61. Novello Festival Of Reading
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 336-2725
Description: Started in 1991, this celebration of reading and books features programs by best-selling authors and regional writers from creative nonfiction to kids’ books. Past headliners include Tom Clancy, Pat Conroy, John Grisham, Frank McCourt, John Berendt, Sue Grafton, Norman Mailer, and Mary Higgins Clark. WordPlay Saturday, held the first Sat of the festival, is a family-friendly street celebration with storytelling, music, stage acts, and author appearances. Admission charge varies.
62. Waxhaw Scottish Games And Festival
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 243-0855
Description: A long-standing tradition, these Scottish games draw more than 3,500 spectators with Celtic music, bagpipes, Highland dancing, and traditional athletic competitions on the last Saturday of October.
63. Carolinas’ Carrousel Parade
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 525-0250
Description: This Thanksgiving Day event, one of North Carolina’s most extravagant Christmas parades, marks the beginning of the Christmas season. Free.
64. Charlotte Southpark Turkey Trot 8K
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 377-8786
Description: This annual 8K road race is run on Thanksgiving morning. All proceeds go to charity. The event begins at the Marriott SouthPark Hotel and is preceded by a Sports Expo. A 1-mile fun run, 8K wheelchair race, family relay, and tot trot also are included.
65. Rural Hill Sheep Dog Trials
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 875-3113
Description: Up to 4,000 spectators come to Rural Hill Farm at Lake Norman in early November to watch 75 border collies from around the country participate in sheepdog trials. The event also includes exhibitions, veterinary examinations, merchandise booths, arts and crafts, and farm tours.
66. Southern Christmas Show
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 376-6594
Address: 2500 East Independence Blvd.
Description: A winter wonderland of crafts, gifts, food, and anything remotely connected with the Christmas season, this mid-November show is a Charlotte tradition. The show includes cooking clinics, crafts demonstrations, and a food pavilion. Thousands of visitors come to get a head start on their Christmas shopping.
67. Southpark Holiday Tree Lighting
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 364-4411
Description: Tens of thousands gather after Thanksgiving dinner to hear music and watch Santa light the 60-foot tree. Free.
68. Warriors And Warbirds Air Show
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 282-4542
Description: Held the first weekend of November, this show features several dozen WWII aircraft and pyrotechnic displays. It’s a family-friendly educational event, and pays tribute to the men and women who bravely served our country. The Warriors and Warbirds Air Show began in 2007 and has become a huge success, drawing as many as 70,000 folks.
69. Christmastown Usa
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 824-3190
Description: Neighboring McAdenville is the site of this spectacular month-long Christmas light show. Drive through town each evening and view 750,000 holiday lights. Started by Pharr Yarns for the folks in this mill village and now overseen by the town of McAdenville. Christmastown USA has been featured on Good Morning America and other national shows. Free.
70. First Night Charlotte
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 332-2227
Description: Ring in the new year with this alcohol-free celebration in Uptown each year on Dec. 31. A kids’ celebration takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. and includes music, dance, theater, history, and science. Next up is the First Night People’s Procession, a parade for the people, by the people. The evening program includes art, dancing, and live music leading up to a countdown to midnight. Free.
71. Kwanzaa
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 374-1565
Description: This annual religious and cultural celebration focuses on African heritage and the family.
72. Meineke Car Care Bowl
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (800) 618-8149
Description: Introduced in 2002, this late December college football bowl game pits an Atlantic Coast Conference team against a team from the Big East Conference. Other festivities include an Uptown street festival and pep rally.
73. The Nutcracker
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 372-1000
Description: Presented annually by the North Carolina Dance Theatre, The Nutcracker ballet features more than 100 artists and tells the time-honored story of Clara and her trip to the land of the sugar plum fairies. Admission is $15 to $51.
74. Singing Christmas Tree
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 377-9124
Description: More than 100 members of the Carolina Voices celebrate Christmas in song at this 50-year Charlotte tradition. Singers stand on huge platforms that arrange the group in the shape of a tree. Admission is $12 to $22, half price for children.
75. Thunder Road Marathon
City: Charlotte, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (704) 358-0713
Description: Formerly the Charlotte Observer Run for Peace Marathon, the Thunder Road Marathon was moved from January to December. Individuals and three-person teams can participate in the 26-mile race, a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The event also includes a 10K and 5K run/walk and a health and running expo. Cost ranges from $17 to $85.