KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Kannapolis will start its holiday season with the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in Village Park on West C Street. Live music, a visit from Santa and a fireworks show will follow the lighting.
The Celebration of Lights then runs through Dec. 30. The park is open 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Admission to the park and the light displays is free. Santa will be there every evening, and photos with him are free. The 18 animatronic bears of the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra will perform in the Multi-Purpose Room. The Chuckles Quartet bears will sing carols outside.
Train and carousel rides cost $2.50 each per person. Carousel tickets are sold at the park on a first-come basis. For the Winterland Express, Sunday through Thursday seats can be reserved online at kannapolisnc.gov/Christmas, with walkup tickets if space allows. On Fridays, Saturdays and tree lighting night, train tickets are sold at the park first-come. Both rides are ADA accessible.
Other holiday events include The Embers Christmas Show on Dec. 8 at the Swanee Theatre, a free model train display there Dec. 11-13, the downtown Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 12, and Sigmon Theatrical's A Christmas Carol Dec. 18-20.
