If there was ever a year for a Charlotte holiday staycation, this is it. If you’re staying around town this week, take advantage of these must-do events around Charlotte and beyond. We’ve included a few NON holiday things to do if you just need a tiny break from all the cheer, so scroll down for those!
HOLIDAY FUN THIS WEEK
Holiday Crêpes from Scratch
Dec. 22 | 7 pm
Learn how to whip up a French culinary favorite in this SkillPop class taught by Chef Rosana. You’ll learn the tips and tricks of making crêpes as well as how to make two special sauces to accompany them.
Tacky Sweater Run
Dec. 22 | Wooden Robot Brewery
Don your best holiday sweater for this cold weather run with 1, 3 and 5 mile routes available. Hang out for a distanced beer afterwards.
Jingle All the Way Holiday Camp
Dec. 22-23 | Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios: Charlotte Quail Corners
Kids ages 5-12 can get into the holiday spirit with help from the cooking pros at Flour Power. In this cooking camp, they’ll learn to make Pumpkin Pull-apart Bread, Sausage Stuffing Balls, Cranberry Orange Muffins, Gnocchi Gratin, Hot Cocoa Cheesecake Dip and Reindeer Cupcakes. $84 Ages 5-12.
Cookie Decorating Essentials
Dec. 22 | 7 pm
Prep your holiday dessert table by learning how to craft custom decorated sugar cookies from self-taught cookie decorator and owner of Oakwood Cookie Co, Taylor Whitworth. $24.
Jazz N Soul Music’s A Charlie Brown Christmas – Christmas Eve Show
Dec. 24 | 8 pm
Join Jazz N Soul Music and The Queen City Musician Social for a donation-based broadcast of a Holiday Tradition, A Charlie Brown Christmas played by The Matt Kelly Band with special guest host Gena Chambers.
Josh Daniel – Christmas Eve for Second Harvest Food Bank
Dec. 24 | 4 pm
Josh Daniel will play a special holiday show for Day #283 of livestreams. This one will feature festive tunes and raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank.
Undeck the Hall/Kids Go Free
Dec. 26, kids free through Jan. 1 | NASCAR Hall of Fame
Visit throughout the week (kids admitted free through Jan. 1) or save your visit for Jan. 26 as the team “undocks” the Hall. Visitors will be able to select a gift off the many trees donned with NASCAR-themed items including autographed souvenirs, die-cast cars, apparel, gear and more. Free for members or with paid admission.
ONGOING HOLIDAY FUN
Go Ice Skating. Here’s the scoop on Open Vs Closed.
Treat Yourself to Some Holiday Cookies before it’s too late.
Run Run Rudolph Virtual Race
Dec. 19-26
Choose from a 5K or 10K route in this “virtual” race where you run on your own and upload your distance and time. The first 100 participants will receive a custom Run Run Rudolph Christmas ornament, and all participants will receive a 2020 Run Run Rudolph hoodie.
Take a ride through Christmas Town USA this year
Through Dec. 26 | McAdenville, NC
Drive or safely walk through the famous lights displays around McAdenville. While some changes have been made to comply with Covid regulations, the drive still offers families a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. Weeknights and weekends 5:30-10 pm.
Charlotte Christmas Village before it closes down Wednesday
ENDS 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.
Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne
ENDS 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.
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.
NOT HOLIDAY THEMED THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK
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.
Loaves and Fishes Food Drive
Blue Blaze Brewing | Through Jan. 6
Bring your non-perishable food items to Blue Blaze Brewing through Jan. 6 to help those facing hunger in our community. Donations benefit Loaves & Fishes.
Robyn Springer ft. Grammy Nominated Producer/Songwriter Rodney Shelton
Dec. 26 | Middle C Jazz
Enjoy some post-holiday relaxation with an in-person or live-streamed performance featuring Rodney Shelton on keys, Brian Houze on drums, Paul Dozier on guitar and Eric Brice on percussion.
Cooking Class: Spanish Tapas
Dec. 23 | 6 pm
Head to Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen for a hands-on class featuring four Spanish small plates, including croquettes with smoked paprika aioli, garlic prawns, grilled lamb kebabs with romesco sauce and cinnamon sugar churros.
Winter Cake Decorating
Dec. 23 | 5:30 pm
Get holiday ready with this interactive class. You’ll learn how to decorate a trendy drip cake from start to finish from baker and decorator Hannah Roth. $24.
Gnocchi from Scratch
Dec. 23 | 7 pm
Join Culinary Instructor and owner of 100 Day of Pasta, Emily Trotochaud, for this SkillPop class where attendees will learn to the art of making potato and ricotta gnocchi. $20.
