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Fresh Pine & Memories: 20+ Christmas Tree Farms in Charlotte NC

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Are you searching for the perfect Christmas tree farm Charlotte NC families love? It’s the most wonderful time of the year, after all, and finding that just-right tree is the first step to kicking off all those fa-la-la-la-las. At Kidding Around, we know farms. Kidding Around Charlotte readers loved our Apple Farm Guide, but now it’s time to track down the best christmas trees in Charlotte NC. So here we go with the biggest guide to Christmas trees in Charlotte, NC, brand-new for 2025.

Yep, it’s Christmas Tree time, and we’ve gathered up all the best places in Charlotte, near Charlotte, and even in the mountains. We did it all to help you find your family’s 2025 perfect Christmas tree, whether you’re searching for Fraser Firs or even garland and wreaths for extra holiday cheer.

Tips for Christmas Tree Farms

We asked parents for their best Christmas tree farm tips, and they delivered. These tips include things to look for when finding the perfect tree, things to remember to keep the kids entertained, and lots more.

  1. Go at the right time in the season: “We always go to North Carolina so we can get a Fraser Fir and cut it ourselves. It’s best to go early enough so the trees aren’t as picked through, but late enough so it still looks good by the time Christmas comes around. We have found that going the week after Thanksgiving is perfect.” Also, remember that farm hours are always subject to change. This can be due to availability, weather, and lots of other things. So, always confirm the farm is open before you head out!
  2. Tie Down That Tree: You’ll need to tie down your tree to your car, and if you have a long drive you’ll want to make sure you bring very secure straps, beyond what is offered with the trees at the farm. “I recommend your own straps if you are going far. My Honda Pilot actually fit our 7-foot tree in the car last year!”
  3. Don’t Stress, have fun!: Keep that family tradition fun. Pick out your best ugly Christmas sweater and pile into the car with some Christmas music, hot coffee, and cocoa. Make finding the perfect tree a game, maybe play a little hide and seek at the farm if it is safe to do so.
  4. Prep before you go: “Before we go, we already have our tree stand out and ready so we can get the fresh tree in water ASAP.” Also, keep the water filled all season long.
  5. Find a healthy tree: “When searching for the perfect tree, we make sure all sides look good, no dry needles, and look at the trunk! Bend down and make sure the trunk isn’t crooked, or your tree will be too. The trees are usually on hills, so you can’t always tell if the tree is leaning.”
  6. Being Frugal: “If you’re crafty, ask if they have any excess tree clippings that you can have. Some places will give them away for fre,e and they are perfect for making your own garland, wreaths, or just to lay around with your decor.”

100+ Birthday Parties and Party Venues in Charlotte, NC

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🥳What’s Inside This Guide: Over 100 birthday party places in Charlotte, NC, categorized by theme so that you can plan the perfect party the easy way!

Planning a birthday party in Charlotte, NC? If you’re on the hunt for the best birthday party places in Charlotte, NC, an exciting birthday party package, or even the perfect entertainer to bring the fun to you, you’re in the right place!

Our easy-to-use, category-sorted list features over 100 birthday party places in Charlotte, NC. Scroll down and click the orange or blue buttons below to explore and find the perfect spot for your celebration!

From action-packed adventures to creative celebrations, these birthday party venues offer something for every kind of party. Imagine the kids racing through an obstacle course, bouncing in giant bounce houses, or celebrating in a private party room with themed décor and games.

Many party packages include everything from setup to clean-up, making it easy for parents to relax and enjoy the day. Whether you’re booking an epic birthday party obstacle course like Mission Grit or exploring other relaxed “all-in-one” party venues in Charlotte, you’ll find plenty of options to make your celebration unforgettable.

Search for Birthday Party Places in Charlotte, NC: By Category

Entertainers and Birthday Party Venues in Charlotte, NC

Tricks, Treats & Free Fun: 100+ Halloween Events in Charlotte NC 2025

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Halloween Events Charlotte NC

Charlotte goes big for Halloween—and so should you!

Our 2025 guide to the best Halloween events in Charlotte NC covers it all: safe spots for trick or treating in Charlotte, spooky haunted attractions, and plenty of free Halloween events in Charlotte. With 100+ ways to celebrate, you’ll find something for every ghost and goblin.

It’s Halloween 2025 in Charlotte!

What Halloween Events are you looking for? Charlotte is completely loaded with Halloween fun from spooky to family-friendly cute and crafty. Use the buttons below to find exactly what you’re looking for!

If you’re thinking WOW! This is too much info! Just click below for a quick list organized by date.

Do you want your Halloween event on this list? Submit your information here.

2025 Trick-or-Treating & Trunk-or-Treat Events: Charlotte

Trick or Treat in Charlotte, NC

Where is all the candy? Right here! We will be adding to this list all season long with all of the coolest trunk-or-treat and trick-or-treat events in Charlotte, NC. Bookmark this list and check back soon. Many of the local events won’t be announced until the end of September.

Current Month

No Events

When is Trick-or-Treating in Charlotte?

Trick-or-treating in Charlotte area neighborhoods is always October 31st! If you’d like to attend a trick-or-treat event, use the list above to find one at a convenient time for you!

Halloween Activities in Charlotte, NC

Halloween Activities, crafts and movies in Charlotte, NC

Go beyond the candy with these Halloween activities like movie nights, theater programs, and more.

Current Month

No Events

Haunted Houses and Trails

Ready to be scared? We have a whole guide just for haunted houses in Charlotte.

Halloween Travel and Day Trips

Ready to make this Halloween season extra special? Check out these super cool travel and day trip ideas.

Kidding Around® Halloween Travel Guide

This guide includes travel options all over the Southeast in South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina, including a list of haunted hotels and cabins where you can spend the night!

We also have our Halloween Guide to Greenville, SC and Trick or Treating in Columbia, SC.


Halloween at Carowinds

Scarowinds

It’s one of Charlotte’s most popular Halloween destinations, Scarowinds at Carowinds. And, we got to go! Find out all about Scarowinds 2025 in our Kidding Around Scarowinds Review!

New this year, Scarowinds is no longer a separately ticketed event. If you go to the park on a Scarowinds day, you an enjoy the rides all day long and stay for Scarowinds in the evening!

Scarowinds offers spooky live shows, haunted trails and mazes, night rides, scare zones, and lots more!

Scarowinds runs select nights from September 12th to November 2nd, 2025. Get Scarowinds tickets.

Tricks & Treats at Carowinds

The NEW family-friendly Halloween event at Carowinds is called Tricks & Treats. It runs weekends September 13th through November 2nd, 2025. Enjoy spooky midway games, shows, all the rides, and event trick or treating! Come in costume! Get all the details on Tricks & Treats. This fall event is included with regular admission.

2025 Halloween Events: Charlotte, NC

Here’s your quick and easy local Halloween events in Charlotte list, organized by day.

Current Month

sat01nov5:00 pmsat8:00 pmBells of Hope Trunk or TreatBells of Hope, 7506 E. Independence Blvd5:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-04:00) Price:free

sun02nov2:00 pmsun5:00 pmSpooky Sunday at Savona MillSavona Mill, 500 South Turner Avenue2:00 pm - 5:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Price:Free

Apple Picking Charlotte NC – Top U-Pick Apple Orchards (2025)

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Inside: Discover the best apple picking in Charlotte, NC, with our updated 2025 guide to apple orchards near Charlotte. Find fun for families and the freshest apples. Explore Charlotte apple picking this fall — the best apple orchards Charlotte, NC has to offer are right here!


Fall’s sweetest family outing—just a short drive away.

Apple Orchards Charlotte, NC

There are many wonderful orchards to go apple picking near Charlotte, NC. You’ll find most of them towards the Upstate or in Western North Carolina.

But one local favorite, Windy Hill Orchards, is just an hour from Charlotte, which is perfect for apples without the long drive to the mountains.

If you need some tips, don’t miss our list of tips for picking apples with kids. Have fun!

Watch!

First, get into the apple spirit. Here’s our trip to Sky Top Orchard near Flat Rock, NC.

The Season: Apple Picking Charlotte NC

When does the apple-picking season start in the Charlotte area?
The Charlotte apple season usually starts early to mid-August and runs through October. Go later in the season if you also want pumpkins and a better chance at crisp fall air.

What’s Picking? The apples near Charlotte
This is something that just changes a lot based on the weather and the overall apple growing season. Before you go, be sure to call ahead to check on hours and apple varieties available or check the orchard’s Facebook page for updates as many of the orchards will list upcoming events, changed hours, and an updated list of apples available both for u-pick and available pre-picked.

Sky Top Apple Cider Slushie
Apple Orchards have outdone themselves when it comes to apple treats in 2025. This apple cider slushie from Sky Top was AMAZING!

Apple Orchards Near Charlotte, NC

The apple orchards below are all within a couple of hours of Charlotte. But, if you just want to head out to the closest orchards to Charlotte, skip the list below and try these 3.

3 Closest Apple Orchards: Charlotte, NC

Carrigan Farms- Mooresville, NC (About 30 minutes from Charlotte)

U-Pick opens September 2, reservations required, hayrides, petting zoo
Get more information: Carrigan Farms

Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill- York, SC (About 50 minutes from Charlotte)

Opens mid-August, cider donuts, hard cider, live music *need reservations
Get more information: Windy Hill Orchard

Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill – Morganton, NC (About 80 minutes from Charlotte)

Offers pick-your-own apples (with a required Orchard Access Pass), a farm market, award-winning bakery items like cider donuts, and a cider mill
Get more information: Apple Hill Orchard

More Great Orchards Within 3 hours of Charlotte, NC

Family Friendly Fall Things to Do in Charlotte, NC

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Fall Activities: Charlotte, NC

🍂Fall in Charlotte, NC has arrived, and with it comes endless ways to enjoy the season.

We’ve gathered all the best fun fall activities near Charlotte, NC in into one easy guide, so planning your fall is as easy as an autumn breeze.

You’ll find local orchards and farms, pumpkin patches, fall festivals, and special events, organized by category!

Want to be listed on our guide? Submit your listing here.

Are you looking for fall things to do in Charlotte, NC? Searching for fall activities for kids in Charlotte, NC? You’ve come to the right place. This fall guide is all about getting out and enjoying fall with your kids, family, and friends. We have great day trip ideas, farms to visit, pumpkin patches and corn mazes you’ll love, where to see animals, fall hiking ideas, and so much more. Have fun this fall in Charlotte, NC!

Fall activities in Charlotte, NC

Included in this Guide of Charlotte, NC Fall Activities


Go on a Hike This Fall in Charlotte, NC

As the weather cools, heading out on a hike is a great activity to do with the kids. Fresh air, lots of space, time to chat or just listen to the birds, de-stress, and have fun on a hike.

Hike close to Charlotte at Anne Springs Close Greenway in York County, SC.

Just a few miles from Downtown Charlotte is Reedy Creek Nature Preserve with hiking trails, playgrounds, and lots more. FREE

Hike the Revolutionary War Battlefields at Kings Mountain.

Enjoy the Amazing Views Hiking up Crowders Mountain!

Take a drive to one of these gorgeous waterfall hikes while peeping at the leaves near Charlotte, NC.

If you want to head out to the mountains, don’t miss our Kidding Around® Hiking Guide.

Portion of the Anne Springs Bridge on the Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Fun Fall Day Trips

Seeking a fabulous outdoor adventure? Fall weather is perfect for outdoor day trips, and there are a lot of fun, educational, and adventure-filled things to do that are an easy day trip from Charlotte!

For more great day trips, don’t miss our list of South Carolina Day Trips and WNC Day Trips. If you’re exploring small towns, don’t miss this list of Upstate, SC Day Trip Towns.

Thinking a weekend getaway might be fun? Here’s a list of Incredible Vacation Rentals Where You Can See Fall Colors and Vacation Rental Cabins With Private Indoor Pools. 


Don’t Miss These Fall Events Near Charlotte, NC

These events are some of the best in the area, and you do not want to miss out!

Fall Festivals in Charlotte

Love a good festival? We do, too!

Grab your festival adventure crew and get all the details for these festivals and more!

Family-Friendly Fall Festivals in Charlotte, NC

Yiasou Greek Festival
September 5th – 7th, 2025
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Offers: Greek food, music, dance, and cultural appreciation.

Charlotte International Arts Festival
September 1st -30th, 2025
Ballantyne’s Backyard, Uptown Charlotte, and multiple locations throughout the Charlotte area
Offers: Art festival featuring interactive exhibits, performances, and art installations

SCarowinds
Select Nights, September 12th – November 2nd , 2025
Carowinds
Offers: The time of year when Carowinds transforms into something a little spookier. Access to roller coasters, along with haunted houses, spooky decorations, live shows, and seasonal food and drink

Carolina Renaissance Festival
Saturdays and Sundays, October 4th – November 23rd, 2025
Offers: Immersive experience into a world of dragons, knights, princesses, and all things Renaissance. Don’t forget your turkey leg!


You’ll find a lot more upcoming fall events on our Kidding Around® Event Calendar for Charlotte.
Plus, find other activities to have a fun week ahead! 


Apple Cider Donut Tour

If you can’t pick just one orchard or farm to visit, try this delicious Apple Cider Donut Tour through Western North Carolina.
We have this particular tour leaving from Greenville, SC (our sister site), however, you can adjust the included Google map to leave from Charlotte, NC, so that you can spend a day exploring the orchards of WNC while eating delicious apple cider donuts!

Apple Cider Donut Tour

Farms near Charlotte, NC

Fall is a great time to visit a farm, and there are lots of farms near you in Charlotte, NC. You can sort your farm options by activity in the links below.  There are a lot of farms within an hour of Charlotte, and some, especially apple orchards, will be a little farther away! But that’s ok. Make it a day trip. Head to the mountains and enjoy the fall leaves. Or, pick a farm close to home and spend time with the kids on a hayride or finding that perfect pumpkin.

Try this list of Petting Zoos and Farms where you can pet and play with animals.
You may also like to have this handy guide of Tips for Apple Picking With Kids, so you can make your orchard time the best time!

The Ultimate Guide To Kids’ Classes & Activities in Charlotte, NC

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👀What’s Inside: Discover the ultimate guide to kids’ classes and activities in Charlotte, NC, featuring everything from dance and art to sports and swim, organized by category and location!

This is our Kidding Around® Ultimate Guide to Kids Classes & Activities in Charlotte, NC. We have the best classes and activities in Charlotte on this list for you to check out. From dance lessons to art lessons, swim classes and sports, and so much more, you will find a local class or activity that your family will love! Our guide is growing, so let us know what we missed!

Charlotte class and activity guide

Choose a Category to Navigate Our Guide to Charlotte Classes!

HOW TO NAVIGATE: To use this guide, click the orange buttons above to take you to the category you want, or scroll down to the orange boxes to narrow your search for Charlotte, NC classes. While some of these classes are seasonal, we have still included them to help you find the perfect classes for your kids year-round.

Submit your listings to join our guides

The Ultimate Guide To Preschools and Daycare: Charlotte, NC

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Are you searching for the best preschool in Charlotte, NC or looking for trusted daycare in Charlotte, NC? We’ve put together a comprehensive list of 60+ preschools and daycare centers to help you find the perfect fit for your family. Our guide includes both religious and non-religious programs, full-day and half-day options, and is organized by county to make your search as easy as possible.

Preschools and Day Care in Charlotte, NC

Choose a Category to Search Preschools and Daycare Near Charlotte, NC

Submit your listing to the Kidding Around Charlotte preschool guide
Child coloring on coloring page

By County- Preschool or Daycare Near Me

Whether you live near Downtown Charlotte, or need a preschool or daycare located closer to the counties surrounding Mecklenburg, we have options for you!

Preschools & Daycare: By County


Charlotte Preschools Near Me- By Schedule & Type

Maybe you are searching for “half day preschool near me” or need a full day preschool or daycare. Perhaps you want a church preschool program, or need a bilingual preschool? Use the blue or orange buttons below to search!

Half-day or full-day preschools and daycare near Charlotte-

Charlotte Preschools Near Me- By Type

Girl painting on an art canvas

60+ FUN Indoor Activities: Charlotte, NC (2025)

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What’s Inside: Over 60 indoor things to do in Charlotte, NC for kids and families to enjoy, including indoor playgrounds, arcades, bowling, and unique indoor activities.

Are you looking for indoor activities in Charlotte, NC? You are in luck because there are a lot of indoor things to do in Charlotte, including indoor playgrounds, museums with interactive exhibits, trampoline parks, and so much more! There are so many, in fact, that we’ve organized our list by category, so you can find exactly what you want to do.

🧭 How to Use This Guide:
Use the clickable buttons to explore by category.
Or just scroll the full list to find new spots to try.

Things to do indoors in Charlotte, NC

Indoor Things to Do in Charlotte, NC: By Category

Top Indoor Activities in Charlotte, NC

Have fun indoors! Scroll through all our indoor things to do ideas.

Don’t forget you can use the buttons in the orange box above to sort these listings by category.
Some of our favorite indoor places in Charlotte, NC:
🦅IFLY Indoor Skydiving– This is the closest you’ll get to flying without having to jump out of a plane!
🪄The Museum of Illusions– The museum was on another level of entertainment and had unique exhibits.
🛸Playland Pineville– Our kids had a blast playing in the ball pit, and the venue is so clean and spacious.
🔍Discovery Place in Charlotte- One of the area’s best places to play if you love STEM.

130+ Superb (2025) Summer Camps: Charlotte, NC

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Inside: Over 130 summer camps in Charlotte, NC that you can sort by categories related to age and camp topic. Easily find the best camps for your family.

If you are ready for summer camps, Charlotte, NC has so many to choose from! To help you navigate your choices, we’ve made this sortable guide you can break down into summer camp categories.

Quick Summary: Summer Camps Charlotte, NC

Our 2025 Charlotte Summer Camp Guide is packed with 130+ amazing camps for kids of all ages and interests—right here in Charlotte and the surrounding areas.

🟠 Sort camps by:
• Category: art, sports, STEM, theatre & more
• Age: preschool to teens
• Schedule: full day, half day, or by month

⛺️ 130 Camps and Couting. We are still adding camps—bookmark this page and check back often!

Sort camps by the types of camps you are most interested in, like dance camps or sports camps. Or, sort camps by age of the camper which means you can see a list of camps just for teens or preschoolers! Do you need a full-day summer camp option? We have a list for that. And, we have camps by month! With this summer camp guide to Charlotte, NC you can truly find the best camps for your kiddos!

We are still updating this list for 2025. More camps coming soon! You’ll want to bookmark this list and check back soon!

Summer Camps Charlotte, NC- By Category

Finding a summer camp, made easy! You’ll find listings for over 130 summer camps in Charlotte, NC and the surrounding area, all divided by category of interest.

Summer Camps: Charlotte, NC- By Age

Whether you are looking for Charlotte summer camps for preschoolers, school-aged children, or teens, you’ll find them by navigating the buttons below.

Summer Camps: Charlotte, NC- Month & Time

If you need full-day or half-day summer camp, we have got you covered. You’ll also find camps categorized by month, with June, July, and August options available. Full-day Charlotte summer camps are abundant, so you don’t have to worry about your kids being bored this summer!

Summer Camps: Charlotte, NC- The Big Long List

Just want to see some ideas? You can start by scrolling through this long list of summer camps Charlotte, NC and the surrounding area offer. Each camp has a link for more information so be sure to explore.

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