MCADENVILLE, N.C. — Friday marked the start of the 61st Annual Christmas Town USA celebration in McAdenville, North Carolina.
At the stroke of 6 p.m., McAdenville Elementary first-grader Sanaa Sade Swain flipped a switch during a lighting ceremony, turning on a glowing half a million lights along McAdenville’s Main Street.
The 1.3-mile free light display in Gaston County features nativity scenes, lawn ornaments and lit homes and businesses.
It was visited by roughly 600,000 visitors in 2015, many of whom drove through the display, but walkers are also welcome.
The light display will glow nightly through December 26. Hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Event organizers say the lights are set to timers and will begin and end right on schedule, regardless if there are cars still in line.
“The best time to avoid the heavy traffic is to visit Monday through Thursday”, says Steve Rankin with the Christmas Town Committee. “Heavier traffic is typical on Friday and Saturday nights.”
Christmas Town USA is accessible from exit 22 on Interstate 85 and also by US 29-74.
NCDOT is also asking that due to the large number of vehicles expected in the area, motorists should expect delays and slow down for the remainder of the holiday season.
They say one option is for visitors is to arrive early, between 5 and 5:15 p.m., find a parking spot and wait for the lights to come on at 5:30 p.m. Pedestrians are asked to remain on the sidewalks and not enter homeowners’ private property.
Directions
McAdenville is just west of Charlotte off both I-85 and Route 74.
Take...
I-85 North to Exit 22 to Lowell/Cramerton
or
I-85 South to Exit 27; in Belmont, right on Hwy 74/29 West; right on Wesleyan Dr., McAdenville
Events
18th Annual Tree
Lighting Ceremony
Friday, November 30th - 5:30pm
William J. Pharr Family YMCA Plaza
McAdenville, NC
Yule Log Parade
Thursday, December 13 - 5:30-7:30pm
Pharr Main Office
100 Main Street McAdenville, NC 28101
FREE Hot Chocolate & Kettle Corn
Music of the Season
Area Schools & Church Choirs
For more information, visit the official website.
