26 Family-Friendly Events in Charlotte: November 2020

Grab your kids, camera, and favorite sweater! This month is packed with fun outdoor activities, vibrant foliage, and festive events to kick off the winter holidays.

Nov. 6-8

We Are Hip Hop: The Reveal. Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave. All ages. Free. Various times. Preview the pop-up performances, DJ battles, live b-boying, art installations, and mural reveals throughout Camp North End all weekend. blumenthalarts.org.

 

Nov. 7

Jeepers Have Heart Scavenger Hunt. Warehouses on White, 130 W White St, Rock Hill. All ages. $25+. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Solve clues and complete challenges to benefit The Heart2Heart Foundation. theheart2heartfoundation.org.

Springmaid Trail Race. ASC Greenway, 148 Adventure Rd., Fort Mill. All ages. $35-$45. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring your pup and your kicks to run the half marathon, 10K, or 5K/Dog Jog, and stick around for the Mary Warner Mack Dog Park open house. raceroster.com.

Wild Vine Half Marathon and Trail Race. US National Whitewater Center (USNWC), 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. All ages. $32-$55. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Run the half marathon or 5K in the crisp autumn air and take in the sights at USNWC. usnwc.org.

 

Nov. 7-8

Fall Festival. Discovery Place Nature, 1658 Sterling Rd. All ages. $8, children under age 1 are free. Reserve 1-hour timeslot online. Walk the Paw Paw Nature Trail, and create a “toad abode.” Masks for all guests age 2 and older are required. nature.discoveryplace.org.

 

Nov. 13

Drive-In Movie. Forest Hill Church, 8120 Kensington Dr, Waxhaw. All ages. Free. 6-8 p.m. Bring the kids to watch a screening of “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” This movie is rated PG-13. waxhaw.com.

 

Nov. 14

Culture Blocks: Dancing the Poem: a VIRTUAL Creative Movement and Poetry Workshop. Virtual. All ages. Free. 10-10:45 a.m. This 40-minute creative movement workshop explores poetry through dance. Pre-register to receive the Zoom link. eventbrite.com.

 

Nov. 17

Story Time and More. Wing Haven SEED Wildlife Garden, 260 Ridgewood Ave. Recommended for ages 10 and younger. $10 per family. 10 a.m.-noon. Hear seasonally themed stories, create crafts, and play in the garden. winghavengardens.org.

 

Nov. 20

Little Chef Kids Night Out: Thanksgiving Dinner, Super Duper Side Dishes. Flour Power Studios, 21714 Catawba Ave., Ste. A-1, Cornelius. Ages 5-12. $39. 6-8 p.m. Make delicious side dishes like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and mini pumpkin pies. flourpowerstudios.com.

 

Nov. 21

Gingersnap 5K. West North Main, Waxhaw. All ages. $30. 8 a.m. Kick off your holiday season with a race to benefit Girls on the Run. Register for in-person or virtual participation. gingersnap5k.com.

 

Nov. 24

Homeschool Day at the Carolina Raptor Center. Carolina Raptor Center, 6000 Sample Rd., Huntersville. All ages. $6-$10, children under 2 are free. 9 a.m.-noon. Pre-register to attend this monthly homeschool day where students can explore educational activities with STEM-related themes. carolinaraptorcenter.org.

 

Nov. 26

Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade. Uptown – Virtual. All ages. Free. 9-11 a.m. Approximately 110,000 live spectators and 2 million TV viewers watched the parade last year. See the fun for yourself live from the warmth of your couch! novanthealththanksgivingparade.com.

 

Nov. 27

SCNP: Black Friday Family Fun Day. Steven’s Creek Nature Preserve and Center, 15700 Thompson Rd., Mint Hill. All ages. Free. 2-5 p.m. Spend Black Friday outdoors with family activities, a campfire, and s’mores. Pre-registration is required, and guests 5 and older should bring a mask. parkandrec.com.

 

Nov. 29

Santa’s Toy Workshop Christmas Portraits. Fish Market, 990 Market St, Fort Mill. All ages. $195 per photo package. 1-3 p.m. Meet Santa at Fish Market in Baxter Village. facebook.com/ClairesArmy/.

 

Ongoing

Nov. 6-Dec. 27

Uptown Street Eats. Uptown, Tryon Street from 5th Street to 6th Street. All ages. Free. Fri., 6-9 p.m.; Sat., noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-4 p.m. Grab a bite from food trucks, The Asbury, or 204 North and enjoy live music, performers, and pop-up vendors. Discounted parking is available nearby. uptowncharlotte.com/uptownweekends.

 

Nov. 7-Dec. 19

Contact-free Santa Experience. Blacklion, 10635 Park Rd. All ages. Free. See website for dates, Thurs.-Sat., 1-4 p.m.; Sun., 2-4 p.m. Bring your camera to meet and smile with Santa through the storefront window. fb.me/e/3GhlRhTRG.

 

Nov. 20-Dec. 24

Santa Photos at SouthPark Mall. SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd. All ages. Price varies per photo package. Register for times online. Smile with Santa at SouthPark! Children ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask, and reservations are strongly encouraged. simon.com/mall/southpark.

 

Nov. 21-Dec. 23

Santa Photos at Northlake Mall. Northlake Mall, 6801 Northlake Mall Drive. All ages. Price varies per package. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m. Pose for a photo with Santa Claus! Children ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask, and reservations are strongly encouraged. Santa takes breaks during operating hours, and he won’t be available Nov. 23-25, Nov. 30, and Dec. 7. shopnorthlake.com.

 

Nov. 21-Jan. 17

Speedway Christmas. 5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord. All ages. $25-$30 per car. 6-10 p.m.; Closed Christmas Day. This drive-thru light show features more than 4 million lights. Every Thursday-Saturday, stay for FOX 46 WJZY Movie Nights on the giant Speedway TV. charlottemotorspeedway.com

 

Nov. 27-Dec. 31

Holiday Light Show. Town Hall, 413 N. Main St., Mooresville. All ages. Free. Visit Mooresville’s Town Hall lawn and see a light show of 150,000 dancing lights set to music. downtownmooresville.com.

 

Nov. 27-Dec. 24

Santa Photos at Carolina Place Mall. Carolina Place Mall, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy., Pineville. All ages. Price varies per photo package. Register for times online. Meet Jolly Old Saint Nick at the mall. Children ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask, and reservations are strongly encouraged. carolinaplace.com.

Santa Photos at Concord Mills. Concord Mills, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord. All ages. Price varies per photo package. Register for times online. Tell Santa your wish list, and smile for a photo. Children ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask, and reservations are strongly encouraged. simon.com/mall/concord-mills.

 

Nov. 28-Jan. 3

Holidays at the Garden. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 South New Hope Rd., Belmont. All ages. $8-$15, children ages 1 and younger free. 5-9 p.m. Stroll through the garden to view the lights, purchase snacks or dinner from a food truck, or roast a marshmallow over the fire. Santa, the Orchid Conservatory, and the Lost Hollow Children’s Garden will not be available this year. Purchase tickets in advance online. dsbg.org.

 

Nov. 30-Dec. 23

Christmas at the Library. The Billy Graham Library, 4330 Westmont Drive. All ages. Free admission. 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Christmas activities that include story times, a live nativity, and carolers begin at 5 p.m., and both admission and parking are free. Carriage rides cost $4-$8. Friday and Saturday hours go until 10 p.m. billygrahamlibrary.org.

 

Mid-Nov.-Feb.

Lights. US National Whitewater Center (USNWC), 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. All ages. Free, $6 parking. 6-10 p.m. Stroll on the illuminated walking trail to view the light installations integrated into the surrounding woods. usnwc.org.

Ice Skating at USNWC. US National Whitewater Center (USNWC), 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. All ages. $20, plus $6 parking. Hours are posted in the daily activity schedule online. Skate on 17,000 square feet of ice. Skate rentals are included with activity pass. usnwc.org.