The REAL list of things to do in CLT for the holidays
If you know anything about me, you know I love Christmas. I love the focus on family and attention to others. I also love the corporate side of the holidays. I like to soak in as much of the holidays as possible and drive my family crazy packing in as many family holiday activities. Over the years we have created our list of holiday traditions around the Charlotte area. Most of these aren’t included on the normal list of holiday must-do’s and are things I found through research or word of mouth. I’d love to hear what other off-the-radar holiday activities you love in the Queen City.
Eggnog Jog at Charlotte Speedway
We did this for the first time last year. We went thinking it was a serious 5k. Well as serious as you can be in your reindeer onesie. It’s before Thanksgiving, which felt weird. But if you want to see the lights at the Charlotte Speedway, this is a great way to not wait hours in your car and get a workout at the same time.
Make Your Own Holiday Light Tour
My Christmas light viewing world was turned upside down when I found Rose’s Christmas Light Tour Facebook page years ago. We have several Holiday lights nights in the car, complete with hot chocolate and pajamas. We really go for the houses with the light shows set to music. Many collect donations for charity and share the music on a radio station. They change each year so I always check her handy FB page to get the latest and greatest and set up my route.
Stafford Park Holiday Lights Show
For one weekend each year, the Stafford Park neighborhood has a light competition. There is a set route through the neighborhood and you get to vote on your favorites. Santa is usually at one of the houses handing out candy canes. (bribery always works with us) If you go, go early in the night. The same house has won for 6 years. We joked about moving to the neighborhood just so we could shake it up a little.
The live nativity at Carmel Presbyterian Church is pretty much the same every year. Strangely I find that quite comforting and it takes me back to my childhood. This drive-thru nativity has live animals and multiple scenes. As you enter, you are given a CD to play in your car to narrate the story. The singing angels are always my favorite. The kids like the camel. Get there early! They haven’t posted the dates yet but you can read info from last year and see the approximate dates.
This one is a tad bittersweet. For the last several years, our family has done the Charlotte School of the Arts Gingerbread House workshop. It was pretty amazing. They give you everything to make two gingerbread houses per family. The houses are already put together and you get all the icing and candy your sweet tooth could desire. This year they have replaced the event with a Holiday Make and Take. We will report back, but I’m sure it will be great.
Myers Park Christmas Eve Luminaries
So many of my childhood holiday memories revolve around candles and luminaries. They were always so pretty. Our neighborhood doesn’t do them, but thankfully the residents on Queens Road West do. Take a drive through the main Myers Park road after sundown on Christmas Eve.
A trip to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is one of the “expected” items on our list. And it costs more than I usually like. However, the gardens are really pretty lit up for the holidays. We usually bribe our kids with the hot chocolate bar and that gives us enough time to walk through the displays and fully enjoy it.
I didn’t know about this gingerbread house competition at the Ballantyne Resort until I missed out on buying tickets for the Christmas Tea with my daughter. We let the kids dress up in their fancy outfits, but them hot chocolate and vote on our favorite gingerbread houses. Much cheaper. If you are adventurous, you can enter the competition. We can barely complete the houses that are already built for us, so we stick to the viewing.
What family doesn’t love OMB? During the holiday weekends, the German-style village hosts local artisans in a quaint and intimate setting. Neither of us really drink anymore, but the mulled spiced wine we had last year was quite yummy. A good option for a family weekend night out.
We discovered the holiday events in Davidson a few years ago when we were up there for dinner. Davidson during any month is beautiful. But Davidson with holiday magic layered over it is the quintissential small-town Christmas dream. There are tons of special activities. We enjoy the Santa visits. Super stress-free and high quality.
Support Tacky Inflatable Yards
As soon as I saw Molly Carroll’s yard across from the Midwood Park, I should have known we’d end up friends. Her yard is filled with more than 65 yard inflatables. She uses the catchy #christmascarrolls hashtag and she donates $1 to Alzheimer’s research for ever social media mention. I can’t outdo that, but last year we got into the game with our Santa Land. It is now my personal goal to add every absurd Santa inflatable I can find to our front yard. I promised to not start this year until the day after Thanksgiving. Get ready!
Each year I add a few more things to our list. Here are the “new to us” events I’ve penciled in for 2018.
McGill Garden 12 Days of Christmas
I’m not sure if this is new, but I’d love to check this out. For only $3 you can walk through the garden winter wonderland and enjoy smores and hot chocolate for 12 days over the holiday season. 5-10 pm on November 29th, 30th, December 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, and 21st!
Belmont Abbey College Holiday Concert
I didn’t realize this but Belmont Abbey College has a year-round concert series in their gorgeous chapel. I promised to add more music to the list this year and this looks like a good place to start. I’d love to hear if others have favorite holiday concerts in the area.
LU Praise Christmas Celebration at First Baptist Church
I love holiday music. I love gospel. I surely will love this. I found the LU Praise special celebration when searching for holiday concerts. We’ve never attended First Baptist Church but I’ve already added this to our calendars.
If you want even more events, go to the Day by day guide from Charlotte on the Cheap. They will be adding things constantly and I will be checking there often, too. What other events should I be adding to my list?