The countdown is on! This is the last weekend before Christmas – is your shopping done? Will your kids be entertained? Is the car packed and the gifts wrapped? Relax, enjoy the weekend and spend it with your family before the holiday crazy completely takes over. There is a good lineup of events to enjoy below!
Don’t forget to register for the Paper Twist Smarty Giveaway – today is the last day!: Paper Twist is giving one lucky Smarty the perfect mommy package, valued at $195. You’ll be organized, dressed in a sassy tee and ready to send out a darling thank-you note from you and your precious child. Click here to enter – contest ends at 11pm tonight!.
I am going to share two of my families holiday traditions and you can do them both in one night, just requires some driving. Load the kids up and drive over to Sherwood Forest, off of Colony/Rea Road. This is the most festive street around and Santa stands in front of 7323 Sherwood to hand out candy canes and chat with the kids. The houses are all lit up and different neighbors participate in some way. After the visit with Santa, drive over to 501 Mammoth Oaks Lane off of Providence Road. Tune your radio to 94.5 FM and enjoy the light display synchronized to the music. The kids will love the planes and roller coaster. My kids love it and not so secretly, mom and dad do to!! This trip is worth the time and the wait. You will pull away from both with a smile on your face and joy in your heart.
Circus at Discovery Place
Discovery Place
Dec. 13-July 3, 9:00am-6:00pm
Step right up and discover the secrets of science under the big top! Featuring more than 20 multi-station, interactive exhibits that amaze, thrill, perplex and entertain.
Mr. Nigel’s Music and Friend Storytime
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, SouthPark Mall
Dec. 19, 11:15am
Mr. Nigel is an animated story teller/ singer. Each week he brings new songs and instruments to entertain the whole family. For toddlers to pre-schoolers.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center
Dec. 19-21, Fri., 7:30; Sat., 1pm and 4pm; Sun., 2pm
The Herdman kids are probably the meanest, nastiest, most inventively awful kids in the history of the world and when they are cast in the church Christmas pagent, you won’t believe the mayhem and fun. Ages 5 and up. Tickets are $18-$24.
“The Nutcracker”
Belk Theater
Dec. 19-21, Fri., 7pm; Sat., 2pm and 7pm; Sun., 2pm
Presented by Levine Children’s Hospital, the North Carolina Dance Theatre will perform this classic holiday ballet featuring the glamorous Sugar Plum Fairy and the lovable Mother Ginger. The stage will fill with more than 100 dancers. Tickets are $10-$69.
The Real Christmas Story
December 19-21, Times Vary
Watch in wonder as as Old Jerusalem comes to life as the Biblical Christmas story unflods. Snowfall at each performance. Hear your favorite Christmas songs and maybe get a visit from St. Nick. $9.95-$29.95
Wonders of Winter
Charlotte Nature Museum
December 20, 10:00am-1:00pm
Learn about the winter-loving animals and their wild counterparts during their most active time of the year. Cost is $5.
Hanukkah Party
Morrison Regional Library
December 20, 2:00pm
Come celebrate Hanukkah at the library. Registration required: 704-416-5421. Ages 3-5
Green Gift Making
Latta Plantation Nature Center
December 20, 10:00am-2:00pm
‘Tis the season to reduce, reuse and recycle! Learn how to make old things look like new for the holidays for ages 6+. We will make paper, gift boxes and envelopes. Supplies will be provided but feel free to bring your own, too. Call 704.875.1391 for more information.
Holiday Farmer’s Market
Downtown Davidson – next to Town Hall between Main & Jackson Streets
December 20, 9:00am-noon
An array of seasonal produce and baked goods will be available to complement your holiday meals. Share the locavore spirit this holiday season with gifts such as soaps, preserves, lavender items, note cards and more.
The Knack Saturdays: Holiday Cookie Kit
Michael’s
December 20, 10:00am-11:30am, 30 minute sessions beginning at 10:00am
Join us, in most participating stores, for The Knack Saturdays, during which kids age 5-12 will create their own fun craft. Only $5 per child, including supplies.
Chanukah Menorah Lighting at SouthPark
SouthPark Mall
December 21, Parade begins at 5:30pm; lighting begins at 6:00pm
Enjoy a parade and then gather in Circle Court for the menorah lighting at 6pm. Refreshments will be served. A project of Lubavitch of North Carolina.
Have a great weekend and if you have events you would like to share please comment or email me at Courtenay@charlottesmartypants.com.
11 comments
FYI, we were at Mr. Nigel’s storytime last friday 12/12 and were told that was the last one until after the holidays. You may want to call Joseph-Beth to double check. My daughter really loves his storytime!
Mr. Nigel is the best!! I think I enjoy him more than my kids! Another weekend activity is the York County Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker at Johnson Hall at Winthrop. http://www.yorkcountyballet.org
Does the Santa stand outside every night (til Christmas) to hand out candy canes or just certain nights??
i live down the road from the santa house on colony and as far as i can tell, he’s out every night!
Santa is out every night. Weeknights, 6-9 and weekends 6-10. He will stay out until 10 on Christmas Eve. We went tonight and he wasn’t out but a sign was out saying when he would reappear – we drove around and came back 15 minutes later.
I thought you entered Sherwood Forest (neighborhood) off of Rama RD or Sharon Amity Rd. I must be confused. Are you talking about a street named Sherwood Forest?? Could you clarify?
I just called Joseph Beths & they said Mr. Nigel is coming 12/20.
Santa is on a street call Sherwood Forest. It is off of Colony/Rea Road. If coming from Carmel Road, it is before you get to the Colony Place Shopping Center.
Lake Norman Smarties…this Sat/Sun (12/20 & 12/21)–11a-4p– Cornelius will have an ice skating rink, holiday music & "snow" every 1/2 hour at Jetton Village Merchants (across from Harris Teeter on Jetton in Cornelius). This is evidently a synthetic/non-refrigerated rink that is more green in that it takes less energy to run, easier to set up/take down & more cost efficient to run. Skates are 1st come first served. Food & beverage will be available for purchase. So enjoy & hope to see you out there LKN!!!!
I can’t figure out where Mammoth Oaks Drive is. When I google it, it says that it’s off Sardis Lane. Could that be the same place you’re referring to?
When I did Yahoo maps for Mammoth Oaks Drive, it is near the intersection of Providence and Fairview (Fresh Market). Coming south on Providence, cross Fairview and the first left is Mammoth Oaks.