You know how it goes. Every fall you promise yourself this is the year you’ll do the fun holiday stuff. The skating, the tree lighting, the photo with Santa. And then, somehow, it’s December 23rd and you’re wrapping presents at midnight, wondering where it all went.
Well, Birkdale Village in Huntersville has made it a little easier this year. Maureen Smith and her team have the whole season mapped out, from late October right through Christmas Eve. It’s a lot. But it’s the good kind of a lot.
A Food Event That Gives Back
Taste of Birkdale is back for the first time since 2023. The event took a break while Birkdale’s redevelopment wrapped up, because Maureen wanted every restaurant fully built out before bringing it back. Now they are.
On Saturday, October 24, from 1 to 4 p.m., the plaza fills up with 11 food stations, an open bar from Bartenders Plus, aerialists, mirror statues, and stage entertainment. It’s 21 and up. Birkdale is about as family-friendly as it gets, but as Maureen puts it, it’s time to “get a babysitter, have a ladies’ night out, go out with your partner for a day.”
And here’s the best part. Every ticket dollar goes to Community Culinary School of Charlotte.
The Story Behind the Cause
For 30 years, Chef Ron has run 14-week programs of about 30 students each out of the school on Monroe Road. His students face real barriers to work. Some are coming home from incarceration, some are single parents, and some just had life go sideways. When they graduate, he personally helps them find long-term jobs around Charlotte.
When Maureen’s team visited the school to film, a prospective student walked in. You could tell they were nervous and not sure they belonged. Chef Ron sat with that person for a long time and made sure they knew they were somewhere safe and respected.
“I think that’s just an element of grace and humanity that we don’t see a lot,” Maureen says.
Honestly, it’s hard to hear that and not buy a ticket. The school will even have its own station at the event, so you can taste what the students are learning.
Halloween, With a Christmas Twist
It’s funny. Birkdale’s Christmas decorations go up earlier every year, and this year they’ll be completely done by Halloween. So rather than fight it, the team leaned in. On Friday, October 30, there’s a plaza movie night showing The Nightmare Before Christmas. (Could there be a better pick?)
Then on Halloween morning, October 31, from 10 a.m. to noon, the shops and restaurants step outside to hand out candy. It’s free. Birkdale started it four years ago, and Maureen calls it a “little sleeper hit.” A morning time slot is a real gift for parents of little ones who run out of steam well before dark.
The Tree Lighting, Santa, and a Little Practical Advice
The ice rink goes up November 1 and opens on tree lighting day. Maureen calls the tree lighting “my love letter back to this community,” and it shows. Kids get face painting, stilt walkers, princesses, and silent disco tents along the activity row by Bad Daddy’s and Fin & Fino. Grown-ups get a beer garden with local breweries. Santa arrives in a parade at 4:30.
Now the practical part, straight from Maureen herself. Parking is tight. Take an Uber or a Lyft. You’ll skip circling the lot, and with a beer garden on site, it’s the smarter move anyway.
After that, Santa sticks around through December 24. There’s breakfast with Santa at Red Rocks, and the menorah lighting is the first Sunday of December. Ice rink tickets and Santa appointments are reserved online, so check Birkdale’s events page for the links.
Why It’s Worth the Trip
The holidays go fast. They always do. But having one spot where the plans are already made makes it easier to show up for the parts that matter. There’s skating with the kids, a night out with your partner, and a cause that’s changing lives just down I-77.
You don’t have to do it all. Just pick one or two things and put them on the calendar now.
When you’re ready, you’ll find dates, tickets, and the full lineup on the events page of Birkdale Village’s website. See you on the plaza.
