A visit to Old Salem Museum & Gardens is as close as you can get to time-traveling. The historic village welcomes guests with festive period decor, costumed interpreters, centuries-old holiday traditions, and visits with St. Nick himself, 10-4 p.m. during Salem Saturdays at Christmas.
Take a lantern-lit journey through original Old Salem buildings during Joy of Christmas Evening Tours, offered every Friday + Saturday evening until Dec. 20.
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
Now in its 34th season, Tanglewood Festival of Lights (about 15 minutes from downtown Winston-Salem) twinkles with five miles of holiday light displays. The route features 80+ festive scenes comprised of more than 1 million lights — one of the largest light displays in the Southeast.
Holidays at Reynolda
Reynolda House has been an opulent seasonal marvel since 1917, when the estate’s original owners, R.J. and Katharine Reynolds, began decorating the entire 34,000-sqft home with trees, wreaths, and holly-filled vases.
Grab tickets to explore the estate and gardens’ seasonal splendor, and stop by Reynolda Village for local shopping and dining. Pro tip: Stay overnight at Reynolda House for the full experience.
Spectacular Holiday Blooms
If you can’t get enough gardens, Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden transforms into a glowing display for the holiday season. Spectacular Holiday Blooms illuminates the gardens with thousands of recycled tulips and flowers. Admission is just $5 for adults and free for kids.
Cirque de Noël | Friday, Dec. 19-Sunday, Dec. 21 | Times vary | Knight Theater | $35.43+ | Experience jaw-dropping feats as aerialists soar high above the orchestra, alongside awe-inspiring acrobatics set to your favorite holiday music.*
A group of real estate investors is working to develop The Point, a 44-acre mixed-use project coming to Indian Land. The development will boast a hotel, medical office, restaurants, storage, retail, and a daycare. A groundbreaking is anticipated for summer 2026. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Announced
Seemingly Overzealous, the Charlotte staple known for dairy-, egg-, and gluten-free ice cream, will open new shops in Davidson and Matthews by summer 2026. Fans can expect 12-16 rotating flavors, gluten-free waffle cones, and ice cream cakes. Bonus: the new locations will introduce newer products like shakes, flights, and baked goods.
Civic
Indiana-based hospitality developer White Lodging filed a construction plan with the City of Charlotte to build a hotel in South End. Plans feature underground parking with walkability to The RailYard and Charlotte Beer Garden. Groundbreaking could come by the second half of 2026. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Watch
The new Charlotte Museum of Nature is coming along. Drone video shows the newly constructed building, its proximity to Freedom Park, and outdoor amenities. The nature museum is anticipated to open next year.
Closed
Midtown’s 3rd and Fernwood has closed, citing financial and staffing troubles. The restaurant by James Beard-nominated Chef Greg Collier opened the space in August 2024. Collier owns Uptown Yolk and is the executive chef of Fine and Fettle in SouthPark. (The Charlotte Observer)
Fun Fact
Did you know? Highland cows are becoming more popular in North Carolina, thanks to our climate, which is similar to Scotland’s. Check out visiting cows during Winter at Whitewater — they’ll be there through March. (WCNC)
Sports
Is it time for the Charlotte Hornets to consider moving on from LaMelo Ball? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Poor sleep isn’t just a side effect of chronic pain — it can make your symptoms worse. If backaches or joint pain are keeping you up at night, your body may be missing out on the deep rest it needs to heal. Here’s how better sleep can help break the cycle.*
Read
Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440, where 4.5 million Americans find their daily, fact-based news fix. It’s free to subscribe.*
Home
Say goodbye to ladders and wet leaves when you elevate your home’s safety + value with a lasting gutter guard solution. Over 410,000 happy homeowners have already made the switch. Discover how it works and access direct local pricing.*
Finance
If you’re paying interest on credit card debt, take this as your sign to stop. Instead,get this leading card for 18 months of 0% interest on a balance transfer. You’ll even earn cash back perks on additional purchases. Stop stressing about debt — apply now.*
Editor’s Pick
🍷 Sip, Sip, hooray
Did you notice the smiley face in the Emmy Lou’s logo?
Photo by CLTtoday
Mark your calendar.Emmy Lou’s, the long-awaited wine bar by co-founders Andres Kaifer and Alex Bridges, will open next Friday, Dec. 19.
Chef Adriana Cavazos, the Pastry Chef at Customshop, will lead as Chef de Cuisine and serve a rotating lunch, dinner, and dessert menu to pair with 300+ wines and beers in stock.
Expect tasty bites like meat and cheese boards, baked brie, sandwiches, and salads. CLTtoday spoke with Andres and Alex yesterday — a full story is coming soon.
The Buy
A super powerful mini massage gun. It weighs less than a pound, making it the perfect recovery accessory for when you’re on the go.
Seemingly Overzealous is my favorite ice cream shop in the entire city. I know Charlotteans and co-owners Garrett Tichy and Jessica Berrese have been asked numerous times about adding shakes on the menu. I’m so excited for their expansion — and to get a shake — when they open next year in Davidson!
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