NoDa’s devilish holiday tradition returns
Plus: The news of the week — Queens president stepping down; Jerrell named commissioners chair; American Girl store closing; historic landmarks under siege
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The 10th ‘Krampus Krawl’ is expected to draw nearly 2,000 people to NoDa to celebrate the half-goat, half-man Christmas demon
During last year’s Krampus Krawl in NoDa, about 40 people dressed as Krampus, the Christmas demon that is said to visit naughty children on the night of Dec. 5 to punish them. This photo of two battling Krampuses was captured last year at The Chamber by Wooden Robot on East 36th Street. (Photo courtesy of Alex Carson)
by Lindsey Banks
Tonight, with less than three weeks until Saint Nick shimmies down Charlotte chimneys, naughty children might want to avoid the streets of NoDa.
The 10th “Krampus Krawl” kicks off at 6 p.m. on North Davidson Street and is expected to attract more than 1,500 adults dressed in red devil horns — and as many as 40 Christmas demons, known as Krampus.
As the Austria folklore goes, Krampus is a Christmas demon in the form of a half-goat, half-man who helps Santa Claus on Dec. 5. If children have been extra naughty, Krampus punishes them with lashes from sticks and branches, and in the worst cases, he drags them to the underworld for his midnight snack.
In the U.S., Krampus, while still visually terrifying, takes on more of a light-heartedness, as celebrations like the NoDa Krampus Krawl invite adults to dress up as the demon as they lurk from bar to bar in search of booze.
The event was started by a group of neighborhood leaders in 2014 who wanted to bring the “weirdness” back to NoDa with a Halloween-esque event before the holidays. It originally began as a traditional bar crawl, with about a dozen or so people moving from one bar to the next.
Now, the Krawl has grown into a music and arts festival, said Matt Allen, a NoDa resident who organizes the event with his wife, Melanie. Allen expects anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 people to participate over the course of the night. Krampus Krawl doesn’t require an RSVP or ticket, which has always been the goal, Allen said.
“It’s a truly free event for anyone who happens upon it,” he said.
The night will begin at JackBeagles. Glowing, red devil-horned headbands will be distributed, and Get Dead Crew, a special effects makeup artist group, will be on standby for free to anyone who wants to get in the Krampus spirit. Then, a witch will take the stage to tell the story of Krampus before participants disperse.
Participating bars and venues include Stu's Barrel House, Evening Muse, Crowntown Cannabis, The Chamber by Wooden Robot and Bulldog Social. Eight bands and two local DJs will be performing throughout the night at the venues.
New additions to the event this year include a 2-hour comedy show at Crowntown Cannabis, and Mary Jane Tattoos will be set up at The Chamber for flash tattoos, which are $125, 15-minute Krampus-themed real, ink tattoos. (There will also be a sheet of non-Krampus options from which to choose.)
As for Krampus’ presence at the Krawl, bar-crawlers dress as him every year. Last year, almost 40 Krampuses lurked around NoDa, Allen said. Some Krampuses take the role seriously and might chase bar-goers wearing the red horns.
The event is funded through donations from the participating NoDa businesses and other sponsors including 4 Dogs Pet Supplies, Billy Jack’s Shack, IBD Outdoor Rooms, The Ugly, Steel Gardens Community, Bisou Nails, Johnny Fly and RandyVision. The event costs anywhere from $6,000 to $6,500 to put on, Allen said, which covers the costs of things like the bands, face painting, light-up headbands and the permit for the tattoo artist.
Any money left will be donated to Good Company, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit that has been raising money for relief efforts in Western North Carolina following Tropical Storm Helene. Donations will also be collected at participating venues.
Krampus’s glowing red eyes and sharp horns may not be welcoming, but Allen said the Krawl is truly a local event that brings NoDa’s quirky community together. For more information, check out the event’s Instagram page.
🌲 What other off-beat holiday traditions in Charlotte do you know about? Send an email to lindsey@cltledger.com and let us know.
Lindsey Banks is a staff reporter for The Charlotte Ledger: lindsey@cltledger.com
Today’s supporting sponsor is Trinity Episcopal School. Trinity Episcopal School is marking 25 years of creating scholars, nurturing spirituality, and embracing diversity in Charlotte's center city. Trinity offers a unique K-8 curriculum with a focus on critical thinking, curiosity about the world around us, and service to the community. Learn more about the admission process for the 2025-26 school year and register for an open house at www.tescharlotte.org.
This week in Charlotte: CMS relaxes attendance rules; new uptown marketing campaign; Charlotte’s ‘Car Chick’ gives advice; Atrium to break revenue records
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
Dan Lugo to leave Queens: (Ledger) Queens University President Dan Lugo will step down in June 2025 to become president of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.
Administrator charged: Scott Michael Waybright, a former administrator at Charlotte Country Day School, is facing multiple felony charges related to secret peeping, including possession of a photographic image obtained in violation of the peeping statute and secretly using a photo image device to view another’s body or undergarments. The school sent an email to parents Friday saying that Waybright was fired on Monday. Neither police nor the school have said where the alleged peeping occurred. (WSOC)
CMS middle school math restriction: (Ledger) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will restrict 6th-grade access to advanced algebra (Math 1) to the Horizons gifted program at Randolph Middle, sparking parent concerns over reduced opportunities.
Politics
Jerrell named new commissioners chair: (Queen City News) Mark Jerrell has been named the new chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, succeeding George Dunlap, who continues as District 3 representative. Lee Altman was selected as vice chair.
New N.C. Senate Democratic leader: (News & Observer) North Carolina Senate Democrats elected Sydney Batch as their new leader, succeeding Dan Blue, who served as minority leader for over a decade. House Democrats re-elected Robert Reives as their leader.
Local news
American Girl store closing: (Ledger) The American Girl store at SouthPark Mall will close on Feb. 17, after 10 years of operation. The 12,000-square-foot store, known for its doll displays, bistro and doll hair salon, is among several closures by the company in recent years due to declining sales.
New marketing campaign for uptown: (Ledger) Charlotte Center City Partners plans a $1M marketing campaign starting in March to revitalize uptown's image while also enhancing infrastructure and pedestrian experiences.
Business
Carrboro sues Duke Energy: (NPR) The town of Carrboro, west of Chapel Hill, is suing Duke Energy, alleging the utility knew about climate change for decades and misled the public to avoid stricter regulations. Duke, the third-largest U.S. emitter of carbon dioxide, aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.
Atrium set to break revenue records: (Ledger) Atrium Health’s merger with Advocate Health has led to $662M in savings, improvements in hospital mortality rates and a surge in revenue to $9.3B, while also approving a $1.1B capital budget for 2025 and addressing staffing issues.
Sports
Tepper front-office changes: (Ledger) Tepper Sports and Entertainment has named Kristi Coleman as CEO, overseeing operations for the Carolina Panthers, Bank of America Stadium, and Charlotte FC. Restructuring includes moving Joe LaBue to a consulting role, eliminating Darrius Barnes’ position at Crown Legacy FC, and confirming Charlotte FC’s $1.9M signing of midfielder Baye Coulibaly.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Ledger’s annual Charity Shout-Out: Charlotte is filled with charities doing incredible things to make our region a better place, and often those good works happen quietly. Check out The Charlotte Ledger’s fifth annual Charity Shout-Out that includes 57 charities that readers submitted.
Lessons in car buying from Charlotte's ‘Car Chick’: LeeAnn Shattuck, aka “The Car Chick,” offers personalized car-buying services, advising clients on finding and negotiating for the right vehicle. With a background in IT and motorsports, she transitioned her passion for cars into a business.
Plus: American Girl store to close at SouthPark; Airport could add flight paths; Atrium expects to break revenue records; Queens president leaving; Front-office changes at Tepper Sports
Historic landmarks under siege: Charlotte's rapid growth is driving the potential demolition of four historic landmarks, including the Atherton Mill House, Midwood Elementary School, Thrift Mill and the William Grier House, despite efforts by preservationists to save these culturally significant structures.
Plus: American to end Barclays credit card; Aldersgate narrows number of suitors; Uptown marketing campaign aims to improve perception; 6th-grade math changes in CMS
Charles Gordon, Queens University's Hall of Fame tennis coach, transformed its men’s tennis program from humble beginnings in 1988 into a nationally competitive team. He died Oct. 15 at age 87.
Internal documents reveal details of transit options: An internal document suggests Charlotte could build both the Red Line and Silver Line East to Matthews by slightly increasing rail funding to 44% of sales tax revenue, though it would require trade-offs like cutting other projects and shortening some lines. The proposed funding formula, which limits rail spending to 40%, complicates these plans, and Matthews officials are pushing for alternative funding models to preserve both train projects.
How to bring holiday cheer to Western NC children: Several initiatives are providing holiday assistance to families impacted by Tropical Storm Helene in Western North Carolina and are asking for donations to provide gifts for children.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman