Things to Do in
Charlotte This Week.
December 14 through 20, 2026, the week before Christmas in Charlotte is packed with reasons to get out: the Hornets host four straight home games at Spectrum Center, the Panthers play their final home game of the month against Cincinnati on Sunday, Holiday Pops runs all weekend at Knight Theater, and the Checkers host Springfield twice at Bojangles Coliseum.
This is the calm-before-the-storm week that Charlotte actually packs with events. The headline story is basketball: the Hornets host Toronto, the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City, and Portland in four straight home games at Spectrum Center from Monday to Saturday, a rare full week in Uptown. Sunday brings the Panthers hosting the Bengals at 1:00 PM, and Holiday Pops fills Knight Theater from Friday through Sunday, from the family matinee to the evening concerts. If you are searching for things to do in Charlotte this week and weekend, the holiday lights are everywhere too: Light the Knights, Christmas Town USA in McAdenville, Speedway Christmas, and WinterFest at Carowinds are all in full swing.
Monday through Friday.
The week is all about Uptown: the Hornets host the Toronto Raptors on Monday, the LA Clippers on Wednesday, and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, with Lucy Bedroque at The Underground on Tuesday and AJ Ghent at The Fillmore on Friday as the live-music options. Holiday Pops opens at Knight Theater on Friday night, and the holiday lights around Center City are glowing every evening.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors
Spectrum Center, 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Charlotte Hornets return home from a road game in Washington to host the Toronto Raptors at Spectrum Center on Monday night. It kicks off a rare four-game home week in Uptown, and a Monday tip-off is a great excuse to grab dinner around the arena and settle in for the NBA energy. Tickets through the Hornets' official site and Ticketmaster.
Lucy Bedroque at The Underground
The Underground, 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Rising indie pop and R&B artist Lucy Bedroque plays The Underground on Tuesday night with opener pinponpanpon. The intimate venue in the Music Factory district is one of the best rooms in town to catch an artist on the way up, and the early-ish start keeps it a manageable midweek night out. Tickets through Live Nation.
Charlotte Hornets vs. LA Clippers
Spectrum Center, 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Hornets host the LA Clippers at Spectrum Center on Wednesday night, the second home game of the week. It is a classic NBA night in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, with plenty of dinner and parking options within a short walk of the arena. A fun midweek outing in the middle of the holiday season.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Spectrum Center, 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Hornets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at Spectrum Center on Friday night, the third of four home games this week. A Friday-night Uptown game is peak Charlotte: pre-game cocktails in the restaurants around the arena, the arena buzz, and the holiday lights glowing all over Center City afterward.
AJ Ghent at The Fillmore
The Fillmore Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Soulful guitarist and vocalist AJ Ghent brings his funk-and-gospel-infused show to The Fillmore on Friday night. Known for searing guitar work and a powerful live set, he is a great live-music alternative to the big arena shows this month. Tickets through AXS and Live Nation.
Charlotte Symphony Holiday Pops, Opening Night
Knight Theater, 430 S Tryon St, Uptown
The Charlotte Symphony's Holiday Pops opens Friday night at Knight Theater in Uptown, a joyful mix of carols, holiday classics, and full-orchestra arrangements with the symphony's beloved guest vocalists. The run continues Saturday with an 11:00 AM family matinee and a 7:30 PM show, and closes with a Sunday 3:00 PM matinee, so there is a Holiday Pops for every kind of audience this weekend.
Saturday & Sunday.
Saturday is a full day: the Checkers host Springfield at 4:00 PM, the Hornets close their home week against Portland at 6:00 PM, Holiday Pops plays its family matinee and evening show at Knight Theater, and Jodeci brings the Forever My Lady anniversary tour to Ovens Auditorium. Sunday keeps the pace with the Panthers hosting the Bengals at 1:00 PM, another Checkers matinee at 1:00 PM, the Holiday Pops closing show at 3:00 PM, and the OMB Christmas Market's final weekend in South End.
Charlotte Checkers vs. Springfield Thunderbirds
Bojangles Coliseum, 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
The Charlotte Checkers host the Springfield Thunderbirds at Bojangles Coliseum on Saturday afternoon with a 4:00 PM puck drop. Pro hockey at the Coliseum is one of the most affordable, family-friendly sports tickets in the metro, and an afternoon game leaves the evening free for holiday plans.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Spectrum Center, 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Hornets cap their four-game home week on Saturday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at 6:00 PM at Spectrum Center. It is the final Spectrum Center home game before the team heads to Philadelphia on Monday, and a 6:00 PM start makes for a great early-evening Uptown outing. Tickets through the Hornets' official site and Ticketmaster.
Charlotte Symphony Holiday Pops, Family Matinee & Evening
Knight Theater, 430 S Tryon St, Uptown
The Charlotte Symphony's Holiday Pops plays twice at Knight Theater on Saturday: an 11:00 AM family matinee built for kids, then the full evening concert at 7:30 PM. Either way you get the orchestra in full holiday form, sing-along carols, and the warmest musical tradition of the Charlotte season.
Jodeci: Forever My Lady 35th Anniversary Tour
Ovens Auditorium, 2900 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
R&B legends Jodeci bring the 35th-anniversary celebration of Forever My Lady to Ovens Auditorium on Saturday and Sunday nights at 8:00 PM. The Charlotte-born, multi-platinum quartet made history in the 90s, and this hometown reunion tour is a hot ticket for anyone who grew up on the era. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
Modern Alibi at The Underground
The Underground, 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Modern Alibi plays The Underground on Saturday night, an energetic rock and alternative set in the intimate Music Factory room. It is a fun, low-key concert option between the bigger arena shows, and the venue's short walk to breweries and restaurants makes it an easy night out.
Carolina Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Bank of America Stadium, 800 S Mint St, Uptown Charlotte
The Carolina Panthers host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium, with a 1:00 PM kickoff on FOX. It is the last home game before the Christmas stretch, and a December Sunday in Uptown brings the full tailgating and game-day atmosphere around Mint Street. If you are not in the stands, any Uptown or South End sports bar will be packed for the afternoon.
Charlotte Checkers vs. Springfield Thunderbirds
Bojangles Coliseum, 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
The Checkers wrap their weekend home series against the Springfield Thunderbirds with a Sunday 1:00 PM matinee at Bojangles Coliseum. A Sunday-afternoon hockey game is a relaxed, affordable way to spend family time before the Christmas week rush, with classic arena concessions and plenty of kid-friendly energy.
Charlotte Symphony Holiday Pops, Closing Matinee
Knight Theater, 430 S Tryon St, Uptown
Holiday Pops closes its run with a 3:00 PM Sunday matinee at Knight Theater, a gentle, gorgeous way to ease into the week before Christmas. Carol sing-alongs, holiday orchestral favorites, and a warm Uptown room make it the perfect low-key finale to a full holiday weekend.
OMB Christmas Market, Final Weekend
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Rd, South End
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's German-style Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt) hosts its final weekend of the 2026 season in South End, with 50-plus local vendors, traditional wooden huts, Glühwein and hot cocoa, fire pits, holiday music, and seasonal beers. It is one of Charlotte's most beloved holiday traditions, and this is the last chance to catch it. Free to enter.
Mistletoe Market at Camp North End
Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte
Vintage Charlotte's Mistletoe Market takes over Camp North End on Saturday afternoon, a holiday makers market with local artisans, vintage finds, gifts, food trucks, and live music inside the sprawling North End creative campus. It is a great spot to knock out last-minute holiday shopping while supporting Charlotte makers.
WinterFest at Carowinds
Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte
Carowinds transforms into WinterFest for the holidays, and this weekend is squarely in its December run (December 18-22 operating dates). Festive lights across the park, live holiday shows, select rides, Santa appearances, and seasonal food and drink are all included with park admission. It is a short drive from south Charlotte and one of the biggest family draws of the holiday season.
Ongoing & recurring.
Light the Knights at Truist Field
Truist Field - Uptown Charlotte
Nightly through early January. A stadium-wide holiday light festival with a regulation-size ice rink, a 10-lane snow-tubing slope, a holiday market, and festive food and drink on the concourse.
Christmas Town USA, McAdenville
McAdenville NC (about 20 minutes west of Uptown)
Runs December 1-26, 5:30-10 PM. Roughly 600,000 red, green, and white lights across the little mill town, free to walk or drive through.
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway - Concord
The 4-mile drive-through light spectacular runs nightly through January 3, 6-10 PM, with the Express Lane and infield Christmas Village open nightly December 17-27.
Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Conservancy
Daniel Stowe Conservancy - 6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont
A million-plus lights woven through the garden paths, glowing fountains, and festive displays nightly, 5-10 PM, through December 30.
Charlotte Ballet: The Nutcracker
Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts - Uptown
Charlotte Ballet's December run of The Nutcracker continues through December 21 at the Belk Theater, with evening shows and weekend matinees.
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular at Ballantyne
Ballantyne's Backyard - 11611 N Community House Rd, Charlotte
A walk-through light trail with Santa appearances and carnival rides, running nightly through December 30.
OMB Christmas Market
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery taprooms
A traditional German-style Christmas market with 50-plus local vendors, open weekends through December 21 at the South End biergarten.
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
1801 Yorkmont Rd
Open Wednesday through Sunday year-round. Early-winter stock: winter squash, apples, pecans, greens, and holiday baking staples.
Don't miss these.
Hornets Four-Game Home Week (Monday through Saturday)
The Hornets play four straight home games at Spectrum Center this week, from Toronto on Monday to Portland on Saturday. It is one of the rare weeks where you can pick your night in Uptown, and if you can catch the Saturday 6:00 PM tip against Portland, you get the whole holiday-lights downtown scene right after the buzzer.
Charlotte Symphony Holiday Pops (Friday through Sunday)
Holiday Pops at Knight Theater is the warmest tradition on the Charlotte calendar. The Friday and Saturday 7:30 PM shows are a classic date night, while the Saturday 11:00 AM family matinee and Sunday 3:00 PM matinee are perfect for kids. There is genuinely a show for everyone this weekend.
Carolina Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1:00 PM)
The last home game before Christmas is always a great December Sunday in Charlotte, and this one is against the Bengals at 1:00 PM. Whether you tailgate on Mint Street or grab a booth at an Uptown sports bar, it is the perfect centerpiece for the weekend before Christmas week.
Checkers Weekend Doubleheader (Saturday & Sunday)
The Checkers host Springfield twice at Bojangles Coliseum, Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 1:00 PM. Pro hockey at the Coliseum is affordable, lively, and wonderfully family-friendly, and an afternoon game is the ideal low-stress holiday-weekend outing.
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