Agenda Weekender: 50+ things to do this weekend, plus a few New Year’s Eve parties to put on your calendar

Weekend Forecast

Friday: 61. Partly cloudy. 10% chance of rain.
Saturday: 68. Cloudy. 20% chance of rain.
Sunday: 53. 60% chance of showers.

Friday, December 22

Food & Drink

Holiday Tea at The Ballantyne: Enjoy a selection of seasonal teas and tea sandwiches, desserts and live entertainment. Tuesday through Sunday until December 31. 1-4 p.m. $29-$49. Details.

Hot Chocolate, Cider & Toddies at The Ballantyne: Get cozy with the season’s warmest drinks. 2-5:30 p.m. through December 27. Details.

Feast of the 7 Fishes at Vivace: Enjoy a five-course meal to ring in the holiday. Friday through Sunday. $65. Details.

Unwind & Dine in Historic South End: Sample food and drink pairings at the neighborhood’s favorite stops. 4-7 p.m. $60. Details.

Ugly Sweater Party at Howl at the Moon: Take a few pictures with Santa in your ugliest sweater while you enjoy drink specials and contests. 6 p.m. Free. Details.

Cookie and Cider Pairing at Red Clay Ciderworks: Try four unique pairings by a cider maker and baking scientist. 7-8:30 p.m. $18. Details.

Ugly Christmas Sweater and Onesie Party at Flo Bar & Lounge: Chances are, you’ll never be more comfortably dressed at any party. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Free before midnight. Details.

Ugly Sweater Karaoke at Libretto’s Pizzeria: Join for prizes, giveaways and drink specials all night. 8-11 p.m. Free. Details.

Ugly Sweater Party at Kanvas Gallery: Eat, drink and be tacky with an on-site DJ. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $10. Details.

Ugly Sweater Party at Wild Wing Café University: Get down with a DJ, drink specials and an ugly sweater contest. 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Free. Details.

The Ugly Xmas Sweater Party at Oak Room: Latin Friday is taking on a festive twist with ugly sweaters and festive hits. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Free for women, free until 11:30 for men. Details.

Experience

Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: Bask in the glow of more than 600,000 lights spread across the grounds while you shop, enjoy live music, roast marshmallows and let the kids loose on the Holiday Discovery Trail. 5-9 p.m. daily through December 31. $0-$14.95. Details.

Charlotte Christmas Village at Romare Bearden Park: Enjoy mulled wine, warm doughnuts and German pastries while you shop 29 vendors. See the full Agenda guide here. Thursday through Sunday until December 24. Free. Details.

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Drive under 3.5 miles of 3,000,000+ lights before visiting the Christmas Village and enjoying a movie on the Speedway TV. 6-10 p.m. daily through December 31. $20-$175. Details.

Learn Things

Home Brew Class at Not Just Coffee Packard Place: Learn the basics of coffee brewing and leave with a free box of NJC’s signature brew. 1-2 p.m. $10. Details.

Arts & Entertainment

Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker at Belk Theater: Join Clara as she encounters an epic battle between the Mouse King and Nutcracker, a breathtaking snowfall, jumping candy canes and the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy. Through December 23. Details.

A Very Grateful Christmas at The Rabbit Hole: This special two-night event features your favorite bands and music for a festive holiday ring-in. Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m. $12 in advance. Details.

Do Good

Purse Drive at Hickory Tavern Metropolitan: Sip, socialize and donate purses to benefit the homeless women at the Center of Hope Shelter. 7-10 p.m. Donation-based. Details.

Kids

Droid Races at Discovery Place Science: Race a droid around a Star Wars-themed racetrack just outside of the IMAX Dome Theatre and stick around for a matinee showing of The Last Jedi. Every Thursday and Friday at 12:30 p.m. through December 29. Details.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas at ImaginOn: Cozy up with some popcorn and a screening of the classic holiday film. 3 p.m. Free. Details.

Fitness

Swim with Santa at Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center: Join Santa as he takes a quick dip before his long night of delivering presents with photos, crafts and refreshments. Pre-registration required. 6:30-8:15 p.m. $10. Details.

Saturday, December 23

Food & Drink

Holly Day Brunch Party at Flo Bar & Lounge: Enjoy brunch favorites like red velvet pancakes and a mimosa bar, plus games, contests and more. $35+. Details.

Quinn’s Day at The Broken Spoke: Enjoy free tours, drink specials, tastings, live music, an auction and more in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 12-11 p.m. Free. Details.

Ugly Sweater Brewery Tour at Three Spirits Brewery: Sample beers from 4 local breweries in your ugliest holiday sweater. 12:45 p.m. $30. Details.

Christmas Eve Eve Dinner at McNinch House Restaurant: Enjoy a festive, multi-course dinner complete with wine pairings. 5 p.m. $175. Details.

The Black Christmas Party at Three Spirits Brewery: They’ll have a Black Santa, Christmas music, local vendors and food trucks. 6-10 p.m. Free. Details.

A Charlie Brown Christmas at Morehead Tavern: Enjoy a jazz trio’s take on songs from Charlie Brown’s Christmas, plus other holiday classics. 7-8:15 p.m. Free. Details.

The Grunge That Stole Christmas at Flight: Don your best flannel and show up for a 90’s-themed party complete with 90’s drink prices and music. 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Free. Details.

Throwback Xmas Party at Snug Harbor: Get down with drink specials and a DJ. 9 p.m. $5. Details.

Old School Christmas Party at Vibrations Club: Show up in your ugliest sweater and get in free of charge. 25+ 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. Details.

Learn Things

Rock Your Résumé at Charlotte Mecklenburg Main Library: Whether you’re creating your first résumé or dusting off an old version for a new job, this clinic will help you look your best wherever you apply. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. Details.

Arts & Entertainment

Christmas Matinee at Flight: Come watch your favorite holiday movies, including Elf and Home Alone, in your PJs while you indulge in a spiked hot chocolate bar. 12-6 p.m. Free. Details.

Shopping

Last Minute Day at Charlotte Regional Farmers Market: Load up on all the last-minute items you forgot, including baked goods, crafts, meats, wines and more. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Details.

South End Farmers & Artisans Market at Atherton Mill: Shop meats, produce, soaps, dog food and more at this dog-friendly market. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Details.

Christmas Yard Sale at Flight: The best kind of yard sale comes with $1 shots and $1 drafts to make the holiday even merrier. 8-11 p.m. $1. Details.

Do Good

Adoption Event at Lily Pulitzer, SouthPark Mall: 10% of all sales will benefit CMPD Animal Care and Control, plus they’ll have dogs and kittens available for adoption inside the store. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Details.

Kids

Holiday Card Shop at Discovery Place Science: Make a holiday card or send a letter to Santa. Saturday, 10 a.m., and Sunday, 12:30 p.m. Included in admission. Details.

Guided Nature Walk at Discovery Place Nature: Learn about the forest habitat on the Paw Paw Nature Trail from a museum naturalist. 10:15 a.m. Included in admission. Details.

Sports

NBA Basketball at Spectrum Center: Cheer on the Hornets as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks. 7 p.m. $18+. Details.

Sunday, December 24

Food & Drink

Panthers Whole Hog Tailgating at Sauceman’s: Celebrate the game, the Panthers and Christmas Eve all at once with free pork sandwiches when you purchase a beer. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. Details.

The Night Before Christmas Brunch & Dinner at Napa on Providence: Enjoy Christmas Eve custom brunch and dinner dishes like the veal porterhouse and pan seared N.C. Pinkfish. 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (brunch) and 4-9 p.m. (dinner). Details.

NFL Sunday at Craft City Social Club: Cheer on the Panthers while you enjoy $3 domestics, $5 craft beers and 2-for-1 BBQ ribs. 11 a.m. Free. Details.

Tailgate at Little Hardware: Bring the whole family for food, music, games and plenty of televisions for watching. Entrance fee covers all you can eat food and drink. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $15. Details.

Black & Blue Blaze Tailgate at Blue Blaze Brewing: Enjoy discounted pitchers, lawn games, s’mores, fire pits and a 12-foot projection of the game. 12-8 p.m. Free. Details.

A Very Jewish Christmas at Kabuto Japanese Steak and Sushi House: Join other Jewish young professionals for Chinese food and a movie at Phillips Place. Register in advance. 5 p.m. Free. Details.

Feast of the Seven Fishes at Angeline’s Charlotte: Chef Rob will be ringing in the holiday with his spin on the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Seatings at 5 and 8 p.m. $85. Details.

Experience

Our Joy is Full at Factory Church: Bring your family to Factory Church and enjoy a special Christmas service, complete with activities and a bounce house for kids. All are welcome. 9:30 a.m. Free. Details.

Do Good

Community Blood Drive at Legion Brewing: Join the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas for its 13th Annual Puppies for Patients program. When you donate, you’ll sign a gift card to be attached to a stuffed puppy and delivered to children in area hospitals over the holidays. Free. Details.

Sunday Runday Gives Back at NoDa Brewing Company: Bring a few canned goods in exchange for a cold beer on the patio, complete with a fire pit and Christmas music after your run. 12-2 p.m. Details.

Sports

Panthers Viewing Party at 1st Ward Beverage Co.: Cheer on the Panthers with a beer, wine or mimosa in hand. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. Details.

Panthers Xmas Eve Watch Party at Brass Tap South End: Enjoy Wicked Weed Brewing’s Barrel Aged Milk and Cookies while you watch the Panthers. 1-4 p.m. Free. Details.

NFL Football at Bank of America Stadium: What better way to celebrate Christmas Eve than by cheering on the Panthers as they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? See you there. 1 p.m. $60+. Details.

No plans for New Year’s Eve? We’ve got you covered.

2018 New Year’s Eve Party at Fitzgerald’s Charlotte: Tickets include top-shelf alcohol, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $65. Details.

CLT New Year’s Eve at Romare Bearden Park: This family-friendly tradition includes kids’ activities, food trucks, live music and a huge fireworks display. 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Free. Details.

Southern Skyline Grand Ball at Le Meridien: Enjoy live music, entertainment, hors d’oeuvres and all-inclusive drinks. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $130-$500. Details.

Alivia McAtee contributed to this story.

Cover photo via Peppermint Forest Christmas Shop.