Southern Christmas Show - Charlotte
It’s definitely time for the Holidays. Halloween is over, and every time I go to Target I get bombarded by trees, ornaments, and red and green candy. It’s a little maddening… until you realize the Southern Christmas Show is coming! So be sure you’ve made your hotel reservations, or just drive in for the day. If you’re anywhere near Charlotte, North Carolina between November 8 and November 18,2007, a trip to this yearly event (for the past 39 years) is a MUST. Shopping, crafts, and food galore are housed at this massive event. Its the one time of the year indulgence is demanded, not just recommended.
If you are a beginner at the Southern Christmas Show do not be intimidated by the 140,000 visitors over the 10 day festival. As you begin your stroll past the award winning Christmas trees that line your path to the goodies, listen carefully; you’ll hear beautiful Christmas music playing in the background. Take a deep breath of the seasonal joy floating through the air. Always move forward, never look back, pull out your map, and begin to imagine the treasures you’ll find. The one of a kind craftsmen are scattered throughout the 3 massive buildings capable of holding all the Christmas folly Charlotte can handle.
There is everything here from glass wine cheese trays to the Ye Olde Lamp Shoppe (which need no explanation). Believe me with around 700 vendors it’s easy to find anything from soups to nuts (literally). The crafts are all one of a kind with most of the vendors traveling back from year to year to show off their original creations. If you collect glassworks or North Carolina pottery, there is a booth here with your name on it. If you bought your Aunt a beautiful painting of wildflowers last year you can probably find the same artist and purchase a beautiful butterfly painting to match.
If you don’t have a PhD in shopping it may seem overwhelming at first, but it always smart to window shop and explore. Be sure to come to the Southern Christmas Show with a list of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, so you don‘t forget anyone you want to reward with a special treat. Make sure you hit all the buildings and mark down the special things that caught your eye so you can go back and splurge.
There are dozens of demonstrations from wreath decorating to kitchenware products. Take your time, relax, and enjoy all the different things you can learn about here. It’s easy to get caught up in the shopping frenzy and miss the small things this show has to offer.
In between all the great crafts are the never ending aisles of dips, salsas, soups, cheese and candies. Sample them all! Purchase what catches your taste buds. Remember it’s a long 12 months till the Southern Christmas Show returns.
If you are a wine freak this is a great place to sample the fine products from North Carolina. All the best wineries from all over North Carolina are represented in the tasting rooms. Shelton Vineyards, Dennis Vineyards, Duplin ,and Silver Coast Wineries each offer up tastings. This is a perfect opportunity to try the best kept secret North Carolina has.
I hate to tell you about this because it’s probably best to keep it to myself, but what most of us go to the show for…. is Helmut’s Strudel. It’s one of the lightest, flakiest combinations of pastry and sweet flavors on this earth. I always go for the apricot almond strudel, hot and gooey. It’s a wonderfully perfect mix of apricot and almond. If that doesn’t thrill the senses you can always try apple, cherry and cheese, a bit less adventurous, but still fabulous. If that isn’t enough to satisfy your need for carbs, try Helmut’s pretzels. Glazed in cinnamon sugar this is a dream of a snack that will boost you energy for the rest of the day’s shopping. Oh ,and don’t walk by the glazed almond stand. If you get them hot and fresh you may never be the same again.
So start the holiday season off with a trip to the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte, North Carolina. Spend a few days getting all your shopping done early and then enjoys the flavors, sounds and wines of this great holiday tradition. You will be back every year because it’s not just a tradition, it’s an addiction.
Robin Gardner - Editor at Large
North Carolina Tourist Guide - Charlotte, NC
If you are a beginner at the Southern Christmas Show do not be intimidated by the 140,000 visitors over the 10 day festival. As you begin your stroll past the award winning Christmas trees that line your path to the goodies, listen carefully; you’ll hear beautiful Christmas music playing in the background. Take a deep breath of the seasonal joy floating through the air. Always move forward, never look back, pull out your map, and begin to imagine the treasures you’ll find. The one of a kind craftsmen are scattered throughout the 3 massive buildings capable of holding all the Christmas folly Charlotte can handle.
There is everything here from glass wine cheese trays to the Ye Olde Lamp Shoppe (which need no explanation). Believe me with around 700 vendors it’s easy to find anything from soups to nuts (literally). The crafts are all one of a kind with most of the vendors traveling back from year to year to show off their original creations. If you collect glassworks or North Carolina pottery, there is a booth here with your name on it. If you bought your Aunt a beautiful painting of wildflowers last year you can probably find the same artist and purchase a beautiful butterfly painting to match.
If you don’t have a PhD in shopping it may seem overwhelming at first, but it always smart to window shop and explore. Be sure to come to the Southern Christmas Show with a list of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, so you don‘t forget anyone you want to reward with a special treat. Make sure you hit all the buildings and mark down the special things that caught your eye so you can go back and splurge.
There are dozens of demonstrations from wreath decorating to kitchenware products. Take your time, relax, and enjoy all the different things you can learn about here. It’s easy to get caught up in the shopping frenzy and miss the small things this show has to offer.
In between all the great crafts are the never ending aisles of dips, salsas, soups, cheese and candies. Sample them all! Purchase what catches your taste buds. Remember it’s a long 12 months till the Southern Christmas Show returns.
If you are a wine freak this is a great place to sample the fine products from North Carolina. All the best wineries from all over North Carolina are represented in the tasting rooms. Shelton Vineyards, Dennis Vineyards, Duplin ,and Silver Coast Wineries each offer up tastings. This is a perfect opportunity to try the best kept secret North Carolina has.
I hate to tell you about this because it’s probably best to keep it to myself, but what most of us go to the show for…. is Helmut’s Strudel. It’s one of the lightest, flakiest combinations of pastry and sweet flavors on this earth. I always go for the apricot almond strudel, hot and gooey. It’s a wonderfully perfect mix of apricot and almond. If that doesn’t thrill the senses you can always try apple, cherry and cheese, a bit less adventurous, but still fabulous. If that isn’t enough to satisfy your need for carbs, try Helmut’s pretzels. Glazed in cinnamon sugar this is a dream of a snack that will boost you energy for the rest of the day’s shopping. Oh ,and don’t walk by the glazed almond stand. If you get them hot and fresh you may never be the same again.
So start the holiday season off with a trip to the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte, North Carolina. Spend a few days getting all your shopping done early and then enjoys the flavors, sounds and wines of this great holiday tradition. You will be back every year because it’s not just a tradition, it’s an addiction.
Robin Gardner - Editor at Large
North Carolina Tourist Guide - Charlotte, NC
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