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Join WFAE on December 9 at Lenoir-Rhyne University as we celebrate 30 years of serving the Hickory area. 

The evening, which starts at 5:30 p.m., will include:

• A reception during which you can meet WFAE staff and board members
• A special taping of our "Charlotte Talks" morning show
• Remarks from Hickory area leaders and WFAE staff
• A Q&A with "Charlotte Talks" host Mike Collins

The event is free, but registration is required. We are asking that when you register, you consider making a donation in honor of our 30th anniversary. Email questions to events@wfae.org.

Facilitator: Calista Phair

Scaling requires people — but not just any people. In this session, you will learn how to identify your hiring needs, craft job descriptions that attract the right candidates, and match talent to roles that strengthen your team. Discover how to build a culture that retains great employees and supports long-term growth.
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This is part of a six-session series (five virtual and one in-person) is designed to help business owners reach the next stage of business growth. If you have customers, revenue, and a desire to grow — this is What’s Next!

Hosted by the Business Diversity and Inclusion division of Mecklenburg County’s Office of Economic Development.

Disclaimer: You are participating in a public event sponsored by Mecklenburg County, where pictures will be taken. The County reserves the right to use any photograph or video taken at any event sponsored by the County to support Mecklenburg County business and services. By participating, you agree that any picture or likeness taken of you during the event may be used at the discretion of the County for that purpose.

Facilitator: Janelly Rosales

Every scaling journey requires resources. This session will show you how to monitor and interpret the financial health of your business, while exploring funding options to support expansion. Whether you’re considering loans, investors, or alternative financing, you will gain clarity on how to fund your growth wisely.

The Lake Norman Orchestra will present a free holiday-theme concert. The 60-member all-volunteer full orchestra is led by music director, Mr. Samuel A. Kyzer. Song titles include "Sleigh Ride," "Do You Hear What I Hear?," "There's Christmas in the Air," and many other holiday favorites.

The Lake Norman Orchestra is presenting a free-admission holiday-themed concert at Mt. Zion UMC on Saturday, December 6, 6 PM. The 60-member all-volunteer full orchestra will perform a wide variety of holiday favorites. Song titles include "Sleigh Ride," "There's Christmas in the Air," "Do You Hear What I Hear?," and many other holiday classics.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's beloved story and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a fun and engaging show for the whole family. This expanded version includes all your favorite characters and award winning songs, plus several new musical numbers added for the full length Broadway show. Support local theatre - our cast features talented adult performers, backed by an ensemble of 70 diverse members of our community, ages 5 - 65. Recommended for ages 4 and up, show runs 2 hours, 15 minutes with an intermission

Oscar Chacón, co-founder and former Executive Director of the transnational advocacy organization Alianza Americas, has been selected as this fall’s witness for the Anabel Aliaga-Buchenau Witness in Residence Initiative. Chacón, himself an immigrant from El Salvador, was forced to flee his homeland during the Salvadoran Civil War. His organization supports organized immigrant groups from Latin America and the Caribbean, and he is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices in this space. Chacón was honored with the 2025 Inamori Ethics Prize, granted by the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University. He is being hosted by the Latin American Studies program, and will participate in several CHESS themed courses and present a public lecture.│chess.charlotte.edu
Tuesday, Nov. 18; 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Fretwell Building, Room 100

Sponsored by The Anabel Aliaga-Buchenau Witness in Residence Initiative and the Dean’s Office of the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Latin American Studies Program and the Center for Migration and Diaspora Studies

On Saturday November 8th, IPH continues their Community Impact Film Series with a FREE event that will center around homelessness! ✨

This FREE event begins at 11am and will include:
🎤Poetry Performance featuring Jay Ward (Charlotte Poet Laureate)

🤝11:00 - Resource Fair
✨Hearts for the Invisible @hearts4theinvisible
✨Veteran Bridge Home @vetbridgehome
✨Project Outpour @projectoutpourclt
✨The Relatives @the_relatives
✨Pivot Point Transitional Housing @pivotpointtransitionalhousing
✨Roof Above @roofabove
✨Mecklenburg County’s Housing Innovation & Stabilization Services

🎞Film Screenings begins at 12pm
🎬Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness
followed by 🗣Panel discussion featuring Don Sawyer and Tim Hashko.
@abiggervisionfilms

🥪Volunteer Opportunities: sandwich making with Roof Above for program participants @roofabove

✨This event will also have a call for donations to The Relatives (@the_relatives ). Donated items needed include:
🎁New Socks and Underwear (all sizes for children and adults)
🎁Laundry Detergent (pods)
🎁Full Size Bottles of Body Wash
🎁Toothpaste
🎁Dental Floss
🎁Towels and Washcloths

7th Street Concerts is a dynamic new classical music series located in the heart of uptown Charlotte. Their third season opens with a journey across oceans and centuries featuring the luminous sounds of music from Latin and South America and Spain spanning five centuries. Through soaring voices, period instruments, and evocative storytelling, this program reimagines Mary and Joseph’s search for refuge as a timeless reflection of today’s migrants traveling al norte led by hope. Festive, sacred, and secular works come to life in a performance that bridges cultures, centuries, and our shared human longing. Join singers Nick Garza and Andrea Walker, with an ensemble of early instruments, for a radiant holiday concert that celebrates both cultural roots and the universal search for home.

Festivities begin at 5:30 with a complimentary pre-concert Happy Hour followed by the concert. The music will last about 75min with no intermission, and will conclude with more drinks and snacks on us, plus a chance to meet and mingle with the artists. Free parking included.

The International Holiday Bazaar is an award-winning annual fundraiser hosted by Wedgewood Church: A Social Justice Community for Refugee Support Services, celebrating global culture, community, and compassion. Recently recognized as “Best Event for a Good Cause” in Queen City Nerve’s 2025 Best in the Nest Awards, and with Wedgewood also honored as “Best Church”, the Bazaar continues to grow as one of Charlotte’s most meaningful holiday traditions. Featuring artisans from around the world, the event offers meaningful holiday shopping where every purchase supports refugee resettlement and community programs in Charlotte.​

What to Expect
- Shop for beautiful, handcrafted holiday gifts
- Enjoy cultural performances and festive music
- Snack on treats from around the world
- Connect with local refugees and support a great cause

Why It Matters
All proceeds from this event benefit Refugee Support Services, helping fund programs that empower and uplift refugee families right here in Charlotte.

Free Admission - Everyone is Welcome!

Bring your friends and family, shop for meaningful holiday gifts, and celebrate the season while making a difference in the lives of our newest neighbors.

Born into a family of sharecroppers, Elizabeth Coleman’s life took root in the field but ascended to unbelievable heights in the sky. One of 13 siblings, Bessie weathered segregation, racism, and financial barriers before cementing her place as a pioneer in the field of aviation. Far above the clouds, where “the air is the only place free from prejudice,” she blazed a path as Queen Bess, the first African-American woman and first woman of Native-American descent to hold a pilot’s license.

One-Act, approx. 60 min. | For ages 9+

Show Dates and Times:
Sat, Nov 15: 11 AM & 3 PM
Sun, Nov 16: 2 & 4 PM

Join us for a free screening of Charlotte Seven, a powerful documentary following Rev. Dr. Julia Robinson Moore and community leaders as they restore dignity to forgotten African American burial grounds in Charlotte. This 25-minute film reveals how honoring the past can heal the present and help us build a better future together.

Filmed over four years as part of the Pathways For Peace Project, Charlotte Seven highlights the hidden legacies of historic Charlotte churches. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A panel and community reflection.

All are welcome. Bring a friend.

Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Time: 7:00–8:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00)
Location: Providence Presbyterian Church
Cost: Free (RSVP requested)
RSVP: https://givebutter.com/charlotteseven
Light refreshments provided.

Piedmont Dance Theatre’s 23rd annual Nutcracker returns to Kannapolis—celebrating family, tradition, and community spirit in this beloved holiday classic that has enchanted local audiences for over two decades.

Faculty from the NC University of the Arts - Kevin Lawrence, violin and Polina Khatsko, pianist, present a duo recital of music by Beethoven, Grieg and Virginian Judith Shatin. Admission is free. Donations are gladly accepted.

Join The Charlotte Museum of History, PBS North Carolina, and Working Films for a screening of American Coup: Wilmington 1898, a documentary that tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 — the only coup d’état in the history of the US.
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 shares the story of how self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.

Join us for a day of wellness, joy, and connection this holiday season. Together, we’re reimagining what holiday shopping can look like: more mindful, more meaningful, and more connected.



*RSVP for a chance to win a giveaway of goodies from some of our vendors! You must check in at the event to secure your entry! Winners will be announced via email the day after the event.



Step into a new era of holiday shopping at the Wellness Wonderland Holiday Market in Belmont, NC, Saturday, November 15th!

This festive gathering brings together local artisans, holistic healers, and wellness-based businesses to offer mindful gifts, self-care treasures, and meaningful experiences. We intend to support the community by introducing wellness, mindfulness, and stress reduction during an otherwise hectic season — all while supporting local small businesses. It’s a new era of holiday spending that nourishes both you and your loved ones.



✨ Free to Attend! ✨ Bring your family, friends, and holiday cheer — this event is open to all.



Our Sponsors:
Primal Brewery Belmont
Charlotte - Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control Shelter (Adoptable Animals Available)
Grateful Meds

Join us to commemorate World AIDS Day by remembering and honoring those we’ve lost to the virus and committing to the work that still needs to be done to fight HIV/AIDS in our community.

Networking • Hors d’oeuvres • Picture Walk • Candlelight Vigil • Local Voices • Live Art

Keynote Speaker: Derek Spencer, Executive Director Gilead Sciences

The holiday classic soars off the screen in this musical adaptation of the beloved television special. Filled with hits like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Holly Jolly Christmas," Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ features all of your favorite characters including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph. It’s an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special.

Fly High! Watch Rudolph soar above the audience as we kick off the holidays in spectacular fashion.

One-Act, approx. 60 min. / For all ages

Show Dates and Times:
Sat, Nov 22: 11 AM & 3 PM
Sun, Nov 23: 2 & 4 PM
Fri, Nov 28: 2 & 4 PM
Sat, Nov 29: 11 AM & 3 PM
Sun, Nov 30: 2 & 4 PM
Sat, Dec 6: 11 AM & 3 PM
Sun, Dec 7: 11 AM & 2 PM
Sat, Dec 13: 11 AM & 3 PM
Sun, Dec 14: 11 AM & 2 PM
Fri, Dec 19: 7 PM
Sat, Dec 20: 11 AM & 3 PM
Sun, Dec 21: 2 & 4 PM
Mon, Dec 22: 11 AM & 2 PM
Tues, Dec 23: 11 AM & 2 PM

ASL-Interpreted Show: Sat, Dec 6 at 3 PM
Sensory-Friendly Performance: Sun, Dec 21 at 4 PM

Hope. Now available in a vending machine.

Giving to charity is as easy as buying a candy bar: select an item, type the number, tap your card.

A "vending machine for good," the Giving Machine lets visitors "purchase" real items for people in need -- everything from laundry detergent and diapers for local families to livestock and education supplies for communities worldwide. Each card represents a tangible act of giving, and 100% of every donation goes directly to participating charities: Ada Jenkins Center, American Red Cross, Church World Service, Classroom Central, Common Heart, and MiraVia.

Find the Light the World Giving Machine on the first floor of Carolina Place Mall, between Belk and Dick's Sporting Goods. Open November 19-December 7.

Come experience the joy of giving this season. Buy a gift. Change a life.

Giving Machine 2025 calendar of free entertainment and activities can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0gowv2mo2tpr3swh1sxdx/EventCalendar_2025.png?rlkey=2sn4k4v82uyxf08oh8toruuo5&st=x9tlzm11&dl=0

See how the Giving Machine works: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/9zmfglhyqyszb29xv877w/AL6QywRqm__HHSowP90LQ7E?rlkey=wbzymxgn7vntgi5tdqfln7ht4&st=0mnxedgx&dl=0

Have a stone tool, pottery sherd, or mysterious item you’d like to know more about? Join Native American Studies Center Archaeologist and USC Lancaster Senior Instructor of Anthropology Chris Judge for this ID session of Native American artifacts.

Held in conjunction with the 20th Annual Native American Studies Celebration, this event is free and open to the public.