The Best Things to Do and See This Month in Charlotte: December 2023
32 events to ensure you aren't left in the boring cold
Charlotte Symphony’s holiday shows:
Dec. 1-3 Handel’s Messiah
Dec. 8 Soulful Christmas
Dec. 10 A Very Thorgy Christmas
Dec. 15-17 Holiday Pops
Dec. 20-23 Cirque de Noël
Renditions of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker:
Dec. 1-3 The Nutcracker by Charlotte Youth Ballet
Dec. 7-10 Clara’s Trip by Caroline Calouche & Co.
Dec. 8-23 The Nutcracker by Charlotte Ballet
Dec. 13-14 NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet! by Talmi Entertainment
Dec. 16-17 The Nutcracker by the Harris YMCA
(The 1:30 p.m. show on Saturday is in Spanish.)
Dec. 26-27 The Hip Hop Nutcracker by Jennifer Weber and company
Happening Now Through…
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical
Through Dec. 22
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte presents the classic show adapted from the book by Barbara Robinson.
McColl Family Theatre. Tickets start at $18
Weekends through Dec. 23
Take a ride on the magical Christmas train and enjoy a reading of The Polar Express, music from the movie’s soundtrack, hot cocoa, and cookies.
N.C. Transportation Museum. Tickets start at $34,
Through Dec. 23
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s light display, with s’mores stations, food trucks, and a gift store.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont. Tickets start at $15
Christmas Wonderland of Lights at Zootastic Park
Through Jan. 1
More than 4 million Christmas lights set to music, plus a petting zoo, carousel rides, concessions, s’mores pits, a candy shop and general store, Santa, and more.
Zootastic Park, Troutman. Tickets: $10
Events by Date
Jazz Room Holiday Edition: Preservation All-Stars, New Orleans Christmas
Dec. 1-2
New Orleans jazz band Preservation All-Stars returns to Charlotte for its swingin’ holiday show.
Booth Playhouse. Tickets start at $30
¡Celebrá! A Bilingual Family Holiday Concert
Saturday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m.-noon
Teaching artists and musicians lead an interactive concert with popular holiday songs, traditional Latin American Christmas carols, and more.
Charlotte Museum of History. Tickets: $5 for adults; $3 for kids 6 and up
Chanukah Celebration at Birkdale Village
Thursday, Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m.
Chabad of Lake Norman hosts this Chanukah celebration featuring a menorah-lighting ceremony, kids’ crafts, latkes, gelt, doughnuts, and more.
Birkdale Village on the Green, Huntersville. Free
Annual Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Dec. 7-30
More than a million lights illuminate a half-mile walking trail, plus a snow tube slide, retail and food vendors, arts performances, kids’ activities, Santa, and more.
Ballantyne’s Backyard. Tickets start at $10
Dec. 8-17
The cast of Theatre Charlotte performs Julius Arthur Leonard’s stage adaptation of the classic tale.
Theatre Charlotte. Tickets: $30
Dec. 8-17
Matthews Playhouse performs Leslie Bricusse’s musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
Matthews Playhouse. Tickets start at $20
Dec. 8-21
A Radio City Music Hall-style Christmas show, produced by Laura Little.
CPCC’s New Theater. Tickets start at $31
Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.
Dress in your holiday best for the Arthritis Foundation’s philanthropic 5K.
Truist Field. Registration starts at $40; free for spectators
Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-noon
Tea, hot cocoa, snacks, and stories with Mrs. Claus, for all ages.
NC Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures. Tickets: $15
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Saturday, Dec. 9, 3 & 7:30 p.m.
One of the rock opera’s famed holiday concerts.
Spectrum Center. Tickets start at $49
Miracles of Light: A Chanukah Concert with Nissim Black
Sunday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m.
Jewish Orthodox rapper Nissim Black in concert, with a menorah-lighting ceremony.
Le Méridien Charlotte. Tickets start at $36
The 69th Annual Singing Christmas Tree
Dec. 9-10
Carolina Voices’ MainStage Choir sings holiday favorites while arranged as a 32-foot-tall Christmas tree. The show also features Carolina Kids Voices, the Miller Street Dance Academy, and the Friendship Missionary Baptist Choir.
CPCC’s Halton Theater. Tickets start at $23
North Carolina Christmas Festival
Saturday, Dec. 16, 1-5 p.m.
Pictures with Santa, kids’ crafts, a toy giveaway, free gift wrapping, and more.
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Concord. Free
Noel & Maria: Home Again for the Holidays
Saturday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m.
Pianist Noel Freidline and vocalist/actress Maria Howell reinterpret holiday favorites in a cabaret-style theater.
Booth Playhouse. Tickets start at $40
Saturday, Dec. 16, 4 p.m.
Charlotte Concert Band plays Christmas music from around the world.
Christ Lutheran Church. Tickets: $15
In the Christmas Mood with The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Sunday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m.
Christmas classics in the historic orchestra’s melodic, swing-band style.
Ovens Auditorium. Tickets start at $81
Friday, Dec. 22, 9 a.m.-noon
A gift-giving event for kids in need. (Event is in Spanish.)
UNISAL, 3715 Latrobe Drive, Ste. 630. Free
