40 things to do in Charlotte through New Year's Day
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Truist Field will host Light the Knights through Jan. 3 and Charlotte's official NYE celebration, CLT NYE, for the first time this year. Photo: Andy Weber/Axios
We've rounded up dozens of events to enjoy through the end of the year, from festive pop-up bars and ice skating to New Year's Eve celebrations.
Monday, Dec. 23
🛍 It's the final day to shop for vintage goods from over 100 local brands at VTGCLT's pop-up in Camp North End. | 10am-7pm | Free | Details
🏡 Explore gingerbread creations at The Ballantyne, through Dec. 28 (closed Christmas Day). | 9am-6pm | Details
🏀 Cheer on the Charlotte Hornets in their match against the Houston Rockets at Spectrum Center. | 7pm | Free | Details
😂 Join in on the audience roasting of local comics at "The Heckle Mic" at Triple C Brewing. | Free | 7:30pm | Details
🍪 Buy baked goods featured on The Food Network's "Christmas Cookie Challenge" from Sweet Spot Studio. Plus, take photos with the coveted golden ornament, which local baker Jossie Lukacik recently won. | Free to attend | 2-5pm | Details
Tuesday, Dec. 24
⛸ Spend Christmas Eve ice skating at Camp North Pole, located in front of the Ford Building inside Camp North End. | 12-5pm (ends Jan. 3) | $15 | Details
🎄 Join for a family-friendly Christmas Eve service hosted by Beloved Community Charlotte at The Evening Muse. | 3-4:30pm | Free | Details
🎪 Witness a dazzling display of acrobatics at Cirque du Soleil's Holiday Spectacular at Oven's Auditorium. | 3pm (through Jan. 4). | $63 | Details
Wednesday, Dec. 25
🥞 Enjoy a curated Christmas brunch with live music inside the ballroom of The Ballantyne Hotel. | 10am-3pm | $49-$99 | Details
🎤 Belt your favorite holiday song at Scorpio's Christmas Day karaoke. | 6pm (karaoke starts at 10pm) | Prices vary | Details
🏁 Make a Christmas outing to Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway to admire over five million holiday lights displayed around the four-mile track.| 6-10pm | $35+ (Ends Jan. 5). | Details
Thursday, Dec. 26
🧝 Catch "Elf: The Musical" at Belk Theater through Dec. 29. | 2pm and 7:30pm | $35 | Details
🎄 It's the final night to drive through McAdenville's Christmas Town USA. | 5:30-10pm | Free | Details
🏃🏻♂️ Hit the pavement with OMB Ballantyne's running club — all runners and walkers are welcome. | 6:30-7:30pm | Free | Details
🥂 Haven't had the chance to make it to a holiday pop-up bar? Miracle Bar at Backstage Lounge will be open through Dec. 29. | Times vary | Prices vary | Details
Friday, Dec. 27
🪴 Use air plants, urchins and starfish to create your own jellyfish terrarium at PlantHouse Charlotte. | 6:30pm | $25 | Details
🤘 Rock out with Black Sabbath cover band, Zakk Sabbath, at The Fillmore. | 7pm | $48 | Details
🎭 Enjoy a modern take on the classic "Nutcracker" story with "Clara's Trip" at Booth Playhouse, through Dec. 29. | 3pm and 7pm | $35+ | Details
🎢 Keep the holiday magic going with light displays, rides, live shows and ice skating at Carowinds' WinterFest. | 5-10pm | $32.99 | Details | Times vary (ends Jan. 4) | $32.99 | Details
Saturday, Dec. 28
🎶 Fleetwood Mac meets Chappell Roan at "Tell Me Lies, a Fleetwood Mac and Chappell Roan tribute" at Amos South End. | 8:30pm | $17.50 | Details
👩🌾 Stock up on local produce and artisan goods at South End's farmers market along Atherton. | 8am-1pm | Free | Details
🕯 Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Uptown with performances, workshops and more. | 11am-4pm | Free | Details
🏳️🌈 Sashay into 2025 with The Vanity House's "Now That's What I Call 2024" drag brunch at Catalú. | 11am | $10+ | Details
Sunday, Dec. 29
🧘♀️ Slow it down with a meditation and sound bath at YVY in Camp North End. | 10-11am | $10 | Details
🛍 Do some late-night shopping (with drinks and snacks provided) at Thrift Pony's "Pony After Dark Party" in Camp North End. | 7-10 | Free | Details
⛲️ It's the final night to walk through Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden's "Holidays at The Garden." | 5pm | $18-$24 | Details
🎶 Fill your Sunday with live music by rock and country pop artist Savannah Harmon at BAR ONE Lounge in Phillips Place. | 6-8pm | Free | Details
Monday. Dec. 30
🏀 Don't miss the Hornets' final home game of 2024 as they take on the Chicago Bulls at Spectrum Center. | 7pm | $23 | Details
❄️ Enjoy ice skating, snow tubing, and shopping from a Christmas market at Light the Knights inside Truist Field. | 2pm-10:30pm | $14+ | Details
🎷 Move and groove to live jazz by local musicians at The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session at Petra's. | 7:30pm | $7-$10 | Details
🍸 Make it a martini Monday with a sugar cookie martini from Billy Sunday's holiday pop-up, Tinseltown. | 4-10pm (ends Dec. 31). | Prices vary | Details
Tuesday, Dec. 31
🎳 SupperClub South End's Old Hollywood NYE Soirée will have drinks, hors d'oeuvres, a champagne toast and live DJs, plus VIP bowling table options for bigger groups. | 9pm-1am | $150 | Details
🎆 Head to CLT NYE at Truist Field if you're looking for something for the whole family. Enjoy the Light the Knights Festival, ice skating and midnight fireworks with a champagne toast. | 10pm | $10 for general admission; $25 to include ice skating. | Details
🌆 Ring in 2025 with a rooftop view at Merchant and Trade's All That Glitters NYE Party overlooking Romare Bearden Park and Truist Field. | 7pm | No cover; limited skip-the-line tickets are available for $50. | Details
🇨🇺 For a dinner party, check out A Golden New Year's Eve at El Puro. Enjoy a three-course Cuban dinner with a live band, dance show and the twelve grapes tradition. | 9pm-2am | Free to reserve | Details
Go deeper: Find 35+ ways to ring in 2025 in Charlotte in our New Year's Eve Guide.
Wednesday, Jan. 1
🥣 Fill up on free soup from local chefs at Free Range Brewing's 9th Annual Soup Day. | 11am | Free | Details
🏃🏻♂️ Kick off 2025 with University City's New Year's Day 5K. | 8:30am (race begins at 10am) | $13 (kids); $45 (adults) | Details
Thursday, Jan. 2
📚 Bring a book you're currently reading (or listening to) and read silently with other bookworms at That's Novel Books' Silent Book Club. | 6-8pm | Free | Details
🧠 Get the group chat together for trivia at Suffolk Punch SouthPark. | 7pm | Free | Details
🚀 Take a trip to outer space with the immersive VR experience "Space Explorers: The Infinite" at Blume Studios.| Times vary (ends Jan. 5). | $29.95 (kids); $44.95 (adults) | Details
💿 Grab a seasonal cocktail at Vinyl and stay to jam with music by DJ Aswell, starting at 8pm. | 11am-2am | Prices vary | 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.