PulseCharlotte

Christmas in Charlotte 2026

Our picks

Christmas lights

Speedway ChristmasThrough Nov 28 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord
Holidays at the GardenTime TBA Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Gastonia
Speedway Christmas Lights – Concord and After drinks/food Plus Optional Hike3:15 PM Food Lion, Concord
Holiday Lights at the Garden: Tickets Required7 PM Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Gastonia

Ice skating

Ice Skating at The BowlThrough Nov 28 The Amp BallantyneIce Skating at Camp North EndThrough Jan 10 Camp North EndIce Skating at The BowlThrough Jan 10 TD Amp Ballantyne

Parades and tree lightings

Bank of America Stadium Tree Lighting5:30 PM Bank of America StadiumPanthers and Charlotte FC Tree Lighting5:30 PM Bank of America Stadium
All Is Bright Holiday Tree Lighting3 PM Blakeney Town Center
Fort Mill Christmas Village & Tree Lighting5 PM Fort Mill Amphitheater at Walter Y. Elisha Park, Rock Hill
Christmas Parade in McAdenville5 PM McAdenville, Gastonia

Holiday festivals and town celebrations

Santa's Nice List Toy Drive Show8 PM The Milestone Club
Bring Your Own Build – Holiday Edition11:30 AM NoDa Brewing Company
Charlotte Holiday Eats & Food Truck Festival10 AM West Boulevard Library
Christmas Town USA5:30 PM Christmastown, GastoniaChristmas After Hours7 PM Pleasant Grove Farm
2026 Fourth Ward Holiday Sip & Stroll + Home Tour5 PM Historic Fourth Ward
The Flamingo Revue Presents: A Very Merry Tropic Tease8 PM Commonwealth Avenue
Charlotte Santa Speedo Run1 PM Wooden Robot Brewery - South EndJingle Bell Dembow11:30 AM Seaboard Southend
A Holiday Celebration with Charlotte Dogs on Walks!1 PM Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo

Holiday markets

Southern Christmas ShowThrough Nov 22 The Park Expo and Conference Center
Wellness Wonderland Holiday Market12 PM Primal Brewery Belmont, GastoniaHoliday Pop-Up Market11 AM Ballantyne VillageNoDa Pottery Market Holiday Event 202610 AM N Davidson St
Hot Stuff Holiday Market11:30 AM Petra's
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's Christmas MarketMany dates Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSoOMB Christmas MarketMany dates OMB BallantyneOMB Christmas Markets: LoSo and BallantyneMany dates OMB LoSo and OMB BallantyneChristmas ExtravaganzaAlso Nov 28, Nov 29 Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Concord
Uptown Holiday MarketThrough Dec 5 Legacy Union PlazaBrixham Park Holiday Market10 AM Brixham Park
Common Market Holiday Hop Fashion Show7 PM Common Market Plaza MidwoodFront Porch Holiday Market11 AM FreeMoreWestHolidays in Huntersville3 PM Veterans Park, HuntersvilleWinter Holiday Market12 PM Anne Springs Close Greenway, Rock Hill
The Chamber Holiday MarketTime TBA The Chamber by Wooden RobotA Novel Night Out: A Mini Christmas Book Market4 PM Cellar & Ale

The Nutcracker, carols and holiday shows

Girls Night Out at the Southern Christmas Show4 PM The Park Expo and Conference Center
A Magical Cirque Christmas3 PM Belk Theater
Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite8 PM Carolina Theatre
PickDerek Hough Dance For The Holidays8 PM Ovens AuditoriumPickChristmas Together with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and CeCe Winans7 PM Bojangles Coliseum
Cicely Shantel Holiday Season Show7 PM Middle C Jazz
The Nutcracker: Opening Night7:30 PM Belk TheaterNutcracker by Charlotte Ballet7:30 PM Charlotte BalletHandel's Messiah7:30 PM Knight TheaterHoliday Improv at Charlotte Comedy Theater7:30 PM Charlotte Comedy Theater at The VAPA Center
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Christmas8 PM Carolina TheatreHundreds of Beavers: A Northwoods Christmas8:30 PM Independent Picture House
Mindi Abair's I Can't Wait For Christmas Tour, 20266 PM Middle C Jazz
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve3 PM Spectrum Center
Adrian Crutchfield and Evan Taylor Christmas Show5 PM Middle C JazzChristmas Music Show6 PM Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. NoDaI'll Be HOMO for Christmas!Time TBA Bar ArgonIt's a Wonderful Life: 80th Anniversary Screening7 PM Carolina Theatre

Christmas bars

Hops and Holly Holiday Pop-Up Bar Opening11:30 AM NoDa Brewing Company
Miracle Holiday Pop-up OpeningTime TBA DeepCuts Hi-FiMiracle on Hwy 16Through Dec 31 Latitudes Bar & Grill
Blue Christmas Holiday Pop-UpTime TBA Blue Door
Miracle at BackStage LoungeBackStage LoungeSippin' Santa at The Royal TotThe Royal Tot

Holiday parties

Ugly Holiday Sweater Party6 PM Bond On Mint Apartments
Youth Villages Holiday Heroes Ornament Decorating PartyTime TBA The Chamber by Wooden Robot
NoDa Krampus Krawl 20266 PM The Evening Muse

New Year's Eve

PickNew Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration8 PM Aurum Bar and LoungePickOnce Upon A TIME: Charlotte New Year's Eve 2027 Immersive Party8 PM Blume StudiosPickCharlotte New Year's Eve Party 2027 | NYE Bar Crawl | The Countdown Crawl7 PM HopFly Brewing Co.R&B Only Live on Nye (Charlotte, NC)8 PM The FillmoreDancing Through the Decades: New Year's Eve Party at South End Station9 PM SlateGatsby New Year's Eve – Monday Night Brewing Garden Co9 PM Monday Night Garden Co.Charlotte NYE Bar Crawl6 PM Retro BarNew Years Eve 2027 @The Moxy CLT9 PM MoxyMeet Me at Midnight: New Year's Eve Party, Presented by SportsLink9 PM Ink N IvyMIDNIGHT in Miami: NYE Party 20278 PM Events@9506New Era: Elevated Rooftop NYE Experience10 PM CircaEVOLVE: NYE 2027! UPTOWN + Indoor +Dance Floor + Uptown9 PM CircaNew Years Eve Charlotte NYE Bar Crawl – All Access Party Pass 10+ Venues8 PM SlateDeath to 2026: New Year's Eve8 PM The Milestone ClubThe Official New Years Eve Bar Crawl5 PM Retro BarDec 31st Nye Da Biggest Party in the World Text 704-674-2207 for VIP Tables10 PM Superstarz CLTJamie Lissow's New Year's Eve Kickoff7 PM The Comedy ZoneC&W NYE Toast ~ New Year's Eve10 PM C&W SteakhouseNew Years Eve Party8 PM BoatYard, CorneliusFAS New Year's Eve Ball8 PM S&D Banquet HallNew Year's Eve Bash with Sophie Buddle10 PM The Comedy ZoneNew Years Eve Clt 20278 PM Peace & SaintNew Years Eve with Soakin' Wet!8 PM Amici's Pizza Sports Bar and Grill, ConcordEnchanted Cabaret: A Fantasy NYE Revue8:30 PM Long Room CLTNew Years Eve Party – 20268 PM Bigwoods House, GastoniaThe Ball Drop9 PM Hilton Garden Inn, Rock HillNew Year's Eve with Big Love Junkie9 PM The Fish Bowl, Concord

More on Pulse

Questions

What are the best Christmas events in Charlotte in 2026?

Pulse's picks: New Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration (Dec 31, Aurum Bar and Lounge); Derek Hough Dance For The Holidays (Nov 29, Ovens Auditorium); Once Upon A TIME: Charlotte New Year's Eve 2027 Immersive Party (Dec 31, Blume Studios); Charlotte New Year's Eve Party 2027 | NYE Bar Crawl | The Countdown Crawl (Dec 31, HopFly Brewing Co.); Christmas Together with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and CeCe Winans (Nov 29, Bojangles Coliseum).

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