Hello Smarties – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… If there are any doubts, check out the lineup for this weekend. You have everything from lights to Santa’s Bag, concerts to Parades, Bears, Scrooges, Angels and Nutcrakers! I’m dreaming of a White Christmas with lots of activity and Charlotte is delivering. Get out and enjoy.
Santa’s Bag
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte – ImaginOn
December 1-4, Wed.-Fri., 9:30am-noon, 4:30pm-7:00pm; Sat.,10:00am- 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. Visit With Santa! Santa will be here for visits during all hours of Santa’s Bag, and available for photos during the evening hours and all day Saturday.
Scrooge!
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
December 3-5, Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 3:00pm; Sun., 2:00pm
With upbeat songs and unforgettable characters, this musical version of Dickens’ classic is a holiday treat for young and old alike. Miserly Ebenezer Scrooge’s “Bah!, Humbug!” opinion of Christmas grates on everyone around him. But when Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former partner and three Christmas spirits, he realizes that he needs to change his curmudgeonly ways – just in time for Christmas Day! Enjoyed best by Elementary (7+, 2nd grade), Middle and High School ages. Cost is $18-$24.
The Littlest Angel
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
December 3-5,
“No swinging on the pearly gates.” “Don’t be late for the rehearsal of the Heavenly Choir.” The Littlest Angel has just arrived in Heaven and simply cannot adjust to all the new rules. When the Understanding Angel brings him a wooden box full of childhood treasures from his life on earth, he finally begins to feel a bit more at home. As the Littlest Angel gets used to life in Heaven, he changes his irresponsible ways, but it isn’t until he gives a heartfelt gift to the newborn child that he becomes truly angelic. This simple, charming story is a holiday favorite for families. Performed by the Tarradiddle Players. Best for ages 3+. One Act. Cost is $14-$18.
The Singing Christmas Tree for Kids
Ovens Auditorium
December 4, 11:00am, 2:00pm
A virtual sell out for the past two years, Carolina Voices is pleased to announce two performances of this holiday favorite for young families. Created especially for children age 3 to 8, the special 1-hour Singing Christmas Tree offers just the right combination of holiday music, sing-a-longs, dance and puppetry. Start your own family tradition this season with a charming holiday performance that’s perfect for the young “and the young at heart!”
The Singing Christmas Tree
Ovens Auditorium
December 4-5, Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 3:00pm
‘Tis the season as the Charlotte community kicks-off the holidays with Carolina Voices 56th Annual Singing Christmas Tree! The soaring voices of the MainStage Choir will fill the 32-foot decorated “singing tree” with festive new songs, seasonal favorites and some rockin’ arrangements from Artistic Director David Tang. Special guests include an amazing array of regional vocalists, dancers, and the nationally-acclaimed Grey Seal Puppets. Don’t miss this magical holiday event for the whole family! Cost is $18-$30.
Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra
Founders Hall
December 1-31, Mon.-Fri., 10:00am, 11:00am, noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm; Sat.-Sun., hourly from 8:00am-6:00pm
Leonard Bearstein and his animatronic orchestra are back at Founders Hall with an updated program and fresh take on holiday classics. The program features a compilation of time-honored songs.
Carolina Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Until January 2, 6:00pm-1:000pm
Carolina Christmas is one of the largest holiday light shows in the United States, featuring 2.5 miles of LED lights, a realistic Bethlehem-themed village, NASCAR souvenir rigs for Christmas shopping, carriage rides, ice skating, marshmallow roasting pits and themed areas for children with food, music, rides and photos with Santa. Cost is $20 per car.
Charlotte Symphony POPS: Magic of Christmas
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
December 3-5, Fri., 8:00pm; Sat., 2:30pm and 8:00pm; and Sun., 2:30pm
Rave reviews followed Albert-George Schram’s debut last year conducting the Magic of Christmas, and he has even more holiday cheer and great music in store for this season! Don’t miss this holiday tradition as George returns to the podium to lead the Symphony, the Oratorio Singers, and an array of spectacular guests in this festive and joyous holiday concert. Cost is $25.50-$77.50.
Christmas at the Library
Billy Graham Library
December 1-23, 5:00pm-1:000pm
Bring the entire family for a joy-filled experience featuring a live nativity, horse-drawn carriage rides, twinkling lights, exquisite decorations, the merry sound of carolers, and tours of the Library. Cost is free, carriage rides are $5 adults and $2 children.
Christmas in Davidson
Downtown Davidson
December 2-4, 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. Cost is free.
Holiday Lights at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Until Dec. 31, Sun.-Thurs.,5:00pm-9:00pm; Fri. and Sat., 5:00-10:00pm
The holiday tradition continues at the Garden! Christmas has never been brighter with more than 600,000 lights, old fashioned trains, visits from Santa Claus, carriage rides, holiday carols, baked treats, and other holiday fun! Share this holiday magical experience with your family and friends! Cost is $12, adult; $6, ages 4-12.
The Nutcracker
Dale Halton Theater, Central Campus CPCC
December 3-5, Fri., 7:00pm; Sat., 1:30pm, 5:30pm; Sun., 2:30pm
The Charlotte Youth Ballet delivers once again this year with the return of its 28th annual production of “The Nutcracker”. This holiday family favorite brings to life the dreams of a young girl, complete with dancing snowflakes, a dashing prince and sugar plum fairy. With Tchaikovsky’s brilliant score, lavish sets, opulent costumes, magnificent local dancers and International principal artists, this Nutcracker never fails to enchant audiences of all ages. The Charlotte Youth Ballet is a regional ballet company that preserves and promotes the art of ballet, empowers youth and connects youth and professional dancers in performances that bring joy to Charlotte and surrounding communities. For over a quarter of a century, the Charlotte Youth Ballet has proudly produced professional-quality Nutcracker and storybook ballets that merge a principal cast of professional international dancers and local students of ballet. Cost is $12-$25.
Santa’s Workshop
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
December 4, 2:30pm-4:30pm
Santa will set up workshop again at the Garden and spend time with some very lucky children! Santa will read a story and spread Holiday cheer through a Holiday sing-a-long. Garden elves will also be on hand to help children create a special gift for someone on their list, help decorate cookies and much more. Children will also have the opportunity to be photographed with Santa, explore our holiday train display and much more. Greg Briley Photography will be onsite taking pictures of children and families with Santa. Additional fees apply. Reservations Required and Space is Limited. Cost is Members, $15; Non-members, $18. Fee includes admission for the evening for Holiday Lights. Call 704-829-1252 for reservations.
Santa Train
NC Transportation Museum, Spencer
December 4-5, Sat., 10:00am, 10:45am, 11:30am, 11:45am, and 2:30pm and 3:15pm; Sun., 1:30pm, 2:15pm, 3:00pm and 3:45pm
Meet Santa Claus as he trades his sleigh for a locomotive! Take a 25 minute train ride with Santa and his elves as Santa hands out oranges and candy canes, a Southern Railway Tradition. 6+6Cost is $7; free ages 2 and under.
North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade
Davidson to Cornelius
December 4, begins at 1:00pm
Celebrate the beginning of the season with bands, floats and all the things that make living in a small community wonderful.
Hometown Holiday and Holiday Tree Lighting
Town Hall Village Green, 232 Matthews Station St., Matthews
December 4, 3:00pm-6:00pm.; tree lighting, 5:00pm
This year the Matthews Hometown Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting will all take place at the Village Green right in front of Matthews Town Hall. The event will include wonderful holiday take-away crafts for kids, carriage rides, ice carving, an amazing roving up-close magician, caricature artist, Santa visits and performances on stage by Opera Carolina, the Matthews Playhouse, the Charlotte Glee Club and more! Dilworth Coffee will even be on-site with a special Hometown Holiday Coffee & Cocoa Shop! And of course at 5 PM everyone can gather round the Town Tree, join our performers in carols, watch as Santa arrives into Matthews, and witness the lighting of the tree with our special pyrotechnics show! And best of all, as soon as the tree lights, we will have a 100% chance of snow in Downtown Matthews!
3 comments
Singing Christmas tree for kids performance looks to be at 3:00 versus 2:00http://www.carolinavoices.org/treekids.htm
Again, very informative post. It would have taken my hours to search for all these Christmas events. Thanks.
Has anyone gone to the Xmas event at the Speedway? From their website it looks really neat, but would love to hear your thoughts/opinions before I make the trip from Charlotte.