Yes, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the season and stay safe. From sweet new openings to giving back in the community, here are 30+ ways to spend this weekend in Charlotte.
OPENINGS
Tiff’s Treats SouthPark – Open now
The newest location for Tiff’s Treats is officially open at Apex SouthPark. The third Charlotte-area store will offer warm cookies for delivery and pick-up, and will donate a portion of proceeds from all Charlotte stores this weekend to the Special Olympics Mecklenburg County.
Collier Candy Company – Open now
Collier Candy Company is now open at Optimist Hall, its second location after opening in Ponce City Market. Visit for sodas, vintage, classic and new candy and more. Find them inside Optimist Hall at 1115 N. Brevard St.
VENTURING OUT
Try the new festive flavors on Amélie’s French Bakery and Café’s winter menu
Toast the season with new winter menu items from Amélie’s French Bakery and Café, including indulgent beverages, savory soups and sweet treats including:
- Salted Caramel Apple Cider, hot spiced apple cider topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce and sea salt.
- Peppermint Cafe Mocha, a blend of dark chocolate sauce, espresso, peppermint simple sugar and milk then topped with whipped cream.
Goodyear Giving- Ben’s Friends
Dec. 9 | 6:45 – 9 pm | The Goodyear House
Goodyear House and Chef Chris Coleman will welcome Chef Sam Diminich into The Goodyear House kitchen for a collaboration dinner for a cause. 100% of proceeds from this event will be donated to Ben’s Friends Charlotte chapter, which seeks to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward for food and beverage professionals who struggle with substance abuse and addiction. A takeout option will also be available in limited quantities.
Holidaze 2020
Dec. 9 | 3-7 pm | 7th Street Public Market
Head to 7th Street Public Market to shop local businesses including Verde Tribe, Iva Jean’s Fudge, Dragonfly Co. and more. The first 25 shoppers 21+ will receive a free mini bottle of bubbly. Masks required.
Skyline Drive-In: Little Women
Dec. 10 | Camp North End | 7 pm
Don’t miss the next edition of Skyline Drive-in, where Camp North End transforms into a 60-car drive-in movie theater. This time, they’ll be showing Little Women. Tickets are $30 per car with a portion of proceeds benefiting organizations including Crisis Assistance Ministries, Salvation Army Center of Hope, Second Harvest Food Bank and Roof Above.
Menorah of Gratitude at StoneCrest
Dec. 10 | 5:30 pm | StoneCrest at Piper Glen
At StoneCrest, see the lights glow at the community’s seventh annual menorah lighting. The socially-distant event will include music, kids activities, individually packed donuts and latkes and more. Prefer to watch from afar? There will also be special parking for those who wish to stay in their cars.
Woodford Reserve Holiday Dinner
Dec. 10 | 6:30 pm | Haymaker Restaurant
Reserve your spot now for a locally-sourced, four-course holiday tasting menu from the Haymaker team. Each course will be paired with a Woodford Reserve whiskey in addition to a craft welcome Woodford Reserve cocktail. $95 plus tax and gratuity.
Show UP for UPtown | StreetEATS CLT
Dec. 11-13 | Uptown Charlotte
Celebrate Uptown all weekend long with on-street entertainment, pop-up vendors, green spaces and plenty of outdoor dining options with the additional of Uptown’s StreetEats program. Stroll down Tryon St. (which will be closed from 5th – 6th) to enjoy safe dining, live music and more. This week, don’t miss live music, food trucks and art exhibits on display all weekend long.
Live Music from Payton Harkins Trio
Dec. 11 | 6-9 pm | The Mint Museum Uptown
Plan a Friday night out at Mint Museum Uptown to hear live music from the Payton Harkins Trio while you tour the galleries. Be sure to reserve your timed ticket in advance.
Small Business Winter Wonderland
Dec. 11 | Summit Seltzer | 4-9 pm
Cross everyone off your holiday shopping list by shopping more than 10 small business vendors offering everything from pet accessories, to candles to CBD. There will also be live music, a food truck and sweet treats.
Winter Craft Crawl
Dec. 11 | Armored Cow Brewing Co. | 5-9 pm
Armored Cow Brewing will host a fun-filled weekend kickoff with live music, food trucks and a festive winter craft crawl to grab last minute holiday gifts.
Camp Crawl
Dec. 12 | 5-10 pm | Camp North End
Explore Camp North End as it transforms into a winter wonderland featuring holiday-inspired beverages. This outdoor beverage crawl will highlight festive libations offered by five on-site vendors. In addition to the Camp Crawl, eat, drink, shop, enjoy live music, and be merry as part of Camp North End’s Mistletoe Weekends! Masks required.
South End Small Business Saturday(s)
Dec. 12 | Atherton Mill & Market | 10 am – 3 pm
This season, Small Business Saturday isn’t limited to just one day. Pop-up vendors will join the South End retail scene every Saturday from November 28 to December 19 to make your holiday shopping a breeze.
University City Night Market Week 3
Dec. 12 | Shoppes at University Place | 6-9 pm
University’s family-friendly, open-air marketplace continues this week with local vendors, small businesses and live entertainment. All events are open to the public and free to attend for all ages.
We Believe Santa 5K Trail Race and Dog Jog
Dec. 12 | U.S. National Whitewater Center | 11 am – 1:30 pm
Don your best festive gear and outfit your pup for this holiday-themed 5k through the Whitewater Center trail system. This year’s We Believe- Santa 5k Trail Race and Dog Jog will take place in a dispersed race model for safety precautions.
Drive-In Movie in Old Town Cornelius: Holiday Series
Dec. 12 | Lake Norman YMCA | 6 pm
Get in the holiday spirit with Lake Norman’s festive drive-in movie series. This week, enjoy a screening of A Christmas Story from the comfort of your own car. Concessions will be available as well as car-side food truck service.
Around The Crown 10K – Truist Time Trials
Through Dec. 12 | Camp North End
This week-long race offers both an in-person as well as virtual option. The course will start and finish inside of the Ford Building at Camp North End and take participants through Uptown and West Charlotte, with dispersed start times.
JOY To The Yard @ The Music Yard Drive-In
Dec. 12 | 6 pm | The Music Yard at SouthBound
Enjoy a heavy dose of house music with Aurora and Groovy Bone takeovers and a gift drive donation benefitting Levine Children’s Hospital.
31st Annual Lake Wylie Boat Parade
Dec. 12 | 6:30 pm | Papa Doc’s Shore Club
On Lake Wylie, The 31st Annual Holiday Boat Parade will offer plenty of opportunities to see floating, festive light displays. The boats will take off from the docks at Papa Doc’s Shore Club at 6:30.
Huntersville Holiday Market
Dec. 4-12 | Veterans Park at Main & Maxwell
The Huntersville Holiday Market with local vendors, food and drink options, visits with Santa and more.
A Davidson Family Christmas – Holiday Tour
Through Dec. 19 | Historic Rosedale Plantation
Discover what the Historic Rosedale Plantation looked like in the late 1940s, as well as classic holiday traditions of the Davidson family, the last residents to live in the home.
Drive-Thru Christmas Parade
Dec. 12 | 3-5 pm
Due to COVID-19, this year’s reverse Christmas Parade in Waxhaw offers attendees the chance to see parade floats, characters, entertainers and more from the safety of their cars. No pedestrian spectators are allowed.
STAYING IN
Good Friends Charlotte 34th Annual “Gather & Give” Fundraiser
Dec. 10 | 12 pm
The 34th annual “Gather & Give” virtual luncheon from Good Friends Charlotte will support the organization’s mission to provide grants that support families and individuals through financial crisis.
Holiday Wine Exploration
Dec. 11 | 5:30 pm
Pour a glass of your favorite vino and learn the ins and outs of popular holiday wines from wine expert Kristy Wenz. She’ll cover classic pairings, which bottle make a great gift and even tips for toasting while socially-distanced this year. $20.
Jazz N Soul Music’s A Charlie Brown Christmas with The Matt Kelly Band
Dec. 12 | 7 pm
Jazz N Soul Music’s 6th Annual “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and Cool Holiday Favorites will feature The Matt Kelly Band and special guest host Gena Chambers as they play the classic Peanuts songs including “Skating”, “Christmas Time is Here”, “Linus & Lucy” and more.
At Home for the Holidays
Dec. 12 | 7:30 pm
The Charlotte Symphony is bringing the joy of Christmas home this year with festive classics you can stream from your living room. $20. This concert will be live-streamed on Dec. 12, and available on demand through Dec. 28.
Holiday Cocktail Basics
Dec. 12 | 3 pm
In this SkillPop class, learn to shake and stir up festive flavors for the season from expert mixologist Chad Whittington. Attendees will make a delicious apple cider cinnamon syrup from scratch and a holiday-themed Old Fashioned. $24.
A Virtual Tosco Music Holiday Party
Dec. 12 | 8 pm
This annual Holiday Party tradition is going virtual with a variety concert of classic and contemporary holiday songs. Free to stream with a $10 suggested donation per viewer.
Winter Wonderland – A Bold Music Holiday Collaboration
Dec. 14 | 7:30 pm
Join Bold Music for the premiere of a special holiday edition in the Collaborations from Home Series. “Winter Wonderland” will highlight the spirit of the season with jazzy holiday cheer featuring Bold Music’s Raleigh-based instructors and students, as well as some familiar faces from Charlotte. Stream on Facebook.
RECURRING EVENTS
2020 #WALKCLT
Through December
Explore new neighborhoods, public art and particular pathways of Charlotte that can only be discovered on foot through digital walking tours (plus additional content!) from the team at OrthoCarolina and Sustain CLT. Watch their Instagram and Facebook pages for updates and simple ways to join #WALKCLT.
Art Heist
Thru Dec. 13 | Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Put your walking shoes on and get ready to help solve the real life mystery of the “Greatest Art Thief of All Time” in this walking show where you’ll gather clues at five spots around Uptown. Prices begin at $39.50.
Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne
Dec. 4 – Dec. 27 | The Ballantyne Hotel
Visit The Ballantyne to experience the annual display of gingerbread creations from Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 27. Gingerbread Lane is free to visit and open daily from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital. Masks are required for all participants and social distancing will be observed.
StreetEats around Charlotte
Support your local spots safely with StreetEats, which features temporary outdoor seating in parking lots and streets where guests can enjoy takeout from local restaurants. Find them in Plaza Midwood at Thomas Avenue, Shops at University (The Lake and The Armored Cow locations), Tryon Street, Beatties Ford Rd. and more.
Christmas in Davidson
Through Dec. 12 | Downtown Davidson
Christmas in Davidson returns this year with 12 full days to enjoy this community event. Expect a tree lighting on Dec. 1, a “Festive Doggie Fashion Show” on Dec. 4, a chance to wave at Santa from his golf cart daily, an ugly sweater contest on Facebook Live on Dec. 11, glowing luminaries, drive-in movies on Dec. 5 and 12 and more.
Merry Midtown
Ongoing event | METROPOLITAN
Celebrate the season with over a month of festive activities including the VTGCLT pop-up shop, Letters to Santa and the Metropolitan Merry Midtown Market this weekend. Other events include holiday movie screenings and photos with Santa.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Nov. 27 – Dec. 23 | Truist Field
The Charlotte Christmas Village returns this year with a partnership with the Charlotte Knights and a new home at Truist Field. Enjoy unique shopping and a traditional European menu including bratwurst, schnitzel, strudel, gluhwein, hot cider, beers, and hot chocolate. There is ticketed admission to the stadium to create the safest environment possible for guests. Starting Thursday, December 10, the event will expand with Light the Knights, a new walkthrough holiday experience at Truist Field featuring tens of thousands of lights. And don’t miss Bark in the Park, a festive event just for pets, on Dec. 13.
3rd Annual Festival of Trees
Nov. 30 – Jan. 3 | Downtown Belmont
In Downtown Belmont and Stowe Park, see community decorated trees as part of the Third Annual Festival of Trees. The festival kickoff will immediately follow the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 30 when participants can stroll from City Hall to Stowe Park and enjoy caroling and other special treats.
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway | Through Jan. 17
The 11th edition of Charlotte’s spectacular drive-through light show features more than 4 million lights over a 3.75-mile course that includes most of the oval as well as the infield. New this year, bring the family for ice skating at The Rink at Speedway Christmas and cozy up to FOX 46 WJZY Movie Nights on the giant Speedway TV every Thursday-Sunday.
N.C. Transportation Museum In Lights: A Drive Thru Experience
N.C. Transportation Museum | Various dates through Dec. 30
Head to the N.C. Transportation Museum for a holiday light show guests can enjoy from the safety of their own cars. Along the 1.25-mile route, see the museum’s historic structures and antique railroading equipment, and enjoy socially-distanced photos with Santa, s’mores and a visit to the gift station.
