¡A QC CHRISTMAS!

Christmas in Charlotte?!? Who would’ve guessed?

🎢 Feliz Navidad! Mele Kalikimaka! Deck the f***ing halls!

The people asked. I gladly answered.

The QC Local proudly presents its First Annual Christmas edition, with an all singing, all dancing, comprehensive guide to Christmas time in the 704. Ho-Ho-Ho.

In terms of structure, I decided to break CLT Christmas into 3 buckets…

1. Festive Attractions

2. Festive Sights

3. Festive Spots

Without further ado…

FESTIVE ATTRACTIONS (Things to do)

• Light the Knights Festival - Now until January 3rd

  • I touched on the greatness of the Light the Knights Festival last week, but what’s not to love! Ice Skating, Tubing, Christmas Vendors and more! Most Charlotte residents know this exists, but it’s a great event, with things to do for everyone! Sightseeing tickets are $12, but all in tickets are $45.

• Christmas Puppy Yoga - December 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd

  • Highly advertised and requested, how could I forget the hottest new trend brought to Charlotte, with four Christmas sessions in the near future. Every weekend features a new kind of puppy, and each 75-minute session includes yoga, puppies, pictures, and all-around cuteness. This weekend features Frenchie puppies, with four time slots available each day! Get your tickets now!

• Carowinds’ Winterfest - Now until January 4th

  • I’ve been going to Carowinds since I was just a wee lad. I’ve ridden every rollercoaster in the park, gone to Scarowinds dozens of times, and am a true admirer of the park. However, I have never made the trek to Winterfest, so this year has to be the year. Boasting shimmering lights, ice skating, magical holiday gift shops and holiday themed games, the Carolinas’ favorite amusement park is an amazing holiday experience waiting for the people of Charlotte! Starting at $32.99

• Winter at Whitewater - Now until mid-February

  • If you are a hockey player, figure skater, or generally advanced ice skater, the Whitewater Center is the place to be. That sentence just felt reminiscent of the infamous “Stefon” SNL bits on Weekend update. Anyway, with 24,000 square feet of Ice Skating, there’s ample space to showcase your skills to the masses, as well as tons of other family friendly activities to get you in the holiday spirit.

    

    The Carolinas’ Favorite Amusement Park

FESTIVE SIGHTS (Things to see)

• McAdenville (AKA Christmas Town, U.S.A) - Now until December 26th!

  • You want to see all out Christmas goodness? Make the trek to McAdenville. I promise it’s worth it. Although it’s nearly impossible to describe, picture if Clark Griswold had a town. If you’re a resident of Charlotte, it’s an absolute must if you have the time, not to mention that it’s FREE!

• Hillside & Picardy (Myers Park)

  • However, if you don’t have the time, I’ve got the perfect spot that you may not know if you just moved here. In the heart of Myers Park, Hillside Avenue has by far the best Holiday festivities within the city limits, at least that I know of. With hundreds of light balls hung by both families and professionals along the street, my only advice is to “Look up.” Accompanying Hillside just a couple streets over, is Picardy Place, with string lights draped across the street, all the way to the end. While not quite as much of a feat as Hillside, it’s still a great thing to go see!

• Speedway Christmas

  • While I haven’t ventured to the Speedway Christmas, I hear that it’s spectacular. With millions of lights around the track, it’s a perfect family activity if you’re looking for something to do around the holiday.

• Mistletoe Market / Camp North Pole

  • As festive as can be, Camp North End has made its mark at being a CLT hub for Christmas festivities, with $15 Ice Skating, holiday vendors and seasonal hot beverages! On Saturdays in December before Christmas (7th, 14th and 21st), it turns into an all-out Christmas Market. Make sure to check it out!

    

    The festive streets of McAdenville!

FESTIVE SPOTS (Places to go)

• Miracle Bar at Backstage Lounge

  • Possibly the most talked about Christmas Pop-up, behind Southbound lies the local Charlotte speakeasy, which completely transforms into Charlotte’s most popular Christmas bar, with holiday decor out the Wazoo.

• Tinseltown @ Billy Sunday

  • It’s no surprise that Optimist Hall’s favorite Cocktail Bar, Billy Sunday, goes all out for the holidays, with festive food and drink specials to go along with their flawless Christmas decor.

• Rosie’s Wine Garden

  • Although easy to pass by, Rosie’s Wine Garden is a NoDa neighborhood favorite that far from disappoints during the holidays. Make sure to take a stroll through Rosie’s backyard to get in the Christmas spirit this holiday season.

• Santa’s Favorite Watering Hole @ Vinyl

  • A Southend classic, Vinyl doesn’t disappoint during the holidays, with Christmas decor, themed drinks and festive bartenders to match the holiday spirit. If you happen to wander in here during a holiday weekend, you won’t be disappointed!

    

    Rosie’s Wine Garden, during a White Christmas

Bonus: My three favorite Christmas TV Episodes 🔥

1. Ted Lasso, Season 2, Episode 4 - “Carol of the Bells”

   • “I guess that’s what I get for taking a tinkle next to John Holmes.”

2. Seinfeld, Season 9, Episode 10 - “The Strike”

   • “A Festivus for the rest of us!”

   • “I got a lot of problems with you people!”

3. How I Met Your Mother, Season 2, Episode 11 - “How Lily Stole Christmas”

   • “This is a low moment for the Barnacle”

That’s it for the Christmas Edition, hopefully it got you in the holiday spirits. If not, I’ll try again next year. Hit me up at [email protected] for any q’s or debates you may have.

— A guy listening to Mariah Carey in the S. Kings Chipotle line