5-acre large-dog park, at a 56-acre site with a playground, restrooms and Hector Henry Greenway / Riverwalk parking (Exit 49 area).
Good to know: Park hours are dawn to dusk.
Monroe, NC
City of Monroe park with a dog park, playground and picnic shelter.
Good to know: Hours aren't listed on the facility page; city parks are commonly dawn to dusk — confirm first.
Mint Hill, NC
A 1.3-acre dog park at Mint Hill Founders Park with separate areas for small and large breeds, a shaded seating area and lighting.
Good to know: Playground and dog park are open daily 7:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
Matthews, NC
Town of Matthews dog park at Purser-Hulsey Park with two separate areas for small dogs and large dogs.
Good to know: Closed Wednesday mornings for maintenance; reopens at noon.
Wesley Chapel, NC
Village of Wesley Chapel park (Dogwood Park) with a fenced dog park. The mailing address is Waxhaw.
Good to know: The village doesn't publish dog-park details — check posted rules.
Indian Trail, NC
Indian Trail's membership dog park at Crooked Creek Park, with water listed as a feature. A gate code is required.
Residents free (1–3 dogs); non-residents $10 for 1 dog, $15 for 2 or 3 dogs.
Good to know: Membership and gate code required. Free for residents; non-residents pay $10 (1 dog) or $15 (2–3 dogs).
Rock Hill, SC
City of Rock Hill park with a dog park. See posted signs for the small-dog and all-size areas.
Good to know: Check the official city listing for hours.
Fort Mill, SC
Members-only dog park on the Anne Springs Close Greenway: more than 12 acres of enclosed natural space with a small-dog area, a mile-long off-leash trail with lakefront access, a dog washing station, hydration stations and benches. Open seven days a week.
Dog Park membership is an upgrade to a Greenway family or individual membership: $156 a year or $14 a month.
Good to know: Members only. Children 12 and under are not permitted inside the park.
Pineville, NC
Town of Pineville dog park. The official page is explicit: “The Dog Park is NOT a Place for Children!” — children under 12 are not allowed.
Good to know: Closed Tuesday mornings for maintenance. No children under 12.
Huntersville, NC
Huntersville Parks and Recreation operates one town dog park, at Rosedale Nature Park, 9519 Rosewood Meadow Lane.
Good to know: Follow posted rules and confirm details with the town.
Charlotte, NC
70 fenced acres for dogs with 3 ponds, 2.5 miles of trail, beaches, a dock and a dog wash station. No cost to enter without a dog.
Dog pass (onsite only): $15 single day or $35 monthly. Annual Pass holders add one dog free; up to two more for $50 each.
Good to know: Each dog needs a pass, sold onsite only. Hours vary seasonally.
Davidson, NC
Davidson's only off-leash park, with picnic tables, trash cans and water bowls. Open only to Davidson residents.
Good to know: Davidson residents only. Register at Town Hall with your dog's rabies certificate.
Monroe, NC
Union County's public library system, with four branches offering free children's programs and storytimes, plus a quiet indoor spot on rainy days.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Rock Hill, SC
York County's public library system, with five branches offering free storytimes, kids' programs and indoor space for rainy days.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Lancaster, SC
Lancaster County's public library system, with free children's programs at the Main Library in Lancaster and branches in Indian Land and Kershaw.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Matthews, NC
Free Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with a children's area. Check the official CML storytime and events calendar before you go.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Mint Hill, NC
Free Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with a children's area. Check the official CML storytime and events calendar before you go.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Cornelius, NC
Free Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with a children's area. Check the official CML storytime and events calendar before you go.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Huntersville, NC
Free Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with a children's area. Check the official CML storytime and events calendar before you go.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Charlotte, NC
Free Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with a children's area. Check the official CML storytime and events calendar before you go.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Pineville, NC
Free Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with a children's area. Check the official CML storytime and events calendar before you go.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Gastonia, NC
Free public library with a children's area. Check the official library calendar for storytimes and kids' programs.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Belmont, NC
Free public library with a children's area. Check the official library calendar for storytimes and kids' programs.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Fort Mill, SC
Free public library with a children's area. Check the official library calendar for storytimes and kids' programs.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Indian Trail, NC
Free public library with a children's area. Check the official library calendar for storytimes and kids' programs.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Indian Land (Lancaster County), SC
Free public library with a children's area. Check the official library calendar for storytimes and kids' programs.
Good to know: Storytime days and times vary by branch — check the official calendar before you go.
Charlotte, NC
The YMCA of Greater Charlotte offers children's swim lessons, from parent-child Swim Starters through Swim Basics and Swim Strokes, plus day camps and gymnastics at some branches.
Membership or program fees — see the official site.
Good to know: Check the official camp page for camp ages and dates.
Charlotte, NC
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation offers camps, swimming, sports and other classes at parks and rec centers countywide, including Ray's Splash Planet.
Program fees vary — see the official activities page.
Good to know: Register and check current ages, dates and fees on the official activities page.