Photo from Charlotte Observer
CLT New Year’s Eve, is Charlotte’s favorite way of celebrating the New Year. It typically includes concerts, fireworks, and the lighting of the Queen City Crown.
This year, this celebration can’t take place, but read on for a list of ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve and Day in Charlotte.
New Year’s Eve is different this year. With the modified stay-at-home order, people need to be home (with some exceptions) by 10 p.m. So any planned events will end long before the stroke of midnight.
Restaurants can provide take-out and delivery services after 10 p.m., however, so keep that in mind! Soon, we’ll be adding a list of some restaurants that will be open for your dining needs!
Most of the popular New Year’s events aren’t taking place this year, but read on for some ideas of how to celebrate the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. We are highlighting a few events below, but keep scrolling, and we will include our full calendar of events for December 31st through January 3rd.
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Know of other events, or just have a great idea of how to celebrate New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day? Drop us a line at info@charlotteonthecheap.com.
New Year's Eve and Day in Charlotte
Our list of Christmas light displays is so extensive that there are almost certainly amazing festive displays that you haven't experienced yet. Many, but not all, are still operating through New Year's Day. We include an interactive map to help you plan your journey.
Lenny Boy is holding a New Year's Eve party during the day, with live music by the Abbey Elmore Band from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Walk the Lights trail, a magical, immersive arts installation in the woods. it's free, after you pay for parking. Or go ice skating. You'll need a single activity pass for skating, which is $20.
Homegrown band The Avett Brothers have a tradition of presenting a New Year's Eve show every year somewhere in North Carolina. This year they're doing it virtually. Tickets are $39.99 per screen.
Stop by NoDa Company Store for a friendly, relaxed, outside place to enjoy a drink. Speaking of drinks, they're offering everyone one free glass of Prosecco!
Charlotte Symphony is streaming holiday-themed concerts to watch at home. On January 1st, they are presenting A Baroque Celebration: Old World / New Year. The cost is $25 (for the whole family) and you'll have through January 8th to watch it.
Speedway Christmas is open both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Drive through a 3.75-mile course that boasts more than 4 million lights. Tune into 101.3 FM for Christmas music.
Kids can visit NASCAR Hall of Fame for free through January 3rd, and it's open both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
In addition to the lights, Charlotte Motor Speedway is offering ice skating. It's ticketed separately, at $15/hour. It will be open both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Middle C Jazz has been able to remain open, and is featuring the band 5th and York on New Year's Eve at 6 p.m. Tickets are $42, and will go quickly.
Check out some of these walks to take on New Year's Day. We've included hikes through nature preserves, self-guided city walks and more.
North Carolina State Parks will be open on New Year's Day. Check out our guide for hiking at 12 of them. Plan to get there early, as New Year's Day might be a popular time.
You won't find a more magical way to spend New Year's Eve or the evening of New Year's Day than Holidays at the Garden, at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. The light display is integrated into the garden, and illuminates the fountains, trees and landscape.
If the weather cooperates, use one of our bike ride guides to help you plan your bike ride or walk on one of Mecklenburg County Greenways.
Why not start the New Year big? On a big rock anyway?
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