Are you going to be in North Carolina this holiday season? Then you’re in luck because this state has so many festive and COVID-friendly holiday events happening. Peter Nyberg is a Charlotte, North Carolina, transplant and the CFO at Camino Community Center. He shares a list of favorite holiday activities in North Carolina.

Winter Wonderlights

Peter Nyberg of Charlotte, North Carolina, is particularly excited about The Greensboro Science Center’s brand new event this holiday season. Entitled Winter Wonderlights, this unique and festive attraction will feature 12 different settings filled with sounds and shimmering lights. Settings range from woodland wonders and a gingerbread barn to dancing fountains, carousel dreams, and more. Plus, if you want something a little extra special, live music played by the Greensboro Opera and a visit from Santa Claus is taking place most Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The walk-thru experience promises to be a feast for the eyes! Social distancing is mandatory and tickets must be purchased in advance, with discounts offered on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Greensboro Science Center’s Winter Wonderlights event is on now until January 6, 2021.

Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum

Every holiday season, North Carolina’s beautiful Arboretum lights up to offer one of the best holiday activities in Asheville. This year is no exception; however they are going about it a little differently. Due to COVID-19 Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum, which is typically a walk-through event, is transitioning to being a drive-thru event. This means that from the comfort and safety of your own vehicle, you will be able to take in the magic of the Arboretum’s holiday lights. The nightly tour spans three acres in total and will take you through all of the Arboretum’s best-known gardens, including the Bonsai Exhibition Garden and the Quilt Garden. Lights will showcase the natural landscape and displays will feature vibrant native butterflies and insects, as well as winter wildlife.

Taste of the Season at Carowinds

Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a beloved institution, shares Peter Nyberg. Around the holidays, Carowinds is usually home to WinterFest, but this year due to COVID-19, they have opted for a safer version of this large-scale event. Dubbed “Taste of the Season,” this all new event will feature specialty food and drinks, tons of festive holiday decor, seasonal shows, and select rides. What better way to spend the holidays with your family then safely gathering at an amusement park and supporting a local institution?

Skating in the U.S. National Whitewater Center

Do you love winter sports? Then why not try your hand at skating. Peter Nyberg is an avid skater and counts it as one of his favorite holiday activities. Luckily, even if you live in Charlotte, North Carolina, skating is a possibility. That is because the U.S. National Whitewater Center becomes home to a skating rink every winter. The rink, which is located just 20 minutes outside of Uptown Charlotte, is over 17,000 square feet in size (perfect for some socially distant skating in 2020!). This fun holiday activity features different skating zones to ensure skaters of all levels can enjoy the experience. Skate rentals are available and there will be an “on-ice Airstream” set up offering craft beer, wine, and hot cocoa for the kids.

Night of Lights

This holiday season, Peter Nyberg recommends heading over to Raleigh for their incredible Night of Lights outdoor event. Aiming to provide a safe dose of holiday cheer to families everywhere, Night of Lights is a 1.3-mile route of magical lights set up in Dorothea Dix Park. Grab a thermos of hot chocolate from home and hit the road, marvelling at the illuminated towering oaks and festive art installations from your car window.