Happenings: Calendar of events
December 2, 2024
Here’s our calendar of things to do in Charlotte. Our SouthPark neighborhood guide covers where to eat and shop.
EVENTS + ACTIVITIES
Light the Knights Festival at Truist Field
through January 3
The annual tradition features a light show, market, ice-skating on an NHL-size rink, and snow tubing on the 10-lane, 150-foot hill on the baseball field. General admission is $12; an all-activities pass with ice skating and snow tubing is $40. milb.com
Holidays at the Garden
various dates throughout December
Walk among thousands of twinkling lights, make s’mores, shop and enjoy a warm beverage at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont. New this year, an adult speakeasy, Santa visits and trackless train rides. Ticket prices vary. dsbg.org/visit
SouthPark Holiday Hop
through Dec. 31
To kick off the holiday shopping season, SouthPark Community Partners brings back the SouthPark Holiday Hop. Expect to see holiday-inspired painted windows, public art installations, seasonal deals from merchants and restaurants, and special events. Starting November 15, ride around SouthPark for free using Skipper, a new microtransit service similar to Uber. Rides will be offered daily from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. southparkclt.org
Kasey Musgraves: Deeper Well World Tour
Dec. 5
The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter comes to Spectrum Center following the release of her 5th album. ticketmaster.com
Phillips Place Holiday Celebration & Shopping Stroll
Dec. 5 I 4 – 7 p.m.
Get in the holiday spirit at this market by snapping photos with Santa and listening to Christmas carolers. Shoppers will also find exclusive discounts and offers, plus in-store experiences and seasonal treats. phillipsplacecharlotte.com
McColl Center Winter Art Market
Dec. 5 | 6-9 p.m.
Peruse original and editioned fine art by local printmakers, metal artists, painters and others. There will also be live music, a food truck, cocktails and kids activities. Free admission. 721 N. Tryon St. mccollcenter.org/events/winter-art-market
Fourth Ward Holiday Sip & Stroll
Dec. 5-7
The self-guided porch crawl returns with live music, food and beverage tastings, and plenty of holiday cheer. Purchase an upgraded ticket to tour the interiors of three homes in the Victorian-era neighborhood. Tickets are $30-$60. fourthwardclt.org
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Dec. 5-29 | 5:30 – 10 p.m.
Expect new holiday scenes this year as more than a million lights transform Ballantyne’s Backyard. There’s also a snow tube slide, oversized snow globes, children’s activities, food trucks, shops and special performances on select nights. Tickets start at $15. ncholidaylights.com
Charlotte Invitational
Dec. 6
Four tennis stars are lined up to play this inaugural event at Spectrum Center: Carlos Alcaraz versus Frances Tiafoe; Sloane Stephens versus Madison Keys. Tickets start at $52. ticketmaster.com
Charlotte Ballet presents Nutcracker
Dec. 6-22
Glittering snowfall, dancing sweets and toy soldiers: Charlotte’s Ballet’s annual production of Nutcracker at Belk Theater is a holiday tradition. Tickets start at $30. charlotteballet.org
2024 ACC Football Championship Game and Fan Fest
Dec. 6-7
The festivities start with a two-day Fan Fest at Romare Bearden Park. On game day, kickoff at Bank of America Stadium is slated for 8 p.m. ticketmaster.com
Jazzy: Gantt Golden Gala
Dec. 7
This black-tie affair at the Charlotte Convention Center is the culmination of the Gantt’s 50th anniversary celebration and its mission to share excellence in the art and culture of African Americans and the African diaspora. ganttcenter.org
We Believe – Santa 5K Trail Race and Dog Jog
Dec. 7
Bring your pup and wear something festive for this holiday-themed trail race. Awards will be handed out to the top finishers and for best costume. Preregistration is $37; day of sign-ups are $42. whitewater.org
Winter Holiday Market
Dec. 7 I 3-8 p.m.
Shop the holiday market at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and take in the scenic surroundings. Fifty vendors will feature locally-made goods. Parking is $5 per vehicle for members, $15 for non-members. ascgreenway.org
Mistletoe Market at Camp North End
Dec. 7, 14 and 21 | 3-8 p.m.
Grab a mug of cocoa (or a cocktail), shop for gifts and seasonal items curated by Vintage Charlotte, and enjoy cozy fire pits, igloos and live music. Bring your four-legged friend for the annual Reindog Parade on the 14th. Note: Ice-skating is open daily through Jan. 5 (tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children 5 and under). camp.nc
WNC Hurricane Relief Potters Market
Dec. 14 l 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
This one-day pop-up sale at The Park Expo & Conference Center showcases more than 30 potters from Western North Carolina. Attendees can shop directly from the artists and browse a range of pieces, from functional pottery to stunning works of art. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. All donations will benefit organizations in WNC that are providing important support to artists and their communities. The popup is a collaborative effort between The Mint Museum, Spruce Pine Potters Market, NC Pottery Center, Odyssey Clayworks, Potters of Madison County, and Toe River Arts District. Parking is $10. eventbrite.com
Noel & Maria: A Jazz Celebration of the Holidays – SOLD OUT
Dec. 14
Local favorites Noel Freidline and Maria Howell reinterpret Christmas classics and contemporary holiday favorites. The show includes special guests along with their own all-star band. Tickets start at $39.50. Booth Playhouse. blumenthalarts.org
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s The Lost Christmas Eve
Dec. 14
Expect pyrotechnics, lasers and a high-energy performance from the multi-platinum rock band in this holiday show marking its 20th anniversary. Through donating at least $1 from each ticket sold, the band is on track this season to reach $20 million given to charity. Spectrum Center. ticketmaster.com
Gingerbread Lane at The Ballantyne
Dec. 15-28
Stroll among dozens of holiday gingerbread displays while sipping cocoa and other seasonal drinks from the gingerbread hut. Donations benefit Levine Children’s Hospital. Plan ahead and make a reservation for afternoon holiday tea (Thursdays-Sundays) — $70 for adults and $45 per child; slots fill quickly. theballantynehotel.com
Tosco Music Holiday Party
Dec. 16
Enjoy sounds of the season at this annual holiday concert at Knight Theater. Tickets start at $19.50. toscomusic.org
Jumpman Invitational
Dec. 17-18
This basketball showcase at Spectrum Center highlights men’s and women’s teams from four of the original Jordan Brand-sponsored programs: Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma and UNC Chapel Hill. Ticket prices vary. charlottesports.org
‘Twas the Night Before by Cirque du Soleil
Dec. 20 – Jan. 4
This show based on the beloved poem features thrilling acrobatics and a soundtrack with reinvented holiday classics. Ovens Auditorium, tickets start at $54.50 boplex.com/events
A Charlie Brown Christmas at Middle C Jazz
Dec. 21-22
Experience the classic multi-platinum album performed in the spirit of The Vince Guaraldi Trio. The Sean Mason Trio and Tyra Scott will play the album in its entirety and other jazzy holiday favorites. middlecjazz.com
Chanukah Celebration at Symphony Park
Dec. 25 | 4:30 p.m. Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a grand menorah lighting, doughnuts and latkes, music, and family-friendly entertainment. chabadnc.org
ELF The Musical
Dec. 26-29
This funny, modern Christmas classic tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan who grows up among Santa’s elves in the North Pole. When Buddy embarks on a mission to find his father in New York City, he helps others discover the meaning of Christmas. Tickets start at $35, Belk Theater. blumenthalarts.org
Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story
Dec. 27-29
Now in its 12th year, this annual holiday show is a contemporary twist on the classic, with aerial performances by local and national dance and circus artists, plus students from Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center. carolinecalouche.org/clarastrip
The Avett Brothers
Dec. 31
It’s almost a tradition. Ring in the New Year at Bojangles Coliseum with the homegrown band led by brothers Scott and Seth Avett. ticketmaster.com
ONGOING EVENTS
Space Explorers: THE INFINITE
through Jan. 5, 2025
Get up close and personal with outer space. The 45-minute journey is inspired by NASA missions aboard the International Space Station. Through virtual reality, you’ll be transported 250 miles above Earth to experience encounters with astronauts and amazing views. It’s part of Blume Studios, a new initiative from Blumenthal Arts in The Iron District at 904 Post St. Tickets start at $29.95 for kids 8 to 12 and $44.95 for 13 and up. blumenthalarts.org/infinite
Fridays at Camp North End
through November
Take in the sunset or relax with friends as you explore Camp North End’s food and music scene. Listen to a DJ pumping tunes at Ford Green or bands jamming out in the Boileryard while you stroll, eat and shop across all three districts. Fridays, 5 – 10 p.m. (music is 6 – 9 p.m.). camp.nc/friday-night-music
Wednesday Night Live
Wednesdays from 5-9 p.m.
The Mint Museum, The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and the Knight Theater are partnering in this weekly event series featuring free admission and live entertainment. Visit mintmuseum.org for the programming schedule and updates.
First Friday South End Gallery Crawl
Galleries and shops offer extended hours, special receptions, live painting and music along the Rail Trail on the first Friday of each month. southendclt.org
Holidays in Blowing Rock
now through December
The town of Blowing Rock is welcoming back tourists for the holidays. Featured events include: Christmas in the Park and Lighting of the Town, Nov. 29; Christmas Parade, Nov. 30; Holiday Stroll, Dec. 13. Chetola Resort also kicks off its Festival of Lights Nov. 29-30, with holiday scenes remaining lit through the season. blowingrock.com
MUSEUMS + GALLERIES
Southern/Modern
through Feb. 2
This exhibition — a collaboration with Georgia Museum of Art — includes more than 100 works of art created in the American South during the first half of the 20th century. At Mint Museum Uptown. mintmuseum.org
Robert Motherwell: Signs of Mystery
through Dec. 31
See several works by abstract expressionist painter, printmaker and writer Robert Motherwell, who is widely known for his sweeping, gestural artwork. jeraldmelberg.com
Chance Encounters: Surrealism Then and Now
through March 3, 2025
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the movement, which was founded in Paris in 1924, this exhibit showcases art from The Bechtler’s collection, which includes works by Jean Arp, Max Ernst, Joan Miró and more. bechtler.org
Ties That Bind: Portraits by Mitchell Kearney of Artists at McColl Center 1999–2008
through Jan. 18
As McColl Center celebrates its 25th anniversary, this exhibition showcases Kearney’s documentation of the historic building’s transformation and of the artists who shaped the center’s legacy.
mccollcenter.org
In a Wave: Holly Coulis and Clare Grill
through Dec. 31
This exhibition at SOCO Gallery features works by Athens-based artist Holly Coulis, known for her colorful abstract still lifes, and the delicate, layered compositions of New York-based artist Clare Grill. socogallery.com
From the Heart: The John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American Art
through Jan. 20
This collection of 58 works by 20 artists includes works by Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett and Henry Ossawa Tanner. In 1998, Bank of America acquired the collection and pledged it to the Afro-American Cultural Center — now the Gantt Center. The collection was previously exhibited at the Gantt Center in 2009. ganttcenter.org
Kenny Nguyen: Adaptations at Mint Museum Uptown
through March 2, 2025
Nguyen, who grew up in Vietnam and moved to the United States when he was 19, merges cultural traditions in his works. The Charlotte artist innovatively combines abstract painting and fiber art into breathtaking pieces. mintmuseum.org
Becoming the Sea
through Jan. 20, 2025
This exhibit highlights 12 artists who participated in the Black Rock Senegal artist residency founded in Dakar in 2019. Curator Dexter Wimberly will be in attendance to reflect on the works and featured artists during the opening celebration on Aug. 9. A free community day takes places Aug. 10. ganttcenter.org
Charlotte: Moving Forward, Looking Back
Now open
This wide-ranging exhibition at Levine Museum of the New South highlights key industries, struggles for equality, the impact of immigration and Charlotte’s identity as part of the New South. Admission is free. 401 S. Tryon St., museumofthenewsouth.org
Objects of Affection: Jewelry by Robert Ebendorf from the Porter Price Collection
through Feb. 16
More than 180 works in this exhibition at Mint Museum Randolph highlight the studio jewelry, metalwork and collages of Robert
Ebendorf. The artist, who taught in the metal design program at East Carolina University for nearly 20 years, is known for using found pieces of sea glass, plastic, paper and indus trial objects in his works. mintmuseum.org
A New Moon Rises
This permanent exhibition reveals the grandeur and wonder of our closest celestial neighbor through stunning, large-scale photographs captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) between 2009 and 2015. Entrance is included with Discovery Place Science general admission, 301 N. Tryon St. discoveryplace.org
Don’t forget to check out our SouthPark neighborhood guide.
Featured image courtesy Camp North End, credit Corine Olarte
— compiled by SouthPark magazine staff
