Southern Christmas Show
The Park Expo and Conference Center
800 Briar Creek Road, Charlotte, NC
November 8-18, See website for schedule, All ages, $4-$15, children 5 and under free
Summary: What do you get when you combine an Olde Town filled with charming shops, festive music, smiling faces, crafts galore, yummy food, holiday decor, local wines, Santa, over 450 holiday merchants with gifts for all ages and enough fun to last all year? You get the 51st annual Southern Christmas Show! All under one roof, and waiting to welcome you.
2018 Charlotte International Auto Show
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. College Street, Charlotte, NC
November 15-18, See website for schedule, $10; children under 12 free
Summary: Families are welcome every day at the Auto Show, but Saturday & Sunday will have special entertainment for kids of all ages!
The Polar Express Train Ride
North Carolina Transportation Museum
411 S. Salisbury Ave, Spencer NC
November 16-December 23, See website for schedule and prices, Advanced ticket purchase only
Summary: Inspired by the hit movie, this holiday favorite comes to life as you and your family take a ride on The Polar Express
Winter Wonderland Skating Rink
Southpark Mall
4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC
November 16-January 20, See website for schedule, All ages, $12-$17
Summary: Relish the magic of the season at SouthPark’s own Winter Wonderland, Charlotte’s newest open-air ice skating rink and ultimate holiday destination. Winter Wonderland’s ice skating rink features fun for the entire family including holiday lights and decor as well as attractions, such as Santa’s Pub.
Santa Paws In The Park
Robbins Park
17738 West Catawba Ave., Cornelius, NC
November 17, 12:00pm-2:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: The Town of Cornelius PARC Department is partnering with Davidson Parks & Recreation and Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists to bring you this inaugural event!
Santa’s Arrival Parade And Tree Lighting
Birkdale Village
8712 Lindholm Dr., Huntersville, NC
November 17, 3:00pm-8:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: Santa Claus is coming to Birkdale Village! Join us for a fun filled afternoon of Christmas cheer at our annual celebration benefitting Ace & TJ’s Grin Kids. The event includes lots of music, vendors and, of course, the parade, arrival of Santa and lighting of the tree!
Blakeney Tree Lighting And Santa Arrival
Blakeney Shopping Centers
9839 Rae Road, Charlotte, NC
November 17, 5:30pm-9:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: Get ready to deck the halls and dive into the holiday spirit! Blakeney Shopping Center is kicking off the holiday season with the annual Santa Arrival and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 17. Santa Claus will be arriving in style, greeting children and stopping for photos at his new workshop following the official tree lighting ceremony.
WinterFest
Carowinds
300 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, NC
November 18-December 16, 5:00pm-10:00pm, All ages, $26-$47
Summary: Get a sneak peak of the Carolinas’ most sought-after holiday experience before anyone else! As a Gold, Platinum or Pre-K Passholder, you have the exclusive opportunity to attend Carowinds’ WinterFest Preview Night on Saturday, November 17 from 5pm-10pm.
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Pkwy., S., Concord, NC
Summary: Speedway Christmas presented by Disconnect and Drive has returned to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the ninth edition of the holiday spectacular, and it’s bigger and better than ever! This year’s drive-through light show features more than 3.5 million lights over a remarkable, 3.75-mile course that includes most of the oval as well as the infield and the ROVAL™!
25th Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival
Carolina Renaissance Festival Fairgrounds
16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC
September 29-November 18, 10:00am-5:30pm, All ages, $14+, 5 and under free
Summary: Each day is filled with an abundance of attractions and entertainments for all ages. Twelve stages are packed with continuous live comedy, music, dance, and circus style entertainments! The Village pathways are bursting to life with over 500 costumed villagers that interact with you for your amusement.
Discovery Place
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Step into a world where science is brought to life through interactive exhibits and explosive experiments during daily programs. Connect with the past and visit the future with groundbreaking exhibitions, larger-than-life IMAX Dome films and hands on activities that let you explore more. Plan your visit today. Click on the links below for detailed information on special events, featured exhibitions, featured shows and IMAX.
Featured Exhibitions: For information on all exhibitions click here.
Featured Shows: For information on all featured shows click here.
IMAX: For information on all featured movies and showtimes click here.
Discovery Place Kids – Huntersville
105 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Explore the theme of I CAN at Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville. The children’s museum features developmentally-appropriate experiences that encourage imagination and offer the opportunity to build confidence while testing skills by trying new things. The exhibits, themed around a small town, allow children to learn through play.
Theme Areas: For a complete description of all nine theme areas click here.
Featured Shows: For a complete listing of all featured shows click here.
Current and Upcoming Events: For all current and upcoming events click here.
Charlotte Nature Museum
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Bring little ones for just an hour or the whole day and experience wildlife through live animal exhibits and interactive education programs. The Museum is easy to navigate with fun surprises around every corner. Kids can roam The Great Hall and visit Beginnings, an area filled with young animals and information on their lifecycles.
Featured Exhibitions: For complete details on exhibitions and exhibits click here.
Featured Shows: For a complete schedule of show times click here.
Carowinds
300 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule and events
Explore: what’s new, calendar and hours, park map and directions
Play: rides and attractions, shows and entertainment, special events
Stay: camp wilderness, preferred hotels, special discounts, easy pay
Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
800 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC
2018 Schedule
Charlotte Checkers
Bojangles’ Coliseum
2700 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC
2018-19 Schedule
YMCA of Greater Charlotte Event Calendar
19 Locations throughout the Greater Charlotte Area
Summary: Most people know their neighborhood “Y” because of its incredible sports, camps and fitness programs but the “Y” has so much more to offer. Spend some time (it will take a while) on the website and learn about all the opportunities the “Y” provides. I promise, you will be amazed.
Free Wednesday Evenings At The Mint Museum
The Mint Museum – Randolph
2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC
The Mint Museum – Uptown
500 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
Every Wednesday from 5:00pm – 9:00pm, All ages
Summary:Enjoy free access to both Mint Museum locations every Wednesday night.
Bank of America’s Museums On Us Day
Various locations around Charlotte
The first Sunday and Saturday of every month, All ages, Free
Summary: Now in its 20th year, this distinctive program offers Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit and debit card holders the opportunity to visit more than 150 of the most popular cultural institutions in the United States free of charge on the first full weekend of every month.
ImaginON: The Joe & Joan Martin Center
300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 416-4630
See website for hours of operation
Summary: This collaborative effort between the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is a 102,000-square-foot facility recently ranked by Livability.com as the No. 1 children’s library in the United States. ImaginOn features two state-of-the-art theaters, a dedicated library space for kids 11 and under, four multi-use classrooms, a teen-only library, a multimedia production studio, and interactive exhibit space.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC (704) 875-6521
Summary: Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey through education, research, and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. As a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CRC relies on public financial support to fulfill our mission. Supporters can release a raptor, adopt a bird, make a charitable donation, purchase a membership or sponsor a capital improvement project. CRC’s environmental education programs reach approximately 40,000 students each year. Our Raptor Trail hosts more than 35,000 visitors a year. Visit our calendar page for event times or just come and enjoy our nicely maintained trails and see all the amazing birds of prey.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC (704) 866-6900
Summary: The natural wonders of North America and North Carolina coupled with the rich history of our region are all reflected in The Schiele’s exceptional exhibitions and diverse programming. Whether you’re indoors or out, with the kids or your colleagues, by bringing you a lot closer to nature, The Schiele will bring you a little closer to yourself.
Featured Exhibits: For a complete listing click here
Planetarium: For a complete schedule click here
Events Calendar: For all events click here
