Today’s Smarty Scoop is proudly sponsored by our friends at Charlotte Ballet – featuring Nutcracker!
Feel the magic in the air as the Charlotte Ballet celebrates its return to the Belk Theater for Nutcracker this December after a year hiatus due to COVID-19! Reserve your seats now to see costumes that sparkle, fairies that twirl in the Land of Sweets, and the party that you can’t miss!
Holidays At The Hall
NASCAR Hall of Fame
November-January, See website for schedule
400 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Summary: The annual Holidays at the Hall celebration is back at the NASCAR Hall of Fame with a full lineup of high-octane fun. Guests are invited to snap a picture in front of the 32-foot Christmas tree glimmering with thousands of LED lights, stroll through the twinkling trees in the Ceremonial Plaza, browse gifts for NASCAR fans in the Gear Shop and enjoy family fun during the annual Undeck the Hall event.
Clara’s Trip, A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story
Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Founders Hall
Tickets here.
Charlotte’s most unique holiday treat is back and you don’t want to miss it! Consider this our official reminder to check out our Smarty favorite aerial arts & dance company, Caroline Calouche & Co., in its popular production, Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story on December 16-19 at the Booth Playhouse! Get your tickets today!
Ice Skating at the White Water Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
November 15-mid February, See website for schedule and costs
Summary: The Whitewater Center’s ice rink has grown to over 24,000 sq. ft. this year and includes four distinct skating areas, including two ice trails and two free skate zones. The new trail addition extends access further into the Upper Pond towards the pump house and provides a brand new experience for guests. Centered in the converted pond is an on-ice Airstream serving hot and cold beverages when guests need a skate break.
WinterFest at Carowinds
300 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC
November 13-January 9, See website for schedule
Summary: Gather the whole family to make lifelong memories at Carowinds’ WinterFest, the area’s most immersive holiday attraction with a sleigh-full of fun things to do for Christmas. Listen to favorite tunes crooned by carolers and smell the sweet aromas of freshly baked treats. Find unique gifts at our specialty shops, play holiday-themed games, and catch the season’s best live shows.
Blumenthal Performing Arts Performances in December
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
130 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
Cinderella, December 15, 7pm, Knight Theater
Reverse Caroling, December 15, 7:30pm, Knight Theater Plaza & Levine Ave
Immersive Van Gogh, December 16-January 2, Camp North End
Clara’s Trip: A Crique & Dance Nutcracker Story, December 16-19, Booth Playhouse
Charlotte Ballet: Nutcracker, December 16-23, Belk Theater
Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas, December 16, Knight Theater
Rap Van Gogh, December 16, Camp North End – Ford Building
Magic of Christmas, December 17-19, Knight Theater
Tosco Music Holiday Party, December 20, Knight Theater
Soulful Noel, December 21-22, Booth Playhouse
A Very Thorny Christmas, December 22, Knight Theater
SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam, December 22, Camp North End – Ford Building
A Time To Heal, December 23, Knight Theater
The Hip Hop Nutcracker, December 27-28, Knight Theater
Damien Escobar – 25 Days of Christmas Tour, December 28, Booth Playhouse
Metropolitan Merry Midtown Market
The Metropolitan
1111 Metropolitan Av, Charlotte, NC
November 20-December 22, 10am-4pm, Free
Summary: A month-long celebration to bring in the holiday season.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Trust Field
324 Mint Street, Charlotte, NC
November 24-December 23, see website for schedule
Summary: Festive celebrations, food, holiday shopping, special events, Santa!, and more.
Christmas Town USA
McAdenville
December 1-26, See website for schedule, Free
Summary: McAdenville is nicknamed Christmas Town USA for a good reason. Every winter, this small town in North Carolina transforms into a festive, twinkling wonderland, dotted with thousands of lights, dramatic displays and a spirited Main Street. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Christmas Town USA every December to drive through the 1.3-mile-long route through breathtaking holiday displays – a tradition that dates back to the ‘50s.
ChristmasVille
155 Johnston Street, Rock Hill, SC
December 3-24, See website for schedule
Summary: The main festival is the first weekend in December and we are going to run our in-person ChristmasVille Winter Market every weekend from 3 – 18 December. This will provide lots of time for folks to enjoy Old Town Rock Hill dressed in its holiday best. To keep the fun going all month, there will be events sponsored by local businesses to add to the fun and festivities.
Gingerbread Lane
The Ballantyne (Hotel)
10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC
December 3-26, 11am-7pm daily, Free
Summary: Visit The Ballantyne to view an enchanting display of gingerbread creations. Gingerbread Lane will be held in the Carolina Room. Attendees may vote on their favorite entries with $1 minimum donation per vote. All proceeds will benefit Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital (LCH), dedicated to caring for the physical and emotional needs of children and their families.
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Pkwy. S., Concord, NC
November 19-January 16, See website for schedule
Summary: Four million lights strung up along a 4-mile course, synchronized to Christmas music. Don’t miss the holiday movie nights.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Uptown Charlotte
406 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
November 24-December 23, Free admission.
Summary: A German-inspired Christmas market that includes traditional German foods, homemade crafts and gifts and local musical performances. Discover thousands of lights, trees and displays as you walk through the snowtastic winter wonderland. Santa will be in the village every day! See website for a full schedule.
Holidays at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 New Hope Road, Belmont, NC
November 26-January 2, See website for schedule
Summary: Sing along to holiday tunes as you stroll among lighted topiary displays, rolling lights and twinkling cherry trees. Food trucks serve up festive food and drink.
Markets at 11 in Ballantyne
Ballantyne’s Backyard
11611 N. Community House Rd, Charlotte, NC
Summary: Join us on the second Saturday of each month for Markets at 11!
Local businesses are bringing their craft to the South Charlotte community to shop and enjoy! Browse specialty beauty, health and home products on Ballantyne’s former golf course. Grab bites and brews from local food and drink vendors. Post up on your picnic blanket and get your groove on with musical artists all day long!
Children’s Theater at ImaginOn
300 E. 7th St. Charlotte, NC
Summary: We are excited to welcome audiences back to ImaginOn for in-person shows. Tickets and Choose-Your-Own Subscriptions now on sale. Click here for upcoming events. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte also offers a variety of programs for your child to enter the world of theatre. Our award-winning classes will help your child discover their creative spirit in the classroom and in life!
Fall Fun!
Cotton Hills Farm – The Market in Lowrys
2575 Lowrys Hwy, Chester, SC
Monday-Saturday weather permitting, 9AM-7PM, $2.25/lb, bring your own container or purchase for $1 each
Summary: Come make some sweet family memories on the farm! Our u-pick strawberry patch is open Monday – Saturday, 9AM to 7PM. No reservations required, No pets allowed. After picking, cool off with a scoop or two of hand-dipped ice cream. Kids can enjoy our tractor play-set and sand pile.
Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
800 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC
Click here for 2021 schedule
Charlotte Hornets
Spectrum Center
333 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC
Discovery Place Science
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule, reservations required
Discovery Place Nature
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC
See website for schedule, reservations required
Discovery Place Kids
105 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC
See website for schedule, reservations required
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC
Summary: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is now open! The museum is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research. To see a list of events and plan your visit, click here.
Mecklenburg County Library Virtual Events
Free Virtual Events
Summary: Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. Daily appointments for Reading Buddies and Tutoring and Enrichment for school-age children can be accessed by clicking here.
