Agenda Weekender: 24 things to do including the 2016 Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade, Charlotte Christmas Village and Small Business Saturday

Weekend Forecast

Thursday (Thanksgiving): 67. AM clouds/PM sun. 20% chance of rain.
Friday (Black Friday): 71. Partly cloudy. 0% chance of rain.
Saturday: 62.  Sunny. 10% chance of rain.
Sunday: 62.  Sunny. 10% chance of rain.

Thursday, November 24 – Happy Thanksgiving!

Food and Drink

Thanksgiving feast in Charlotte: Check out our round up of 24 restaurants hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Details.

Experience

2016 Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade traveling North on Tryon Street from Stonewall to 9th: Expect dance and choral performances, marching bands from around the region, larger-than-life floats, balloons and some of your favorite characters. 9:30 a.m. Free. Details.

Holidays at the Hall: WBT outdoor ice skating rink at NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza: Lace up those skates to glide along 7,000+ square feet of ice with a view of the city skyline. Open until Jan. 8: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. $10-$14. Details.

Charlotte Christmas Village at Romare Bearden Park: Goodbye Romare Bearden, hello authentic German christkindlmarkt; expect wooden huts with vendors, mulled wine and food along with dance and choral performances. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. Details.

Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: See 600,000+ lights, illuminated displays and Santa. Open until Jan. 1: 5-9 p.m. $9-$15. Details.

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway: 3,000,000+ lights, lights-to-music drive-thru section, petting zoo, Bethlehem village, horse-drawn wagon rides, photos with Santa and Christmas classics movie nights; It’s a Wonderful Life will be screening all weekend. Open until Dec. 31: 6-10 p.m. $20+. Details.

Fitness

28th Annual Turkey Trot at South Park Mall: One of Charlotte’s longest-running events; run in the 1 mile, 5K or 8K race. 8:30 a.m. $28+. Details.

Friday, November 25 – Black Friday

Food and Drink

NoDa Brewing’s Hoppy Holidays Release Party at NoDa Brewing North: They’re opening early on Black Friday to release their seasonal holiday brew and serve as the recovery zone for anyone who braves the early-morning shopping madness. 12-10 p.m. Free. Details.

Reid’s Holiday Jam at Reid’s Fine Foods on Selwyn: They’ll have local Charlotte musicians performing while you enjoy food and drinks from the bar. 6-10:30 p.m. $5. Details.

Open Bar for $10 at Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub: The open bar will cover domestic beers and wells; attendance will be capped. 8-11 p.m. $10. Details.

Kids

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical at McColl Family Theatre: A brand new musical comedy, adapted from Barbara Robinson’s classic book. Open until Dec. 23. Details.

One Hundred Years of Christmas at Latta Plantation: See the circa 1800 plantation home and buildings decorated in period holiday décor while re-enactors demonstrate primitive activities in preparation for the Christmas holiday. Fri-Sat: 10-4 p.m. $8. Details.

Fitness

Walk off the Turkey Hike at Anne Springs Close Greenway: A medium-paced, brisk hike around the 3.4 mile Sugar Loop. 9-11:30 a.m. $5. Details.

Saturday, November 26

Experience

Winter Wonderland Craft Fair at Anne Springs Close Greenway: More than 150 artists and crafters will set up booths at the Dairy Barn for a day of exclusively hand-made shopping; parking is $5/car. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Details.

SPONSORED

Small Business Saturday throughout South End: Shop small at one of South End’s 200+ local businesses, 3 one-day-only pop-up markets or 70 places to eat and drink. Bonus: there will be free trolley rides throughout the district. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Details.

Dudeapalooza at C3 Lab: A day of shopping for all the dudes in your life, from fashion and art to food and fire trucks. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Details.

Holiday Wreath Workshop at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: Build a custom wreath from natural materials. 12:30-3 p.m. $55. Details.

Tree Lighting at the Hall at NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza: Join WLNK/107.9 The Link, Santa Claus and Champ the Cheetah for live music and a 39-foot-tall twinkling tree. 5-9 p.m. Free. Details.

Nick Cannon at the Comedy Zone at AvidXchange Music Factory: A one night only comedy show. 7 p.m. $25-$30. Details.

Sports

Hockey at Bojangles’ Coliseum: Charlotte Checkers vs. Iowa Wild. 6 p.m. $10+. Details.

Basketball at Spectrum Center: Charlotte Hornets vs. New York Knicks. 7 p.m. $10+. Details.

Sunday, November 27

Experience

Hot Stuff Holiday Pop Up Market at Petra’s: Shop unique gifts and handmade goods from 20+ local vendors. 12:30-5 p.m. Free. Details.

Opera Carolina Holiday Concert at St. Nektarios Church: Enjoy Christmas music in all languages with a focus on Greek music. 7 p.m. Free. Details.

Sports

Hockey at Bojangles’ Coliseum: Charlotte Checkers vs. Iowa Wild. 1 p.m. $10+. Details.

We’re excited for…

Poptopia Holidays at Foundation For The Carolinas: Continue your holiday shopping with both national retailers and small businesses. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. November 28.

Symphony on Tap at NoDa Brewing Company: The conductor will lead the ensemble through a variety of selections from Bach and Copland to Jimi Hendrix. 6:30-8 p.m. $10 (includes a beer and koozie). November 29.

Uptown Tree Lighting – Lights on the Square at Bank of America Corporate Center Lobby: Expect live performances then watch Santa light the tree; the party will then move to Founders Hall for music, food and family fun. 5:30-9 p.m. Free. December 1.

See all the upcoming events we’re pumped about here.

Cover photo via Novant Parade.