Holiday shopping in Charlotte 2026: Black Friday Nov. 27, Small Business Saturday Nov. 28, the Southern Christmas Show Nov. 11-22 and mall hours.
Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Store hours are posted only as each shopping center publishes them; we link each one so you can check. We do not list prices or deals.
Black Friday is Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, and Small Business Saturday is Nov. 28. Charlotte’s biggest holiday market, the Southern Christmas Show, opens two weeks earlier.
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 11-22 | Southern Christmas Show | The Park Expo, 800 Briar Creek Road |
| Thursday, Nov. 26 | Thanksgiving; Turkey Trot traffic in the morning | SouthPark |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | Black Friday | Malls and shopping centers |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | Small Business Saturday | Independent shops |
Who to call
- SouthPark: 704-364-4411, 4400 Sharon Road
- Carolina Place (Pineville): 704-542-4111, 11025 Carolina Place Parkway
- Traffic or parking problem on city streets: CharMeck 311, 704-336-7600
- Emergency: 911
Mall and shopping center hours
As of Oct. 25 we had not found 2026 Thanksgiving or Black Friday hours for either center below; each posts them on the page linked in the table. We will add them when they appear. Until then, these are the regular hours each one publishes:
| Center | Address | Regular hours | Where holiday hours appear |
|---|---|---|---|
| SouthPark | 4400 Sharon Road | Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m. | SouthPark hours page |
| Carolina Place | 11025 Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville | See the center’s site | carolinaplace.com |
Individual stores and restaurants inside a mall often keep their own holiday hours. Check the store before you go on Thanksgiving night or early Black Friday.
Southern Christmas Show, Nov. 11-22
The Southern Christmas Show fills The Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Road, with about 400 vendors of holiday decor, gifts and food. Organizers say it draws more than 95,000 shoppers.
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day, opening day) | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Thursday to Saturday | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sunday to Wednesday | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Early Bird VIP, Saturday, Nov. 14 | 8 to 10 a.m. |
Parking is in paid lots at and next to the expo center, including Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Arena, with golf cart shuttles to the door. The show’s parking page warns of congestion from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28
Small Business Saturday falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It began as an American Express campaign to send holiday shoppers to independent stores. For Charlotte shops that have opened recently, see our new businesses page.
Parking and traffic
- SouthPark has heavy traffic on Thanksgiving morning, when the Turkey Trot starts and finishes at the mall.
- Uptown closes Tryon Street on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 25, for the Thanksgiving Eve Parade.
- For Uptown deck and meter parking, see our getting around page.
- For road work and lane closures near the malls, see our road construction and closures page.
What this means for you
- Shop the Southern Christmas Show on a weekday if you can; weekends are busiest.
- Check each store’s own hours for Thanksgiving night and Black Friday morning.
- More holiday plans: holiday lights and Christmas events and Thanksgiving in Charlotte.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday is Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday is Nov. 28.
What are SouthPark Mall’s Black Friday hours?
We had not found SouthPark’s 2026 holiday hours as of Oct. 25; they appear on the mall’s hours page. Its regular hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
When is the Southern Christmas Show 2026?
The Southern Christmas Show runs Nov. 11-22, 2026, at The Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Road. It is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and on opening day, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday.
Are Mecklenburg County offices open on Black Friday?
No. County government offices are closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, 2026.
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