Each year this one neighborhood just North of Charlotte, NC gets all decked out and totally impresses us with their thoughtful ways and each year we count down the days before they put their insanely amazing decoration up for all of us Christmas lovers to enjoy.
- HOW AND WHERE TO FIND THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
We have created a map for you to follow around this neighborhood so you can fully enjoy this spectacular Christmas display and get the absolute best of this experience. Grab a hot chocolate and your ugly Christmas sweater, blast the Christmas music in your car and get ready to enjoy some of the best Christmas lights around.
We suggest you plan on at least an hour for the trip (more if you choose to park and actually listen to the synchronized music and watch the lights dance). Hot chocolate, warm decaf coffee for yourself or a candy cane for the young ones would be a great way to keep them occupied while moving from one house to another. Christmas snack to munch on would also be great for kids and adults alike.
The Christmas lights get put up just after Thanksgiving typically and stay on until Christmas. Please check the weather before planning a visit as they would not be on if it is raining or snowing, so make sure to pick a good weather day. If you choose to walk around the neighborhood which is perfectly acceptable and accessible bring a warm jacket with you or look at the forecast and choose a warmer night to do so. The lights are best seen in the dark so plan to get here after 5.30PM.
If you are coming from the direction of Charlotte, Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville or Kannapolis the first stop you would like to put in the GPS would be 14904 Carbert Lane in Huntersville, North Carolina.
Once you exit the highway follow the GPS to your first and most impressive stop. The house before you upon arriving at the MacCaulay Neighborhood is straight out of a movie. Located on the corner of Carbert Lane and Sagefield Drive this elaborately decorated home gets better and better each and every year. Lights of every kind are galore, the backyard is bright and festive, the large Merry Christmas sign to the side of the house is perfect for your Christmas card background and the Christmas lights tunnel is our kids favorite. They would walk through it back and forth and back and forth millions of times if I let them.
You can just drive by or park your car and look at the lights from inside or you can park by the side of the street without disturbing the neighborhood traffic and take a look at all the decorations up close. Take a walk through the tunnel and take your Christmas picture by the large Christmas sign. Have a little laugh at the neighbors sign that would totally make your day and have you smiling for a very long time.
Once done here punch in your next destination. The address for the following Christmas lights stop is 15038 Hugh McAuley. While driving through the neighborhood you would be greeted by pretty much every house decorated in different lights, inflatables and decorations and each of them more impressive than the one before it . The trees are wrapped in lights as well blinking as you pass them and creating the effect as if you are passing through a tunnel of lights.
An impressive lightshow awaits you right at the front of the Hugh McAuley house. Again park safely by the side of the road making sure neighborhood traffic can pass by and enjoy the show. Make sure to tune in to the radio station that would be shown to you at the front of the house to be able to hear the sound of the music accompanying the lights . If you happen to stop by here on a warm December day come out of the car and have yourself a little dance.
Next and last stop in the neighborhood is 15038 Hugh McAuley Road just down the street from where you were. An expansive decoration in front of the house consistent of large Christmas inflatables, Christmas wreaths and singing Christmas trees combined with a little Christmas light tunnel surrounding the sidewalk is what awaits you here. A sign with the radio station you can tune in to in your car is located to the right side of the house and there are various songs the Christmas trees are singing to for your delight. We highly recommend you park here and enjoy the show.
There are so many other houses wonderfully decorated around the MaCaulay neighborhood so make sure to take a drive around and look at them all. Bellow we have several pictures of just few of them that you would encounter on your drive.
If you arrive in Huntersville before dark and need to pass some time check out Birkdale Village just down the road from Macaulay neighborhood and the Santa Shop where you can meet and greet the jolly old man and take a picture with him. If you decide to do that you will need to make an appointment before arriving. For more information check the link HERE. If that is more than what you are interested in doing just walk around and look at their wonderful Christmas decoration and the Christmas tree right behind the temporary Santa Shop.
If pottery paining is your cup of tea check out Meg-art Pottery Studio located right across from the MaCaulay neighborhood. You do not need to make an appointment in order to visit the shop. Walk ins are welcome. The studio is open Monday to Thursday 12PM-8PM, Friday 12PM-12AM, Saturday 12PM-8PM and Sunday 1PM-5PM. If you want to paint a pottery piece (there are hundred to choose from) but don’t have time to do it in store you can pop in and choose a piece to take and paint at home.
If you forgot your hot chocolate or coffee at home there is a Starbucks shop right in Birkdale Village. If you are looking to grab a dinner after you have enjoyed the lights there are several options less than 5 minutes away from the neighborhood.
- La Unica Restaurant
- Bad Daddy’s Burgers
- Red Rock Café
- Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
- Dressler’s Restaurant
- Midwood Smoke House and Barbeque
Once finished with your dinner grab a desert at Kilwins, a movie at the theater or finish your Christmas shopping by visiting any of the many stores in Birkdale Village.
We hope you come and check the lights out. If you have any questions make sure to send us an email or DM us on our INSAGRAM account where you will also find many other adventure suggestions, things to do in and around Lake Norman and North Carolina, restaurants to visit and places to stay while exploring around. Happy Holidays!
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Epic Chophouse is well.. EPIC. The restaurant is one of Mooresville’s best establishments. First class service, ambient atmosphere and an outstanding menu. No matter the occasion for your visit, you will never leave here disappointed. The Restaurant has two locations. One in downtown Mooresville and one in Fort Mill. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time to ensure a seat since the restaurant gets busy especially on weekends.
#2 LINEBERGERS STEAKHOUSE/SHERRILLS FORD, NC
Come in as a stranger and leave as a part of the family. Not only does Linebergers Steakhouse serve an outstanding steak made to order, but also their atmosphere is equally as great. Make sure to check out their salad bar which is always fresh. They are pretty good for accommodating larger groups but as always please call ahead and make a reservation to ensure a seat. They are open Tuesday to Saturday and Closed on Sundays and Mondays. If you still have room after your meal don’t skip on the dessert. They are famous around these parts.
#3 CHILLFIRE BAR AND GRILL/DENVER, NC
This mouthwatering steakhouse is located in Denver, North Carolina. The Chillfire Bar and Grill offers an inviting atmosphere and innovative menu. They do require reservations prior to your visit but you will be seated right as you arrive. The service is wonderful and you will never feel bothered or rushed here.
#4 CHOPLINS STEAKHOUSE AND SEAFOOD/CORNELIUS, NC
This outstanding steakhouse located in Cornelius, North Carolina offers unique and savory food options prepared always with local and fresh ingredients by chef Wes Choplin. The Sirloin beef tips here are so tender and so delicious, the salad is great and the desserts are out of this world delicious. The atmosphere and the service are fantastic.
#5 THE WOODSHED RESTAURANT/STANLY, NC
Located in downtown Stanly, North Carolina The Woodshed Steakhouse serves delicious steak and other fine foods offered in the grand tradition of the Little Big Horn. Their salad bar is always fresh, the steak is done right every time and the desserts are a must if you still have room in your belly. The atmosphere is like no other and the service is always on point. The restaurant also has an extensive house and premium wine list.
Family owned and operated, Safari Miles Restaurant located in Denver, North Carolina offers an outstanding experience and great, friendly, cheerful service every time. The Rib Eye and Barbeque Ribs are so tasty they melt in your mouth and the wine list is on point. The salads are fresh and crispy. The restaurant has live music, offers to go orders and offers daily specials.
#7 LINK AND PIN/HUNTERSVILLE,NC
The food, the atmosphere, the service and value at Link and Pin in Huntersville are phenomenal. The interior and ambiance are welcoming and inviting. The outdoor space is great. Now add the cocktail bar and you are in for a delicious treat that will not be soon forgotten. If you come here once I promise you will, be back again.
#8 SHOALS GRILL/MOORESVILLE, NC
Shoals Grill located in Mooresville, North Carolina has an extensive menu offering everything from Ribeye Steaks to Seafood Specials as well as a great wine list with all of your favorites. The atmosphere here is a little more chill and casual than the restaurants above but that doesn’t take away from the taste of the food served. It’s a local favorite and if you ask them they will tell you that Shoals serves the best steak in Lake Norman.
#9 BARREL AND FORK/CORNELIUS, NC
With it’s whimsical, intimate and inviting atmosphere that would make you feel as if you are somewhere in Italy or France dining on a quiet side street, Barrel and Fork is like no other restaurant in Lake Norman. Located in Cornelius, North Carolina, the fine dishes are brilliantly prepared and presented. The taste of each and every one of them is a mouth watering masterpiece. If you like fine dining and wonderful food, Barrel and Fork is where it’s at.
#10 ALTON’S KITCHEN AND COCTAILS, CORNELIUS, NC
Last but not least, Alton Kitchen located in Cornelius, North Carolina will delight you with their perfectly cooked and flavorful to perfection steak. Pair it with inviting atmosphere, outstanding service and a cocktail by the fire at the bar and you’ll be in for a real treat.
We hope you enjoyed our selection of Top 10 Best Spots to Grab A Steak Dinner in Lake Norman. For more ideas on things to do around the Lake, Favorite Brunch Spots or Breakfast Restaurants check out our INSTAGRAM page. Bon Appetite!
]]>Latta Plantation
The 200+ year old cotton plantation is sure to get your goose bumps jumping especially if visiting at night or during one of their haunted ghost tours around Halloween. There have been numerous reports of sounds particularly coming from the attic of the main house. Rumors have it that the original Latta family has not been able to rest in peace. Sounds of muffled children voices have been reported as have toys and other objects moving around, despite the attic being completely empty. It was also reported that during an actual tour, the guide’s cane, which once belonged to the family, was taken and walked around the house by an invisible man. Want to get even more spooked? Get more information about their haunted tour here.
Lake Norman
Frequent visitors of Lake Norman will tell you of their apparition sightings that often happen around sunrise or dusk. Underneath the lake lie the secrets of a town that was purchased by Duke Energy and began to flood the area in 1963. Deep below the surface lies a lost city which was forced to relocate. Rumor has it that there were a large number of graves that were not moved before the lake was flooded. Head over to the Jetton Park shoreline at sunrise and chances are you’ll experience some degree of paranormal activity.
Hopewell Presbyterian Church Cemetery
The Hopewell Presbyterian Church lies within a national historic district which was established in 1762 and has a long important local history. The cemetery has been reported as a location with high energy readings and a place of common paranormal activity. Amongst the buried include James Latte, owner of the aforementioned Latta Plantation as well as Hugh Torrance of Cedar Grove Plantation and most famously General William Lee Davidson. Davidson was killed at the Battle of Cowan’s Ford in 1781 and buried in the cemetery the following day. Numerous residents have reported seeing soldiers walking through the cemetery in their battle uniforms. Along Beatties Ford Road in general and in particular the Stephens Grove neighborhood, residents have had many encounters with ghostly activity.
We have wonderful family, but unfortunately they live out of state and the timing never worked out to go together. Slowly we came to the realization that if we really wanted to go and experience the festival it would have to be with kids in tow!
The Carolina Renaissance Festival is open weekends in the months of October and November between the hours of 10 am and 5:30 pm. They have different ways you can get cheap tickets (military and senior discounts) as well as several weekends where you can get buy one get one free ticket or bring canned food and get a child ticket for free. Kids under 5 are always free. The parking is a breeze and is always free as well.
Once you step past the gates of the North Carolina Renascence Festival you would not believe your eyes. You are immediately transported back in time. The grounds are huge. You’ll get to walk and talk to men and women dressed as different characters, hang out with mermaids, knights and dragons, see all sorts of wonders, drink local beer and eat your weight in their famous turkey legs.
Not really sure how they get to put all of this together in such a short time. It must be a massive job, but they transform this place into something out of a fairy tale. We learned that when the Festival originally opened there were 6 acres which slowly grew to 25 acres of attractions. So give yourself enough time to be able to explore all the wonders that the Fair has to offer. There are approximately 200 000 people that visit the fair every year and I can tell you after our first visit we can’t wait to go back and enjoy it all over again every fall.
Our kids were amazed by it all. I’ve never seen their eyes light up with such curiosity and wonder. From colorful outfits and all the people mingling around to the man-powered rides and all the little shops you can go into, they were in heaven. They got to see a play, dress in knight armor and have a little pretend fight, ride a camel, go through the spooky tunnel to the slide, hunt for gold coins and have delicious food and snacks in between. There was face painting, jugglers, rock wall climbing, bungy jumping, animal petting, puppet show and an impromptu show where they were allowing crowd participation.
We realized all of our worries about bringing kids to the Festival were unnecessary and only felt regrets that we didn’t do it sooner. The look on their faces say it all!
Carolina Renaissance Festival is located between the towns of Huntersville and Concord on Route 73 and you can find it here:
We definitely recommend picking out a weekend and heading this way. And the sooner the better! Take the kids or your friends and enjoy a day full of assortment of medieval themed foods and ale, variety of handmade arts and craft goods, games, archery target-shooting, crossbow shooting, axe throwing, frog catapults, handmade jewelry, artisan leather goods, candles, glass blowing and so much more. They also have several themed weekends where you can dress up and go back in time to the Renaissance era, Kids Fantasy Weekend, Brew-fest Weekend, Halloween Daze, Celtic and Pirate’s Weekend. It would be an experience you won’t soon forget!
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