McAdenville- Chistmas Town USA is it worth it

[LiLShorty4lyfe]

I went last year, and it was pretty but to be honest, not worth the hour drive from my home. wont be making the trek this year.

[Charlotte101]

My friends and I take a bus every year to see the lights and have a great time. I would go on a weeknight where the traffic is not so bad.

[Niftybergin]

I've lived in the Charlotte area for 30 years and have been to McAdenville maybe 3 or 4 times. I think it's worth the visit, but it's not something I need to go see every year. (The story behind the town and the lights is quite interesting, though. I saw a special on TV last year. I wish I had a link -- it was a great special.)

[Chromekitty]

Originally Posted by richie66

We would be comming from Columbia SC. How far is McAdenville from Charlotte? We had thought of making a day of it so it would not be a trip just for the lights. Besides we love Charlotte and can easily find many things to take up the day and then conclude with the lights. Is there an commercial area of McAdenville such as a downtown where a few shops and cafes would be. BTW thank you guys for all of the input.

If coming from Columbia you would jump off of 77 to 485, that would be the easiest route for you.

McAdenville doesn't have very many small shops to visit, there is one very small restaurant called Village Restaurant and there is a Thomas Kincaid gallery there, but I am not certain of the hours.

The downtown Belmont area has some decent restaurant choices and a few shops. They have a neat 'ole timey general store. There is also a little town just next door, Cramerton and they have a nice deli type restaurant and a sit-down casual place, Center Street Tavern is the name of that restaurant.

The one thing you want to be sure of is to be sure and have driven through by the cut-off times, they are firm about that.

Hope this gives 'ya some good ideas.


eta:

http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/

This is a link for the Kincaid Gallery:

http://www.christmastowngallery.com/...y/Welcome.html

[BrianH1970]

Time magazine gave some good props to McAdenville.

McAdenville, N.C.: Christmas Town, USA - Holiday Decorations: The Most Christmas-Loving U.S. Towns - TIME

[Stella Artois]

It should be on your list of things to do before dying. Put up with the traffic for this. It is worth it.

[zthatzmanz28]

Just made our first trip down main street tonight. It was great. HOWEVER, it is probaby going on the "been there, done that" list of thing not to be repeated.

I woud have thought after al the years of doing this, it would be more organized. I woud suggest McAdenville purchasing a few trolley / trams and taking people from A to B. Charge $5 round trip and get on / off as many times as you like.

Aso, I woud highly recommend WALKING. We noticed there were many places to park near and in town. Aso get there early and park on Main Street or behind the Village Resturant.
Aver all it was a wondeful sight. Also, my wife highly recommends the Hillbilly BBQ...EXCELLENT pork.

[jp03]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

Just made our first trip down main street tonight. It was great. HOWEVER, it is probaby going on the "been there, done that" list of thing not to be repeated.

I woud have thought after al the years of doing this, it would be more organized. I woud suggest McAdenville purchasing a few trolley / trams and taking people from A to B. Charge $5 round trip and get on / off as many times as you like.

Aso, I woud highly recommend WALKING. We noticed there were many places to park near and in town. Aso get there early and park on Main Street or behind the Village Resturant.
Aver all it was a wondeful sight. Also, my wife highly recommends the Hillbilly BBQ...EXCELLENT pork.

Worth it...though I wouldn't sit in traffic for hours for it. Now, the Concord Motor Speedway light show was a huge disappointment. Last year it was below average but this year it was a joke really. I would barely call it a light show at all. Waste of money and time.