By CLTure
January 5, 2026
Monday, January 5
The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session at Petra’s (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $9.98
Above and Beyond at Discovery Place (October 18 – April 19)
Tickets: $23.95 (adults) $18.95 (children 2-13)
Take flight and explore the wonders of aviation and space travel in Above and Beyond, an interactive aerospace exhibition that celebrates the innovations that have shaped flight. From the earliest dreams of the Wright brothers to today’s space exploration and tomorrow’s cutting-edge technologies, the experience brings the past, present, and future of aerospace to life. The adventure begins in a wraparound theater before expanding into five themed galleries filled with interactive stations. Visitors can design and test-fly a supersonic jet, pilot a drone through the eye of a hurricane, experience the sensation of flying like a bird or futuristic wing-flapping aircraft, and even take an elevator ride to the edge of space. With hands-on design challenges, simulations, storytelling, and an expansive multitouch timeline, Above and Beyond invites visitors of all ages to explore the frontiers of flight.
Ice Skating at Whitewater Center (November – February)
Tickets: $25 plus
Tuesday, January 6
CLT Video Vault Presents: Yo! 90’s Hip Hop at Petra’s (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
CLT Video Vault is bringing the golden era back to life with Yo! 90’s Hip Hop, a free throwback night happening on the back patio of Petra’s. From classic rap videos to iconic beats and nostalgic MTV vibes, the event is a full-on rewind to the decade that defined hip-hop culture.
Carolina Independent Film Collective at Independent Picture House (6:30 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Wednesday, January 7
Justin Stagner at The Comedy Zone (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $30.76 plus
Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors at Spectrum Center (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $25 plus (Gametime: $6 plus)
The Hornets return to Spectrum Center this week for back-to-back games against the Raptors and Pacers. The team is coming off a 27-point win over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, highlighted by Brandon Miller knocking down 7-of-10 three-pointers and finishing with 28 points as Charlotte shot a season-high 53% from the field. The Hornets have been forced to play short-handed in the frontcourt, with Ryan Kalkbrenner (left elbow sprain), Mason Plumlee (groin surgery), Moussa Diabate (right wrist sprain), and Tidjane Salaun (left ankle sprain) all nursing injuries. However, rookie PJ Hall has stepped in nicely, while LaMelo Ball has improved his shooting efficiency over his last 10 games, averaging 45.7% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Kon Knueppel was again named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 20.8 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds on 50% shooting (46.2% from three) in December. With Miller consistently back in the lineup and Miles Bridges continuing to serve as the team’s most dependable scorer, the Hornets are beginning to find their identity and chemistry on the court. Charlotte has beaten Eastern Conference fourth-seeded Toronto in two of three matchups this season.
The Magicians Table at Blume Studios (November 19 – February 15)
Tickets: $79.99 plus
Jazz Guitarist Troy Conn’s tribute to Wes Montgomery at Middle C Jazz (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $29.90 plus
50 First Jokes: Comedy Club at Duckworth’s 1st Anniversary Show (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s marks its first anniversary with 50 First Jokes, a one-night-only comedy showcase featuring 50 comedians, each sharing their first brand-new joke of the new year. The fast-paced format gives every comic a moment on stage to debut fresh material. Originally launched in New York in 2007, 50 First Jokes has grown into an annual event in cities across the country, celebrating the comedy community while offering audiences a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how new jokes are born.
Bop Theory Jazz Jam Presented by Blackhawk Quintet at Eighty Eights (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $10.00
Creatures of The Sun, Lily of The Sea, and Ellie K at Snug Harbor (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.00
Thursday, January 8
Tip “T.I.” Harris featuring Haha Mafia at The Comedy Zone (January 8-10)
Tickets: $48.48 plus
Atlanta rap icon Tip “T.I.” Harris brings his touring comedy event, featuring Haha Mafia, to The Comedy Zone for multiple shows this week. A multi-Grammy Award-winning artist with a résumé that spans blockbuster films, hit television shows, and chart-topping music, T.I. has also built an expansive business empire that includes Grand Hustle Records and Films, the Trap Music Museum, Akoo and Hustle Gang apparel, Super Sound Studios, and numerous entrepreneurial ventures. The multi-night engagement offers a rare chance to see T.I. live on stage in a high-energy comedy showcase with Haha Mafia — a rotating group of comedians including Kelly K-Dubb, Jayski, and Tyler Chronicles — each bringing their own unique style to the stage.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Indiana Pacers at Spectrum Center (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $25 plus (Gametime: $7 plus)
Aaron Branch at The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s (January 8-10)
Tickets: $29.16
Mo Betta Thursdays One-Year Anniversary at Great Wagon Road Distilling Company (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $10.00
Mo’ Betta Thursdays is a weekly jazz experience curated by Braxton Bateman in collaboration with A-part[meant]. Hosted at Great Wagon Road Distilling Company, the series showcases some of Charlotte’s finest musicians, blending jazz, R&B, soul, and hip-hop through dynamic live improvisation and genre-bending grooves.
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Carolina Down Boys, Severed Fingers, and Wes Hamilton at Petra’s (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $13.42
Den of Wolves, Create:Control, Mourning Lotus, and The Johnstone Flood at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $14.47 plus
Ali Macofsky at The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s (January 8-10)
Tickets: $23.55
Friday, January 9
Charlotte Symphony: Strauss’s Blue Danube at Belk Theater (January 9-10)
Tickets: $40.39 plus
Sherri Shepherd at Headliners Uptown (January 9-10)
Tickets: $44.85 plus
Charlotte Checkers vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Bojangles Coliseum (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $29.12 plus
The Charlotte Checkers return home this week for a two-game homestand against Atlantic Division leaders Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Charlotte’s four-game winning streak was snapped by the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, as they’ll face them again on Monday at Rocket Arena before heading back to home ice. Friday is NASCAR Night, featuring pregame autograph sessions with Joey Logano, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Suarez, Keelan Harvick, Landen Lewis, Ty Dillon, and Ross Chastain. Saturday is FOX Night at the Rink, previewing three new January television shows and offering families $10 off per ticket when purchasing four or more.
Regence, Temperance League, and Wilde Green at Petra’s (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $13.42
Apes of the State with opener Clover-Lynn and The Hellfires at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $17.65
Saturday, January 10
Cam Newton and 4th & 1 Podcast at the Roaring Riot Tailgate (12:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $30 plus
The Bud Light Backyard at Mint and Graham Street (12:30 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
The Panthers have announced pregame festivities for Bud Light Backyard, which will expand down Mint and Graham streets and open at 12:30 p.m. ahead of kickoff. The fan zone will feature activations from Bojangles, Bud Light, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, GMC, Michael & Son, Catawba Two Kings, Whataburger, and Wicked Weed, highlighted by a 2:45 p.m. concert headlined by Carolina native country singer Cooper Alan. Fans can catch the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales parading around Bank of America Stadium at 2:15 p.m. (weather permitting) as Budweiser celebrates its 150th anniversary. The Team Store will also be open pregame and postgame.
Davidson Wildcats vs. Rhode Island at John Belk Arena (2:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $21.34 plus
Carolina Panthers vs. Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium (4:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $194 plus (Gametime: $178 plus)
After a wild NFL regular-season finale over the weekend — in which the Panthers fell 16-14 to the Buccaneers in a game marred by questionable officiating — Carolina will host its first home playoff game in 10 years as the Rams come to town for a Wild Card matchup. Cam Newton will return to Charlotte to bang the Keep Pounding drum prior to kickoff, marking the 10-year anniversary of the Panthers’ 2015-16 Super Bowl run, with several franchise legends expected to be in attendance. The Panthers previously defeated the Rams in a thriller at Bank of America Stadium in November (Week 13) before their bye week, but enter the playoffs having lost three of their last four games. Bryce Young delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season in the 31-28 win over Los Angeles, while the defense forced three turnovers — including interceptions by Mike Jackson and Nick Scott and a game-winning sack-fumble by Derrick Brown. Carolina will need to replicate that effort on both sides of the ball to slow down the NFL’s top offense, which leads the league in both scoring and total yards.
ŠØŪÑD THĒ DRŪM pic.twitter.com/Basvvc0avJ
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 7, 2026
Twelfth Night: Spirits of the Season at Charlotte Museum of History (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $30 plus
Spirit Sessions with Bob Peters at Soul Gastrolounge (3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Ali Siddiq at Ovens Auditorium (January 10-11)
Tickets: $44.15 plus
Houston-born stand-up comedian Ali Siddiq will perform two nights at Ovens Auditorium this weekend. Siddiq, who discovered his comedic voice while serving six years in prison — where he entertained fellow inmates with stories that would later shape his signature riff-style, storytelling comedy — has appeared on Comedy Central, BET’s ComicView, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam 25, and The Arsenio Hall Show. He was also the winner of Comedy Central’s inaugural Up Next competition and a finalist on NBC’s Bring the Funny.
Charlotte Checkers vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Bojangles Coliseum (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $29.12 plus
A Life Worth Taking, Frailskin, Sober Dad, and Cheer Up! at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $7.05 plus
Steve Aoki at Trio Charlotte (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $85 plus
DJ and producer Steve Aoki returns to Charlotte this weekend to play Trio in South End. Known for his high-energy live shows and genre-blending productions — often featuring cake throwing, confetti, lasers, and inflatables — attendees can expect a mix of his viral anthems and some new tracks. The founder of Dim Mak Records in 1996, Aoki helped launch artists such as Bloc Party, The Chainsmokers, and Zedd, and earned a Grammy nomination for his 2012 album Wonderland. He has performed at major festivals including Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, EDC, and Coachella, and has collaborated with artists across pop, hip-hop, rock, and K-pop, including BTS, Linkin Park, Lil Jon, Afrojack, Fall Out Boy, will.i.am, Kid Cudi, and Maluma.
Sunday, January 11
Super Soul Sunday at Starlight on 22nd (3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Joel James at The Comedy Zone (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $30.76 plus
Stand-up comedian, actor, and cookbook author Joél James brings his sharp wit and fearless storytelling to The Comedy Zone on Sunday. A Rochester, NY native who began his career in theater at age 16 before transitioning to stand-up, James has become a veteran of the comedy circuit, known for his smart, relatable takes on relationships, divorce, and starting over — without relying on excessive profanity. He was featured on Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City on Comedy Central, hosts the unfiltered podcast Entitled Opinion, and boasts a large social media following with viral clips reaching millions.
Wastoid, Demons, Consumer Culture, Brick, and Lofidels at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.35
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