Up the Magic Add-Ons | Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
✦ Every ticket includes the full trail. These make it unforgettable.

Up the Magic.

Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular is Charlotte's favorite Christmas light show — and every experience on this page makes it more magical. Located at Ballantyne's Backyard in Charlotte, NC, the show offers VIP tickets, Santa's Private Workshop: Elf Academy, carnival rides, and the Magic Snowflake Wand.

VIP experience with firepits at Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
$39 Per Person + taxes & fees at checkout
✦ VIP Admission

The VIP
Experience.

A private space to slow down, warm up, and soak in the lights and the magic and the joy — while the rest of the world rushes past.

Firepits. Bottomless hot chocolate. Your own corner of Christmas. This is the night done right.

✦ All General Admission Benefits — PLUS:

GET VIP TICKETS — $39 →

Valid any night · Select VIP when purchasing your tickets · Prices increase at the gate

✦ Included with every ticket — FREE

Santa Is Here.
Every Open Night — Through December 23.

The Real Santa visits Santa's Castle every open night through December 23. Photos are free — bring your own phone or camera. No reservation needed. No extra charge. Just walk up and say hello.

  • Free with every admission — no reservation needed
  • Every night through December 23
  • Bring your own phone or camera — free photos, yours to keep
  • No photo package, no upsell — just Santa

Want more time with Santa? Scroll down for Elf Academy — Santa's Private Workshop.

The Real Santa at Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular Charlotte NC
✦ Santa's Private Workshop: Elf Academy
⚡ $49 Advance · $68 After Initial Period · Only 10 Children Per Night
+ taxes & fees at checkout

Want More of Santa?
Introducing Elf Academy — New for 2026.

Each night, Santa opens his workshop to just 10 children. Your child steps inside and becomes part of the magic — learning the secrets of the North Pole, joining Santa in a special activity.

He loves to sing. He loves to color. And he always has something to teach about what it means to be a truly great elf.

This isn't a photo. This is a memory.

Every Elf Academy Child Receives:

  • Exclusive time with the Real Santa inside his private workshop
  • Free photos — yours to keep, with no additional purchase required
  • A personalized Official Elf Academy Certificate (digital)
  • An Official Elf Academy Badge
  • Official Elf Academy Digital Park Companion — Academy graduates unlock an exclusive mobile web experience with the park map, Santa's insider tips, trivia, and more

Important: Check-in by 5:00 PM — no late arrivals. Up to 2 parents may attend with each child — show tickets required.

Reserve Your Child's Spot →

Online only · Check in at 5pm · No refunds if late · Show admission not included in workshop price

Santa's Private Workshop Elf Academy at Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular Charlotte NC
$49 Presale Price + taxes & fees at checkout
Elf Academy digital experience on phone at Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Official Elf Academy Certificate from Santa's Private Workshop
Santa's Private Workshop Elf Academy

"The kind of one-on-one time with Santa that simply doesn't exist anywhere else in Charlotte."

Winter Wonderland Carnival rides at Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
$20 4 Ride Tickets + taxes & fees at checkout
✦ Winter Wonderland Carnival

Carnival Rides
All Night Long

Four ride tickets. Four ways to make the night even more fun. Use one on each ride or ride your favorite four times in a row — no rules.

Add Ride Tickets — $20 →

4 ride tickets · Each redeemable for one attraction · Prices increase at the gate

✦ The Magic Snowflake Wand

Find Them.
Awaken Them.

Santa hid more than 15 enchanted snowflakes throughout the trail. Your wand is the only thing that can awaken them.

Touch the glowing center of your wand to the heart of each snowflake. Something different — and magical — happens every time.

Add a Wand — $20 → The Full Story →

Advance price online · Prices increase at the gate · Available while supplies last

Magic Snowflake Wand at Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
$20 Advance Price + taxes & fees at checkout
✦ Common Questions

Add-On FAQs

What's included in VIP at Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular? +

VIP admission ($39) includes a dedicated entrance line, access to the HO HO Glow Lounge with firepits and private seating, a souvenir hot chocolate mug with bottomless hot chocolate all night, 2 carnival ride tickets, and heated restrooms. Select VIP when purchasing your tickets online at ncholidaylights.com.

+ taxes & fees at checkout
How much does Santa's Private Workshop cost? +

Santa's Private Workshop: Elf Academy is $49 per child advance purchase / $68 after the initial pricing period. Limited to 10 children per night. Advance purchase required — no gate sales. Includes exclusive time with Santa, free photos, a personalized digital Elf Academy Certificate, an Official Elf Academy Badge, and the Elf Academy Digital Park Companion. Check-in by 5:00pm required. Show admission tickets are not included and must be purchased separately. Up to 2 parents may attend with their own tickets.

Note: free photos with Santa in Santa's Castle are included with every ticket through December 23 — no reservation needed.

+ taxes & fees at checkout
How much are carnival rides at Holiday Light Spectacular in Charlotte? +

Carnival ride tickets are $20 for a pack of 4 at advance online pricing. Each ticket is redeemable for one ride: Ferris Wheel, Bear Affair spinning ride, Sooper Jet kiddie coaster, or Rapid Slide. Prices increase at the gate — buy online at ncholidaylights.com to save.

+ taxes & fees at checkout
How does the Magic Snowflake Wand work? +

The Magic Snowflake Wand ($20 advance) is activated by a Wand Master at the Wand Hut inside the event — through the Holly Arch, left at the bottom of the hill. Once activated, touch the glowing center of your wand to the glowing heart of any enchanted snowflake hidden on the trail. More than 15 snowflakes are hidden throughout the show, each triggering a different magical surprise: animatronic dinosaurs, dancing water, train whistles, and more.

+ taxes & fees at checkout
Do all add-ons need to be purchased in advance? +

Most add-ons are available at the gate, but at higher pricing. Santa's Private Workshop: Elf Academy is advance purchase only — no gate sales. It is limited to 10 children per night and sells out. The Magic Snowflake Wand and carnival rides are available at the gate at higher pricing. Free Santa visits in Santa's Castle require no advance purchase.

Ready to Build Your Night?

Build your perfect night when you buy tickets. Advance prices are always lower — and Santa's Workshop sells out fast.

Get Tickets & Add-Ons →