Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, Charlotte. From light displays and holiday performances to festive parties and winter wonderlands, this is by far the coziest season in the Queen City.

Gather the family and friends to celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 30+ winter events happening between December and February.

🎄 Light displays + holiday markets

Shop Small Saturday | Saturday, Nov. 30 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. South End | Cost of purchase | Kick off the holiday season by shopping 120+ local vendors in the heart of South End.

Tree Lighting Festival | Tuesday, Nov. 26 | 6–8 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium | Free, but tickets required | The Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC will host the 11th annual festival + Asheville-based vendors will be showcased along the concourse in wake of Helene.

Dancer Anna Owen performs as the Snow Queen in the Charlotte Ballet's 2023 performance of "Nutcracker." | Photo by Taylor Jones

🩰 Holiday performances

The Nutcracker | Friday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 22 | Times vary | Belk Theater | Become mesmerized as the Charlotte Ballet dances this classic tale to Tchaikovsky's music.

Ford Green at Camp North End will be transformed to an outdoor ice rink for Camp North Pole. | Photo via Corine Olarte

⛸️ Outdoor ice rinks + activities

Camp North Pole | Friday, Nov. 22–Sunday, Jan. 5 | Camp North End | $10-$15 per person | Go ice skating at this outdoor rink before shopping the Mistletoe Market on select Saturdays.

The WBT SkyShow provides a spectacle of pyrotechnics in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. | Photo by Jon Helm via Flickr

🎇 Celebrating the new year

New Year’s Eve with Gold & Glamour: A Cuban NYE | Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m.-2 a.m. | El Puro | Cost of purchase | Ring in 2025 with a specialty cocktail menu, a three-course dinner, live music and dancing, a midnight toast + guests are encouraged to wear their finest golden attire.

Find your seats as "Hamilton" and a number of other Broadway shows make their way to the Queen City for the 2024-2025 season. | Photo by CLTtoday

🎉 January events

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents: The Greatest Show On Earth | Friday, Jan. 17- Sunday, Jan. 19 | Times vary | Spectrum Center | $17 | The Spectrum Center will be transformed to the “ultimate playground” with trapeze swings, extreme BMX riders, and a spinning merry-go-round stage.

💘 February events

Opera Carolina: Carmen | Thursday, Feb. 6- Sunday, Feb. 9 | Belk Theater | $23+ | This classic French opera comes to life as Carmen's story unravels from passion to a fight for liberation.