Charlotte Nov. 2 to Dec. 13: the Veterans Day parade Nov. 7, the marathon Nov. 14, the tree lighting Nov. 17, the Thanksgiving Eve Parade and Nutcracker.

Last checked Nov. 2, 2026. This page is rebuilt at the start of each month and covers the next six weeks. Dates, times and prices are as each organizer publishes them; some listings come from Charlotte Center City Partners’ Uptown calendar, as noted.

Charlotte from Monday, Nov. 2, to Sunday, Dec. 13. For this weekend’s picks, see things to do this weekend; for galleries, theater and concerts, arts and exhibitions.

Before you go

This week: Nov. 2-8

  • Monday, Nov. 2, and Tuesday, Nov. 3: no classes for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students (teacher workdays), according to the district’s 2026-27 calendar (PDF).
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day. See our voting page.
  • Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7: last two nights of SCarowinds. Carowinds’ SCarowinds page.
  • Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m.: Salute to Veterans Parade on Tryon Street, from 9th Street to Brooklyn Village Avenue. Carolinas Freedom Foundation parade page.
  • Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Carolinas Veterans Day Festival at Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church St.; free, with a free lunch for registered guests. Veterans Bridge Home. Both are on our Veterans Day page.
  • Saturday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m.: Joshua Bell Plays Bruch, the Charlotte Symphony’s gala concert, at Knight Theater. Symphony listing.

Nov. 9-22

  • Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day. No CMS classes; city trash pickup runs as normal.
  • Nov. 11-22: Southern Christmas Show at The Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Road: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on opening day and Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, with an Early Bird VIP session 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. Show site.
  • Friday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Charlotte Marathon expo and bib pickup at the Charlotte Convention Center; free.
  • Saturday, Nov. 14, from 7:10 a.m.: Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, half marathon and 5K from 525 S. Tryon St. Every race is sold out. Details on our Charlotte Marathon page.
  • Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m.: Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival at Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road in Huntersville. Rural Hill.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 17, 5:30 to 9 p.m.: Panthers and Charlotte FC Tree Lighting at Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.; ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Free, but a mobile ticket is required. Panthers’ tree lighting page. More on our parade and tree lighting page.
  • Nov. 18-22: Charlotte Auto Show at the Charlotte Convention Center, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., as listed on the Uptown calendar.
  • From Friday, Nov. 20: Speedway Christmas drive-thru lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, 6 to 10 p.m. nightly through Jan. 3. Passes and the village nights are on our Speedway Christmas page.
  • From Saturday, Nov. 21: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte at ImaginOn, through Dec. 23. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.
  • Sunday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m.: A Magical Cirque Christmas at Belk Theater, as listed on the Uptown calendar.

Thanksgiving week: Nov. 23-29

  • Wednesday, Nov. 25, 5:30 p.m.: Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade on Tryon Street, free, rain or shine. Parade information. Route and parking: our parade page.
  • Thursday, Nov. 26, from 8 a.m.: CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot at SouthPark Mall; fees rise after Nov. 21. Race page. Closings and trash changes: our Thanksgiving page.
  • From Friday, Nov. 27: WinterFest at Carowinds, through Jan. 3. WinterFest page.
  • Friday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 28, 3 p.m.: Grinch in Concert with the Charlotte Symphony at Ovens Auditorium. Symphony listing.
  • Black Friday, Nov. 27, and Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28: see our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.

Nov. 30 to Dec. 6

  • From Tuesday, Dec. 1: Christmas at the Library at the Billy Graham Library, 4330 Westmont Drive, through Dec. 23: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission and parking are free; carriage rides are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. Library page.
  • Friday, Dec. 4, 6 to 8 p.m.: Holiday Express, a pajama party for children 5 to 12 and their families at Southview Recreation Center. County listing.
  • Dec. 4-6: Handel’s Messiah, Charlotte Symphony, Knight Theater. Symphony listing.
  • From Friday, Dec. 4: Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker at Belk Theater, through Dec. 23, and Dec. 4-6: Charlotte Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker at CPCC’s Halton Theater. Times and parking on our Nutcracker page.
  • Friday, Dec. 4: Hanukkah begins at sundown.
  • Saturday, Dec. 5, noon: ACC Football Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium. Tickets and parking on our ACC Championship page.

Dec. 7-13

  • Thursday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.: Festival of Lights, the Charlotte Symphony’s Hanukkah concert at Knight Theater. Symphony listing.
  • Friday, Dec. 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m.: Swim with Santa at Ray’s Splash Planet, 215 N. Sycamore St.; small fee. County listing.
  • Dec. 11-13, 7:30 p.m.: Cirque de Noel, Charlotte Symphony, Knight Theater, as listed on the Uptown calendar.
  • Dec. 11-13: The Three Spirits, A Christmas Carol Reimagined at Booth Playhouse, as listed on the Uptown calendar.
  • Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Nature Holiday Celebration at Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2986 Rocky River Road; free drop-in. County listing.

More light shows and Santa visits are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.

Charlotte’s big annual events

Regular events

Send us your event

Organizers can email hello@queencitytoday.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free and go on this page and in the site’s diary.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Charlotte in November 2026?

The Salute to Veterans Parade is Nov. 7, the Southern Christmas Show runs Nov. 11-22, the Charlotte Marathon is Nov. 14, the Panthers and Charlotte FC Tree Lighting is Nov. 17, Speedway Christmas opens Nov. 20 and the Thanksgiving Eve Parade is Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 5:30 p.m. on Tryon Street.

When is the Charlotte tree lighting in 2026?

The Panthers and Charlotte FC hold their Tree Lighting at Bank of America Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. Entry is free with a mobile ticket.

When is the Charlotte Veterans Day parade?

The Salute to Veterans Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, on Tryon Street from 9th Street to Brooklyn Village Avenue, the Carolinas Freedom Foundation says.

Are there free things to do in Charlotte this month?

Yes. The Carolinas Veterans Day Festival on Nov. 7, the stadium tree lighting on Nov. 17 (free ticket required), the Thanksgiving Eve Parade on Nov. 25, Christmas at the Billy Graham Library from Dec. 1 and the Nature Holiday Celebration at Reedy Creek on Dec. 12 are all free.