Though we’re all missing the warmth of in-person festive events this year, there’s no shortage of holiday magic here in the Carolinas! The local organizations and ensembles you love have worked tirelessly to bring you streamable options for a holiday season like no other, including newly imagined annual traditions, concerts and events for all tastes, and laid-back activities for the whole family. Use this listing as your day-by-day guide to spirited holiday offerings from the community to your living room (pajamas and hot cocoa not included).
Visit our Events Calendar for even more exciting options. Are you hosting a local, streamable, holiday-themed event? Email us to inquire about adding your event to this listing!
Ongoing Events
12 Days of Christmas in Davidson
(now through December 12)
“Support local businesses and enjoy a socially distanced, hometown holiday!” 12 days of streamable and socially distanced events. Visit the Christmas in Davidson website for more information.
Winston Salem Symphony’s A Carolina Christmas: UNWRAPPED!
“Join us as we unwrap Christmas one carol at a time! Celebrate the holidays with your cherished Symphony family and with a jazz band fronted by star vocalist Martha Bassett of The Martha Bassett Show!” This concert is available on demand through December 28.
This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
Thursday, December 10
Western Piedmont Symphony Watch Party: Home for the Holidays
FREE | 7:30 PM
“Maestro Matthew Troy dives into the history of some of your favorite holiday tunes! Get cozy with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy some seasonal favorites.” Register here.
Blumenthal Performing Arts: Home for the Holidays
FREE | 6:00 PM
“Join us via live stream for an engaging discussion featuring four artists who pursued their Broadway and professional theater dreams! Learn about their unique paths in the industry, what it typically feels like to work in professional theatre during the holidays, and what each is doing while theatres are dark.”
Friday, December 11
Temple Solel presents The Hanukkah Experience with The Ruach
FREE | 7:00 PM
“Well, no matter how you spell it, you won’t want to miss this modern celebration of the Festival of Lights. We are very excited to be hosting an online musical Chanukah service with the fantastic band, The Ruach.” Watch on YouTube.
The Choir School at St. Peter’s: Sing We Christmas
7:30 PM
“A beloved Charlotte holiday tradition comes directly to your living room this December. Streaming on-demand starting December 11, Sing We Christmas features familiar Christmas favorites and new repertoire from The Choir School that are sure to put you in the holiday spirit.”
This is an on-demand ticketed event. Pre-order here.
Saturday, December 12
Mint Museum: A Family Christmas with Criss Cross Mangosauce
FREE | 11:00 AM
“Criss Cross Mangosauce uses a combination of Spanish and English to teach young children the joys of reading and making music.This December, celebrate Christmas and Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles), a Colombian celebration that marks the beginning of the Christmas season! This event will premiere live on our Facebook page and Youtube channel.”
Carolina Voices: The Singing Christmas Tree
FREE | 7:00 PM
“Not even a pandemic can put a damper on Charlotte’s hometown favorite holiday tradition as the 66th Annual Singing Christmas Tree goes virtual for 2020! There’s nothing ho hum about this hour-long spectacular as we put the HO HO HO in HOME for the HOLIDAYS!” Learn how to stream this event here.
Charlotte Symphony: At Home for the Holidays
7:30 PM
“Deck the halls and trim the tree – your CSO is coming home for Christmas! This lively program is chock full of holiday cheer, streamed right to your living room.” This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
UNCSA: “The Nutcracker” Opening Night Scholarship Benefit
7:30 PM
“The timeless tale of ‘The Nutcracker’ steps into the present in the world premiere of the popular annual holiday tradition, newly created for film by the schools of Dance, Design & Production, Filmmaking and Music.” Learn more about the Opening Night Benefit and purchase an all access pass here. The event will be available to stream free of charge starting December 17.
Sunday, December 13
Hickory Choral Society Virtual Christmas Concert
FREE | 3:00 PM
Enjoy beautiful Christmas music in the comfort and safety of your home! This free virtual choir concert will be available to stream on the Hickory Choral Society’s YouTube page.
Reynolda House Virtual Event: Memories of A Christmas Memory
3:00 PM
“If not for COVID-19, 2020 would’ve been Robin Voiers’ 34th consecutive year of performing Christmas Memory at Reynolda. While we can’t join one another in the auditorium for a traditional one-woman performance, you can join Robin remotely to learn about her journey as an artist and educator. Phil Archer, deputy director, will share archival recording clips and moderate a discussion with Voiers as she shares her memories of Christmas Memory.” This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
Catawba College Lessons & Carols Christmas Concert
FREE | 7:00 PM
“You are invited to begin your Christmas season by viewing Catawba College’s 33rd annual Service of Lessons and Carols in the beautifully decorated Omwake-Dearborn Chapel from the comfort of your home. The service will be livestreamed on Sunday, December 13 at 7pm, and the recording of the service will remain accessible at Catawba’s YouTube channel, website, and other social media platforms.”
Monday, December 14
CSO Healing Hands: Sounds of the Season
FREE | 11:00 AM
“Join the Healing Hands Laurel Trio for a selection of your Holiday favorites… a one-hour, interactive virtual performance that includes conversation from the musicians and the opportunity to ask questions.”
Registration is required. Register here.
Wednesday, December 16
WDAV and Pamela Howland present Christmas with Beethoven
FREE | 7:00 PM
Pianist Pamela Howland joins WDAV for a special virtual concert celebrating both the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth and the beginning of the holiday season! Pamela will showcase selections from her new album “Christmas with Beethoven,” featuring her arrangements of classic Christmas carols – reimagined to represent how Beethoven might have played them. This concert will stream live on WDAV’s Facebook page.
Theatre Charlotte: A Christmas Carol
Times and dates vary (streaming available through 1/1/21, outdoor performances through 12/20/20)
“Theatre Charlotte’s holiday tradition for 14 years! Return to the streets of London this holiday season in the classic tale of hard-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge, visited by four ghosts: Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The spirits gradually warm old Scrooge’s heart, as well as ours.” This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
Thursday, December 17
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Family Storytime: Kwanzaa with Mother Minter
FREE | 11:00 AM
“Join us for Family Storytime on Thursday, December 17 at 11:00am. Today we will be learning about and celebrating Kwanzaa with special presenter, Mother Minter. Make & Takes will be provided at Hickory Grove Library for children to participate in the activities from home.” Registration is required by 10 AM on December 16. Register here.
Davidson Village Network: December Stay at Home Live Holiday Zoom Concert
FREE | 3:00 PM
“Gather around Zoom (or your phone) for Davidson Village Network’s December Stay at Home Live Holiday Zoom Concert featuring Bill Ward!” This concert features selections for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.” Join via Zoom or by phone (limited): (781) 448-4805, PIN: 73153
Saturday, December 19
Carolina Pro Musica Christmas
FREE | 7:00 PM
“Our annual Holiday concert featuring 18th-century music with period instruments and voices, carol for all, and readings of the season featuring Bob Sweeten. Join us on YouTube for our holiday special.”
North Carolina Symphony: Holiday Pops with Jingles the Elf
7:00 PM
“Back by popular demand, the hilarious Jingles the Elf joins the Symphony for a family Christmas concert bringing joy, fun, and holiday spirit to everyone!” This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
Charlotte Symphony: The Story of the Nutcracker
7:30 PM
“Gather the whole family as Tchaikovsky’s classic comes to life this holiday season! Join Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees and your CSO for the story of The Nutcracker paired with the beautiful music we all know and love. This one-hour program is perfect for families with young children!” This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
Sunday, December 20
Centenary United Methodist Church: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
FREE | 5:00 PM
“Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem invites you to their virtual ‘Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.’ Music will be offered by the Centenary Chamber Singers, The Winston-Salem Girls Chorus, The Carillonnuers, The West End Ringers and chamber orchestra.” Stream here.
Monday, December 21
Charlotte Children’s Choir at Arts+ Virtual Concert
7:00 PM
More information will be available soon at this link.
Tuesday, December 29
Reynolda House Virtual Event: Toast to 2021
7:00 PM
“Clink — the holiday season isn’t over until you’ve enjoyed a special beverage to ring in the New Year. Join Reynolda and The Katharine Brasserie as we re-imagine champagne cocktails from Mary Reynolds Babcock’s own recipe book, A Lady of Good Taste. Log in from the comfort of your home, we’ll send the ingredient list in advance so you can play mixologist along with us.” This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
Friday, January 1, 2021
Charlotte Symphony’s A Baroque Celebration: Old World / New Year
7:30 PM
“Join your CSO for a celebration of Baroque music, fit for the New Year! This program includes wonders from Vivaldi and Telemann, and features concertmaster Calin Lupanu performing Piazzolla’s Verano from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.” This is a ticketed event. Find tickets here.
Friday, January 8, 2021
Virtual Jazz at the Bechtler: Post-Holiday Blues
7:00 PM
“The best cure for the post-holiday blues is always the Ziad Jazz Quartet and Jazz at the Bechtler! All the merriment of the season is over and it’s back to the new normal. It’s hard not to get the blues, so why fight it? The Ziad Jazz Quartet will perform their annual post-holiday blues concert which will consist of songs that reflect the ‘many shades of blues’ in jazz.” More information to come here.
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