Grand Opening, Holiday Markets, Lake Boat Parade, Warhol-idays, Santa Photos and More Things to Do This Weekend (12/8)

We’re just two weekends away from the big day, which means holiday prep is in full swing. If you haven’t already visited the many holiday markets in town, this weekend is a great time to do so. Along with some Christmas shopping, you can laugh ’till you cry at a comedy show, channel your inner artist at art walks and panel discussions, watch a beautiful boat parade, spice up your lunch routine with Hi-Wire Divas Drag Lunch, and much more this weekend.

Looking for spots to get pictures with Santa this year? We’ve got you covered HERE.


Want to head out to Choose & Cut your own tree? Our list of spots is here.

Where to See the Holiday Lights Displays around the area? Our picks here.

FEATURED EVENTS THIS WEEK

Image: South End CLT

South End Shop Small Saturdays
It’s the final weekend of Shop Small Saturdays in South End. Find 200+ open-air markets alongside unique retail at Atherton Mill, along Camden Road, and the Shops at The Winnifred. This is a great opportunity to find local, unique gifts for everyone on your list, so be sure to stop by!

Grand Opening Weekend Celebration of The Invigory South End
Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11, 11a – 6p
Celebrate the opening of The Invigory’s newest location in South End. Expect opening weekend specials such as:

  • Limited time Exclusive Founder’s Membership* offering 30 Core Treatments per 30 days for a $300 monthly fee (reg price $450/mo) (these will likely sell out! sign up now here)
  • 50% off ALL services all weekend
  • Swag bags with $200+ worth of wellness items for the first 100 customers each day
  • Local vendor pop-ups, raffles + giveaway prizes and more.

THINGS TO DO THURSDAY DEC 8

Image: Bojangles Entertainment Complex

Nate Bargatze: The Raincheck Tour
Wednesday, December 7 – Friday, December 9
Get ready to laugh ’till you cry Charlotte! Nate Bargatze is bringing his Raincheck Tour to the Ovens Auditorium, and it’s bound to be hilarious. Bargatze has two Netflix specials, The Greatest Average American and The Tennessee Kid, and has appeared multiple times on Conan and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Tickets are selling out fast, so be sure to grab yours before it’s too late.

THINGS TO DO FRIDAY DEC 9

Grand Opening of Museum of Illusions
Friday, December 9
Get ready to be mesmerized at this all-new museum filled with optical illusions, holograms, mind-bending installations, and more. This is Charlotte’s first new museum in a decade, and it’s one the whole family can enjoy (even the little ones). The museum will be open Friday and Saturday from 10a – 10p, Sunday through Thursday from 10a – 8p. Purchase tickets here.

Image: CLT Black Owned

CLT Black Owned limited Holiday Market
Friday, December 9, 11a – 7p; Saturday, December 10, 10a – 7p; Sunday, December 11, 11a – 5p
Find the perfect gift or stocking stuffer for everyone on your list at CLT Black Owned limited Holiday Market. This weekend only, shop over 30 local, Black-owned businesses from clothing, skincare, jewelry, candles, and more. The market will be set up at 222 West Blvd Suite 112 here in Charlotte. Happy shopping!

Rosie’s Wine Garden Holiday Market This Friday’s lineup:
@thoughtful_baking_co@erniesbbqclt@patisserie.larue@manobellaartisanfoods@merakihomedesignstudio@amanda_farley_art@memoiretea@knottingbynature@cryincowboys@banditbliss@shopninemangos@mainfloormarket@cosmiccilantro@ammalianti@falconandflash@daziies@a.greydesign@seasaltandsage_@themilkincookie
music by @micvhofficivl
Friday • 8am-11pm • $5 spiked coffee + Holiday market (4pm-8pm)

Image: OMB

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s 11th Annual‎ Christmas Market
December 9 – 11, 11a – 11p
Experience the magic of OMB’s Christmas Market at its opening weekend. Shop 40+ vendors, holiday music, festive food, Gluhwein (spiced wine pronounced “Gloo-vine,”), hot cocoa, beer, and more each weekend from November 25 to December 16. Feel free to bring along your furry friend as pets are welcome outside in the Biergarten and on the patio.

Image: Stowe Family YMCA

Stowe Family YMCA Family Night – It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas
Friday, December 9, 5 – 7p
Bring the whole family to Stowe Family YMCA in Belmont for hot chocolate and cookie decorating. These family events are free for the whole community, whether or not you are a YMCA member.

Holiday Pop-Up Event at Sloan Boutique
Friday, December 9 & Saturday, December 10, 12 – 5p
Sip and support local businesses at Sloan’s Holiday Pop-Up Event, where you can shop for the perfect gift for all the ladies on your list! Find favorites including Liz Shea Designs, Infinity MedSpa + Wellness, Kristin Hayes Jewelry, Birds of a Feather, and Amy Moffatt Art all under one roof.

THINGS TO DO SATURDAY DEC 10

Cookies with Santa at Optimist Hall 
Saturday, December 10, 10a – 2p
Decorate complimentary cookies, snap a photo with Santa, and grab hot cocoa from Spindle Bar’s airstream.

Art Walk on Union
Saturday, December 10, 11a – 4p
Find the perfect gift for the art lover in your life at this year’s last Art Walk on Union in Downtown Concord. This all day festival features local artists and makers handmade artwork, where you can shop and show your support. There will also be food trucks, live music, local brews and wines for purchase.

Image: The Mint Museum

“Anatomy of an Exhibition” Champagne and Croissants Panel Discussion at Mint Museum Uptown
Saturday, December 10, 11a – 12p
Take a journey through four centuries of fashion at the opening of Fashion Reimagined: Themes & Variations: 1760-NOW and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mint’s fashion collection by the Mint Museum Auxiliary. Doors open at 10 a.m. to the Mint Museum Uptown, where you can enjoy light champagne and croissants before the panel discussion at 11 a.m. The panel will be made up of Annie Carlano, senior curator of craft, design + fashion at the Mint; Tae Smith, fashion and textile conservator and dresser; Lauren Whitley, co-author of the exhibition catalogue; and exhibition architects Vanessa Kassabian, Emily Moore, Andrew Gale. 

25th Annual Santa on the Chimney
Saturday, December 10, 11a – 2p
Santa is coming down the largest chimneys at Chimney Rock State Park to train for his big night of deliveries. While he’s there, kids can write a letter to him as well as take photos with him and Mrs. Claus. There will also be live holiday music, hot cocoa and cookies, and a chance to meet live Park animal ambassadors

Image: The Arboretum

Letters to Santa at The Arboretum
Saturday, December 10, 11a – 2p
This is your chance to bring the kids to meet Santa and drop their Christmas letter in his mailbox! Snap a picture with the big man himself while you’re there, and receive a special gift while supplies last.

Image: Camp North End

Mistletoe Market at Camp North End
Saturday, December 10, 4 – 8p
Eat, drink, and be merry at Camp North Ends’ Mistletoe Market. Visit local businesses in all three districts for delicious food and gifts, take a break in the Camp North Pole igloos or get cozy by a fire pit, shop Vintage Charlotte curated market vendors, enjoy photo moments and decor by Studio Cultivate, listen to live music with a warm holiday drink, and more.

Deck the Crawl Holiday Bar Hop
Saturday, December 10, 4 – 10p
You don’t have to be naughty or nice to join this holiday bar crawl. Rock your favorite ugly Christmas sweater as you hop from bar to bar for food and drink specials too good to miss. Tickets cost $5 with toy donation, $10 without. Purchase your tickets here.

Image: Lake Wylie

Annual Lights on the Lake Boat Parade
Saturday, December 10, 6:30 – 7:30p
Catch the shimmering lights of decorated boats at Lake Wylie as part of the Annual Lights on the Lake Boat Parade. Get all the best views at the dock at Papa Doc’s Shore Club, then head to the Lake Wylie area for the annual parade.

THINGS TO DO SUNDAY DEC 11

Image: Unation

Hi-Wire Diva’s Mary Little Christmas Drag Lunch
Sunday, December 11, 12p
Spice up your Sunday lunch plans! Hi-Wire Brewing and The Vanity House partnered together to present Hi-Wire Diva’s Mary Little Christmas Drag Lunch, and it’s sure to be fabulous. Tickets are $15 per person and include entry to the drag show, where you can choose to induldge in the many house brewed options as well as a list of non alcoholic mocktails. Grab a giant slice of pizza from Benny Ferrovia next door before the show starts, and watch the dolls dance and dazzle the afternoon away!

Image: Buzzed Viking Brewing Company

Holiday Pop-Up Shop at Buzzed Viking Brewing Company Concord
Sunday, December 11, 12 – 5p
Grab your shopping lists, Buzzed Viking Brewing Company has teamed up with Sunny Day Markets to bring you the ultimate holiday pop-up shop. There will be a variety of local vendors to shop from, delicious food and brews, live music, yummy sweets, and a blood drive to donate to. Come for the shopping and stay for the viking inspired atmosphere.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Light the World Giving Machine comes to Promenade on Providence
December 13-17th, with a special ribbon cutting and launch celebration Monday, December 12th at 5:30p
The world-famous Light the World Giving Machine is coming to Charlotte this Christmas. The bright red vending machines work in reverse by giving people an opportunity to buy
much-needed items for local and global charities, instead of junk food that is usually found in vending machines. The Light the World Mobile Giving Machine will be near the fountain in the Promenade on Providence shopping complex.

WARHOLiday Party
Wednesday, December 14, 5 – 9p 
Celebrate the holidays Warhol-style with the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art during our Wednesday Night Live “WARHOLidays” Party. In conjunction with the exhibition Pop to Now: Warhol and His Legacy, this program is dedicated to Andy Warhol’s affinity for the holidays and his fondness for creating works as holiday gifts for friends and colleagues. Make your own Warhol-inspired holiday craft, listen to holiday music as you sip on a festive cranberry holiday mule, or challenge your loved ones to a scavenger hunt throughout the galleries. Wednesday Night Live includes free admission to the museums, and everyone is invited!

1st Annual Holiday Light Spectacular at Ballantyne’s Backyard
December 15 – 31, 5 – 10p daily
Grab your friends and family and take a stroll through a magical trail filled with over a million Christmas lights. The trail is a half-mile long, and has dozens of oversized snow globes, larger than life holiday scenes, an Alpine Avalanche snow tube slide, hundreds of decorated trees, a holiday village with boutiques, shops and food trucks, and more.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THESE ONGOING EVENTS

Speedway Christmas
November 18 – January 8, 6 – 10p
Drive through a Christmas wonderland at Charlotte Motor Speedway Presented by Atrium Health, Speedway Christmas features four million LED Christmas lights spread out over a four-mile course and synchronized to Christmas-themed music. The show is rain or shine and closed on Christmas Eve. Purchase your tickets here.

Birkdale on Ice
November 19 – January 16
The Plaza at Birkdale Village has been transformed into a skating rink for you to lace up your skates and glide. Guests will need to book ice skating reservations in advance to ensure a skating time slot. Walk-ups are welcome, but they cannot guarantee you will be able to skate at that time. Visit here for daily hours and ticket pricing.

Image: Carowinds

Carowinds WinterFest
Select nights November 21 – January 1
Carowinds has transformed into a Christmas wonderland for the Carolinas’ most immersive holiday event, WinterFest. Celebrate the best time of the year with holiday light displays, ice skating, holiday activities, live performances, holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages, and more. Don’t miss the  WinterFest Wonderland Parade, a nightly Christmas parade featuring festive music and performers.

Image: Knights Baseball

Light the Knights Festival
November 23 – January 6
Celebrate this season’s magic in the city’s heart at Light the Knights Festival, located in Truist Field. New this year is a regulation-size outdoor hockey rink for ice skating, hockey, tournaments, figure skating, and more. Also new this year is a 6-lane, 150-foot snow tubing hill. There’s much to do at this event, from a holiday walkthrough experience and light show to shopping, live entertainment, and visits from Santa. Don’t miss out on all of the holiday fun and purchase your tickets here.

Charlotte Christmas Village
November 23 – December 23
Charlotte’s European-inspired Christmas Market returns to Uptown inside Light the Knights Festival through December 23. Shop gifts, enjoy live performances, get a taste of traditional German foods and beverages, and much more.

Image: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Holidays at the Garden
November 25 – December 31, 5 – 9p
Stroll through dazzling lights, sparkling fountains, and holiday décor at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden this holiday season. Make s’mores and gather around the warmth of an outdoor fire, grab snacks and warm beverages at food trucks, and shop at The Garden Store & Wine Nook for gifts for everyone on your list. Note: Holidays at the Garden is closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Purchase your tickets here.

Tinsel Town at Billy Sunday Charlotte
December 1 – January 2
Billy Sunday has been transformed into a holiday bar for the month of December. Expect holiday-themed cocktails, a decorated bar, and a Kris Kringle pop-up market to shop as you sip.

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