FRIDAY
Eight + Sand Grand Opening
- 135 New Bern St.
- Free cookies and free hot chocolate to celebrate opening. They’ll also debut their new seasonal menu and brunch specials — plus festive holiday decorations will be up.
- 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Free.
The Roaring 20s Holiday Ball
- QC Social Lounge, 300 N. College St., #105
- Put on your best Gatsby costume for a night of entertainment, music, craft cocktails, and dancing at QC Social Lounge.
- 6-11:30 p.m.
- $40-$75
ACC FANFEST
- Charlotte Convention Center
- Festivities include a 40-yard dash and passing accuracy station, live DJ, entertainment, photo ops, Battle of the Bands, and mascot appearances.
- 5 p.m.
- Free.
SATURDAY
Birdsong 8 Year Anniversary Party!
- Birdsong
- To celebrate turning 8, Birdsong will have live music all afternoon, vendors, food, and of course lots of beer.
- All day.
- Free, $15 pre-sale bundle.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2019
- Spectrum Center
- Plan to get chills listening to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra perform “Christmas Canon” and their other holiday classics live.
- 3 p.m.
- $49+
2019 ACC Football Championship Game
- Bank of America Stadium
- 7:30 p.m.
- $41-$256
Mistletoe Market 2019
- Camp North End
- Shop from 30-plus local vendors, roast marshmallows by the fire, warm up with a holiday movie at the German-inspired beer haus, see a parade of dogs in sweaters, and indulge in some holiday fun.
- 5-10 p.m.
- Free.
SUNDAY
Holiday Pet Portraits
- Lenny Boy Brewing
- 12pm-5pm
- 2 digital images of your puppers for $25 or 3 for $30*
Flow for Fosters at Flower Child
- Flower Child
- 10a
ALL WEEKEND
OMB’s Weihnachtsmarkt Weekend
- OMB
- OMB’s annual Weihnachtsmarkt Weekend is back with 40-plus vendors for you to shop from. Expect tons of lights, Gluhwein (spiced wine pronounced “Gloo-vine”), holiday music, hot cocoa, festive food, fire pits, and tons of beer.
- 4 p.m.
- Free.
Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker
- Belk Theater
- The show runs Friday-Sunday, with the last show on December 23.
- 7:30 p.m.
- $25+.
McGill’s Winter Wonderland
- Rosie’s Wine Garden
- They’ve got lights, hot chocolate, and s’mores now through December, plus you can still purchase the usual wine and beer. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots if you’re feeling generous.
- 4-10 p.m.
- Free.
WinterFest
- Carowinds
- They’ve got a 70-foot tree, 5 million twinkly lights, live shows, performers all around, and festive hands-on activities — plus some of the usual rides.
- 5-10 p.m.
- $20+
Winter Wonderland
- SouthPark Mall
- The open-air ice rink has returned for another season. If you have your own skates, it’s $12 for two hours and it’s $17 for two hours of skating and skate rental. Santa will be there 5:30-7:30 p.m. to read books, lead sing-a-longs, and get your Christmas list.
- 3 p.m. to midnight.
- $12-$17
The Polar Express Train Ride
- N.C. Transportation Museum
- 4 p.m.
- $37 kids, $43 adults.
Holidays at the Garden
- Daniel Stowe, 6500 S New Hope Road, Belmont
- Stroll through the gardens and see a mile of lights. Roast a marshmallow by a crackling fire, shop, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus (select nights), and listen to holiday music, too.
- 5-9 p.m.
- $14.95+.
Whitewater Center Ice Skating
- U.S. National Whitewater Center
- This new ice skating rink includes 17,000 square feet of ice on the Upper Pond of the whitewater river, and it’ll have three areas (free skate, winter sports and a 600-foot ice trail).
- $20 for single activity pass.
- 10 a.m. to 10 p.m
Holiday Light Trail
- USNWC
- This isn’t your average holiday light show. Artist Meredith Connelly created tons of immersive light installations inspired by nature that line the half-mile walking path.
- 6-10 p.m.
- Free, $6 for parking
Charlotte Christmas Village – Christkindlmarkt
- Corner of 7th Street & North Tryon Street
- Expect the usual speciality foods, Glühwein in a souvenir village mug, cider, hot chocolate, vendors, photos with Santa, and holiday performances.
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Free.