Kid-Friendly Holiday Performances in Charlotte

This holiday season, bring the whole family together for a few magical performances.

Holly and Tinsel.  (Dec. 1-18).

Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St., Davidson. $12-$20. 704-892-7953. The Flats and Sharps are on their way to a Christmas Eve concert when a snowstorm causes them to wait out the storm at a diner, where they meet Ellie, the crusty waitress, and a few other guests. Together they discover the meaning of Christmas. See website for showtimes. davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

Gaston Dance Theatre Presents: The Nutcracker. (Dec. 2-4).

Gaston Day School, 2001 Gaston Day School Road, Gastonia. Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 1 and 7:30pm; Sun., 3pm.  $7-$16. A full-scale production of the classic holiday story. gastondance.com.

A Christmas Carol. (Dec. 2-11).

Theatre Charlotte, The Eloise Macdonald Playhouse, 501 Queens Road. $27. 704-376-3777. The classic Dickens tale of hard-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. See website for showtimes. theatrecharlotte.org.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. (Dec. 2-18).

Matthews Playhouse, Fullwood Theater, 100 McDowell St. E., Matthews. $11-$13. 704-846-8343. No one is prepared when the trouble-causing Herdman family decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant. Will they ruin it or will it somehow turn out to be the best ever? See website for showtimes. matthewsplayhouse.com.  

Christmas Time Is Here. (Dec. 3).

Queens University, Dana Auditorium, 1900 Selwyn Ave. 7pm. FREE. Charlotte Concert Band perform favorite and familiar Christmas songs. charlotteconcertband.org.

Beauty And The Beast. (Dec. 3-10).

Levine Jewish Community Center, 5007 Providence Road. 2 and 7pm.  $12-$15. The cast and crew of JSTAGE perform a live-action re-imagining of the classic fairy tale. charlottejcc.org.

Nutcracker. (Dec. 3-23).

Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. Tickets start at $40. 704-372-0101. The Nutcracker re-imagined with all new sets and costumes, plus live music performed by the Charlotte Symphony. See website for showtimes. charlotteballet.org.

Matthews Ballet and Dance Presents: The Nutcracker. (Through Dec. 4).

Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews. Sat., 7pm; Sun., 3pm. $3-$5. 704-321-7275. Enjoy a special performance of this classic holiday show. Purchase tickets at Matthews Community Center as space is limited. matthewsnc.gov.

PlayPlay Theatre Presents: Wee. (Dec. 8-17).

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, 300 E. 7th St. $10. 704-973-2828. A performance designed for children ages 3 and younger that illustrates how some of life’s greatest gifts can come in the smallest packages. See website for showtimes. ctcharlotte.org.

Charlotte Symphony Pops: Magic of Christmas for Families. (Dec. 10).

Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. 11am. $29.50+. 704-372-1000. A one-hour performance that includes music by the Charlotte Symphony Chorus, the Charlotte Children’s Choir, handbell ringers, plus a visit from Santa Claus. See the website for other showtimes. charlottesymphony.org.

Clara’s Trip: A Cirque and Dance Nutcracker Story. (Dec. 9-11).

Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 2 and 7pm; Sun., 2pm. $20+ 704-844-0449. Clara LeBlanc trips at a holiday party and is whisked off to the hospital to learn that her ankle is broken. That night her friends and get-well gifts swirl in her dreams. carolinecalouche.org.

Soulful Noel. (Dec. 9).

McGlohon Theater Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 8pm. Tickets start at $18. 704-372-1000. This holiday performance features a tapestry of music presented in a contemporary style. blumenthalarts.org.

Elf the Musical JR. (Dec. 9-11).

Black Box Theatre at Ballantyne Art Center, 11318 North Community House Road. Fri., 6 and 8 pm; Sat., 2, 4, 6 and 8pm; and Sun., 2 and 4pm. $11. A musical based on the movie about Buddy, a young orphan who is raised as an elf until his enormous size causes him to journey to New York City to discover his true identity and spread the joy of Christmas. ymcacharlotte.org/morrison.

The Singing Christmas Tree for Kids. (Dec. 10-11).

Knight Theater, Levine Center for the Arts, 430 S. Tryon St . Sat., 11am; Sun., 1:30pm. $14-$20. 704-372-1000. Just an hour in length, this performance, designed for children ages 3-11, features the Grey Seal Puppets, Santa, holiday carols by the Carolina Kids’ Voices Choir. carolinavoices.org

Tosco Music Holiday Party. (Dec. 10).

McGlohon Theater Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 7:30 pm. $14-$24. 704-372-1000. See more than a dozen performers and plenty of singalongs. Enjoy your favorite holiday classics, traditional Christmas carols as well as songs of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. toscomusic.org.

Winter Music Recital. (Dec. 10).

Tate Hall-Central Piedmont Community College, 1207 Elizabeth Ave. Noon. FREE. Enjoy a musical recital that includes student performances of music from classical, jazz, pop and more. ncmusiccenter.com.

The Birth. (Dec. 14-17).

Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 7pm. $18-$25. 704-372-1000. A collection of dramatic performance, dance and live music, designed to bring the Christmas story to life in a unique way. blumenthalarts.org.

Polar Express Dance Recital. (Dec. 16-19).

Ballantyne Arts Center’s Black Box Theatre, 11318 North Community House Road. Fri., 7pm; Sat., 5 and 7pm; Sun., 3 and 5pm; Mon., 5:30 and 7:30pm. Tickets start at $11. 704-716-4650. A magical story experienced through dance and a visit from Santa Claus. ymcacharlotte.org/morrison.

Elf, Jr. Presented by Main Street Dance. (Dec. 17).

Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. 2pm. $10. When Buddy, a young orphan, accidentally crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to The North Pole, he is raised as an elf. As he grows up, he realizes a desire to find his birth father and discover his true identity. tix.cpcc.edu.

The Nutcracker Presented by Main Street Dance. (Dec. 17).

Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. 3:30pm. $10. Main Street Dance Works presents a student production of songs from The Nutcracker. tix.cpcc.edu.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical. (Through Dec. 23).

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, 300 E. 7th St. Tickets start at $12. 704-973-2828. When the worst kids in the history of the world find out there are free snacks at Sunday School, they take it upon themselves to audition for the annual Christmas pageant. Will a group of kids who have never even heard the story of Christmas ruin the show? ctcharlotte.org.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker. (Dec. 27-30).

Knight Theater, Levine Center for the Arts, 430 S. Tryon St. Tues.-Thurs., 7pm; Fri., 2 and 7pm.$19.50. 704-372-1000. A dozen all-star dancers, DJ, MC and digital scenery bring the traditional story to life in a contemporary urban setting. blumenthalarts.org.