Concord's whole holiday season starts on Friday, November 20. That evening the City of Concord holds its 29th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony downtown from 6 to 9 p.m. The same night, Speedway Christmas opens its season at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 98th Concord Christmas Parade follows less than 24 hours later.
That's three of the area's biggest holiday traditions in about 48 hours. Most of what's new or cheaper this year comes later. The lower-priced Speedway nights, a trolley trail on Small Business Saturday, Harrisburg's own tree lighting and the Cheesecake Factory's arrival at Concord Mills all come in the weeks after opening weekend. Go to opening weekend if it's tradition for you.
One Friday, Two Big Openings
Downtown on November 20, the main stage sits at Union Street and Barbrick Avenue. The headliner is Saddletramp, an Asheville-based classic and outlaw country band covering hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s. A second stage for youth performers is set up at Church Street and Means Avenue. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in a snow-filled Courthouse Plaza, which the city calls Santa Land and which is presented by Propst Brothers Commercial Fuel and Kinetic. There will also be food trucks and a kids' zone, and fireworks close the night. Admission is free.
The parade steps off Saturday, November 21, at 2:30 p.m. It's presented by Eli Lilly, and TrueCare Pharmacy sponsors the awards for school bands, schools, churches and civic groups. The city says it is one of the oldest continuously running Christmas parades in North Carolina.
Some event calendars list both events a day later. Go by the city's official page above, which has the tree lighting on the 20th and the parade on the 21st.
If you want breakfast before the parade, Concord has a new option this year. According to CharlotteFive, First Watch opened its second Concord restaurant on October 12 at 1389 Concord Pkwy. N. It seats more than 210 people and is open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. That means it closes the same minute the parade starts.
Speedway Christmas Costs Less After Opening Weekend
Speedway Christmas runs from November 20 through January 3, 2027, from 6 to 10 p.m. each night, rain or shine. The four-mile route loops the oval, pit road and the infield road course, with more than 5 million lights synced to music on 101.3 FM.
The Speedway's 2026 calendar shows why it pays to wait. Opening weekend, Friday through Sunday, is all Village Nights, priced at $60 per vehicle for general admission or $95 for Express. Monday the 23rd and Tuesday the 24th are Value Nights at $46 a car. That's $14 less to drive the same lights. The catch is that the Christmas Village activities are closed on Value Nights.
The Speedway's own traffic tip points the same way. Friday and Saturday nights in December are usually the busiest and can mean long waits to get in. The track suggests Thursday or Sunday nights instead, and arriving early.
If you want... | Pick | Price per vehicle, 2026 calendar |
|---|---|---|
Lights plus Christmas Village | A Village Night | $60 general, $95 Express |
Just the drive-thru lights | A Value Night, like Mon., Nov. 23 | $46 |
A shorter line to get in | A Thursday or Sunday | Depends on the night type |
Prices change by date, so check the calendar for your night before you go.
The Saturday After Thanksgiving Is Downtown's Day
Thanksgiving is November 26. Two days later, on Saturday, November 28, Downtown Concord runs its Small Business Saturday Holiday Trail from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 60 businesses are taking part, and Santa is on the schedule too.
The trail is bigger than the tree lighting footprint because of the route. Two trolleys will run between downtown, Gibson Mill Market and Southern Strain Brewery. The tree lighting stays on a few downtown blocks, while the trolleys link three separate spots.
If you missed how downtown has changed over the past year, our earlier piece on the District Exchange and downtown Concord's turn covers what you'll pass along the way.
Downtown keeps busy into December, too. Trolley Pub's seasonal "Pedal The Party" tour runs through December 20, with Christmas-light tours every day in December. It costs $20 per person with a four-ticket minimum, and Downtown Concord's listing gives the promo code FOUR.
Harrisburg's Tree Lighting Is Two Weeks Later
Harrisburg holds its own tree lighting on Friday, December 4, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Parkway, with craft vendors, food trucks and main-stage entertainment.
The timing works in Harrisburg's favor. Concord's tree lighting will be two weeks behind you, and December weekends at the Speedway will just be getting busy. Harrisburg Park already draws a big regular crowd, as we covered in our look at the park and Main Street. On December 4 that crowd gets an evening of its own.
Concord Mills Has Two New Indoor Options
The newest additions this season are indoors.
Bubble Planet's run at Concord Mills is listed as starting October 28 and lasting through January 31, so it will already be open when the lights come on downtown. The Fever ticket page lists features including the Bubble Bath ball pit, where socks are required, plus a Balloon Ocean, infinity and kaleidoscope rooms, and a VR experience. Tickets start at $15.90 depending on date and time. A standard adult ticket shows at $27.90, a child ticket at $20.90, and senior, student, disabled and military tickets at $23.90. VIP tickets cost $37.90 for adults and $30.90 for children. Time slots run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bubble Planet's official site says the visit takes about 60 to 90 minutes and that children 2 and under get in free.
The Cheesecake Factory is aiming to open at Concord Mills on Tuesday, December 8. The Concord-Harrisburg Herald reports that the restaurant is taking over the 7,985-square-foot former Kirkland's space at 8111 Concord Mills Blvd. The build-out includes a bar, a bakery counter and a covered outdoor patio. It will be the chain's third Charlotte-area location, after SouthPark Mall and Birkdale Village in Huntersville. When the opening was announced in July, Concord Mills marketing director Sarah Scire told Queen City News the restaurant "has been on many shoppers' wish lists," the Herald noted. Opening dates can slip, so treat December 8 as a target.
The Herald also lists other new tenants at the mall this fall. Akira, a women's lifestyle brand, opened near the AMC theater. Eloise Collections, a gift and collectibles shop, is open too, and the Adidas Outlet has reopened after a remodel.
The Season, Laid Out
Date | What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Oct. 28–Jan. 31 | Bubble Planet | Concord Mills | From $15.90 |
Fri., Nov. 20 | 29th Annual Tree Lighting | Downtown Concord | Free |
Fri., Nov. 20 | Speedway Christmas opens, through Jan. 3 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | $46–$95 per vehicle |
Sat., Nov. 21 | 98th Concord Christmas Parade, 2:30 p.m. | Downtown Concord | Free |
Sat., Nov. 28 | Small Business Saturday Holiday Trail | Downtown, Gibson Mill Market, Southern Strain Brewery | Check listing |
Fri., Dec. 4 | Harrisburg Tree Lighting | Harrisburg Park | Check listing |
Tue., Dec. 8 | Cheesecake Factory target opening | Concord Mills | Menu prices |
Through Dec. 20 | Trolley Pub Christmas-light tours | Downtown Concord | $20 per person, four-ticket minimum |
Every event after the parade is either new this year, cheaper than opening weekend, or the only event of its kind that night. Downtown's opening weekend, the Holiday Trail and Harrisburg's lighting fall on three different weekends.
Holiday crowds often turn into conversations about life in the neighborhood, and we're glad to be part of them. If this season has you thinking about your own place in Concord or Harrisburg, The Sears Group can walk you through what your home is worth today with a free valuation and consultation. You can also start on our Harrisburg/Concord neighborhood page.
