Enjoy the cooler temperatures, fall foliage, and Christmas lights in November in Charlotte. You’ll find craft markets, nature activities, Veterans Day events and more. Plan November 2025 with this list of the top things to do in the Charlotte area.
We’ve highlighted a few activities and events, but please scroll down for our huge (and we do mean huge) calendar of things to do in the Charlotte area in November. This calendar will be updated all the time. You can also jump right to the day by day calendar.
We focus on the free and cheap, but we do include some great activities and events that cost a little bit more if we think readers would like to hear about them.
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Top Things To Do in November
Day of the Dead Celebration at Camp North End
Day of the Dead Celebration
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Place: Camp North End, 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This celebration features traditional music and dancing, face painting, an expansive altar exhibition, a Catrina parade and much more.
Santa’s Arrival at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s (plus free pictures and more)
Santa’s Arrival and Santa’s Wonderland
Date: Santa’s arrival is November 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. Santa’s Wonderland takes place every day from November 2 to December 24, 2025
Time: Santa’s arrival is at 5 p.m. Santa’s Wonderland varies by day.
Place: Bass Pro Shops, at Concord Mills, and at 1000 Cabela Drive, Fort Mill, SC
Cost: Free
Features: Santa’s arrival features a parade, with Santa arriving in a boat. There will be free treats and giveaways for the kids. Then, starting November 2, kids can get a free 4×6 photo with Santa, plus participate in giveaways, games, crafts and more.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Date: Saturdays and Sundays from October 4 to November 23, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Place: 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC
Cost: $37.99 for adults, $23.99 for children 5-12. Free for children 4 and under. Multiple discount offers and ticket giveaways (follow link above.)
Features: Jousting knights, multiple shows, mermaids, falconry, artisan market and more. More than 14 stages of entertainment and 500 costumed villagers.
National Sandwich Day
National Sandwich Day
Date: Monday, November 3, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Multiple locations
Cost: Varies
Features: Learn about all the special deals for National Sandwich Day.
Pawsitively Matthews
Pawsitively Matthews
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This pet-focused festival features demos, music, pet-friendly vendors, a beer “pawvilion,” food trucks and more.
Salute to Veterans Parade
Salute to Veterans Parade
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: Parade: 11 a.m.
Place: The parade takes place on Tryon Street.
Cost: Free
Features: The event showcases local high school bands, pipe & drum corps, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program units, Boy and Girl Scout troops, active military and first-responder units, motorcycles and classic vehicles, corporate veteran employees, veteran organizations, and more.
EpicFest Literary Festival for Kids and Teens
EpicFest Literary Festival
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: ImaginOn, 300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Author visits, maker activities, balloon twisting, book giveaways, games, more.
Korea in the Queen City
Korea in the Queen City
Date: November 8 to December 7, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery, 700 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Most events are free, some have a cost
Features: Month long celebration of Korean culture, including art, music, food, games, lectures, cooking classes and more.
Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show
Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show
Date: November 8 and 9, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
Place: Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport, 3900 Paul J Helms Drive, Monroe.
Cost: $20 for adults; $15 for ages 12-18; $5 for current and former military members; free for children under age 12
Features: Flight performances, jumpers, speakers, music, several planes from the WWII era and more.
Fall Horse Show at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fall Horse Show at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Anne Springs Close Greenway Stables, 1046 Horse Road, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Cost: $15 for parking. No additional admission fee
Features: Watch 30 categories of competition by the local equestrian community.
Best of Charlotte Bridal Show
Best of Charlotte Bridal Show
Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Place: Divine Barrel Brewing, 3701 N Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $7.70, but use promo code COTC for free tickets
Features: Unique vendors to help you plan the perfect wedding.
Veterans Day Ceremonies and Special Deals
Veterans Day ceremonies, events and food deals
Date: Most are on Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: Varies (most ceremonies are in the morning)
Place: Various
Cost: Most are free
Features: Check out our list of events that are honoring veterans throughout the Charlotte region. There are also a lot of food freebies and deals (and more) for those who have served.
Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum
Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
Place: Schiele Museum, 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Explore indoor and outdoor exhibits at this popular museum.
Rural Hill’s Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival
Rural Hill’s Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival
Date: November 15 and 16, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, NC
Cost: One day tickets range from $18.31 to $20.41 for adults and $9.91 to $10.96 for youth. Children under 5 are admitted for free.
Features: Watch trained dogs compete in herding, obedience and agility. There will be a variety of other activities and attractions. You may bring your own well-behaved, leashed dog.
Tree Lighting Celebrations
Tree Lighting Celebrations
Date: Multiple
Time: Varies
Place: Many places
Cost: Usually free
Features: There are many tree lighting celebrations throughout the Charlotte area. They typically are the first event to welcome in the holiday season, and often feature music, kids’ activities, crafts and more. Santa is present at many of them.
The Geekery Market
The Geekery Market
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, 4751 NC Highway 49, Concord, North Carolina
Cost: Free admission. Parking is $8.
Features: This festival features artists and artisans who create products across all fandoms. There will also be geeky music, pictures with Jedi Santa, swordfighting demonstrations, and more.
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express
Date: November 15 to December 30, 2025 (except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Time: Sunday to Thursday: 6 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 6 to 10 p.m.
Place: Village Park, 700 West C Street, Kannapolis, NC
Cost: Free to visit. $2 for train or carousel ride.
Features: The park is lit up 250,000 lights. You can walk around for free, or take the train for $2. Santa visits are free. Leonard Bearstein and his animatronic orchestra will perform nightly.
Romanian-American Festival
Romanian-American Festival
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live traditional music and dance performances, kids’ cultural craft zone, vendors and artisans, Romanian and American street food and desserts, more.
Open Demo at Hot Glass Alley
Open Demo at Hot Glass Alley
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Place: Hot Glass Alley, 438 Atando Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Watch as talented artists transform a molten glob of glass into a unique piece of art.
Yap Yè Iswà Festival (celebration of Catawba culture)
Yap Yè Iswà Festival (celebration of Catawba culture)
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Catawba Cultural Center, 1536 Tom Steven Road, Rock Hill, SC
Cost: Free
Features: Celebrate Catawba culture through drumming, craft vendors, traditional dances, demonstrations and more.
UCity Lights
UCity Lights
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
Place: Shoppes at University Place, 8931 J M Keynes Drive, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Entertainment, make-your-own ornaments, meeting Santa, trackless train ride, tree lighting, Christmas market, more
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade
Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Place: Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC. From 9th Street to Good Samaritan Way.
Cost: Free, but VIP tickets are available and they provide bleacher seating.
Features: Lights, music, dancing, and plenty of holiday cheer.
Light the Knights
Light the Knights
Date: November 26, 2025, to January 4, 2025, except for select dates. It’s not open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Time: Time varies
Place: Truist Field, 324 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Admission is $12. Admission plus skating and tubing is $40.
Features: Ice skating, snow tubing, lights, live entertaining, gift vendors, concessions and Santa. No additional cost for photos with Santa.
