Last updated November 10, 2026.
Looking for a little extra Christmas magic this holiday season? Make plans to visit Spencer's Winterfest, a festive German-inspired Christmas Marketplace bringing holiday traditions, local shopping, live entertainment and family fun to Rowan County!
Held the first weekend of December, Winterfest transforms downtown Spencer into a holiday gathering place filled with sparkling lights, decorated Christmas trees, wooden market huts, festive food and merry music. From browsing handmade gifts and watching live demonstrations to skating at Spencer on Ice and visiting Santa, there are plenty of ways to make memories throughout the weekend.
Whether you're planning a family outing, looking for unique Christmas gifts or simply want to experience a holiday tradition with a small-town feel, here's everything you need to know about Spencer's Winterfest 2026.
Spencer's 2026 Winterfest
Spencer Town Park
December 4 - 6, 2026
Friday & Saturday 2 - 9 P.M. | Sunday 2 - 7 P.M.
When and Where Is Spencer's Winterfest?
Dates: December 4 - 6, 2026
Location: 460 S. Salisbury Avenue, Spencer, N.C. 28159 (across from the North Carolina Transportation Museum)
Festival Hours:
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Friday, December 4: 5 - 9 p.m.
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Saturday, December 5: 2 - 9 p.m.
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Sunday, December 6: 2 - 7 p.m.
Winterfest is held annually during the first weekend of December. Admission to the marketplace is a great opportunity to enjoy the sights, sounds and traditions of the holiday season while supporting local artisans, small businesses and community organizations.
Visit the Spencer's Winterfest official website to learn more and prepare for your visit.
What to Expect at Spencer's Winterfest
Explore a German-Inspired Christmas Marketplace
One of the highlights of Winterfest is its charming Christmas Marketplace. Inspired by traditional German Christmas markets, the festival features wooden huts and pop-up tents filled with handcrafted gifts, holiday decorations, specialty items and festive treats.
Wander through the market beneath sparkling lights and decorated Christmas trees as you browse the work of local artisans and small businesses. You'll find everything from handmade ornaments and pottery to jewelry, home décor, natural bath products, wooden crafts and one-of-a-kind gifts.
Be sure to visit the Demonstration Tent, too! Watch talented artisans at work, including live blacksmithing demonstrations from Labrador Forge and woodcarving demonstrations.
It's a wonderful opportunity to find something special for everyone on your Christmas list while supporting the makers behind each creation.
Shop Local Artisans and Craft Vendors
Winterfest brings together a variety of talented artisans, makers and small businesses offering unique gifts and handmade creations.
Here's a preview of the vendors you can explore at the 2026 marketplace:
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Archangel Glass Works: Custom stained-glass art, ornaments, earrings, suncatchers and other handcrafted gifts.
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Bigg on Natural Beauty: Natural soaps, bath bombs, body butters and an interactive tea bar where you can create your own tea blend.
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Bubba's Wood Crafts: Rustic wooden flags, clocks, nativity scenes, ornaments and other handcrafted wood pieces.
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County Line Bakery: Homemade baked goods from a Cleveland, NC-based bakery.
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Daughter Like Mother Handmade Crafts: Unique home décor, including distressed window art, nutcracker shutters, recipe boards and more.
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Davidson County Woodcarvers: Handcrafted woodcarvings and demonstrations.
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Debi's Homespun Creations: Felted wool and acrylic hats, ornaments and pine straw baskets.
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EvyLights: Candles, wax melts, room sprays, lotion bars, beard oils and handmade body products.
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Five Little Dragons: Crocheted stuffed animals and adorable handmade characters.
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From My Home to Yours: Boutique clothing, jewelry and accessories.
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Hindsight Pick & Weave: Handwoven scarves, shawls, bags, placemats and other woven creations.
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Juicing with ShaNanigans: Cold-pressed juices and lemonades.
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Labrador Forge: Hand-forged knives, tools and blacksmithing items, with live demonstrations throughout the festival.
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Little Widdler: Laser-cut wooden and acrylic ornaments, personalized kits and holiday creations.
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Pennie's Place Arts & Crafts: Handmade bags, accessories, ornaments, jewelry and embroidered gifts.
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Poppy's Miniatures & Sassy Sister's Boutique: Detailed polymer clay miniatures, magnets, plaques and other creative gifts.
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Pop's Shop: Handmade cutting boards, charcuterie boards, wooden flags, ornaments and personalized décor.
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Shaped by Nature: Unique handcrafted pottery inspired by nature.
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Skeinz Queen: Crocheted home décor, ornaments, skirts, pocketbooks and hats.
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Southeast Mercantile Cooperative: Heritage crafts, German feather trees, woven baskets and traditional ornaments.
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Southpaw Heavenly Homestead: Goat milk soaps, preserves and other farm-inspired goodies.
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The Goodie Bag Sweets, Treats & More: Handmade chocolates, cookies, gourmet popcorn, candied pecans and other sweet treats.
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The Quirkshop Co.: Handmade home décor, drinkware, accessories and a creative custom hat bar.
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VC Handcrafted Pottery: Functional, handcrafted pottery for everyday use.
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Wicked Links Permanent Jewelry: Custom-fit, clasp-free jewelry in a variety of styles.
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Winterfest Colonial Glass: Handblown glass flasks and pitchers, along with commemorative Winterfest ornaments.
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Wonky Sweets: Freeze-dried candy, perfect for stocking stuffers and holiday gifts.
Winterfest also welcomes its 2026 charity partner, Nazareth Child & Family Connection, an organization that has served children and families in the region since 1906.
Enjoy Festive Food and Drinks
No Christmas market experience is complete without something delicious to enjoy along the way!
Winterfest welcomes local restaurants, food trucks, bakeries and beverage vendors serving everything from hearty meals to sweet treats. Whether you're in the mood for traditional German-inspired cuisine, a warm drink or a snack while browsing the marketplace, you'll find plenty to enjoy.
Here are some of the food and beverage vendors participating in 2026:
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Carter's Craft Meats: Slow-smoked favorites, including turkey, ham, roast beef and pulled chicken sandwiches, along with hamburgers.
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Love & Butter: Traditional German cuisine, including sauerkraut, ham, potatoes, German roast sandwiches, German-style Salisbury steak sandwiches, Swedish cinnamon buns and French hot chocolate.
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Stick-It-2-You: Crowd-favorite skewers, including chicken, beef and vegetable kebabs. Find them December 5 and 6.
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Lil Donut Express: Fresh mini donuts from this family-owned business.
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Garden Route Coffee: Quality coffee from a local family business with roots in South Africa.
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Cauble Creek Vineyard: Local wines, including Glühwein, a traditional European Christmas market mulled wine.
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New Sarum Brewing Company: A selection of craft beers from this Salisbury-based brewery.
Grab a bite, warm up with a festive drink and take a break from shopping before heading back out to explore.
Enjoy Live Music and Local Entertainment
The holiday spirit continues throughout the weekend with a full lineup of live music, dance performances and local entertainment.
Winterfest celebrates the talent of Rowan County and the surrounding region, with performances from school music programs, dance companies, community bands and local musicians.
Friday, December 4
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5 p.m. - Southeast Middle School Chorus & Band
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5:45 p.m. - Doo Dah Kid's Parade, led by the Faith Academy Drum Line
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6 p.m. - Town Christmas Tree Lighting
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6:30 p.m. - Dimensions Dance Arts
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7 p.m. - Rowdy Rowan Dancing Wranglers, followed by an audience participation line dance
Saturday, December 5
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2:30 p.m. - To The Pointe Dance Company
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3 p.m. - Faith Academy Band
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4 p.m. - Veteran's Salute Triad Community Band
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5 p.m. - Triad Community Swing Band
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6 p.m. - Ricky Howsare
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7 p.m. - The Moonglows
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8 p.m. - Heidi Sidelinker
Sunday, December 6
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2 p.m. - Nebulux Music School
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3 p.m. - Darrel Brown
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4 p.m. - Kindred Spirits Praise Band
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5 p.m. - Divided by Four (two-hour performance)
From holiday favorites to lively musical performances, there's something special about enjoying live entertainment surrounded by the sights and sounds of Christmas.
Bring the Kids for Holiday Fun
Winterfest is a wonderful place for families to spend time together, with plenty of activities designed especially for younger visitors.
Head to the Kid's Corner, where Santa's Workshop and Bakeshop will be filled with creative activities, festive crafts and games throughout the weekend.
Here's what's planned for 2026:
- Doo Dah Kid's Parade | Friday, December 4 at 5:45 p.m.
Bring your bike, wagon, scooter, stroller or anything with wheels and join the holiday fun! Arrive at the Kid's Corner activity tent between 5 and 5:30 p.m. to decorate your wheels or create a craft to carry along the parade route. Then ride, walk or dance your way through the marketplace before gathering for the lighting of the Town Christmas Tree.
- Decorate an Ugly Sweater | Saturday, December 5 at 2 p.m.
What's Christmas without an ugly sweater? Bring your own sweater or sweatshirt, or choose from a limited supply available at the festival. The Crafty Crew will help you create a festive masterpiece at Santa's Workshop. All ages are welcome!
- Gingerbread House Decorating | Sunday, December 6 at 2 p.m.
Let little imaginations run wild at Santa's Bakeshop! Kids can decorate their own gingerbread house and create a sweet holiday keepsake.
More Kid's Corner Activities
The fun doesn't stop there! Families can also enjoy:
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Christmas Crafts: Make festive ornaments and other holiday creations with the help of Winterfest's crafty elves.
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Jingle Bell Games: Try your hand at snowball tosses, ring tosses and other holiday games. Children receive a free entry stamp and can select a prize after playing, while supplies last (one prize per child per day).
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Letters to Santa: Write and decorate a letter to Santa, then let Winterfest elves help make sure it gets on its way to the North Pole.
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The Amazing Mr. Archer: Watch incredible balloon creations come to life. Performances are Saturday from 2–6 p.m. and Sunday from 3–7 p.m.
Visit Santa's House
A visit with Santa is a holiday tradition, and Winterfest gives children the opportunity to meet the big guy himself!
Santa's House is located inside Spencer Town Hall. Bring your phone or camera to capture a special holiday memory.
2026 Santa's House Hours:
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Friday, December 4: 6 - 8 p.m.
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Saturday, December 5: 3 - 5 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m.
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Sunday, December 6: 4 - 6 p.m.
Go Skating at Spencer on Ice
Bundle up, grab your mittens and head to Spencer on Ice!
This popular Winterfest attraction returns for its fourth year, featuring a 2,000-square-foot synthetic skating rink surrounded by festive lights and holiday decorations.
Whether you're an experienced skater or trying it for the first time, it's a fun way to add a little wintertime adventure to your visit. Skates and skate helpers are provided, and skating is free!
The rink is open throughout the festival, weather permitting.
Join the Freeze Your Buns Run
Looking for a way to add a little friendly competition to your Winterfest weekend? Lace up your running shoes for the sixth annual Freeze Your Buns Run on Saturday, December 5!
Held in honor of David Freeze, a local reporter and sports enthusiast, the event is organized in partnership with Salisbury Rowan Runners.
The race lineup includes:
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12:30 p.m. - Fun Run
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1 p.m. - 5K Run
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2 p.m. - Awards Presentation
Participants are also encouraged to dress in their most festive holiday attire for the Jingle All the Way Costume Contest. From reindeer and elves to Santa suits and snowmen, the top three most festive costumes will receive prizes.
All ages are welcome to participate!
Register for the Freeze Your Buns Run
Celebrate the Season with the Town Tree Lighting
One of Winterfest's most anticipated moments takes place Friday evening during the opening ceremony.
The celebration begins at 5 p.m. with a performance by the Southeast Middle School Chorus & Band. At 5:45 p.m., the Doo Dah Kid's Parade makes its way through the marketplace before everyone gathers for the lighting of Spencer's Town Christmas Tree at 6 p.m.
The tree will be lit by the Mayor of Spencer alongside Santa and the Miss Holiday Caravan.
It's a festive way to kick off the weekend and officially welcome the Christmas season!
Honor Local Veterans at the Veteran's Salute
Winterfest also makes time to recognize the men and women who have served our country.
The annual Veteran's Salute takes place Saturday, December 5, at 4 p.m. The program begins with the presentation of colors, followed by the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance. The Triad Community Band will perform a selection of patriotic and Christmas music, and a special veteran will be recognized.
Plan Your Visit to Spencer's Winterfest
With three days of holiday shopping, live entertainment, family activities and festive food, there's plenty to experience at Spencer's Winterfest.
Here are a few tips to make the most of your visit:
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Make time to explore the marketplace. Give yourself plenty of time to browse the craft vendors, watch demonstrations and discover unique gifts.
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Check the entertainment schedule. Performances take place throughout the weekend, so plan your visit around the music and activities you'd most like to see.
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Bring your camera. Between the decorated trees, sparkling lights, Santa's House and festive marketplace, there are plenty of opportunities for holiday photos.
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Dress for the weather. Winterfest takes place outdoors, so bring a warm coat, gloves and comfortable shoes.
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Consider making a weekend of it. With festivities happening across three days, an overnight stay gives you more time to experience Winterfest and explore other holiday attractions throughout Rowan County.
Make a Christmas Getaway in Rowan County
Why limit your holiday fun to just one event? Turn your Winterfest visit into a festive getaway with an overnight stay in Rowan County by booking through the widget below. Located across from the North Carolina Transportation Museum, Spencer is a convenient starting point for exploring the rest of the county. Spend time discovering downtown Salisbury's historic charm, shopping at local businesses, enjoying a holiday meal or visiting even more seasonal attractions. From Christmas lights and holiday markets to local dining and small-town traditions, Rowan County offers plenty of ways to make the season memorable.
