Volunteering can bring a smile to your face and to others. | Photo provided by God’s Pantry Food Bank
Maybe you have some extra time or are in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in Charlotte to support. Whether you’re an animal lover, an outdoorsy type, a natural mentor, or a healthcare enthusiast — here are 25+ ways to get involved in the Queen City.
Natural-born teachers and mentors
Agape Acres | Become a mentor for youth with special needs youth with a rescue horse to bring hope and encouragement to their lives.
Camping with Cradle | Hike with kids while teaching them about the environment, teamwork, and self esteem.
Supporters of veterans
Operation Decisive Victory | Donate time to assist and uphold a strong quality of life for our local veterans.
Veterans Bridge Home | Work directly with visitors and staff to welcome visitors or be a “Battle Buddy” — receiving training to help someone experiencing mental health issues.
Jumpman Invitational | 6:30 p.m. | Spectrum Center | $50+ |Witness the sequel to this clash on the court featuring the women of North Carolina vs. Florida + the men of Michigan vs. Oklahoma.
Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time is Here | 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theater | $30+ | The five-time Grammy-winner joins the Charlotte Symphony for a festive holiday concert.
Thursday, Dec. 19
Drunk Journaling with Good Postage | 6-8 p.m. | Canteen | Cost of purchase | Bring your journals and bare your soul with some liquid courage.
Charlotte Symphony: Cirque de Noel | 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theater | $11+ | Witness aerialists and awe-inspiring acrobatics set to your favorite holiday music.
Friday, Dec. 20
Outdoor Movie Nights at Seoul Food| 6-8 p.m. |Seoul Food (Mill District) | Free | Bring your blanket for a cozy evening under the stars watching the holiday favorite, “Elf.”
Candlelight: Holiday Carols on Strings | 6:45 p.m. + 8:45 p.m. | The Barrel Room at Triple C Brewing | $56 | Hear your favorite holiday songs under the gentle glow of candlelight.
If you’ve felt the love for our product, support us by sending a donation. | Graphic by 6AM City
Has CLTtoday made an impact on your life this year? Did you find that life-changing concert in our Events section? Or use our City Guides to find recommendations on how to spend the perfect day with your family? Or impress your dinner guests with all the details of that new development in town?
If that was you, we couldn’t be more honored to be a part of your life. Would you be willing to show some love for our team?
The Carolina Panthers filed to rezone city-owned property by Bank of America Stadium. The rezoning covers 25+ acres and is leased to the NFL. The filing is necessary to kick off the $800 million stadium renovation previously approved by Charlotte City Council. Renovations are expected to wrap by 2030. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Opening
Gravity Pizza is hosting its official grand opening today at Camp North End. The restaurant at the Boileryard will offer wood-fired sourdough pizzas. The full menu launches on Jan. 1 with a drink and cocktail list coming early next year.
Development
The five-story Uptown office building at 200 N. College St. is slated for a major redevelopment. The building, which houses a branch of Wake Forest University, was sold for $32.9 million. A H Real Estate Holdings plans to convert the office building portion to multifamily and ground-floor retail. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Coming Soon
Discovery Place celebrated a milestone by placing the last steel beam on its upcoming Nature Museum. Guests can expect interactive exhibits, a treetop canopy walk, and animals native to the Carolinas, including river otters. The new, world-class nature hub plans to open in Freedom Park in 2026.
Eat
Charlotte-based burger restaurant Ace No. 3 plans to open a new Uptown location in June. Doors will open at a 1,780-sqft space at 101 S. Tryon St., Suite 120, formerly occupied by Sukoshi. This will be the burger joint’s fourth location and first new restaurant since 2021. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Try This
Cold weather got you craving Caribbean? Anntony’s at the Landing is serving island-inspired dishes and cocktails to visitors around Lake Norman. The Caribbean favorite once operated in Uptown and Elizabeth and fed Charlotteans for nearly 40 years before moving lakeside.
Trending
Thinking of decorating your car in Christmas lights? It turns out it’s technically illegal. According to NC law, red or blue lights on vehicles are reserved only for emergency vehicles like police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances. (WBTV)
State
The National Parks Service has named The F.W. Woolworth building in Greensboro, NC and the Blue Ridge Parkway as a National Historic Landmark. This new status helps the federal government provide funding and resources to aid in preservation efforts. (WCNC)
Sports
Could a poor finish to the season greatly benefit the Panthers’ offseason? Go beyond the field for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Biz
Last call. Use the remainder of your end-of-year budget + get your business in front of thousands. For a limited time, take 25% off ads in our self-service ad portal when you use promo code “2025" at checkout.
Seasonal
Stay merry and healthy this season. The holidays are all about indulgence, joy, and family, but keeping your health on track doesn’t have to take a back seat. Here are three tips to help you thrive throughout the holidays from Novant Health.*
Cause
Tap into the holiday spirit. Donate blood on the Big Red bus at select brewery locations Dec. 19-22. All donors receive a $20 eGift card and a OneBlood gift + free pint of beer. Learn more.*
Health
Discover the Horizon IX, where German precision meets hearing innovation. With two processors, it separates speech from noise, delivering crystal-clear sound for effortless listening. (Plus: It’s virtually invisible — and already loved by 425,000+ customers.) Find out if you qualify for a 45-day trial.*
“Old Man Traffic,” celebrating the life of local man Hugh McManaway, debuted in Myers Park on December 9, 2000. | Photo by CLTtoday
How walkable is Charlotte, really?
Let’s say you’re looking to buy a new home in a Charlotte neighborhood that you’re not completely familiar with. Or perhaps you have family members trying to figure out what’s near that local Airbnb they’re visiting soon.
An interactive map called “Close” helps determine if you can walk to specific destinations like supermarkets, parks, coffee shops, and schools in Charlotte — and how long those walks will take.
A local look
In this example, we’re looking at a block of Myers Park between Hertford and Brandon roads. We chose to look at this block’s distance from five destination types:
Parks | 12 minutes
Supermarkets | 8 minutes
Coffee shops | 9 minutes
Libraries | 9 minutes
Public schools | 14 minutes
You can also add a number of other destinations like public transit stops, restaurants, bars, and gyms.
Learn how to use the map yourself at the link below.
It was a pleasure attending last night’s 6th Annual “Joy to the Carolinas.” Children received early holiday cheer picking up toys, winter coats, and special surprises from Sir Purr and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Keep a close eye on Instagram today for the full story.
