With Christmas just around the corner, the festivities have come into full swing. It’s no different in Mooresville, where the community spirit that is felt all year comes to an all-time high at Christmas.
Whether you’re a local who is looking for winter activities to enjoy with the family or are coming back into town to catch up with old friends from high school, you’ll no doubt be looking for ways to celebrate the holidays while you’re here.
We’ve put together a list of some of Mooresville’s restaurants and cozy attractions so you can find something unique to do this Christmas. Here are some of the most fun things to do in Mooresville during the holidays.
Zootastic Park’s Christmas Wonderland of Lights
Be dazzled at Zootastic Park when you join other onlookers for the annual Christmas Wonderland of Lights.
Christmas is for everyone, including the animals who live at Zootastic Park. Every night throughout the festive season, Zootastic becomes a glittering wonderland. More than 4-million twinkling lights are strung down every twist and turn of the park, guiding the way to each joyful Christmas activity. Grab a cup of cocoa, toast marshmallows on an open fire, and enjoy a magical carousel ride before topping off the evening with a visit to Santa. You can even make friends with the local animals as you feed them at dinner time, and kids are invited for a pony ride.
The big switch-on happens every night after sunset at 6pm. If you visit between Sunday and Thursday, then you can explore the illuminated grounds until 9pm. Stop by on Fridays and Saturdays and you’ll be treated to an extra hour of radiance when the park stays open until 10pm. The lights twinkle throughout Zootastic park from the middle of November and all the way through December, so you can enjoy the glowing festivities at a time that suits you.
Walk Thru Bethlehem
We all know the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, and how that blessed night in Bethlehem turned into an annual celebration. It’s a story we all know and love, and what better way to enjoy it again this Christmas than through an interactive event.
Relive the very first Christmas at Camp Wesley for the Walk Thru Bethlehem event, where professional actors will perform the original tale of baby Jesus. The hosts have created a realistic village to mimic Bethlehem, and the actors (or for the sake of narrative, townspeople) will lead you down for an interactive experience. Be amazed by the realism of this makeshift town, even down to the unique scents. You’ll meet the Bethlehem merchants, visit the local shepherds in the fields, hear updated news of the Romans, and visit baby Jesus in his manger as Mary and Joseph watch over him.
If you’d like to relive the original story, you can visit from 6pm on Friday 10th December or from 2pm on Saturday 11th. Entry is free, but donations to production are greatly appreciated.
Jeffrey’s Restaurant
Whether you’re gathering the family for a nice evening meal or catching up with old friends for the holidays, you want to choose a restaurant that exudes the comforting ambiance you’d hope to experience for your Christmas celebrations.
Jeffrey’s Restaurant is an esteemed favorite among the local diners of Mooresville and is certainly one that comes on the radar of out-of-town visitors. The venue is warm and cozy, featuring dark wooden furniture, exposed-brick walls, and an open fireplace that roars during the winter months.
The menu focuses on timeless recipes that are sure to please every diner. Start your Christmas meal with the baked brie in puff pastry, a comforting starter studded with toasted almonds and drizzled with a sweet raspberry sauce. There’s plenty of choices when it comes to entrees, with dishes like the pan-roasted duck with balsamic glaze and house-made shrimp & grits taking pride of place in the kitchen.
Casa de Montecristo
There’s no better way to catch up with pals over the holidays than with a tipple of your fancy in one hand and a premium-rolled stogie in the other. Casa de Montecristo is Mooresville’s most iconic cigar lounge, where avid and novice smokers are welcomed to partake in a unique type of festivity.
Settle yourself into one of the comfortable leather armchairs or a secluded booth and get ready for a sultry and relaxing evening. The lounge experts will come find you to take your drink and cigar order, suggesting the perfect pairing for your specific taste. Don’t worry if you’ve never smoked before – Casa de Montecristo is as much a cigar knowledge hub as it is a cigar retailer. From classic beginner blends such as Padron to something different for the experienced smokers among you, they’ll know exactly what to suggest.
Once your drink has been poured and your cigar has been selected and prepped, all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy a smoky evening tucked away from the biting cold of December.
Mooresville Christmas Lights
It’s not Christmas without some festive decorations, and Mooresville doesn’t shy away from this tradition.
Every year, for the whole of December, the Mooresville Town Hall lawn is lit up with a spectacular display of decorations. The show uses more than 175,000 lights strung into the shape of trees, stars, angels, and other Christmas-related symbols. This isn’t just any old Mooresville Christmas lights show, however. Each bright string is connected to traditional holiday music, changing color, brightness flashing intensity to keep up with the beat.
The show starts every evening at 5:30pm, before dimming down again for the night after 9pm. Viewing is completely free, so be sure to stop by and enjoy an evening of bright festivities with loved ones.
