Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving Guests in Charlotte
First comes the feast, then comes all of the holiday magic. Treat your guests to a few of our favorite things to do and see in the Queen City during the holidays.
by Lauren Levine Corriher Nov 15, 2021
Make the Thanksgiving holiday more than just a day to feast. Round up your guests and venture out to explore the Queen City in full holiday bloom. The Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade is a quintessential Charlotte experience, but beyond that, the parade is also the start of the city’s holiday celebrations.
Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade
Skip watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at home in favor of a much more up-close-and-personal experience with the largest Thanksgiving parade in the Southeast, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade. For 75 years, this lively celebration of the season has delighted Queen City revelers with floats, dancers, marching bands and more. In 2021, the parade will light up the night starting at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day Eve. It’s the perfect family-friendly way to celebrate before you pass the potatoes and pumpkin pie.
Turkey Dash Charlotte
Burn some extra calories before your feasting on mashed potatoes and stuffing at the Turkey Dash Charlotte. This event is a family-friendly run and walk in Ballantyne/South Charlotte on Thanksgiving morning. With both a four-mile route and a one-mile route, everyone can enjoy the fall morning regardless of their fitness level. There's also a "Family Village" with bounce houses and other entertainment for kids and kids-at-heart. Even better: proceeds go to support Changing Lives Together Foundation, a foundation that helps enrich and change the lives of special needs kids and kids with life-altering medical circumstances, right here in Charlotte.
Ice Skating at U.S. National Whitewater Center
Ever Fall, the whitewater channels convert into a one-of-a-kind ice skating experience open to all ages and experience levels. In 2021, the Whitewater Center will debut a brand new ice skating trail in the Upper Pond. In 2021, the Whitewater Center expanded its ice rink to over 24,000 sq. ft. and includes four distinct skating areas, including two ice trails and two free skate zones. View activity pass rates here.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Add a little creativity to your holiday shopping and skip the mall parking lot madness as you do it. The Charlotte Christmas Market, happening at the corner of Seventh and North Tryon streets, is the place to go. The European-inspired market offers charming crafts and gifts that will delight even the pickiest names on your list, plus live performances, plenty of tasty food and drink options, and more. It runs from Nov. 24 through Dec 23.
Make A List And Check It Twice
When you emerge from your turkey coma, start crossing off your holiday gift list! Get some inspiration from our shopping guide, save a few bucks with our thrift store guide or shop local with a list of some favorite shops and boutiques.
Now that it's officially time for candy canes and jingle bells, check out even more ways to celebrate the holidays all throughout the Queen City.
