Your Winston-Salem Holiday Bucket List
From glowing lights to Moravian delights, celebrate the season the Winston-Salem way.
Winston-Salem has its own way of celebrating the holidays. Moravian stars glow above Old Salem, where a slice of sugar cake is reason enough for a bakery stop. Historic homes and estates dress up for Christmas, and Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights turns an evening drive into a holiday tradition. We’ve made our list and checked it twice. Here are 12 ways to join in.
1. Immerse Yourself in Old Salem
The holidays in Winston-Salem tend to start in Old Salem. In the restored village founded by German-speaking Moravians in 1766, period décor, traditional music, and costumed interpreters offer a glimpse of Christmases past. Watch artisans at work, pause beneath the glowing Moravian stars on the Heritage Bridge, and stop at Winkler Bakery for thin Moravian cookies and buttery sugar cake.
Explore during regular museum hours, or visit during Salem Saturdays at Christmas (Nov. 28; Dec. 5, 12 & 19), with seasonal activities and visits from St. Nick on select dates included with admission. Reserve a Joy of Christmas Evening Tour (Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 27–Dec. 19) for storytelling and hands-on experiences inside historic buildings.
Round out your Old Salem visit with one of two free events in the historic district. Browse handcrafted gifts at the Moravian Christmas Market (Dec. 5) or enjoy holiday music and crafts at the German-inspired ChristmasFest (Dec. 12).
2. Delight in the Festival of Lights
More than 80 illuminated scenes and over a million lights turn Tanglewood Park into a storybook landscape enjoyed from your car. Now in its 35th year, the Festival of Lights runs nightly, Nov. 13–Jan. 1, from 6–11 p.m., along a five-mile route. Stop midway at the Red Barn Gift Shop for holiday finds, then head to S’moresville to roast marshmallows around the fire.
New this year, Tanglewood Drone Skytale pairs an animated holiday film with 300 illuminated drones on select nights; separate tickets are required. Find details and planning tips in our Festival of Lights Guide.
3. Step Into Tradition at Candle Tea
Home Moravian Church welcomes visitors into Old Salem’s historic Single Brothers’ House for Candle Tea, a room-to-room introduction to Moravian Christmas customs. Sing carols accompanied by a historic pipe organ, watch beeswax candle-making, and enjoy coffee and sugar cake in the original kitchen. The Putz, a 30-foot miniature Salem on a snowy Christmas Eve, offers plenty of tiny details to admire.
Held Dec. 3–5 & 10–12, Candle Tea is ticketed separately from Old Salem admission. Reserve ahead and allow about an hour and 45 minutes.
4. Savor the Spirit at Reynolda
Holidays at Reynolda carry on a tradition that began in 1917, when R.J. and Katharine Reynolds moved into their country home just before Christmas. Lit trees, fresh wreaths, and holly dressed the house that first season. Today, antique glass ornaments and greenery keep the tradition going. Join Caroling Fridays (Dec. 4, 11 & 18) or book an after-dark visit for An Enchanted Christmas (Dec. 12 & 15).
Across the estate, explore Reynolda Gardens and the dazzling poinsettias inside the historic greenhouse (aka, the Brown Family Conservatory). Then head to Reynolda Village for gift shopping and cozy stops for coffee or dinner. The village’s Holiday Stroll (Nov. 21, 1–5 p.m.) brings Victorian-costumed carolers, Santa, and free carriage rides.
5. Experience a Körner’s Folly Christmas
With 22 rooms, whimsical architecture, and surprises around every corner, Körner’s Folly earns its nickname, the “strangest house in America.” At Christmas, elaborate trees, garlands, and glittering lights fill the 1880 Kernersville home. This year’s Bejeweled Christmas theme celebrates the Victorian era’s rich ornament and color.
Explore on a self-guided tour Nov. 24–Jan. 2, and ask about the Christmas scavenger hunt. For an after-dark visit, Christmas by Candlelight (Dec. 5 & 19, 5:30–9:30 p.m.) brings luminaries, costumed performers, holiday treats, and more. Reserve ahead for the evening tours.
6. Stroll the Spectacular Blooms
Also in the heart of Kernersville, Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden puts a spin on holiday lights with Spectacular Holiday Blooms. Thousands of illuminated “recycled tulips” bring the winter garden into bloom after dark, alongside festive trees and other light displays.
The free display opens Dec. 5 and continues on select Friday and Saturday nights through Dec. 26. Hours are generally 5–9 p.m. and may vary with private rentals, so check the garden’s calendar before visiting. Pair your stroll with a tour of nearby Körner’s Folly for a holiday outing in Kernersville..
7. Go Window Shopping Downtown
Downtown’s storefronts give you a reason to slow down between shops. Window Wonderland, the annual holiday decorating competition, brings festive displays to local shops, restaurants, and galleries. Browse the windows, then head inside favorite stops such as Piedmont Craftsmen, Design Archives, Bookmarks, and Mast General Store for handmade pieces, good reads, and unexpected finds.
Pop-up markets bring more makers, shopping, and unique finds downtown throughout the season. Highlights include the the Holiday Market at 500 W. Fifth (Nov. 21) and the annual Sawtooth Holiday Market (Dec. 5) with handmade gifts, food, and festivities along the way.
► Kick off holiday shopping with a longtime local tradition. Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair returns to downtown's Benton Convention Center Nov. 21–22, bringing fine craft artists from across the country. Meet the makers, browse handmade gifts, and watch live artist demonstrations.
8. See the Holidays on Stage
Winston-Salem knows how to put on a show—especially during the holidays. While there are countless shows, concerts, and seasonal favorites to enjoy, here are five highlights:
► UNCSA’s The Nutcracker (Dec. 3–6). Presented by UNC School of the Arts, the beloved ballet returns to Reynolds Auditorium with live accompaniment from the UNCSA Orchestra.
► Little Theatre’s A Christmas Carol (Dec. 11–20). Follow Scrooge and his ghostly Christmas Eve visitors at the Milton Rhodes Center.
► Theatre Alliance’s White Christmas (Dec. 11–23). Irving Berlin’s nostalgic song-and-dance favorite returns to Theatre Alliance’s main theater.
► W-S Symphony: Handel’s Messiah (Dec. 17). Hear the beloved oratorio at Reynolds Auditorium, performed by the Symphony, chorus, and guest soloists.
► Vienna Light Orchestra (Dec. 23). Holiday favorites, thousands of candles, and Christmas trees fill Centenary United Methodist for two shows on Dec. 23.
Find more seasonal performances on our Events Calendar.
9. Savor Sweet Moravian Flavors
Moravian cookies, sugar cake, and lovefeast buns are year-round favorites that feel especially at home during the holidays. Sugar cake is soft and buttery, topped with brown sugar and cinnamon. North Carolina’s official state cookie, the Moravian cookie is famously thin and crisp. Lovefeast buns are soft yeast rolls with a hint of citrus, traditionally served with coffee at Moravian lovefeasts.
Take home something sweet from historic Winkler Bakery in Old Salem or Wilkerson Bakery along Stratford Road. If you have time to linger, pair a Moravian treat with coffee at Lot 63 Coffee & Taproom in Old Salem. For something truly unique, head to Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies in Clemmons to watch bakers roll and cut cookies by hand, try a free sample, and browse the gift shop.
10. Parade Into the Holidays
Bundle up and claim a spot along Fourth Street for a downtown tradition filled with music and holiday cheer. The Winston-Salem Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting returns Dec. 5, 5–7 p.m. The parade travels down Fourth Street and turns onto Liberty Street before reaching Corpening Plaza, where the tree lighting follows around 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
For more small-town charm, the Lewisville Christmas Parade takes place Dec. 13, 3–5 p.m., with festive floats, marching bands, and Santa. Kids can bring a bucket to collect candy along the mile-long route.
11. Light a Candle at a Christmas Eve Lovefeast
Beautiful in their simplicity, Moravian lovefeasts bring people together throughout the year for hymns, fellowship, coffee, and sweet buns. Christmas services add a cherished tradition: beeswax candles wrapped in red paper frills, passed through the sanctuary and lit one by one. As the lights dim, candlelight fills the room and voices join in familiar carols, including the Moravian hymn “Morning Star.”
Churches throughout Winston-Salem and Forsyth County welcome visitors to free Christmas lovefeasts, many held on Christmas Eve. Check individual schedules and arrive early. For an earlier celebration, Wake Forest’s Christmas Lovefeast takes place Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. in Wait Chapel; doors open at 6 p.m. Learn more in our Guide to Moravian Holiday Traditions.
12. Check In for the Holidays
Some of Winston-Salem’s most festive settings come with a room key. Graylyn (below) fills its grand manor with themed trees and an elaborate gingerbread display, while the Kimpton Cardinal adds holiday sparkle to its Art Deco setting in the 1929 Reynolds Building. At the Historic Brookstown Inn, decorated holiday suites and a Southern breakfast invite you to settle in.
You don’t need a room key to enjoy the holiday décor. Graylyn welcomes diners by reservation throughout the season, and you can also book a table at The Katharine inside the Kimpton. For a closer look at Graylyn, reserve a spot on Tour Pour du Jour, a separate event that pairs a guided Manor House tour with appetizers and wine samples. Tours run from 4–6 p.m. on Nov. 22 and Dec. 6, 13 & 20.
For more places to stay, see our Historic Inns & B&Bs guide.
Keep the Holiday List Going
Start your holiday plans with a few favorites from this list. With events running from November into the new year, there’s plenty more to explore while you’re here.
See what’s happening during your visit in our Holiday Events Guide. For more seasonal traditions, sights, and getaway ideas, explore our Holiday page.
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