The holiday season is here and SouthPark’s own Winter Wonderland is Charlotte’s favorite open-air ice-skating rink, not to mention, the ultimate Instagram photo op. This year, the rink is 40% bigger and features fun for the entire family including a daily afternoon snowfall, holiday lights and decor, Santa’s Pub and more. Don’t miss the special events, guests and activities throughout the season, including 103.7 WSOC bringing a Country Christmas to the rink.

Adventure to the West End to tour 13 homes, from old to new, traditional to rustic to ultra modern with fun events and gift drawings at each location. Register on the Eventbrite page for an additional chance to win, view the event schedule and sponsors, as well as sign up for the Bike Tour lead by Uptown Cycles.

Get the inside scoop for planning your wedding and chat with the area’s most talented wedding professionals while you taste delicious cakes and catering options, see beautiful flowers and find your perfect look in our runway fashion show. Do good while perusing and bring non-perishable food items for Esther’s Heart Backpacks of Hope in exchange for an extra ticket to the door and grand prize drawings.

Meet current Align students and Khoury College staff to ask questions about the Align program and enjoy refreshments. The Align program is designed for people without a technical background and are interested in combining their skills and undergraduate education with computer science. The program provides bridge courses to give you the technical foundation you need to be successful in the MS in Computer Science program, no matter what background you come from, even with little to no prior coding or computer science experience.

Freedom Fete is dedicated to celebrating the work of those who lead in the struggle toward social justice in our community and beyond. New York Times Bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning children’s book author, Matt de la Peña, will be discussing immigration and families in today’s America. Drawing from the inspiration for his new book, Carmela Full of Wishes, Matt will share his insight on the power of family and community and the transformative role of literature as it relates to equity and justice.

Since 2013, the diagnosis of depression in teens has increased. What is going on and how can adults help? Join a conversation about the state of kids and healthy messages we can send to our youth about growing up girl or boy in this culture.

The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing will be hosting two symposia to expand awareness and understanding of the diverse needs of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Seating is limited to 150 people.

Enjoy free access to arts, science, history experiences across Charlotte-Mecklenburg with tons of opportunities to engage with the cultural community in fun and creative ways.

Fashion and style lovers do not want to miss this exhibit on display now through next spring. Expect to be immersed in a dynamic and diverse dress tradition and explore increasingly interconnected fashion worlds that it inhabits.

Marvel at the delicate sculptures of Michael Sherrill featuring works of clay, glass, metal and floral forms.

The holiday season is here and SouthPark’s own Winter Wonderland is Charlotte’s favorite open-air ice-skating rink, not to mention, the ultimate Instagram photo op. This year, the rink is 40% bigger and features fun for the entire family including a daily afternoon snowfall, holiday lights and decor, Santa’s Pub and more. Don’t miss the special events, guests and activities throughout the season, including 103.7 WSOC bringing a Country Christmas to the rink.

Check out The Mint Museum’s first large-scale exhibition to explore the dynamic medium of collage. Charlotte native Romare Bearden is widely credited with rejuvenating and reinvigorating the technique. His work, which has long been a highlight of The Mint Museum’s collection, serves as the point of departure for this fascinating exhibition.

Experience the immersive world of bugs and their amazing abilities that inspire human innovation with larger-than-life bug models that guide you through hands-on activities and challenges. Explore four immersive chambers throughout the exhibition and get up close and personal with four insects and their amazing adaptations.

Enjoy half off over 70 wines by the glass and select bottles of award-winning wines. Pro tip: Village Tavern received the 2018 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence so you know they have the best selection.

Shaken or Stirred? Enjoy $3 off Select Martinis every Saturday like the Triple Berry Cosmo, Old Cuban Mojito Martini, and Chocolate Martini.

A Sunday morning well spent leads to a week of content, especially when it includes $2 off Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas and Screwdrivers.

Support local and celebrate CLT Restaurant Week at Village Tavern with a 3-course scratch-made meal including your choice of a first course, entrée and dessert. Pick from choices like Tavern Salad, Spinach Salad Beet Salad or any one of our 3 soup offerings for your first course, Ten spiced glazed Salmon, Filet (8oz.), Grilled Chicken Teriyaki or Cajun Seafood Fettuccine as your main entrée and Warm Butter Cake or Very Best Carrot Cake for dessert.

Adventure to the West End to tour 13 homes, from old to new, traditional to rustic to ultra modern with fun events and gift drawings at each location. Register on the Eventbrite page for an additional chance to win, view the event schedule and sponsors, as well as sign up for the Bike Tour lead by Uptown Cycles.

Get the inside scoop for planning your wedding and chat with the area’s most talented wedding professionals while you taste delicious cakes and catering options, see beautiful flowers and find your perfect look in our runway fashion show. Do good while perusing and bring non-perishable food items for Esther’s Heart Backpacks of Hope in exchange for an extra ticket to the door and grand prize drawings.

Meet current Align students and Khoury College staff to ask questions about the Align program and enjoy refreshments. The Align program is designed for people without a technical background and are interested in combining their skills and undergraduate education with computer science. The program provides bridge courses to give you the technical foundation you need to be successful in the MS in Computer Science program, no matter what background you come from, even with little to no prior coding or computer science experience.

Freedom Fete is dedicated to celebrating the work of those who lead in the struggle toward social justice in our community and beyond. New York Times Bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning children’s book author, Matt de la Peña, will be discussing immigration and families in today’s America. Drawing from the inspiration for his new book, Carmela Full of Wishes, Matt will share his insight on the power of family and community and the transformative role of literature as it relates to equity and justice.

Since 2013, the diagnosis of depression in teens has increased. What is going on and how can adults help? Join a conversation about the state of kids and healthy messages we can send to our youth about growing up girl or boy in this culture.

The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing will be hosting two symposia to expand awareness and understanding of the diverse needs of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Seating is limited to 150 people.

Enjoy free access to arts, science, history experiences across Charlotte-Mecklenburg with tons of opportunities to engage with the cultural community in fun and creative ways.

Pre-K years are fundamental for giving children a jumpstart into music and in SingPlayMove, each session introduces children to instruments, songs, and exploration of music through movement. Pro tip: Email registration@artsplus.org for information about attending the first class commitment-free!

Get a deeper understanding of our planet’s beauty, climate and place in the universe from former International Space Station Commander Terry Virts, who took hours of video and hundreds of thousands of still images from the station’s 360-degree viewing module. The presentation will be in the McGlohon Theater, starting at 7:30 p.m., following the pre-show party at Discovery Place Science.

If you’re interested in working for the #1 Best Place to Work in Charlotte as a Recruiter or Sales Representative, drop in to meet the team, ask questions, and submit your resume. Find out more about who Eight Eleven is at our website.

Enjoy an hors d’oeuvres-filled happy hour and networking during current Leadership Charlotte Class 40 member Justin Jones-Fosu’s “Your Why Matters Now” book release. 100% of profits from book sales at the event benefit Leadership Charlotte. This event will be interpreted for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Head over to Onward Reserve in Park Road Shopping center to snag your favorite pieces up to 70% off all weekend.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind fundraising event showcasing dogs performing tricks taught by Force Free animal trainers and judged by a celebrity panel to support Stand For Animals Medical Relief Fund. Stand For Animals is a local non-profit veterinary office serving Charlotte and the surrounding area. Pro tip: You get 1 free general admission ticket for any child 10 years of age and younger for each purchase of an adult general admission ticket.

This annual event showcases locally produced beer and cider with invites exclusive to Charlotte-area breweries, brewpubs, cideries along with hand-picked restaurants, snack exhibitors and sponsors. Savor beer samplings from 40 exclusively Charlotte breweries and cideries plus complementary foods with festival proceeds benefitting ACEing Autism Charlotte. See who gets crowned “Best of Show” at this tasty annual event proudly sponsored by Wyndham Capital Mortgage.

Free consults with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Andrew Gear, MD for procedures like CoolSculpting, Mommy Makeover, Tummy Tuck, Breast Augmentation, Brazilian Butt Lift, Liposuction and more. Expect special event pricing for all procedures, swag bags for all attendees and raffle entry for prizes like $500 gift card, free Providence Facial and a free CoolSculpting Cycle.

Enjoy a music variety showcase of an eclectic mix of music styles by approximately 15 acts performing one or two songs each. Expect a completely unique live music experience that also engages the audience in singalongs throughout the evening led by John Tosco and the TMP House Band & Singalong Choir. This event is fun for all ages and tickets are discounted 10% for students, groups of 10 or more (call 704.348.5752), or when purchasing tickets to two or more TMP’s at once.

Seasoned leaders have often shared that some of their greatest challenges came as they stepped into the role of “leader” and began focusing on shaping the work, roles, impact and careers of others. This is a challenging point of change and professional development. Professional Optimization is designed to deepen our skills in leading others. The course will take an in-depth look at our own leadership style, and further explore key skills needed to set expectations and guide others to exceptional performance.

Year after year, TrinityPrep helps students in grades 8-12 to improve their grades, increase their confidence, and be more prepared for college and beyond. Visit their Open House to find out how they teach students to succeed. Faculty, students, and parents will be available to share their success stories and answer any questions. Lunch will be provided from Portofino’s, so please RSVP at info@trinityprep.com or (704) 569-1900.

Fueled by the belief that classic jazz feeds the heart and soul, The Hot Sardines are on a mission to make old sounds new again to prove that joyful music can bring people together in a disconnected world. The Hot Sardines effortlessly channel New York speakeasies, Parisian cabarets, and New Orleans jazz to transform both original songs and covers from past eras into music for the current century.

This immersive program lead by author of  “The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance” Dr. Steven G. Rogelberg, brings a sharp and strategic light to an activity typically taken for granted – the meeting. You will leave this seminar with tools you can use right away plus breakfast, lunch and networking is included.

Urban Bush Women’s uniquely bold and boundary-pushing storytelling weaves contemporary dance, music, and text with the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of African-Americans and the African Diaspora. Hair & Other Stories is crafted from personal narratives gathered in kitchens, living rooms, and from social media and will leave you wondrously and often humorously disquieted regarding the nature of our current society.

New homeowner or looking to redecorate? Don’t miss out on Century Furniture’s annual factory sale including high-end brands Hancock & Moore, Hickory Chair and Highland House to receive up to 70% off retail price. Pro tip: Register in advance to skip the line.

Lace up for the 40th annual BB&T Corporate Cup 5K and Half Marathon in Uptown Charlotte. This race is perfect for participants of all levels complete with a post-race party with music and free food. Pro tip: Prices increase on February 4 so get registered ASAP.

Explore the world of big cats with award-winning photographer Steve Winter, a determined explorer, who will lead you from the Asian jungles where resilient tiger populations persist to the Himalaya, home of the rare snow leopard. Follow him into the rainforests of Latin America to view the elusive jaguar – and to Hollywood in pursuit of the American cougar. Before his presentation at McGlohon Theater, start your safari adventure at Discovery Place Science, where it’s all about cats both big and small.

The two-part festival includes daytime events featuring children’s authors along with fun kids’ activities such as creation stations (coloring, crafting, and character-building) and scavenger hunts and in the evening, welcome award-winning authors for a reception, readings, discussion, book signings and socializing. The festival aims to bridge the university and city through the literary arts and celebrate all the many ways we tell stories.