Happy Wednesday Smarties! As we head into the Christmas weekend, there are several great things you can do as a family around the Queen City. Head out to ImaginOn, Discovery Place, take a drive to Charlotte Motor Speedway or Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lights. Get out, enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Holiday Family Storytime
ImaginOn
December 22, 11:30-11:55am
Children enjoy favorite holiday stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skills. Help foster a love of books and reading in your child. Ages 3-5.
Peppermint Forest Children’s Art Workshop
Small Hands Big Art
December 22, 1:00pm-3:00pm
In the enchanted Peppermint Forest, children age 4+ will enter a world of minty freshness and sticky sweet goodness! Kids will make a bevy of sweet holiday treats to give as gifts, as well as some cool nature-inspired ornaments and decorations. Cocoa & cookie included. 10% of the registration fee will be donated to the new Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. Drop off, age 4+. Cost is $35, $15 additional family member .
‘Twas the Night Before Xmas Children’s Art Workshop
Small Hands Big Art
December 23, 6:00pm-8:00pm
No reindeer will be left behind at this pajama-craft-a-rama! A comfy pair of pj’s is the proper attire for this Christmas Eve dress rehearsal! We’ll make gifts for Santa & anyone else left on the list! There might even be a thing or two to do with mice or stockings… Drop off, age 4+. Cocoa & cookie included. 10% of the registration fee will be donated to the new Ronald McDonald House. Cost is $35, $15 additional family member.
Santa’s Little Helpers Holiday Art Workshop
Small Hands Big Art
December 23, 10:00am
Inspired by the little elves who report to the big boss at the ‘Pole, kids age 4+ will design a keepsake Elf on a Shelf that will become a cherished part of your holiday tradition, or a “Mini Me” Elf (the resemblance to your child will be uncanny!)l! Hot cocoa & cookie included. Drop off, age 4+. 10% of the reg fee will be donated to the new Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte! Cost is $35, $15 additional family member.
Carolina Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Ongoing, 6:00pm-11:00pm
*Movie on the Big Screen,How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Friday and Saturday, 7:00pm
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.
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.
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 21-24, 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.
WBT Holiday on Ice
Corner of MLK Boulevard and Brevard on The NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza
December 21-24, 10:00am-10:00pm
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.
Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra
Founders Hall, Bank of America Corporate Center
Mon.-Fri., 10:00am-2:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm; Sat.-Sun., hourly from 8:00am-6:00pm
One of Charlotte’s favorite family traditions is returning to Founders Hall this holiday season – Leonard Bearstein and his animatronic orchestra. The 45-minute program features holiday favorites, including: “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and many more!
