KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Kannapolis will kick off the holiday season with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in Village Park on West C Street. Fireworks and live music 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, the light displays and the animatronic bear shows is free. Santa will arrive during the ceremony and be at the park each evening, with free photos. The Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra, made up of 18 animatronic bears, performs in the Village Park Multi-Purpose Room. The Chuckles Quartet sings carols outdoors.
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 train, Sunday through Thursday seats can be reserved online at www.kannapolisnc.gov/Christmas, with walkup tickets if space allows. During the tree lighting and on Fridays and Saturdays, train tickets are sold onsite only. Both rides are ADA accessible.
Other events include The Embers Christmas Show on Dec. 8 at the Swanee Theatre, a free holiday model train display there Dec. 11-13, and the Kannapolis Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 in downtown. Sigmon Theatrical will stage A Christmas Carol at the Swanee Theatre Dec. 18-20.
