December Happenings

December is just around the corner and we’ve got quite an extensive list for getting into the holiday spirit.

Now showing at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: The UNC Clef Hangers in Concert, Richard Marx, Keb Mo, Rockin’ in a winter wonderland, The Birth, Charlotte Symphony: Messiah, This is the 60′s, Cirque Dreams Holidaze, The Temptations and the Four Tops, NC Dance: The Nutcracker

Reduced Shakespeare Company: the Ultimate Christmas Show

Step back in time with Christmas in Mecklenburg County with the Polks

Speedway Christmas

Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour

WBT Holiday on Ice

Christmas at the Billy Graham Library

Theatre Charlotte presents A Christmas Carol

Singing Christmas Tree

Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play

McAdenville

Holiday Tea at Ritz-Carlton’s Urban Sip, Nutcracker Tea the Omni Hotel, Holiday Tea at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Tea and shopping at the Duke Mansion

A Modern Christmas Carol

Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne, 8 foot chocolate tree display at Ritz-Carlton

Ugly Sweater Christmas Party, SantaCon

Pops: Magic of Christmas

University Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, Wingate University Wind Ensemble Instrumental Concert

Queen City Ringers

Music and Museum: Christmas in Venice

Jazz at the Bechtler: Holiday Jazz, Richard Elliot and Nick Colionne, Nnenna Freelon with John Brown Big Band

Christmas at St.Mary’s, The Choir School at St.Peter’s Christmas Concert

Winter Wonderettes

Clara’s Trip: A Nutcracker Story

A Patchwork Christmas

Classic International Black Cinema Series: A Warm December

An Evening with Nicholas Kristof

Party for a cause at  Jingle Bell Bash, 24th Annual Second String Santa Holiday Party

For the kids: Join the Elf Academy at Carolina Place Mall, Saturday Art Sessions: Mexican Tin Art Ornaments, Singing Christmas Tree for Kids, Cross Cross Mangosauce: Bilingual Storytime, Icelebra! A Bilingual Holiday concert for children, Free family Christmas movies at the Neighborhood Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Santa’s Bag, Build a gingerbread house at Lowes, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Littlest Angel, Jami Masters School of Dance Enchantment Camp, “The Polar Express” at Discovery Place’s IMAX, Photos with Santa,The Leonard Bearstein Symphony, First Night Charlotte, Breakfast with Santa (and Ace&TJ) at the Palm, Breakfast with Santa at Bravo

Kwanzaa Programs at the public library

Hanukkah Celebrations at South Park Mall

Movies opening Christmas Day: Les Miserables, Django Unchained, Parental Guidance

All movies at Cinebarre (where you can dine while watching a great flick) are $5 every Tuesday.

Events outside Charlotte

A Huntersville Christmas

Christmas in Davidson

Arts at the Abbey: Annual Holiday Concert Belmont Abbey, NC

Holiday Lights at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Christmasville in Rock Hill

Christmas in Cramerton

Kannapolis Christmas

Waxhaw Christmas Parade

Fort Mill Christmas Parade

Polar Express Bryson City, NC

Christmas at Biltmore Asheville, NC

National Gingerbread House Competition and Display Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC

Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, SC

Cookies and Cocoa with Santa Spencer, NC

Santa on the Chimney Chimney Rock, NC

Salem Christmas Winston-Salem, NC

Tanglewood Festival of Lights Clemmons, NC

Scandinavian Christmas Fair Raleigh, NC

More December fun:

Carolina Chocolate Drops, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, I Fight Dragons, David and Jessica Lea Mayfield, Steep Canyon Rangers, Dan Bern, Wanda Jackson,Acoustic Syndicate, Rebirth Brass Band,Keller Williams/That 1 Guy, Drivin’ n’ Cryin’/The Blue Dogs , Willie Nelson, Maybach Music Group, Sum 41, Metalocalypse, Trey Songz, 2 Chainz, 95.1 Kissmas with PSY

Palate to Palette

The Cake Boss

Belk Bowl, 2012 Dr.Pepper ACC Football Championship (ACC Fan Fest: Lee Brice and Little Big Town)

Bob Saget, Jimmie “J.J.” Walker

Twilight

Glogg and meatballs buffet at IKEA

Death Tax and 33 Variations at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre

The Charlotte School of Law Library wishes you and yours a happy and safe holiday season!

~Jamie Sunnycalb~

Charlotte Summer Concert Series

A lot of great bands are rolling through town this summer and here is a list of where to experience Charlotte’s music scene:

Next week’s Food Lion Speed Street kicks things off with free performances by Josh Turner, Everclear and Eddie Money.

Also taking place next week is the fourth annual Charlotte Femme Fest in NoDa at the Neighborhood Theatre and the Evening Muse.

Just down the street from CSL, Coyote Joe’s brings Easton Corbin to town.

If bands from the 90’s are more your style, uptown’s NC Music Factory hosts a $5 show each Friday night now through June 17 with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Tonic and Cowboy Mouth.

Steps away, the Fillmore Charlotte will host Neon Trees and Panic at the Disco!

Another great way to enjoy live music is to take part in Alive after Five each Thursday night at either the Epicentre, Wachovia Plaza or Piedmont Town Center .

The month of June brings Kenny Chesney, Def Leppard and Phish to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

Keith Urban and Josh Groban play the Time Warner Cable Arena next month.

After a long hike or a guided raft ride, you can soak up some tunes at the White Water River Jam at the US National White Water Center.

If you’re looking for something more low-key, then a blanket and a picnic basket would complement the harmonic melodies quite nicely at the Pops in the Park behind South Park Mall beginning June 12 with tickets at just $10.

Expect the same kind of laid back scene on the Blakeney Village Green in South Charlotte

Pollstar is a great resource for more information on local concerts.

Stay tuned for more fun things to do in Charlotte this summer!

                                                     ~Jamie Sunnycalb~