How many chances do you get to walk through Truist Point under the lights this year? The answer is eight. All of them fall on a Friday or Saturday between Nov. 27 and Dec. 19, and the season ends before Christmas week begins.
That is a much tighter window than last year. Every December Saturday on that list is also a night for something else in High Point, so this season works better if you plan it a weekend at a time.
The season that got shorter
Winter Glow at The Point launched in 2025. The High Point Rockers announced it as "the first-ever Winter Glow event in High Point." That first season ran from Nov. 23 to Jan. 4, with the stadium open Thursday through Sunday. According to Visit High Point's July to December 2025 report, it drew 7,274 visitors over that season.
This year, Visit High Point's holiday guide lists Winter Glow on Fridays and Saturdays only, from Nov. 27 through Dec. 19. The 2026 ticket listing puts Visit High Point down as organizer and sets the hours at 5:30 to 9 p.m.
| 2025 season | 2026 season | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | Nov. 23 to Jan. 4 | Nov. 27 to Dec. 19 |
| Open days | Thursday to Sunday | Friday and Saturday |
| Last night | Into the new year | The Saturday before Christmas week |
| Total nights | About six weeks of four-night weekends | Eight |
Here are the eight nights: Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 4 and 5, Dec. 11 and 12, and Dec. 18 and 19. The first weekend is the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. The other three December Saturdays each share the evening with another event in town, which the rest of this guide sorts out.
The weekend before Thanksgiving opens the season
Winter Glow's first public look comes before its opening night. The Rotary Club of Furnitureland puts on the High Point Holiday Party at Truist Point on Saturday, Nov. 21, and its schedule ends with the tree lighting, fireworks and a Winter Glow preview. Sponsors cover the cost, so the party is free, and the Rotary club says proceeds go to local charities.
The posted schedule for Nov. 21:
- 3 p.m. The party opens, with the free "Crafted in the Glow" craft fair and a kids' activity zone.
- 3:30 p.m. Live performances start on the stage.
- 6:15 p.m. Pictures with Santa end and the trolley rides stop running.
- 6:30 p.m. The scavenger hunt raffle is drawn and the tree-lighting ceremony begins.
The tree is 44 feet tall.
The next afternoon, Sunday, Nov. 22, the High Point Holiday Festival Parade starts at 3 p.m. on Main Street. It runs north on Main from Green Drive to Qubein Street. Together, the party and the parade fill the weekend before Thanksgiving downtown.
The week before that, the city's Holiday Craft Bazaar takes over Oakview Recreation Center on Saturday, Nov. 14. If you'd rather do your gift shopping before the stadium lights come on, that's the date.
Every December Winter Glow Saturday has company
High Point's other big light display, Winter WonderPark at City Lake Park, 602 W. Main St., Jamestown, runs six evenings from 4 to 8 p.m. Five of them are Fridays or Saturdays that are also Winter Glow nights. The sixth is Sunday, Dec. 6, when the stadium is dark. The two events' hours overlap, though WonderPark opens earlier and Winter Glow stays open later.
| Weekend | Truist Point | Also on the calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 27–28 | Winter Glow opening weekend | Kersey Valley Christmas opens in Archdale Nov. 27 |
| Dec. 4–6 | Winter Glow Fri. and Sat. | Holiday Stroll Dec. 5; WonderPark Kickoff with Santa Dec. 5; Gingerbread and Candyland with Santa Dec. 6; HPU Holiday Choral Concert Dec. 5; The Nutcracker Dec. 5–6; High Point Museum Holiday Open House Dec. 6 |
| Dec. 11–13 | Winter Glow Fri. and Sat. | WonderPark Sounds of the Season Dec. 11; Help Santa's Workshop Dec. 12; Candle Dipping at the museum Dec. 12; A Christmas Carol: The Musical Dec. 11–13 |
| Dec. 18–19 | Winter Glow's final two nights | WonderPark Polar Express pajama night Dec. 18; How the Grinch Stole Winter WonderPark Dec. 19; Scottish Faire at the museum Dec. 19 |
The weekend of Dec. 4–6 is the busiest. Visit High Point lists the High Point Holiday Stroll, the High Point University Holiday Choral Concert, and the first night of The Nutcracker at High Point Theatre all on Saturday, Dec. 5. That's also WonderPark's kickoff night with Santa and a Winter Glow night. Sunday is quieter and still full. The High Point Museum's 54th Annual Holiday Open House runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1859 E. Lexington Ave. It's free, with reenactments, music, demonstrations, refreshments and Santa. After that, WonderPark's Gingerbread and Candyland night starts at 4.
The middle weekend runs on a daytime and evening split. Candle Dipping in the Historical Park is a free drop-in program from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, open to all ages. That night, WonderPark holds Help Santa's Workshop with Santa and elves, and Winter Glow is open downtown. A Christmas Carol: The Musical plays High Point Theatre Dec. 11–13.
A few WonderPark details to plan around
Walking through City Lake Park during WonderPark is free and takes no registration. A $5 pass covers unlimited rides on the decorated "Polar Express" train and the carousel, plus mini golf. High Point Today reports that passes are sold only on site, on the day, because of past weather cancellations. The concession stand sells s'mores kits and hot chocolate, and there's an outdoor fire for roasting marshmallows.
Santa appears at WonderPark on Dec. 5, 6 and 12, and Dec. 6 is also the museum open house. A family looking for Santa can see him three times that first weekend without going to Truist Point at all.
What last year's Winter Glow looked like
The 2026 listing shows a ticket price of $12.51. Everything below describes the 2025 season only.
- Themed nights. Glow After Dark on Dec. 6 had a mechanical reindeer and an ugly sweater silent disco. Glow & Discover on Dec. 13 was a family STEM night with VR sleigh rides and nitro ice cream. Wishes in the Glow on Dec. 20 brought Santa back with a train ride to the North Pole. New Year, New Glow on Jan. 3 was a wellness-themed finale.
- Admission. Tickets were $12 for adults and $7 for children ages 4 to 12. Children 3 and under got in free but still had to register online.
- Domes. The "Dome Sweet Home" rentals were set up for groups of four, with private entry, a charcuterie board and drinks. The 2025 dome package was priced at $250.
Two of last year's four themed nights, Dec. 20 and Jan. 3, fall after this year's Dec. 19 closing date.
After Dec. 19
Winter Glow and WonderPark both close on Saturday, Dec. 19. The High Point Museum fills that day before either one opens. Its free Scottish Faire runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Historical Park, with Gaelic music and storytelling, tartan history, and demonstrations of Hogmanay food. The food is for demonstration only and isn't served to visitors.
After the 19th, the season moves elsewhere. Kersey Valley Christmas, at 6948 Cecil Farm Road in Archdale, runs through Wednesday, Dec. 23. Tickets are sold online only, and admission covers more than a million lights and unlimited rides. Visit High Point lists Christmas at Motown for Sunday, Dec. 20, and the High Point University drive-through for Dec. 19–26. During its last published season, the HPU drive-through ran 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cars entered at the North University Parkway entrance and left on Panther Drive onto Lexington Avenue, so check HPU's Christmas lights page for this year's dates before you get in line.
In fall, the Market calendar is what reshapes downtown, as in our look at this fall's High Point Market. For the next seven weeks, it's the holiday calendar. For more on the city, see our High Point neighborhood guide and our local's weekend in High Point.
A schedule like this works best when someone has already set the timeline. That's how The Jordan Factor handles every move in High Point. If you're thinking about a sale or purchase in 2027, we can map out your timeline over cocoa this season. Let's Connect.
