by Page Leggett
Ancient Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger is said to have written (or chiseled into stone): “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” (And here you’d been thinking that wisdom originated with Semisonic’s 1998 hit, “Closing Time.”)
Each December offers a chance to tie up loose ends. And each January offers a clean slate. (How many diets have I started on Jan. 1? The same number I’ve broken on Jan. 2.)
And February packs a lot into 28 days. There’s love and romance (Feb. 14), Mardi Gras (Feb. 17) and a good excuse to rewatch a classic Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day (Feb. 2).
We have some thoughts on ways to close 2025 — and kick off 2026 — on a high note. You’re surely aware of holiday hits like Handel’s Messiah (Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 5-7), Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker (Dec. 5-21) and Theatre Charlotte’s A Christmas Carol (Dec. 5-14). Many are part of our holiday traditions, and they’re likely part of yours, too. We’re reserving this list for events you may not know about.
Of course, our recommendations involve music, art and cinema. And not a single mention of a gym membership.
December 2025
A Motown Christmas presented by Blumenthal Arts at Knight Theater, Dec. 1
A supergroup assembled from past and present members of some of Motown’s most legendary bands, including The Temptations, The Miracles and The Contours, will perform holiday favorites and some of their own greatest hits. Expect the inimitable Motown choreography, costumes and irresistible harmonies you’ll want to sing along to. Tickets available through carolinatix.org.
Left: Pink Suitcase with Pendant and Sunglasses, by Andrew Leventis.
Right: Picturesque Waterfront Views, by Holly Keogh. Photographs courtesy SOCO Gallery.
Andrew Leventis and Holly Keogh: Proposal for a Story at SOCO Gallery, through Dec. 31
Both artists share connections to Charlotte and London, and both have exhibited locally (at SOCO and The Mint) as well as internationally. Leventis earned an MFA from Goldsmiths, University of London, before returning to his native Charlotte. Keogh also grew up in North Carolina and graduated from UNC Charlotte before moving to London to earn her MFA at Goldsmiths. Both artists are realists. His still lifes of perishables like food and flowers represent the fleeting nature of life. Her abstracted, kaleidoscopic paintings address themes of femininity, belonging, desire and Jungian psychology. socogallery.com
The Spark That Drives Us, Waterworks Visual Arts Center, Salisbury, through Feb. 28, 2026
Described as a “high-octane art exhibition,” this show elevates the automobile to an art form. Works by five world-class automotive artists glorify, according to the gallery, “the curve of a fender, the gleam of chrome, the roar of a straightaway … the stories tucked into every set of wheels.” Le Mans champion-turned-painter Stefan Johansson’s canvases capture the adrenaline of racing. Michael Furman’s photography highlights the sculptural appeal of automotive design. And Richard Pietruska’s sleek sculptures celebrate the automobile’s form. waterworks.org
Jazz Greats: Classic Photos from the Bank of America Collection at The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, through April 26, 2026
This tribute to three generations of jazz legends — including Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and Louis Armstrong — and their lasting cultural impact features 33 iconic black-and-white photographs shot by 15 renowned photographers. Nearly all are gelatin silver prints made from negative film, known for a depth and clarity digital photography rarely matches. ganttcenter.org
JOY! Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte at Galilee Center, Dec. 4–6
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte’s signature holiday celebration is a seasonal mashup of the sacred and profane. Where else will you find hymns and high camp on the same program? Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium,” “That Christmas Morning Feelin’” (from the Will Ferrell movie, Spirited) and Dan Forrest’s arrangement for men’s voices of “Angels We Have Heard on High” are all in the mix. gmcharlotte.org
Jazz Room Holiday Show: Preservation Hall Legacy All-Stars, presented by JazzArts Charlotte, Dec. 5–6
The Preservation Hall Legacy All-Stars bring a taste of New Orleans to the Queen City. Soulful carols, swing tunes and traditional jazz all come together in this festive holiday celebration at Booth Playhouse. Jazz Arts co-founders Lonnie and Ocie Davis hail from New Orleans, where Ocie played with the world-famous Marsalis family. So, this annual event feels like Old Home Week. thejazzarts.org
Holiday Jazz featuring Joe Grandsen at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Dec. 5 (shows at 6 and 8:15 p.m.)
Joe Grandsen may have been born in the wrong era. The 54-year-old was barely out of high school when he began touring as a sideman — not with rock bands popular with his peers — but with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. The trumpeter and vocalist gives off Sinatra vibes, and his shows often include selections from Ol’ Blue Eyes’ songbook. His holiday show has become a Bechtler tradition; and he’ll again join the Ziad Jazz Quartet for a festive evening that’ll put you in the holiday spirit — and take you back to the Big Band era. (If you miss Gransden at the Bechtler, you can catch his “Little Big Band Holiday Show” at the Cain Center in Cornelius on Dec. 13.) bechtler.org
Sarah Brightman: A Winter Symphony at Ovens Auditorium, Dec. 10
The world’s best-selling soprano — known for originating the role of Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on both West End and Broadway stages — has a vocal range of over three octaves. She’s lent her famous voice to such prestigious events as the Concert for Diana, the Kennedy Center Honors and the 1992 Barcelona and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her annual holiday tour is a grand spectacle, with an orchestra, choir, guest artists, elaborate staging and plenty of costume changes. Expect to hear holiday standards and a few show tunes. ticketmaster.com.
Robert Earl Keen presents “The Greatest Christmas on Earth” at Carolina Theatre, Dec. 12
Fortunately for his fan base, which is as big as his native Texas, Keen’s 2022 retirement didn’t take. The holiday season finds him touring again — and fans know that, for REK, “the road goes on forever, and the party never ends.” Every Keen show is a party — raucous, irreverent, funny and festive — and you can count on hearing “Merry Christmas from the Family.” With a career spanning more than three decades, Keen is as great a showman as he is a songwriter. thecarolina.com
D.L. Hughley at The Comedy Zone, Dec. 12–14
He’s starred on the big and small screens (“The Hughleys,” The Original Kings of Comedy, Scary Movie 3), hosted the BET Awards and his own talk show, written multiple books, hosted talk shows, and been a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” Not bad for a former gang member who grew up in south central L.A. He was expelled from high school but went on to earn his GED, which he worked into a stand-up comedy album. In his stand-up act, Hughley dishes on entertainment, pop culture, what’s trending in social media and the latest news. He should have plenty to say about today’s headlines. cltcomedyzone.com
Christmas with the Drifters at Cain Center for the Arts, Dec. 18–19
The Drifters would make a great subject for a Broadway jukebox musical or biopic. Since the group’s founding in 1953, no fewer than 60 people have served as lead singer. Fights and firings, breakups and reunions — the group has had as much infighting as Oasis and as many personnel changes as Genesis. But it’s all peace and goodwill for their holiday show. The group — a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — is famous for its iconic version of “White Christmas.” cainarts.org
Dillon Fence: 35 years of Rosemary at Neighborhood Theatre, Dec. 18
It’s been 35 years since the jangle-pop quartet from Chapel Hill led by Greg Humphreys released their debut full-length LP, Rosemary. Soon after, the group became one of the biggest regional draws on the college circuit in that era. They broke up in 1995 but reunite occasionally — much to the delight of their now-middle-aged fans who love feeling like they’re back in college — if only for a night. Humphreys, Kent Alphin, Chris Goode and Scott Carle return to North Carolina this month to celebrate the milestone anniversary. As the song goes, they’ve got “Something for You.” Cravin’ Melon opens. neighborhoodtheatre.com
January
An Evening with Jason Isbell at Ovens Auditorium, Jan. 16
He’s one of the best musicians to come out of Muscle Shoals — and that’s saying something since Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones and Bob Seger have all recorded in the legendary Alabama studio. But the Grammy winner is leaving his band, the 400 Unit, back home and heading out on a solo tour. It’s a rare chance to hear Isbell, who blends cerebral and poetic songwriting with rock, folk, soul and Americana, with just his powerful voice and his guitar. ticketmaster.com.
TUSK: The Classic Tribute to Fleetwood Mac at Gambrell Center at Queens University of Charlotte, Jan. 24
Sure, there are plenty of Fleetwood Mac tribute bands — Twisted Gypsy, Fleetwood Macrame, Charlotte’s own Tell Me Lies. But this band claims to play “note-for-note renditions” of the band’s timeless hits (“Don’t Stop,” “Second Hand News,” “Little Lies” and on and on). They’ve been at it for 17 years, and some of TUSK’s members have known each other since childhood, which contributes to their on-stage chemistry. gambrellcenter.org
The 2026 Charlotte Jewish Film Festival, Jan. 24–Feb. 22
Now in its 22nd year, the CJFF consistently delivers high-caliber feature films and documentaries you’d never see otherwise. The festival opens at the Carolina Theatre with Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm. YidLife Crisis (Canadian comedy duo Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman) head to Sweden to unearth a treasure trove of Jewish culture in the unlikeliest place. Billed as a “gefilte fish out of water” comedy, the movie celebrates the surprising ways language and cultural identity continue to evolve. The duo will perform live following the screening. Another highlight: the North Carolina premiere of An Officer and a Spy on Jan. 31 at the Independent Picture House. The film, directed by Roman Polanski and starring Academy Award-winning actor Jean Dujardin, won the Grand Jury prize at the 2019 Venice Film Festival. View the complete schedule and purchase tickets at charlottejcc.org.
February
The Flick presented by Theatre Charlotte, Feb. 12–20
If you love movies and/or movies about movies (Cinema Paradiso, The Player), you’re likely to love a play about the power of the cinematic art form. Especially one that garnered the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Playwright Annie Baker, who won an Obie for The Flick in 2013, went on to write and direct the 2023 critical darling arthouse film, Janet Planet. In Flick, three employees at a once-grand movie house become friends while debating films, sweeping up popcorn and cleaning spilled soda. Some have criticized the play’s three-hour length — but not the New York Times, whose critics named it the third-greatest American play of the past 25 years. theatrecharlotte.org
Hair presented by Queen City Concerts at Booth Playhouse, Feb. 27–28
Couldn’t we all use some peace and love right now? (Not to mention sex, drugs and rock and roll.) The Tony- and Grammy-winning musical Hair celebrates the 1960s in all their groovy glory. The iconic production premiered off-Broadway in 1967; it’s since been reprised twice and made into a movie starring Treat Williams as the charismatic leader of a tribe of hippies. Luminaries such as Melba Moore, Ben Vereen, Keith Carradine and Meatloaf appeared in its first Broadway run. We’re eager to see QC Concerts’ take — especially the jubilant “I Got Life” scene. Learn more at qcconcerts.com; tickets at carolinatix.com.
Primary Trust presented by Three Bone Theatre, Feb. 6–22
In Eboni Booth’s 90-minute play, Kenneth — a lonely, Black bookstore employee in upstate New York, avoids facing reality by hanging out most nights in a Tiki bar with a drinking buddy he may be imagining. When he’s laid off, he must confront a painful past and uncertain future he’s long avoided. The winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama is more hopeful than the premise would make it seem. Booth has said her play is really about the human need for connection: “We need each other … to be able to let people in is crucial.” threebonetheatre.com. SP
