THE ART OF
HOST-PITALITY
Host the Holidays from the Comfort of the Queen City
After years of traveling and sleeping on your in-law's couch, it's your time to host the holidays. Lucky for you, you live in Charlotte — a city with endless options for holiday shopping, restaurants, activities and accommodations. So stop looking at flight prices and start reading our local guide to hosting the holidays in the Queen City.
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The Best Plan is Multiple Plans
Keeping a large group both busy and happy is not something you can make up as you go. So start with our list of things to do around Charlotte to have plenty of options ready to go. Pro holiday tip: take advantage of the top winter things to do in the Queen City.
Hosting kids as well? Look no further than these family-friendly activities to keep guests of all ages on the nice list. And if you need some great drop-off points for local exploring, we recommend the city’s most popular neighborhoods for some fun on foot.
Make Time to Relax with Your Guests
If your holiday cheer needs a few more cheers, you live in the right place. Of course, there are enough great breweries and bars to impress any out-of-towner but they shouldn’t leave before trying our award-winning cocktail spots as well.
If wine is the preferred pour, don’t let your guests drink all your best bottles. Get everyone out of your house and over to the city’s top wine bars.
Don't Try to Do It All
While it may be tempting to make every meal a showcase of your culinary skills, give yourself some breaks and trust the pros at these must-try restaurants. From international cuisine to the best in southern comfort food, there’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser for even your pickiest guests.
If you have friends and family visiting from out of state, show off some Southern pride at the city’s best barbecue spots. It’s what your guests want and will save you countless hours behind a smoker.
Make it Personal, Keep it Local
In all the energy spent preparing to host, it can be hard to find time for that most stressful of holiday traditions – gift shopping.
Thankfully, incredible and thoughtful gifts are literally just around the corner in Charlotte. Whether it’s finding that unique item at a local shop or hitting the malls and outlets for a day of aggressive retail therapy, you can make every gift one from the heart (and your hometown) and not your Amazon account.
Start New Traditions
Hosting the holidays is a lot of work and you can’t please everyone, but don’t forget to make it your own. Instead of trying to recreate what’s been before, be open to new experiences and starting new traditions. With so many magical and exciting events in and around the city, Charlotte is the perfect place to celebrate the season for anyone looking to make it their home for the holidays.
2023 Official Charlotte City Guide
