Top 10 things you MUST do in December

The holiday season is in full swing here in the Queen City! Between decking the halls and donning your ugliest holiday sweaters, here are some of the top things you should plan on doing this December in Charlotte.

(1) Head Uptown to skate under twinkling lights at ‘Holiday on Ice.’

Open through Jan. 7. Hours vary; check their calendar. $14. NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza, 400 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.

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For the 14th year, Holiday on Ice is back in Charlotte. Head Uptown to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza to experience this outdoor ice skating rink for yourself. Admission is just $10 if you bring your own skates or $14 including skate rental. More details here.

(2) Shop local artisans (and drink seasonal beers) at OMB’s German-inspired Weihnachtsmarkt.

Dec. 8 – 9 and Dec. 15 – 16, 4 – 9 p.m. Free. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Rd. 

For the sixth year, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s Weihnachstmarkt is back to kick off the holiday season! With more than 40 local vendors to shop from – some of whom will be selling goods from traditional wooden huts – as well as seasonal beer and mulled red wine to enjoy, this massive winter market will have you feeling festive in no time. Get more details here.

(3) Get a bobble head of Frank Kaminsky as a Stormtrooper when the Hornets play the Lakers at Spectrum Center’s Star Wars night.

Saturday Dec. 9, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25. Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St. 

Put on your best purple-and-teal (or Star Wars-themed) outfit and get ready for our Hornets to go head to head with the Lakers on Dec. 9, which is also Star Wars Night at Spectrum Center. The first 7,500 fans in attendance will get a Frank Kaminsky Stormtrooper bobblehead. You can’t make this stuff up. Get your tickets here.

(4) Eat, drink and shop local at ‘Midwood Market and the Return of Holiday Central,’ then see the Plaza Midwood tree lighting.

Market runs Sunday Dec. 10 from 1 – 6 p.m. Tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m. Free admission. Midwood Market, 2008 Commonwealth Ave. 

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For the second year in a row, Commonwealth Avenue will be blocked off for the Midwood Market so you can roam the streets as you peruse goods from dozens of local artists and small businesses. From 1 – 6 p.m., you can shop local vendors lining the streets, enjoy live music and dance performances, stop in your favorite Plaza Midwood restaurants and watering holes along the way for a drink or a bite to eat, get photos with Santa at The Commonwealth Animal Hospital and more. Then stick around for the tree lighting at The Pizza Peel on Central Ave. at 6:30 p.m. Learn more here.

(5) Cheer on the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium as they take on the Packers, then the Buccaneers.

Sunday Dec. 17 and Sunday Dec. 24, 1 p.m. Tickets start at $59. Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St. 

Whether you opt for a good old fashioned tailgate or you stop somewhere near the stadium for food and drinks before the game, just make sure you eat something so that by kickoff you’re energized and ready to cheer on the Panthers to victory.

(6) See the trees glow and fountains sparkle at ‘Holidays at the Garden.’

Season runs through December. $12.95 in advance, $14.95 at the door. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 S. New Hope Rd., Belmont.

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There’s something so magical about wandering through the twinkling trees and glowing fountains at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden this time of year. Whether you’re planning a romantic date or a night out with the kiddos, a night at this sparkling garden fits the bill. The Holidays at the Garden 2017 season runs through Dec. 31, and you can find tickets along with more information here.

(7) Race as Santa, an elf, a reindeer or a snowman at the annual Santa Run 8K & Snowman Dash.

Saturday Dec. 16, 9 a.m. Tickets start at $25. Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church St.

This annual Uptown race has returned for another year! Registration for this festive race includes a shirt and a Santa hat, Elf hat, Snowman hat or Reindeer antlers to get you into the holiday spirit. Run the Santa 8K or the one-mile Snowman Dash, then stick around to explore the Charlotte Christmas Village at Romare Bearden Park after you’ve finished the race. More information here, or sign up for the race here.

(8) Celebrate six years of delicious beers at Birdsong Brewing’s 6th Anniversary Party.

Saturday Dec. 9, 12 – 10 p.m. Free. Birdsong Brewing, 1016 N. Davidson St. 

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Don’t miss out on Birdsong Brewing’s limited release 6 year anniversary IPA (on draft and in cans), only available for purchase in Birdsong’s taproom – AND a special, one-time design anniversary glass, which the first 100 people to arrive will get for free! There will be a special “barrel bar” for Birdsong’s specialty barrel-aged brews, an amazing tap list with all the usual Birdsong beers you know and love (as well as super-limited anniversary releases), and live music and food trucks all day long. Find out more here.

(9) Chow down on unlimited chili at the 4th Annual Chili Cook Off at Unknown Brewing.

Saturday Dec. 16, 2 – 6 p.m. $10. Unknown Brewing, 1327 S. Mint St.

Dozens of amateur chili cooks in the Queen City will compete for the title of Charlotte Chili Cookoff Champion 2017. Help determine who will win this year’s competition by showing up and tasting unlimited chili samples for $10, then voting on your favorite chili after you’ve tasted them all. Learn more here.

(10) Get a free photo of your pup with Saint Nick at Lucky Dog Bark & Brew’s ‘Santa Paws’ event.

Saturday Dec. 16, 1 – 4 p.m. Free. Lucky Dog Bark & Brew, 2220 Thrift Rd.

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Lucky Dog Bark & Brew (an indoor/outdoor dog park with a sports bar, where your dog can play off-leash with other pups while you enjoy a few beers with friends) is teaming up with Carolina Big Hearts Big Barks Rescue to bring Santa Paws himself in for adorable photos with your pup! Photos are free when you make a donation of any amount to Carolina Big Hearts Big Barks. Learn more here.

This story was originally published December 4, 2017 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Top 10 things you MUST do in December."