Things to Do in
Charlotte This Week.
December 7 through 13, 2026. The holiday season is in full swing: the Panthers host the Saints on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, Trans-Siberian Orchestra plays two shows at Spectrum Center on Saturday, the Checkers host the Penguins twice, and the Charlotte Invitational brings tennis to Uptown. Add in Mark Normand at The Comedy Zone, The Nutcracker at the Belk Theater, and holiday lights glowing from Light the Knights to Christmas Town USA, and there is no shortage of things to do in Charlotte this week and weekend.
The second week of December is when Charlotte settles into its holiday rhythm. The headline events are the Panthers hosting the Saints on Sunday at 1:00 PM, Trans-Siberian Orchestra's two Saturday shows at Spectrum Center, and the Charlotte Invitational bringing pro tennis to Uptown on Friday. If you are looking for things to do in Charlotte this weekend, the holiday lights are everywhere: Light the Knights at Truist Field, the Charlotte Christmas Village in Uptown, Christmas Town USA in McAdenville, Speedway Christmas in Concord, Holidays at the Garden in Belmont, and the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular in Ballantyne. The Hornets are on the road at Washington on Saturday, then return home for a Monday night game against Toronto on December 14. It is a cozy, glowing, very Charlotte week.
Monday through Friday.
The Checkers host the Penguins twice at Bojangles Coliseum (a 10:30 AM School Day Game Tuesday and a 7:00 PM game Wednesday), Mark Normand plays The Comedy Zone on Thursday, the Charlotte Invitational brings tennis to Spectrum Center on Friday, and the Charlotte Christmas Village, The Nutcracker, and Light the Knights keep Uptown glowing every night.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Uptown Charlotte
Uptown's European-style holiday market returns Thursday through Sunday evenings, with artisan vendors, warm drinks, holiday treats, and an ice rink right in the center of the city. It is the easiest way to get a festive night out without leaving Charlotte, and with the first full week of December in full swing the lights along Tryon and College Streets are at their prettiest.
Charlotte Checkers School Day Game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Bojangles Coliseum - 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
The Charlotte Checkers host their annual School Day Game on Tuesday morning, a 10:30 AM faceoff against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Bojangles Coliseum. It is one of the most family-friendly events on the whole AHL calendar, with a lively, kid-packed atmosphere and discounted group pricing. If you have a flexible schedule or a homeschool crew, it is a uniquely fun way to catch pro hockey.
Charlotte Checkers vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Bojangles Coliseum - 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
The Checkers close out the two-game series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. Back-to-back home games against the same opponent means the midweek nightcap is the more traditional evening outing, and Bojangles Coliseum stays one of the most affordable, easy, family-friendly sports tickets in Charlotte.
Mark Normand: Still Got It Tour
The Comedy Zone - 100 W Trade St, Uptown Charlotte
New York comedian Mark Normand brings his Still Got It Tour to The Comedy Zone on Thursday night, with additional shows Friday evening. Known for his rapid-fire observational stand-up and the wildly popular Tuesdays with Stories podcast, Normand is one of the hardest-working comics on the road today. A reliably sharp, funny night out in Uptown.
Charlotte Invitational
Spectrum Center - 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Charlotte Invitational returns to Spectrum Center on Friday at noon, bringing world-class professional tennis to the Queen City for the first time. The arena court set-up turns the home of the Hornets into a premium tennis venue, and the midday start makes it an easy lunch-hour or early-afternoon outing in Uptown Charlotte.
Charlotte Ballet: The Nutcracker
Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts - 130 N Tryon St, Uptown
Charlotte Ballet's The Nutcracker continues its December run at the Belk Theater all week, with multiple evening performances and weekend matinees including a Sunday 2:00 PM show. Clara's dream, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Tchaikovsky's score make it the most beloved family tradition on the Uptown stage, and tickets for the first two weeks of the run are generally the easiest to find before the holiday sell-out.
Light the Knights at Truist Field
Truist Field - 324 S Mint St, Uptown Charlotte
Truist Field stays transformed into a stadium-sized holiday light festival all December, with millions of lights, a holiday village, ice skating, snow tubing, s'mores, and festive food and drink on the concourse. It runs every night of this week, which makes it the perfect cap on a school night or the start of a weekend stroll through Uptown Charlotte.
Saturday & Sunday.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra plays two shows at Spectrum Center on Saturday, the Uptown Farmers Market wraps its season on Saturday morning, the Panthers host the Saints on Sunday at 1:00 PM, Chris Mitchell brings Begging for Sax to The Fillmore, and a Sunday matinee of The Nutcracker closes the weekend.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Spectrum Center - 333 E Trade St, Uptown
Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings The Ghosts of Christmas Eve to Spectrum Center on Saturday with two full shows, 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM, on the 30th-anniversary winter tour. The arena show pairs a rock concert with a theatrical holiday story and a legendary wall of lasers, lights, and pyro. It has been a Charlotte December tradition for years, and it sells out, so grab seats early.
Uptown Farmers Market (Final Saturday of the Season)
300 S Davidson St, Uptown Charlotte
The Uptown Farmers Market holds its final Saturday of the 2026 season on December 12 at 300 S Davidson Street. It is the last chance this year for local produce, holiday wreaths and greenery, baked goods, and handmade gifts from regional vendors, all steps from the Uptown Charlotte skyline. Stock up on winter citrus, pecans, and holiday hostess gifts while the season lasts.
Gianmarco Soresi
The Carolina Theatre at Belk Place - 500 N Tryon St, Uptown Charlotte
Stand-up comic Gianmarco Soresi plays The Carolina Theatre at Belk Place on Saturday night. The New York-based comic and host of The Downside podcast brings his sharp, self-aware, crowd-working style to the historic Uptown theater, a fun and unexpected comedy pick for the weekend.
Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints
Bank of America Stadium - 800 S Mint St, Uptown Charlotte
The Carolina Panthers host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium in a big NFC South matchup, with a 1:00 PM kickoff on CBS. It is the last Charlotte home game for a stretch and a classic December football afternoon in Uptown, with the tailgating lots, sports bars, and stadium atmosphere all in full holiday-weekend form. If you are not going, any Uptown or South End sports bar will be lively.
Chris Mitchell: Begging for Sax
The Fillmore Charlotte - 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Chris Mitchell brings Begging for Sax to The Fillmore on Sunday night, a raucous sax-driven live show with VIP meet-and-greet upgrades. It is a high-energy, slightly irreverent way to close out the weekend in the Music Factory district, far from a sleepy Sunday.
Charlotte Hornets on the Road at Washington
Away at Washington Wizards (watch in Charlotte)
The Charlotte Hornets have no Spectrum Center home game this week, but they face the Washington Wizards on the road Saturday night. It is the quiet spot on the schedule before they return to Uptown Charlotte for a Monday night home game against Toronto on December 14. Catch the away game at any of Charlotte's sports bars, or plan ahead for the home return next week.
Charlotte Ballet: The Nutcracker
Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts - 130 N Tryon St, Uptown
If the Saturday TSO arena show is too big and bright for your crew, the Sunday matinee of Charlotte Ballet's The Nutcracker at 2:00 PM is the classic family pick. The Belk Theater matinee is a relaxed, gorgeous introduction to live ballet for kids, and it pairs perfectly with the Uptown holiday lights afterward.
Ongoing & recurring.
Light the Knights at Truist Field
Truist Field - Uptown Charlotte
Nightly through early January. A stadium-wide holiday light festival with ice skating, snow tubing, a holiday village, and festive food.
Christmas Town USA, McAdenville
McAdenville NC (about 20 minutes west of Uptown)
Runs December 1-26. Roughly 600,000 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 drive-in movies on weekends.
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 through early January.
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.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Uptown Charlotte
The holiday pop-up market with an ice rink is open Thursday through Sunday evenings in Uptown through early January.
OMB Christmas Market
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery taprooms
A traditional German-style Christmas market with 50-plus local vendors, open weekends through December 21.
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.
Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday)
A 1:00 PM NFC South showdown at Bank of America Stadium is the perfect December Sunday in Charlotte, whether you are in the stands or watching from an Uptown sports bar. It is the last home game for a stretch, so expect the full holiday-weekend atmosphere around Mint Street.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Spectrum Center (Saturday)
Two shows on Saturday, and they are the closest thing Charlotte has to a rock-and-roll Christmas tradition. The Ghosts of Christmas Eve is theatrical, loud, and genuinely dazzling, and the earlier 3:00 PM show is surprisingly family-friendly for older kids.
Checkers School Day Game (Tuesday)
A 10:30 AM puck drop at Bojangles Coliseum is about as charming and local as Charlotte gets. If you can swing it, bring the kids, grab some classic arena food, and enjoy a morning at the rink that almost nobody else in the city knows about.
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