KANNAPOLIS – Start the holiday season at A Kannapolis Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 1, beginning at 2 p.m. in Village Park, 700 West C St. This year’s festival features carnival rides, food, crafts and more. The annual Kannapolis Christmas tree lighting will take place between 6 and 6:30 p.m., followed by fireworks.
The festival marks the start of the month-long Celebration of Lights, a display of 250,000 lights illuminating Village Park and, for the first time this year, lighting up the corridor between Village Park and Main Street. Visit the Celebration of Lights Dec. 1 through 30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25) from 6 to 9:30 p.m. to ride the Winterland Express and visit Santa’s workshop.
The Kannapolis Singing Bears perform Christmas carols hourly and an animated light show at the Village Park amphitheater is set to the music of Glee and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The Carolinas Division of the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers display their interactive model train layout in the Village Park community room Dec. 7 to Dec. 23 (closed Dec. 10 and 11). The display features at least three trains in operation at all times and more than 50 interactive buttons.
Other holiday events scheduled in Kannapolis include:
Kannapolis Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., downtown Kannapolis
Produced and sponsored by the Cabarrus Events Association
Nativity Night
Saturday, Dec. 15, 4 p.m., Village Park
Sponsored by The Compass Agency
Marshmallow roasting and s’mores kits, as well as hot chocolate and coffee are available for purchase at park concessions. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. To be eligible and for more information about Village Park events, call 704-920-4343.