Things to Do in
Charlotte This Week.
November 30 through December 6, 2026. The holiday season is officially on: Christmas Town USA lights up in McAdenville on Tuesday, the Hornets host the Wizards on Monday night, The Nutcracker opens at the Belk Theater on Friday, and holiday lights glow every evening from Light the Knights to Speedway Christmas. Add in Beartooth, Wild 'N Out Live, Leanne Morgan, two Checkers home games, and there is no shortage of things to do in Charlotte this week and weekend.
The first week of December is when Charlotte leans fully into the holidays. The headline events are the Christmas Town USA tree lighting in McAdenville on Tuesday night, the Hornets' only home game in a two-week stretch against the Washington Wizards on Monday, and Charlotte Ballet's The Nutcracker opening Friday at the Belk Theater. The Panthers are on the road twice this week (Monday night at Tampa Bay, Sunday at Minnesota), so Charlotte watch parties rule. 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, Speedway Christmas in Concord, Holidays at the Garden in Belmont, and the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular in Ballantyne. It is a cozy, glowing, festive week in the Queen City.
Monday through Friday.
The Hornets host the Wizards on Monday, Christmas Town USA lights up in McAdenville on Tuesday, Beartooth plays The Fillmore, Wild 'N Out Live and Leanne Morgan headline Spectrum Center, Montell Fish hits The Fillmore, the Checkers open a weekend homestand on Friday, and Charlotte Ballet's The Nutcracker opens at the Belk Theater.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards
Spectrum Center - 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Charlotte Hornets host the Washington Wizards on Monday night at Spectrum Center, their only home game for a two-plus-week stretch as the Emirates NBA Cup knockout window takes over the league calendar. It is a prime early-season Southeast Division matchup and a great excuse for an Uptown game night. Grab dinner in South End or Uptown before the 7:00 PM tip-off. Tickets through the Hornets and Ticketmaster.
Christmas Town USA Tree Lighting
McAdenville - Dynamo 31, 102 Main St, McAdenville NC
The little mill town of McAdenville, about 20 minutes west of Uptown, flips on one of the most famous holiday light displays in the Southeast on Tuesday night. Dubbed Christmas Town USA since 1956, the town strings roughly 600,000 lights on the trees, storefronts, and pond, and the annual tree lighting ceremony kicks off the 26-day run at Dynamo 31 on Main Street. It is free to walk or drive through, and it draws visitors from across the Carolinas all December long.
Beartooth: Pure Ecstasy World Tour
The Fillmore Charlotte - 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Ohio rock band Beartooth brings the Pure Ecstasy World Tour to The Fillmore on Tuesday night, with Don Broco, Magnolia Park, and Windwaker along for the ride. Beartooth's blend of metalcore and anthemic rock has made them one of the most consistent live draws in modern heavy music, and The Fillmore is a great room for it. A loud, high-energy midweek show in the Music Factory district.
Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out Live
Spectrum Center - 333 E Trade St, Uptown
Nick Cannon brings the Wild 'N Out Live tour to Spectrum Center on Wednesday night, taking the improv comedy battle format from TV to the arena stage. Expect the show's signature roasts, games, and celebrity-style audience banter with a rotating cast of comics. It is a fun, unfiltered midweek night out in Uptown Charlotte. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
Leanne Morgan: The Time of Our Lives Tour
Spectrum Center - 333 E Trade St, Uptown
Comedian Leanne Morgan brings her Time of Our Lives Tour to Spectrum Center on Thursday night. Known for her warm, Southern, laugh-out-loud storytelling about motherhood, marriage, and getting older, Morgan has become one of the most in-demand comics on the road today. It is a big, crowd-pleasing arena comedy night to kick off the holiday weekend. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
Montell Fish: The Nest Tour
The Fillmore Charlotte - 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Singer, producer, and songwriter Montell Fish plays The Fillmore on Thursday night on The Nest Tour. His atmospheric, genre-blending R&B and gospel-inflected sound has earned him a devoted following and millions of streams. An intimate, immersive show in the Music Factory district for fans of adventurous pop and soul.
Charlotte Checkers vs. Colorado Eagles
Bojangles Coliseum - 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
The Charlotte Checkers open a weekend homestand against the Colorado Eagles on Friday night at Bojangles Coliseum. It is a fun, affordable, family-friendly way to start the weekend, and the historic East Independence Boulevard rink always delivers a lively atmosphere. Tickets through the Checkers.
The Nutcracker, Charlotte Ballet
Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts - 130 N Tryon St, Uptown
Charlotte Ballet's The Nutcracker opens Friday night at the Belk Theater and runs through December 23. The holiday classic, complete with Clara's dream journey, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Tchaikovsky's score, is the most beloved family tradition on the Uptown stage. The run includes a sensory-friendly performance, and tickets move fast, so book early through Blumenthal Arts.
Saturday & Sunday.
The Checkers host the Colorado Eagles on Saturday night, Shakey Graves closes the weekend at The Fillmore, Light the Knights glows at Truist Field, the Charlotte Christmas Village is open Thursday through Sunday, Speedway Christmas and the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular shine, and Holidays at the Garden fills the Daniel Stowe Conservancy in Belmont with a million lights.
Charlotte Checkers vs. Colorado Eagles
Bojangles Coliseum - 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
The Checkers close out their two-game homestand against the Colorado Eagles on Saturday night at Bojangles Coliseum. Back-to-back home games means two chances to catch AHL hockey this weekend, and the Saturday 6:00 PM start makes it easy to pair a game with dinner in the Elizabeth or East Charlotte neighborhoods.
Shakey Graves with Jobi Riccio
The Fillmore Charlotte - 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Austin singer-songwriter Shakey Graves brings his one-man-band blend of folk, blues, and rock to The Fillmore on Sunday night, with Jobi Riccio opening. His raucous, theatrical live show is the opposite of a sleepy Sunday, a loose and rootsy way to close out the first week of December.
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 through early January. The whole ballpark glows with millions of lights, with a holiday village, ice skating, snow tubing, s'mores, and festive food and drink on the concourse. It is one of Charlotte's most magical family traditions, right in Uptown, and it runs every night of the first week of December.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Uptown Charlotte
The Charlotte Christmas Village brings a European-style holiday market to Uptown with artisan vendors, warm drinks, holiday treats, and an ice rink. In the first week of December it is open Thursday through Sunday evenings, so the Dec 3-6 stretch is your window to wander the stalls under the Uptown lights with a mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate.
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway - 5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway is back with a 4-mile drive-through light spectacular through the infield and around the track. Tune the radio to the synchronized holiday music and enjoy millions of lights from the comfort of your car. On this weekend, the drive-in holiday movies run Thursday through Sunday and the infield Christmas Village is open, so it is the fullest version of the show.
Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Conservancy
Daniel Stowe Conservancy - 6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont
The renamed Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont becomes Holidays at the Garden each evening, with more than a million lights woven through the garden paths, glowing fountains, and festive displays. It opened the weekend after Thanksgiving and runs nightly through early January, a scenic west-side outing about 20 minutes from Charlotte. Timed-entry tickets are sold in advance.
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular at Ballantyne
Ballantyne's Backyard - 11611 N Community House Rd, Charlotte
The Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular at Ballantyne's Backyard lights up the south Charlotte gathering space with a walk-through holiday light experience running through December 30. With more than a million lights, Santa appearances, and carnival rides, it is a great option for families on the south side who want lights without the drive to Concord or McAdenville.
Ongoing & recurring.
WinterFest at Carowinds
Carowinds - NC/SC line
Select nights November 27 through January 3. Millions of lights, holiday shows, seasonal treats, and rides on the state line.
Christmas Town USA, McAdenville
McAdenville NC (about 20 minutes west of Uptown)
Runs December 1-26. One of the most famous holiday light displays in the Southeast, with roughly 600,000 lights. Free.
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway - Concord
The 4-mile drive-through light show runs nightly November 20 through January 3, 6-10 PM, with drive-in movies on weekends.
Light the Knights
Truist Field - Uptown
Nightly through early January. A stadium-wide light festival with ice skating, snow tubing, and a holiday village.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Uptown Charlotte
The European-style holiday market with an ice rink runs Thursday through Sunday evenings through January 3.
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.
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular
Ballantyne's Backyard - Charlotte
A walk-through light trail with Santa and carnival rides, running nightly through December 30.
Don't miss these.
Christmas Town USA Tree Lighting (Tuesday)
McAdenville has been lighting up as Christmas Town USA since 1956, and the tree lighting ceremony Tuesday night opens a full month of roughly 600,000 lights, all free and about 20 minutes from Uptown. It is one of those genuinely magical, very Charlotte holiday traditions you should see at least once.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards (Monday)
This is the Hornets’ only Spectrum Center home game for more than two weeks while the Emirates NBA Cup knockout rounds take over the calendar. If you love the energy of an Uptown game night, Monday is the night to catch the new-look Hornets before the schedule goes quiet.
The Nutcracker opening at the Belk Theater (Friday)
Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker opens Friday and runs through December 23, complete with a sensory-friendly performance. It is the classic indoor family pick of the season, and opening weekend tickets are the easiest to find before the show sells out.
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