Happy Wednesday Smarties! Into December we go. Of course this means all things holiday. Santa’s Bag returns and this is a fun way to let your children do some inexpensive shopping for the family. Christmas lights, Holiday on Ice, and Polar Express help to round out the weekend activities. Get out and Enjoy!
New Additions to Scoop:
Christmas in Davidson
December 1-3, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Ready for roasting chestnuts, mulled cider and your favorite carols? Looking to catch a glimpse of an elf or deliver a letter to Santa? Searching for the perfect gift or tall tree? Christmas in Davidson is the place to find the holiday spirit with fun, food and festivities and is a great way to kick off the holiday season. It is a tradition for many families because it offers a chance to make holiday memories for the young and the young-at-heart.
19th Annual Alternative Gift Fair at Davidson College
Brown Atrium-College Union, Davidson College
December 4, 2:00pm-4:00pm
At the market, buyers purchase relief and self-development goods, services and livestock for people in need throughout the world as “alternative” gifts. Prices start at $4.00. Holiday cards are inscribed with information about the gifts purchased. You may then send these cards to friends and family to let them know that an alternative gift has been given in their honor. This year’s alternative gifts include legal help for a girl rescued from slavery in India, a school uniform so a child can stay in school in Myanmar, a bicycle for a rural health worker in Africa, and food and shelter for homeless Americans.
Charlotte Symphony Presents “Magic of Christmas.”
Belk Theater
December 2-4, 2:30pm and 8:00pm
Albert-George Schram returns to the podium to conduct an all new Magic of Christmas! Don’t miss this holiday tradition as George leads the Charlotte Symphony and our featured guests in this festive and joyous holiday concert. Cost is $20.50-$77.50.
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
December 2-4, Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 2:00pm; Sun, 2:00pm
First grader Junie B. Jones can’t decide how she feels about the holidays. On the one hand, she couldn’t be more excited about her school’s holiday gift shop, especially the super-amazing Squeeze-a-Burp toy. On the other hand, her tattletale classmate May just might ruin the entire Holiday Sing-Along. When Junie B. draws May’s name for Secret Santa, she hatches a plan to give her nemesis a lump of coal while snagging the Squeeze-a-Burp for herself. Cost is $18-$24.
Santa’s Bag
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, ImaginOn
November 30- December 3, Wed.-Fri., 10:30am-12:30pm, 4:00pm-7:30pm; Sat., 10:30am-4:00pm
As much a community service project as a fundraising event, Santa’s Bag offers children under the age of 12 the opportunity to purchase inexpensive, pre-wrapped holiday gifts. Gifts are priced between .25 and $5. Children are escorted by helpful “Elves,” while adult friends enjoy shopping at the ENCORE! Boutique. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
Polar Express PJ Art Party
Small Hands Big Art
December 2, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Price: $35 / $15 additional family members
All aboard! Bundle the kids up in their coziest pajamas and drop them off for a two hour magical ride on the Polar Express! Children age 4+ will create Polar Express inspired handcrafted gifts to give (and maybe one or two to keep), & holiday decorations! Hot cocoa & cookie included.Drop off, age 4+. 10% of the registration fee will be donated to the new Ronald McDonald House! For more info and to register visit www.smallhandsbigart.com or call 704.246.8271. Cost is $35, $15 for additional family members.
The Polar Express Reading
Chick-fil-A Cotswold
December 3, 10:30am-11:00am
Join us for a reading of, “The Polar Express.” Enjoy free cookies and hot chocolate. Get a Magical Bell from Santa.
Christmas at the Billy Graham Library
Billy Graham Library
December 1-23, 5:00pm-10:00pm
Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides through beautiful lights, a live Nativity, carolers and festive music, story time for children, exquisite decorations, seasonal treats and shopping. Pet the animals from noon-2 pm. Carriage photos have been added this year. Additional cost for carriage rides.
Saturday Art Sessions -Miniature Clay Pots
Mint Museum Randolph
December 3, 10:00am-6:00pm
Coil, pinch, and squish air-dry clay to create your own mini pots and sculptures, after viewing ceramics on view in A Thriving Tradition: 75 Years of Collecting North Carolina Pottery. Cost is $5-$10; children four and under free.
Mummies of the World
Discovery Place
Ongoing
Mummies of the World, the largest exhibition of mummies and related artifacts ever assembled, presents a never-before-seen collection of naturally and intentionally preserved mummies. This compelling collection, presented with reverence and dignity, includes ancient mummies and important artifacts from Asia, Oceania, South America, Europe, as well as ancient Egypt, dating as far back as 6,500 years.
Zootastic Park of Lake Norman
December 2-4, 6:00pm-10:00pm
Join us for our largest annual event. Drive through 2 miles of forest and enjoy over 1.2 million lights. Santa joins us each night, we also have concessions with hot cocoa, pony rides, petting zoos and much more. Cost is $5 per person.
Holiday Lights at The Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Ongoing, Sun.-Thurs.; 5:00pm-9:00pm; Fri. and Sat., 5:00pm-10:00pm
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will present Holiday Lights at The Garden featuring the theme, “A Vintage Christmas.” Holiday lights will showcase about a half million lights, a Christmas tree created with hundreds of orchids, carriage rides, live entertainment, a custom-designed model railroad and even a visit from Santa. Cost is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors 60-plus, and $6 children 4-12.
Carolina Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Ongoing, 6:00pm-11:00pm
Charlotte Motor Speedway is excited to bring the holidays to life this winter season with the return of Carolina Christmas, a spectacular drive-through Christmas light park and village located at the legendary superspeedway. Carolina Christmas is one of the largest holiday light shows in the United States, featuring more than 600 LED light displays boasting 3 million lights. Carolina Christmas also offers a Christmas Village with a realistic Bethlehem-themed village, a Festival of Trees, photos with Santa and areas with food and music. Carolina Christmas will expand to be bigger and better in 2011. Visitors will love the extended route filled with Christmas lights and displays. Carolina Christmas goers will enter the light park at zMAX Dragway, pass by The Dirt Track at Charlotte and into Charlotte Motor Speedway where a drive on the 1.5-mile superspeedway is part of the holiday fun. The light show is open 7 days a week, while the Christmas village is open Thursday through Sunday. Cost is $20 per car.
WBT Holiday on Ice
Corner of MLK Boulevard and Brevard on The NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza
November 25, Wed-Fri, 5-10pm; Sat., 10am-10pm; Sun., 11am-7pm
WBT Holiday on Ice is back for the 2011 holiday season! As you feel the air get colder, you will feel the chill in the air from the ice rink….in a NEW LOCATION, now located at the corner of MLK Blvd and Brevard on The NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza. And we are more than 30% larger. That means more skating room for you to cut up the ice! Heck yeah! Holiday on Ice will continue it’s tradition bringing Charlotte the coolest surface in the city, an outdoor ice skating rink in the heart of Uptown. It’s a holiday tradition for us to continue with you, your friends, and family. And we hope to see you there! Cost is $9; skate rental $3.
Santa Train
N.C. Transporation Museum
December 3-4, Sat., 10:00am-3:15pm and Sun. 1:30-3:45pm. Train runs every 45 minutes.
Take a train ride with Santa’s elves to the Roundhouse. Upon arriving, kids can sit on Santa’s lap to tell him their fondest Christmas wishes and have a photo made. Kids will also make a craft and take home candy canes. Cost is $12.
