Do you have friends and family visiting for Thanksgiving Day Weekend? Looking for something to do to get out of the house? Here are 12 free suggestions. More will be added!
And scroll down past our featured events for a list of every free event we have on the calendar from Wednesday, November 21st, through Sunday, November 25th, 2018.
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You might also be interested in:
- Free things to do this week
- Most spectacular Christmas light displays
- Day by day list of holiday events
- Charlotte area holiday markets
- Free Christmas and holiday concerts (check back soon for 2018 updates)
- Self-guided walking tour of Uptown Charlotte Christmas lights and attractions (check back soon for 2018 updates)
Free admission to Mint Museum
Free admission to Mint Museum Wednesday evening
Wednesday, November 21st
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Mint Museum Uptown, 500 South Tryon Street
Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road
If your guests would prefer to stay indoors, both locations of The Mint Museum are free to visit Wednesday evening. (And every Wednesday evening.) There is usually a cash bar at Mint Museum Uptown Wednesday evenings, as well as $10 Yoga.
Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade
Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade
Thursday, November 22nd
9 a.m.
Uptown Charlotte
This is the 71st year for Charlotte’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s back to traveling south again, after a couple years of traveling north. It’ll set off from Tryon Street at 9th Street at 9 a.m., and head south on Tryon to Stonewall Street. Dozens of live entertainment artists will be performing at the stage on S. Tryon Street, between Stonewall Street and Levine Avenue of the Arts. The parade, of course, is free to attend, but you can also purchase tickets for some prime seating. The procedure has changed this year. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the parade. But use the promo code CharlotteCheap5 to save $5 on tickets. The promo code is case sensitive. One unique feature of the parade are the Segwalloons, a Charlotte original. Introduced at the 2013 Thanksgiving Day Parade, they are a cross between balloons and Segways.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursdays through Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Opening day is Thanksgiving Day: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Sundays: Noon to 6 p.m.
Mondays: Closed
7th Street and N. Tryon Street
Charlotte Christmas Village has moved to 7th and Tryon, right on the Thanksgiving Day Parade route, and it will be open during the parade. The German-inspired market will include gift booths, a German bakery, bratwursts, live entertainment, trivia games and much more. Santa will be visiting the village and parents can take pictures of their kids with Santa for free. Follow the above link for the schedules for Santa and for the music. Santa will be at Charlotte Christmas Village Thanksgiving Day.
Black Friday fun day and campfire at Latta Plantation Nature Center
Friday, November 23rd
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
6211 Sample Road, Huntersville
Latta Plantation Park is always a great place to bring the family. Within the park is Carolina Raptor Center and Historic Latta Planation, as well as Latta Plantation Nature Center, and Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, which includes 16 miles of trails and places to launch kayaks onto Mountain Island Lake. On Friday, Instead of spending the biggest shopping day of the year in crowded shops, go against the grain and get outside this year. Learn tips and tricks for fire building to keep you warm all winter while enjoying a variety of activities, or just cozy up by the fire and relax. They’ll be roasting marshmallows until they’re gone, but feel free to bring a picnic blanket, camp chair, snacks or non-alcoholic beverages of your own.
Free afternoon at Schiele Museum of Natural History
Friday, November 23rd
1 p.m. to 5 p.m
1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia
The fourth Friday of every month, admission to the Schiele Museum is free from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This museum is definitely worth the short visit from Charlotte. Permanent indoor and outdoor exhibits include Hall of Northern American Habitats, Hall of North Carolina Natural History, Henry Hall of the American Indian, Memorial Wildlife Exhibits, Catawba Indian Village, 18th Century Backcountry Farm, Stone Age Heritage Site and more.
Small Business Saturday at Historic South End
Historic South End’s Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November 24th
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Historic South End
The Historic South End celebrates Small Business Saturday in a big way. There will be three pop-up markets, on Camden Road, at 2525 Distribution Street (Dudeapalooza at C3 Labs) and on Lincoln Street, with a free trolley to take you between them. Follow the above link for lots of information on those three spots. Make sure to stick around for the South End Tree Lighting at Atherton Mill at 5:30 p.m.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 24th
5 p.m.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza, 400 East MLK Blvd.
At the tree lighting, there will be live music, family fun, and visits by Santa. While you’re there, enjoy Uptown’s only outdoor ice skating rink, Holiday on Ice, which costs $10 if you bring your own skates, and $14 if you rent skates.
Light up Cornelius
Saturday, November 24th
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius
Cornelius takes its annual tree lighting celebration up a notch. There will be free horse and carriage rides, visits from Santa (bring your camera!), arts and crafts, a model train display, s’mores, concessions, entertainment and a vendor village.
Kannapolis Tree Lighting, Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
Saturday, November 24th
6 p.m.
Village Park, 700 West C Street, Kannapolis
Kannapolis is another nearby city that takes its Christmas celebration seriously. All season, Village Park will be filled with dazzling lights displays. It’s free to walk through, to check out the huge model train display and to meet Santa (and take pictures.) The Winterland Express train ride is $2. The tree lighting celebration is on Friday, starting at 6 p.m. That’s when it all begins.
Free Santa Photos and More at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 22: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Crafts 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Friday, November 23: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Crafts 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Crafts 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m. (Crafts 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Bass Pro Shops, at Concord Mills
Cabela’s, 1000 Cabela Drive, Fort Mill, SC
Bring the kids to either Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s for free pictures with Santa, and free holiday crafts and games.
Free Christmas Concert by Opera Carolina Chorus
Sunday, November 25th
7 p.m.
St. Nektarios Church, 5108 Kuykendall Road
The program will feature holiday music in all languages, with a focus on Greek music. The concert is free and open to the public. No RSVP or tickets are required. Donations will be collected to support the Opera Carolina Chorus Association and A Child’s Place.
Hot Stuff Holiday Market
Sunday, November 25th
11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Avenue
11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This market features local crafts, food, artisans and beer. Shop for a friend, for yourself, or for ideas for your own creative pursuits. The main bar and the taproom will be open.
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