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In This Issue...

Where’s Santa? 6 ways for your kids to track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve

Are the kids eager for Santa? There are several ways to track Santa Claus on his flight through the sky on Christmas Eve 2021!

If you’re looking for something to do at home, why not make a little magic for the kids and follow Santa Claus on his flight around the world?

Here are a few fun ways to “track” Santa and his crew of reindeer....

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Best Christmas light displays in the Charlotte area for 2022 — updated
House in Berewick

Looking for the biggest, best Christmas lights in the Charlotte area for the 2022 Christmas season? You’ve come to the right place.

This list includes professional displays, town events, and private homes.

We will have a Google map with all the light on this page, and more! To see the map, just scroll down past the...

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Free and cheap things to do in Charlotte this weekend

Looking for things to do in Charlotte this weekend? You came to the right place! This list contains free and cheap things to do from Friday to Sunday (or Monday if it’s a holiday weekend.)

You’ll find festivals, live music and dance, kids’ activities, organized hikes, seasonal activities, learning opportunities and so much...

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Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular open Christmas Eve & Day — save 20%
Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

The 1st Annual Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular is bringing holiday magic to Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N. Community House Road, Charlotte, NC, this Christmas season.

Check out our huge day-by-day list of holiday events in the Charlotte area! We update it every day!

Overview of Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular with golden reindeer in the foregroundPhoto: Mace Publishing, LLC

Immerse...

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See & Save with the Explore Charlotte Marketplace

Want the best way to experience the Queen City without breaking your budget? Shop the Explore Charlotte Marketplace for a pass that fits your interests with savings at popular spots.

Ready for a brewery crawl paired with special discounts? The Charlotte Brew Badge has your next round covered.

Need a blast of inspiration at some of the...

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80+ gift card bonus offers for 2022

Once again, gift cards are at the top of many people’s wish list this holiday season. Gift cards are always an efficient and convenient way to check off your holiday shopping list. Best of all, it pays to give gift cards because of all the bonus offers this time of year.

Most of the gift cards must be purchased by December 31st, 2022,...

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Win 2 tickets to The Avett Brothers’ New Year’s Eve Show at Bojangles Coliseum

We are holding a giveaway contest for two tickets to The Avett Brothers’ New Year’s Eve concert at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are giving away two concerts to the Avett Brothers NYE concert.

The concert will take place December 31st, 2022, at 8 p.m., and includes special guest Valient Thorr.

The Avett...

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Chanukah concert with Yoel Sharabi Dec 24
Photo provided by 8th Day

Chabad of Charlotte is presenting a Chanukah concert with Yoel Sharabi on Saturday, December 24th, 2022, at 8 p.m., at the Epstein Family Chabad Center, 6619 Sardis Road, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hanukkah begins the evening of Sunday, December 18th, 2022, and the final evening is Sunday, December 25th. Learn about...

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Big list of free and cheap New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day 2023 events in Charlotte

Illustration: Depositphotos

Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2022 and New Year’s Day 2023 in Charlotte! Read on for a list of New Year’s Eve events, including CLT NYE, as well as some special New Year’s Day events too.

We’ll be adding to this list of events as more announcements are made about New Year’s plans in the...

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AAA offering impaired drivers a free ride home, and will tow their car home too

If you plan to imbibe this holiday season, please make plans to get home safely. Have a designated driver, or plan to use a ride-sharing service.

But if you get in a jam, as a last resort, AAA Carolinas’ Tow To Go program will give you a ride home AND tow your car home too.

There’s NO cost to the service, and you do not have to...

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CLT New Year’s Eve includes fireworks, live music, food trucks, more…
Photo by Patrick Schneider for Charlotte Center City Partners

CLT NYE presented by Ally, Charlotte’s Uptown New Year’s Eve celebration, is back! Say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023 at this party at Tryon Street and Levine Avenue of the Arts.

This is a free event and if you’re looking for fireworks near you, this is the...

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Free Capoeira Classes in West Charlotte

In January and February of 2023, take a FREE capoeira class at West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Drive, Charlotte, NC.

The class will take place on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m.

Check out a big list of free fitness events in the Charlotte area!

The class is for all ages.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian dance, martial arts, and...

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Last day: Free pictures with Santa at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Photo courtesy of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

Bass Pro Shops, at Concord Mills, and Cabela’s, at 1000 Cabela Drive, Fort Mill, SC, are hosting Santa’s Wonderland, with a FREE Santa experience from November 6th to December 24th, 2022. On November 5th, 2022, officially kick off the Santa’s Wonderland experience with...

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Tijuana Flats: Free kids’ meal Dec 26

Tijuana Flats offers frequent deals. Read on to see what’s coming up. Find details of the offers here.

We have a big day-by-day list of food, drink and restaurant deals in the Charlotte area, so if you’re feeling hungry, check it out! We update it every day.

Most deals require you to be a Tijuana Flats Reward Member. Guests can...

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30+ Charlotte area restaurants open for Christmas 2022 (including takeout and delivery)


Diners in the Charlotte area can cross a stress-free Christmas dinner off their holiday wish list. A number of restaurants serve a special Christmas Eve or Christmas Day menu. And others are open with their regular menu.

Most restaurants on this list offer take-out and/or delivery.

We are including restaurants at various price points, but...

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Family friendly New Year’s events in Charlotte

There’s no shortage of fantastic New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Charlotte area. Unfortunately, there may be a shortage of funds in some of our bank accounts after the winter holidays. So here are some events that are either free or very cheap.

Charlotte’s official New Year’s Eve event, CLT NYE, is free.

...

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Charlotte bars open on Christmas Day — where to find live music, pool, karaoke and more
Photo: Depositphotos

Looking for a Charlotte bar open on Christmas Day? Maybe you’d like to go have a drink with your out of town guests. Or maybe you need to get away from your guests. Or maybe you don’t have family in town, and would just like to get out of the house and connect with others.

No matter the reason, this list should...

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Your guide to Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte 12/30 (including hotel discounts)

Duke’s Mayo Bowl will take place on on Friday, December 30th, 2022, at 12 p.m., at Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint Street, Charlotte.

The game will pit the University of Maryland Terrapins against the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

This game marks the 21st anniversary of this bowl game in Charlotte, although the name has evolved...

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Order your fully cooked New Year’s Eve dinner or New Year’s Day lunch to enjoy at home

If you prefer to leave the cooking to someone else when you ring in 2023, consider ordering your New Year’s Eve dinner or party food, or your New Year’s Day meal, from a grocery store, caterer, or restaurant.

We’ve put together a list of businesses in the Charlotte area where you can order a fully-cooked New Year’s...

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Big list of things (many free!) for kids to do during winter break 2022/2023
ImaginOn

Wondering what to do with the kids over winter break 2022/2023? Look no further. Here’s a list of some cheap and free things that will be fun for kids during Christmas Break. Included are special holiday activities to do the first few days of break, plus some Charlotte area activities that are always free or cheap.

Scroll down...

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What’s open on Christmas in Charlotte, including grocery stores

As you make your Christmas plans in Charlotte, make sure you know what is open and closed. Read on to learn about holiday hours at Mecklenburg County facilities, City of Charlotte services and grocery stores.

This post is updated throughout the year to provide information on hours for various holidays. So you might see some information that...

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New Year’s Day First Footin’ at Rural Hill

Experience the Scottish New Year tradition of First Footin’ at Rural Hill on Sunday, January 1st, 2022, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Rural Hill is at 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville.


Participants will walk the borders of the Historic Rural Hill property, in Huntersville, stopping together to listen to stories of history and folklore. The walk is...

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Festivus at Petty Thieves Brewing Co.: pin your complaints to the Festivus Pole (and more!)

Petty Thieves Brewing Co., at 413 Dalton Avenue, Charlotte, creates craft beers, fueled by passion and imagination.

They also host many events, which you can find on their Facebook page.

Check out a huge calendar of events at Charlotte breweries.

Coming Up

Festivus
Saturday, December 24th, 2022
6 p.m.
Free

Air your grievances...

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Kwanzaa celebrations in Charlotte 2022
Photo: Depositphotos


There will be several opportunities in 2022 to learn about and to celebrate Kwanzaa in the Charlotte area. All of these are free, family-friendly events, unless otherwise specified.

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of family, community, and culture. Established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, this series of...

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Huge day by day guide to holiday and Christmas events around Charlotte 2022


This is a growing list of 2022 holiday events in the Charlotte area. This day by day guide will include events celebrating everything from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

Please scroll down for a (soon to be) massive day-by-day list.

Make sure to bookmark this page, as it will be frequently updated.

And make sure to follow the links to get...

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Free bagels and coffee at Birdsong Brewing’s New Year’s Day party (and more!)


Birdsong Brewing Co., at 1016 North Davidson Street, frequently hosts live music and other events. There’s no cover. You can always verify their schedule on their website or on their Facebook page.

Birdsong Brewing was founded in 2011 and is part of Charlotte’s growing craft beer community. If you have questions about their...

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Free 6-count Fruit Box from Edible (no purchase required)
Image Courtesy of Edible

Edible, formerly known as Edible Arrangements, is offering everyone a FREE 6-count fruit box through the end of 2022.

The offer is valid at any location, and requires no purchase. Just stop by and ask for it. One per person.

We have a big day-by-day list of food, drink and restaurant deals in the Charlotte area, so...

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Campfire Movie Club at Camp North End (moves indoors)

NoDa Company Canteen, Black Moth Bars and Aurora Star Lit Cinema are presenting Campfire Movie Club: Holiday Edition, a free outdoor movie series in the Boileryard of Camp North End, 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC.

This movie series was announced by Aurora Star Lit Cinema on Facebook.

Check out our huge day-by-day list of holiday events in the...

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Christmas party at Protagonist Beer (South End): Christmas movie marathon, special holiday drinks, and more!

Protagonist is a nano-brewery and taproom for curious beer drinkers. It’s located in the heart of NoDa, at 3123 N. Davison Street. They have a new, second location in the South End at 227 Southside Drive.

Check out a huge calendar of events at Charlotte breweries.

Protagonist hosts live music and other events. You can see upcoming...

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Primal Brewery’s 8th Birthday Bash at Primal Brewery Huntersville (and more)


Primal Brewery, at 16432 Old Statesville Road in Huntersville, hosts frequent events, including live music, holiday parties, and more. To see all of their events, visit Primal Brewery’s Facebook page or the Primal Brewery website calendar.

Primal Brewery has a second location, at 52 Ervin Street, Belmont, so please make sure, when you...

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Get a fully cooked Christmas dinner to go in 2022 — order your holiday meal in advance
Image: Depositphotos

If you prefer to leave the cooking to someone else, and focus on family (or maybe on pie), consider ordering your Christmas dinners from a grocery store, caterer, or restaurant.

We’ve put together a list of businesses in the Charlotte where you can order a fully-cooked Christmas dinner, with sides, in advance.

In...

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30+ Charlotte restaurants open on New Year’s Day 2023

Interested in not cooking for New Year’s Day 2023? Check out this growing list of restaurants in the Charlotte area that are open for the New Year holiday.

Most listed will be available for take-out as well, and, in some cases, delivery.

Some will serve a special New Year’s Day meal, and some will serve their regular menu....

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Free New Year’s Eve party at Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, with live music, balloon drop, ice luge and more…

Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, at 2918 The Plaza, is a friendly neighborhood bar. They host frequent events, which you can learn about on their Facebook page.

Here’s one upcoming event.

Hattie’s NYE Party
Saturday, December 31st, 2022
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Free

This party incudes three bands, a DJ, ice luge, balloon...

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Cabarrus Brewing Company: live music, New Year’s Eve party, and more!

Cabarrus Brewing Company, 329 McGill Ave NW in Concord, is Concord’s first full-scale production brewery. It’s open seven days a week.

It also hosts live music (and more) to go along with the craft beer, usually on Fridays and Saturdays. Find all events on their Facebook page or their website calendar.

Check out a huge calendar...

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New Year’s Eve celebration at Eleven Lakes Brewing with live music from Queen City Siren (and more!)

Eleven Lakes Brewing, which opened its doors at 10228 Bailey Road, Cornelius, in May of 2017, uses a small batch process and quality products. They host many events, which you can find on their Facebook page.

Coming Up

Free Live Music:

  • Friday, December 23rd, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Jonathan Norcom
  • Friday, December 30th, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: ...

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New Year’s Eve pregame at Lenny Boy Brewing Co.: custom mimosa bar, free Krispy Kreme donuts, and more!
Image use with permission by Lenny Boy Brewing Co.

Lenny Boy Brewing Co., at 3000 South Tryon Street, is known for its organic kombucha, as well as gluten free wild ales, gluten-reduced beer, sours, and traditional ales & lagers.

Follow Lenny Boy on Facebook to see all of their upcoming events.

Check out a huge calendar of events at...

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New Year’s Eve Catawbash at Catawba Brewing


Catawba Brewing, at 933 Louise Avenue, is part of a growing brewery scene in Plaza Midwood. Catawba Brewing has three other locations, in Asheville and Morganton. This is its first foray into the Piedmont.

The brewery hosts frequent free events. See all of them (including some that are not free, like crafts nights) on the Facebook page.

...

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FREE summer immersion program in Mandarin Chinese at Queens University through StarTalk

Queens University of Charlotte is offering middle and high school students a chance to learn Mandarin Chinese this summer, at no charge, through StarTalk. This in-person program at Queens University takes place July 10th to 28th, 2023.

Applications have opened for 2023. You can apply here. Apply by January 10th to receive priority...

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New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular in Mooresville

Mooresville is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023 with a year of special events.

It’s kicking off the celebratory year with the Anniversary Kick-Off Fireworks Spectacular on New Year’s Eve.

Check out more family-friendly New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events around Charlotte.

This free event for the whole...

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New Year’s Day Hikes (and more) in North Carolina State Parks

Every year, several North Carolina State Parks host First Day Hikes led by park staff. We’ll be listing the First Day Hikes here as they’re announced.

First Day Hike at Lake Norman State Park
Sunday, January 1st, 2023
10 a.m.
Lake Norman State Park
759 State Park Road
Troutman, NC

Come out to Lake Norman State...

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Charlotte Checkers: $1.01 tickets on Hockey 101 Night — Jan 10

On Tuesday, January 10th, 2023, the Charlotte Checkers are presenting Hockey 101. This event is meant to introduce hockey to new fans, with tickets starting at just $1.01.

Fees still apply, so a ticket is actually $6.17 in total. Still a great price!


In addition to the low price, the in-game presentation will be geared toward educating new...

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Sam’s Club Membership: $15 for membership

If you have never shopped Sam’s Club, now is a good time to start (read on for a special deal!) Part of Walmart, Sam’s Club is a membership warehouse club.

Two Deals for Sam’s Club Membership

Right now Groupon is offering two different deals for Sam’s Club membership. Read on to see which is best for you.

Option 1:...

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