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.