Another year is drawing to a close, and what a ride 2025 has been. While it was just my first year with WDAV, we recently marked our 47th anniversary as the region’s classical oasis. Thank you for allowing us into your homes, workplaces, and cars every day, as well as for your continued support of Classical Public Radio. We’re looking forward to bringing you even more magnificent music and entertaining experiences in 2026. But this year isn’t quite done, so let’s see what’s happening over the next week!
The Met at the Movies
Experience opera from The Met without leaving North Carolina. The Appalachian Theatre (559 W. King Street, Boone) is presenting a screening of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chenier (1896) on Sunday, December 28th at 1 p.m. With libretto by Luigi Illica, the tragic opera tells the story of a virtuous poet who falls victim to the intrigue and violence of the French Revolution. This encore transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters around the world. December 28.
Bella Notte
Ring in the new year with Opera Carolina* and their annual Bella Notte celebration on Wednesday, December 31st at the Ballantyne Hotel (10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte). The Queen of the Night’s Masquerade Gala is inspired by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s brilliant masterpiece, The Magic Flute. Formal attire is required; the mask is optional. Proceeds benefit the Classical Artists Fund. The fun starts at 7 p.m. December 31.
Last Chance for Lights
The Christmas season isn’t over yet. You can keep celebrating and take in some of the region’s best holiday lights displays, but don’t wait too much longer.
Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Conservancy (6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont) features millions of lights throughout the botanical garden and fountains, creating a twinkling wonderland. As you wander the grounds, you can warm yourself by an outdoor fire while indulging in hot drinks and tasty snacks. Through December 27.
Kannapolis shines brightly during the Celebration of Lights at Village Park (700 W. C Street, Kannapolis). Admission to the see the lights in the park is free. Tickets are required to ride the Italian-built Village Park Carousel and Winterland Express Train Ride. Through December 30.
Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights (4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons) offers more than one million lights, shopping at the Red Barn Gift Shop, and tasty treats in S’moresville. You can drive through in your own vehicle, a tractor-pulled hay wagon, or a horse-drawn carriage. And don’t miss the Running of the Lights 5K and 1.75 Mile races at midnight on New Year’s Eve! Through January 1.
Add Kings Mountain Christmas Lights to your list of stops. Over a million lights have transformed Patriots Park (400 S. Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC) into a storybook wonderland. Through January 1.
Carowinds Winterfest (14523 Carowinds Boulevard, Charlotte) is a festive wonderland with millions of shimmering lights, live entertainment, a New Year’s Eve celebration, and scrumptious treats to keep you warm between rides. Through January 3.
The Charlotte Knights’ 6th Annual Light the Knights Festival at Truist Field (324 S. Mint Street, Charlotte) includes a holiday light show, snow tubing, and ice skating on the NHL-sized outdoor rink. Through January 4.
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway (5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord) is the Southeast’s largest drive-through holiday lights display. You’ll see more than five million lights on a four-mile course, many of which are synchronized to music. Through January 4.
Winter Wonderlights at Greensboro Science Center (4301 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro) features color-shifting trees, whimsical animal lanterns, and sparkling tunnels of light, accompanied by festive music. Through January 4.
Winter Glow at the Point is another dazzling holiday light show in the Triad with special events throughout the season at Truist Point Stadium (301 N. Elm Street, High Point). Through January 4.
The ever-popular North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival boasts hundreds of larger-than-life lanterns at the Koka Booth Amphitheater (8003 Regency Parkway, Cary). You’ll see 40 distinct displays with more than 15,000 LED lights in this colorful walk-through adventure. Through January 11.
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo (500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC) has more than 60 larger-than-life handcrafted wildlife lanterns and nightly snowfall. Through January 11.
Be sure to check our WDAV Events Calendar often for even more new things to see and do. And as you make your plans to usher in 2026, I hope you’ll be celebrating with people you love, and who love you. Have a healthy and happy new year!
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*Disclosure: Opera Carolina is a WDAV underwriter.