Guest Post By Rock & Sandi (Adventures That Rock)

Carowinds Winterfest 2023 Travel Guide

What do you get when you cross a North Carolina theme park and the magic of the holidays? We found out when we attended Carowinds Winterfest.
Magical is not a big enough emotion when you take a winter stroll through the park. Carowinds Winterfest is an amazing experience with holiday shows, music, seasonal food and lights galore.
They have added more lights than any other year and it definitely shows. The best part: the lights are only the beginning for everything happening this holiday season at Carowinds.

They have added more lights than any other year and it definitely shows. The best part: the lights are only the beginning for everything happening this holiday season at Carowinds.


The Winterfest Wonderland Parade happens each evening at 9:00pm. Festive floats that are lit up, dancers, cookie bakers, Jack Frost, Mrs. Claus and Santa himself.
During the parade, it will stop on occasion to have the guests sing Christmas carols with them. You will notice the floats have holiday theming such as a choo choo train, toy box, gingerbread house and more.
Each evening, the park does select a few guest to actually be a part of the parade by riding in a float!


Everything kicks off at 5:30pm for the lighting of the Christmas tree at the front of the park. From there you can enjoy up to 28 rides (seasonal weather may affect some ride operations) and the live shows will definitely warm your spirit. Our personal favorite was Tinker’s Toy Factory. Located in the Carowinds theatre, watch as Santa may have hurt his back, will Christmas deliveries happen on time? Find out as the elves come up with solutions in this wonderful musical.

Grab a bite to eat inside Harmony Hall and enjoy a PEANUTS Guide To Christmas. Join the gang and laugh along as Sally ponders the gift of a “Woodstock in a Pear Tree”.


Forgot your letter to Santa? No worries as you can visit the North Pole Post Office. Elves are at the ready to help you with your very special letter and help you drop it in Santa’s mailbox.
From seasonal foods, ice skating, lights, Santa and so much more- Carowinds Winterfest is perfect for families or a fun date night outing here in North Carolina.

Carowinds Winterfest runs on select nights through January 1st. Hours each select evening is from 5pm to 10pm. Carowinds will be closed for the winter. They will reopen March 9, 2024.
For more on Carowinds Winterfest, check out this fun coverage:
Carowinds Winterfest FAQ:
What is Carowinds Winterfest?

Carowinds Winterfest is a place to celebrate the holidays amusement park-style. You’ll enjoy millions of lights, ice skating, festive activities, live entertainment, and holiday treats. Shop for unique gifts, play games, and experience the magic of the Christmas tree lighting. Kids can write letters to Santa, and the night ends with the WinterFest Wonderland Parade—a dazzling spectacle of decorated floats and festive performers. Amusement parks aren’t just for summer anymore. Warm your hearts as you make lasting memories with family and friends in this immersive winter wonderland.


What Are the Dates for Carowinds Winterfest?
Carowinds Winterfest runs on select nights through January 1st. Hours each select evening is from 5pm to 10pm. Carowinds will be closed for the winter. They will reopen March 9, 2024.
Dates:
- Dec. 8, 9 & 10
- Every day between Dec. 15-23
- Every Day Between Dec. 26-Jan 1st
Does Carowinds Close for the Winter?
Yes, Carowinds is only open on select dates during the Holiday Season and will be closed after Winterfest from Jan. 2nd and will reopen March 9th.
What are the Carowinds Winterfest Hours of Operation?
Typically Winterfest runs from 5PM-10PM on select dates. It’s always best to double check with their Calendar.
How Much are Carowinds Winterfest Tickets?
If you purchase at the gate general admission starts at $49.99. Purchase tickets online and save. General admission starts at $24.99 for a bundle of 4 with the 2023 The More The Merrier Sale.
Winterfest single admission tickets start at $32.99 online, saving you $17 from gate prices.
Bundle up your ticket with admission, a meal and a souvenir mug for $49.99
Carowinds Winterfest proudly honors those who serve in our Military. Admission is $29.99 for those who qualify for the military rate.
Where is Carowinds?
The Carowinds address that you can plug into your GPS is: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Best Places to Stay Near Carowinds:
Springhill Suites at Carowinds: An Offial Carowinds
Towne Place Suites, Fort Mill at Carowinds
Best Western Carowinds
Sleep Inn, Fort Mill By Carowinds
What Kind of Food is at Carowinds Winerfest?


Restaurants (not all are guaranteed to be open)
What type of restaurants and watering holes can you expect to be open at Carowinds Winterfest? Here are some that are on the list.



- Festive Funnel Cakes
- Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen Cookie Decorating
- Celebration Bar
- Auntie Annies
- Festive Funnel Cakes
- Cups of Cheer
- Holiday Hall
- Snack Depot
- Sugar Plum’s Hot Cocoa
- Panda Express
- Camp Cookout
- Sugar’s Cake Factory
- Beer & Snacks
- Leonards Hometown Italian Food
- Terminal A
- Frequent Fryers
- Granny’s Ice Cream Shop
- Tacky Sweater Bar
- Dasher’s Diner
- Blue Ridge Fixins
- Blue Ridge Tavern
- County Fair Christmas Cakes
- Chickie & Pete’s
- Bouthouse Bites
- Sweet Frogs
- Candy Cane’s Sugar Shack
- Snow Bird Diner
- Holly Jolly Hops
- Prancer’s Pizza



Festive Foods:
Ok, ok, ok, so it’s Christmas, but what do they have to offer that is truly unique in the way of culinary delights? Let’s take a peek at some of the Holiday Goodies that have been spotted. Of course this is only a sneak peek and not an exhaustive list, and as always, availability is subject to dates and availability . . .
Hot Chocolate:
It’s time to get your hot chocolate one with all the stations at Carowinds Winterfest!

- Cherry Cheer Peppermint
- Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
- Triple Mocha
Sweet Treats:
- Pumpkin Spice Churros
- Cinnamon Pull-apart Bread
- Peacan Pie Funnel Cake
- Mrs. Claus’ Cookies
- S’Mores Kit
- Christmas Tree Shake (Custard with Italian Ice and Whipped Cream)
- Twisted Rudolph/ (Custard with Candies, Hot Fudge and Whipped Cream)
Savory:
- Siracha Maple Chicken Meatballs
- White Christmas Chicken Pizza
- Maple Bourbon Chicken Thighs
- Country Ham Sliders
- Bacon Cinnamon roll
- The Gobbler Sandwich
Adult Beverages
- Elves Holiday Brew
- Icy Winter Breeze
What Rides are Open at Carowinds Winterfest?

Choose from 28 rides to lift your Holiday spirit. The following list of rides are scheduled to be open but are subject possible closures:
- Air Racers
- Boo Blasters on Boo Hill
- Camp Bus
- Carolina Sky Tower
- Charlie Brown’s Wind-up
- Copperhead Strike
- Do-Si-Do
- Flying Ace Balloon Race
- Fury 325
- Gear spin
- Kiddy Hawk
- Kite Eating Tree
- Mountain Gliders
- Peanuts Pirates
- Peanuts Trailblazers
- Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies
- Ricochet
- Ripcord
- Rock ‘N’ Roller
- Scrambler
- Slingshot
- Snoopy vs. Red Baron
- Snoopy’s Junction
- The Airwalker
- The Grand Carousel
- Windstar
- Woodstock Whirlybirds
- Zephyr
Is There Live Entertainment at Carowinds Winterfest?

Oh my goodness, yes! There’s seeming non-stop entertainment where ever you look at Carowinds Winterfest!
Let’s take a look at some of the live events sure to get you in the warm-Holiday vibe:
- Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: Nightly at 5:30
- Winterfest Wonderland Parade
- The Down Home Duo (Christmas Bluegrass style)
- Tinker Toy Factory (Discover the Importance of family and friends in this holiday musical)
- Jingle Jazz (Cool Christmas Hits)
- Sounds of the Nativity (Seasonal Songs Against the Backdrop of a Nativity Scene)
- Cool Yule Christmas (Favorite holiday hits under the glow of a 70 ft. Christmas tree)
- A Peanuts Guide To Christmas (A holiday sing-a-long to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year)
- Polar Party (A DJ leads this holiday party with interactive games, hits and prizes)


Is there a New Years Eve Celebration at Carowinds Winterfest?
Yes! From 5:00PM Dec. 31at to 12:00AM January 1st you can ring in the new year at Carowinds Winterfest.
Enjoy the typical Winterfest offerings on new years eve. The main difference is that the Winterland Parade starts at 8:00PM on December 31st and the New Years Eve Festivities begin at 9:00PM.
Special activities that you can expect are:
- NYE Live Entertainment
- DJ Dance Party at the North Pole Outpost
- Childrens Activities
- Fireworks at Midnight
If you and your crew need to turn in before the clock strikes midnight, no worries! There will be several early countdowns for you to experience.

Thank you so much for joining in at North Carolina Traveler, where you can discover all the magical wonders that our state has to offer.
I want to extend an extra special thanks to our guest author, Adventures that Rock, with Rock and Sandi. They are an amazing couple that provides authentic reviews of local destinations.
An extra special thank you to my viewers! I appreciate you!
Happy travels!
~Christy
About the Author:
North Carolina Traveler is excited to have YouTube Travel favorite, Adventures that Rock, authoring this guest post.
Rock and Sandi are the dynamic duo that make up the entertaining YouTube powerhouse, Adventures that Rock. With nearly 80K subscribers, Adventures that Rock has been entertaining viewers since 2019 and has over 36 videos covering Carowinds Amusement Park in Charlotte, NC