Weekender: 28 things to do in Charlotte this weekend including holiday markets
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It's the final weekend to shop from OMB's Christmas Market in LoSo and Ballantyne. Photo: Courtesy of Andy Weber/Axios
It's not too late to do some gift shopping, but this weekend is your last chance to grab a gift from a local holiday market like Latinx Holiday Market in Uptown, OMB's Christmas Market and Mistletoe Market.
Friday, December 20
🍹 Celebrate National Sangria Day at The Matador with discounted flights and drinks specials. | $8-$11 | 11am | Details
🎶 Watch the musical comedy Sister Act at Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Arts Center. | $18+ | Times vary | Details
🩰 Watch Charlotte Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. | $32+ | Through Dec. 22 | Details
🎻 Listen to holiday music from Charlotte Symphony with an acrobatics set at Knight Theater. | $11 | Times vary | Details
🎁 Shop for holiday gifts at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's weekend-long Christmas Market in LoSo and Ballantyne. | Free | 11am-10pm | Details
⛸️ Go ice skating at Camp North Pole in front of the Ford Building. | $15 | 4-10pm | Details
🍸 Take an interactive cocktail class with food pairings with Chef Jamie Barns of Serving The Culture at Beyond Amazing Donuts. | $90 | 6:30-8:30pm | Details
🥂 Sip on a festive drink from a local holiday pop-up bar like Miracle at Backstage Lounge. | Prices vary | Times vary | Details
🍿 Watch a screening of "It's a Wonderful Life" at Independent Picture House as a part of its holiday film series. | $9.25 | 7:15pm | Details
Saturday, December 21
🛍️ Shop from a Latinx Holiday Market at Victoria Yards with a DJ, vendors, face painting and food. | Free | 3pm | Details
🍾 Pair champagne with fried chicken at DTR Plaza Midwood for a limited time. No tickets necessary. | Prices vary | Details
🏒 Cheer on the Checkers as they take on Bridgeport Islanders at Bojangles' Coliseum. Arrive early to snap a photo with the Stanley Cup. | $25+ | 4pm | Details
🎁 Participate in Christmas-themed crafts with Bad Art Club at Town Brewing to paint ornaments, design candles or assemble whimsical decor for the holiday. | $75 | 1pm | Details
🤣 Laugh at truth-or-dare comedy jokes at Birdsong Brewing. | Donation-based | 7pm | Details
🐶 Meet and adopt some adorable pups at HopFly Brewing. | Free | 1-4pm | Details
🎉 Stop by Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. NoDa for live music and holiday gifts or browse the Trope Book Bus in the parking lot. | Free | 12pm | Details
🖼️ Browse affordable art from over 80 talented local artists at BLKMRKT's Hunnid Dollar Art Fair. | Free | 4-8pm | Details
🎊 Head over to Vaulted Oak Brewing for an ugly Christmas sweater party with karaoke, a dirty Santa and a Charlotte Burger Box food truck. | Free | 5pm | Details
🎁 Stroll through Camp North End's last Mistletoe Market with vendors, live music, food and drinks.| Free | 3-8pm | Details
🎄 Take the family to Cabarrus Arena & Events Center for a North Carolina Christmas Festival with holiday music, a kids zone, shopping, face painting, performances and more. | Free | 1-5pm | Details
👯♀️ Watch a "Twas the Night Before ..." performance by Cirque du Soleil at Ovens Auditorium. | $87-$185 | 1pm | Details
Sunday, December 22
🎄 Drive to Lost Worlds Brewing in Cornelius for its tropical holiday market with a surf Santa, 40+ local vendors, tropical drinks and live music. | Free | 12-5pm | Details
🕯️ Create a winter-scented candle at Market at 7th Street to gift this holiday season. | $35 | 4pm | Details
🏈 Cheer on the Carolina Panthers as they play the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. | $57+ | 1pm | Details
🤩 Walk under a million lights at the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular at Ballantye's Backyard. Expect music, oversized snow globes, a holiday village shop, a snow tube slide, a visit from Santa and performances. | $15-$20 | Through Dec. 29 | Details
⛸️ Glide along Whitewater Center's outdoor ice rink and try curling with friends. | $25 | Times vary | Details
🎄Admire holiday lights from your car at Speedway Christmas and stick around for a screening of "Elf." | $45 per car | Through Jan. 5 | Details
❄️ Go snow tubing or ice skating and shop from a Christmas market at Light the Knights at Truist Field. | 5pm | $14+ | Details
Check out more upcoming events on our Event Board. Hosting an event? Reach more Charlotteans through an Event Listing, which includes placement on our Event Board and in our weekday newsletter. Have a scoop about a cool event? Submit your event.