Weekday Planner: 19 things to do this week including holiday markets and virtual cooking classes

WINTER SOLSTICE

Holiday Lights Tours with SilverFox Limos

Charlotte | Now through January 3 | Varies | Details

Why you should go: SilverFox Limos will take you to explore all the great holiday lights around Charlotte, plus Agenda readers get a special discount on a 3-hour rental (driver tip, city fees, and fuel are included). Use Promo Code: CLTAGENDA (not case sensitive) when you get to the payment screen online for the discount. You can schedule a ride Sunday-Thursday.

Merry Midtown: Letters to Santa

1111 Metropolitan Ave. | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Santa Claus is wrapping up production in the North Pole, but there’s still time to send him your wishlist. Grab your kiddos and stop by the Metropolitan to write letters to Santa. Stationery and writing utensils will be provided. There will be plenty of photo ops so bring a camera.

12 Days of Optimism at Optimist Hall

1115 N Brevard St. | Now through Dec. 23. | Menu prices | Details

Why you should go: Now through December 23, enjoy daily tenant specials that are good for one day only. The special for the following day will be shared on the Optimist Hall’s Instagram page.

An Evening with Santa and Mrs. Claus presented by Johnson C. Smith University

Online | 5-8 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Sign up to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus over Zoom! During the visit, your family can tell Santa what they would like for Christmas and sing Christmas songs like “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.”

Virtual Skywatching of the Great Conjunction

Online | 6-7 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: This year’s winter solstice is especially exciting because Jupiter and Saturn will be at their closest proximity for the first time since 1623. This planetary alignment is known as the Great Conjunction, and the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and Raleigh Astronomy Club (RAC) have teamed up to offer a free virtual skywatching of the event.

12 Beers of Christmas D9 Brewing

11138 Treynorth Dr., Cornelius | Through Dec. 25 | Menu pricing | Details

Why you should go: D9 Brewing will be releasing 12 holiday-themed beers every day until Christmas. But, you have to be swift because they’ll only available for one day.

Charlotte Christmas Village at Truist Field

324 S Mint St. | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. | $7 regular admission | Details

Why you should go: Head to the Charlotte Christmas Village at Truist Field to shop for unique, handcrafted gifts and enjoy specialty foods like Austrian strudels, Bratwurst, and Sauerkraut. The market runs through December 23.

Holidays at the Gardens

Daniel Stowe Gardens | Now through Jan. 3., 5-8 p.m. | Prices vary | Details

Why you should go: Thousands of lights will illuminate Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden for the annual Holidays at the Garden event. Sing along to your wintertime favorites, and roast marshmallows by the fire while you soak in the season’s cheer.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22

Holidaze Market

7th Street Public Market | December 22 & 23, 3-7 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Support local small businesses at this festive market. The first 25 shoppers (21+) will receive a free mini bottle of bubbly.

Tacky Sweater Run at Wooden Robot Brewery

1440 S. Tryon St. Ste. 110 | 6:30-8 p.m. | $ | Details

Why you should go: Wear your tackiest, holiday sweater for a festive RunBots run. There is a 1.2-, 3.2-, and 5.1-mile route.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23

Sustain Charlotte’s #WALKCLT 2020

Remote | Ends December 31 | Free, donations welcomed | Details

Why you should go: Sustain Charlotte and OrthoCarolina have partnered to create a safe and fun walking experience you can enjoy with friends and family. #WALKCLT encourages Charlotteans to explore new neighborhoods, public art, and pathways that can only be discovered on foot. The areas included in this year’s #WALKCLT are Wesley Heights, UpTown, NoDa, and the West End.

Winter Cake Decorating with SkillPop

Online | 5:30-7 p.m. | $24 | Details

Why you should go: This hand-on winter cake class will teach you the basics of cake decorating and some trendy techniques like icing drip. All skill levels are welcome. Plan to bake your cake layers before class.

Spanish Tapas with Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen

4001 Yancey Rd. Ste. 100 | 6-9 p.m. | $150 (for two people) | Details

Why you should go: These are tapas you’ll want to keep for yourself. You’ll prepare four small plates including croquettes with smoked paprika aioli, garlic prawns (GF), grilled lamb kebabs with romesco sauce (GF), and top it all off with cinnamon sugar churros with dipping chocolate.

A Fairy-Tailored Nutcracker

Online | December 23-26 | $30 donation | Details

Why you should go: New for the 2020 holiday season, The Charlotte Ballet announced a reimagined, or “Fairy-Tailored,” version of The Nutcracker. While in-person tickets are sold out, the performance is now available to stream on-demand from your home. You can expect to see all the classic characters as they journey to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24

CHRISTMAS EVE

Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord | Noon to 11 p.m. | Varies | Details

Why you should go: Spend a day at the speedway. Lace-up your skates and take to the ice on the 5,400-square-foot ice rink, then hop in the car to enjoy the 3.75-mile-long light display, and finish the evening with a screening of “Frozen 2.”

Josh Daniel Christmas Eve Concert for Second Harvest Food Bank

Online | 4 p.m. | Free, donations welcomed | Details

Why you should go: Tune in to hear local musician, Josh Danial play his 283rd consecutive concert live from his living room. The concert is a fundraiser for the local non-profit Second Harvest Food Bank.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25

CHRISTMAS DAY

Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne

10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: If I were I gingerbread cookie, I would want to live here. Stroll through the neighborhood to find your dream gingerbread house and vote for your favorite one. $1 minimum per vote, and all proceeds will benefit the Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital.

Christmas Town USA

McAdenville, N.C. | December 1-26, 5:30-10 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: McAdenville, also known as Christmas Town USA, has light displays that draw crowds from near and far. Due to the coronavirus, a few traditions like the tree lighting ceremony and yule log parade, have been canceled. However, visitors can still drive or walk along the 1.3-mile-long route and peruse the town’s local vendors and restaurants while taking in the dazzling displays and twinkling lights. Arrive before the sun sets to beat some of the traffic.

Mooresville Holiday Light Spectacular

413 N. Main St. | 5:30-10 p.m. | Free | Details

Why you should go: Every night through December 31, spectators can head out to watch an orchestrated light show of over 175,000 lights set to holiday music.

Check out more upcoming events on the Agenda Event Board. Hosting an event? Reach more Charlotteans through an Event Listing, which includes placement on our Event Board and in our newsletters’ Classifieds section.