Charlotte Events & Entertainment
January
A Scots-Irish Twelfth Night Celebration
Held in early January
Location: Charlotte Museum of History
704-568-1774
Celebrate a tradition of old the way the Alexander Family may have. Frolick with costumes docents and interpreters, tour the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander House, participate with colonial dancers at the Twelfth Night Ball, and learn about the traditions of this historic celebration, including the Twelfth Night Cake.
Charlotte Observer Marathon Run for Peach
Held in early – mid January
Location: Charlotte Observer Building
704-358-5798
Marathon begins at 8AM, The 10K begins at 8:30AM at The Charlotte Observer Building; The 5K Walk begins at 9AM in front of The Charlotte Observer Building.
February
Africa Alive
Held in late February
Location: Museum of York County
803-329-2121
March
From Your Nose to Your Toes Health Festival
Held in early March
Location: Discovery Place
704-372-6261
Annual health festival for the entire family. Good health equals good life.
Charlotte Mime Festival & Circus
Held in late March
Location: Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
704-372-1000
Awe-inspiring aerial circus skills, comedy, juggling and subtle European clowning combine in this theatrically spectacular show featuring Cirque du Soleil and Ringling Bros. Circus performers.
May
Smokin” Bluz Festival
Held in early May
Location: Lowe’s Motor Speedway
704-455-3200
Annual celebration at the Speedway
Lake Norman Festival
Held in mid May
Location: Lake Norman
704-664-3898
Annual festival with fun and activities for the entire family.
Celebration on Trade & Tryon
Held in mid May
Location: Main Library Auditorium
704-336-2980
The laying of a wreath at Settler’s Cemetery.
The Greater Hickory Smoke Barbeque Festival
Held in late May
Location: Catawba Furniture Mall
828-345-1445
Southwest Business Association of Hickory announces the annual Greater Hickory Smoke BBQ Festival with all proceeds to benefit Sipes Orchard Home and Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity.
June
National Balloon Rally
Held in early June
Location: Iredell Country Fairgrounds
704-873-2892
See beautiful hot air balloons as well as a host of activities at this annual event. Fun for the whole family.
Mid Summer Festival at the Schiele Museum
Held in mid June
Location: Schiele Museum
704-866-6900
The Schiele Museum offers exceptional opportunities for families and visitors of all ages to see the region’s rocks and minerals, hills and rivers, plants and animals with fresh wonder.
August
Caribbean Festival
Held in mid – late August
Location: Marshall Park
704-598-7644
Join in the all of the Caribbean festivities at this annual all day family event.
September
Charlotte Shout
Held in early – late September
Location: Throughout Charlotte
704-332-1800
More than 200 events all across Charlotte celebrating art, music, culture, and food.
Our State Magazine’s Best of Our State
Held in early September
Location: Ballantyne Resort
704-332-2227
A festival to celebrate the arts, crafts, culture, music and food that makes North Carolina unique.
Food Lion Auto Fair
Held in mid September
Location: Lowe’s Motor Speedway
704-455-3205
The four-day Food Lion AutoFair includes a car show featuring various makes and models from nearly 50 clubs; thousands of vendor spaces that offer a plethora of automotive parts and memorabilia; and a car corral with nearly 2,000 vehicles of all makes and models available for sale or trade.
Festival in the Park
Held in late September
Location: Freedom Park
704-338-1060
A fun day for the entire family at this annual popular event.
Murray’s Mill Harvest Festival
Held in late September
Location: Murray’s Mill Historic District
828-465-9383
Come and join the festivities! There is molasses making, bee keeping, petting zoo, farrier, gold panning, Civil War re-enactors, apple cider making, quilting, blacksmith, steam engines & antique farm machinery, butter & apple butter making, to name a few. Come browse the wares of craftsmen, local potters and woodcarvers as well.
October
Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival
Held weekends early October – mid November
Location: Charlotte
704-896-5544
Looking for an uplifting good time? The Renaissance is back and you can be part of one of the greatest parties since Camelot!
Beerfest
Held in early October
Location: Wine Vault @ the Shoppes at University Place
704-548-9463
A benefit for the Charlotte 49er Athletic Foundation. 20 Breweries with 75 beers; live music; food by Boardwalk Billy’s.
UNC Charlotte International Festival
Held in early October
Location: UNC Charlotte
704-687-2410
Follow your nose to global delicacies at the annual multicultural International Festival at UNC Charlotte.
Haunting Creatures of Halloween
Held in late October
Location: Schiele Museum
704-866-6900
Have fun at this annual Halloween event.
November
Annual Carolina Pottery Festival
Held in mid November
Location: Cleveland County Fairgrounds
A one day pottery-only festival featuring the works of over 85 local and regional potters. A fine variation of work, ranging from dinnerware and serving pieces to sculptural and decorative art are available for purchase, with each piece hand crafted and the artists present to discuss their work and answer questions as to inspiration, use and care of these created objects.
Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival
Held weekends through mid November
Location: Charlotte
704-896-5544
Looking for an uplifting good time? The Renaissance is back and you can be part of one of the greatest parties since Camelot!
Harvest Day
Held in late November
Location: Schiele Museum
704-866-6900
The Schiele Museum offers exceptional opportunities for families and visitors of all ages to see the region’s rocks and minerals, hills and rivers, plants and animals with fresh wonder.
Souvenir Blow-Out
Held in late November
Location: Lowe’s Motor Speedway
704-455-3204
NASCAR enthusiasts will have the opportunity to fulfill their dream of driving around Lowe’s Motor Speedway during the Souvenir Blow-Out.
Annual Love Lights
Held in late November
Location: Freedom Park Lake
704-814-4567
The Pilot Club of Charlotte, Inc. lights thousands of luminaries during its Annual “Love Lights” around Freedom Park. This will benefit Alzheimer’s research.
December
Celtic Traditions Festival
Held in mid December
Location: The Charlotte Museum of History
704-568-1774
Celebrate the rich Celtic heritage of this region at this annual festival! Enjoy traditional Irish and Scottish dance, bagpipes, contemporary Celtic music, and more at The Charlotte Museum of History. Young people will enjoy Celtic craft making in the Hands-on-History Room.
Continental Tire Bowl Uptown Street Festival
Held in late December
Location: Trade & Tryon Streets
800-618-8149
Come out and enjoy the prelude to the Continental Tire Bowl. There are interactive games & rides, live entertainment, team appearances, cheerleaders and team band performances.
Continental Tire bowl
Held in late December
Location: Bank of America Stadium
800-618-8149
The Continental Tire Bowl brings the passion and excitement of college football to Charlotte and the Carolinas. The game features teams from the ACC and the Big East.
Entertainment
Charlotte Opera
345 N. College Street Charlotte, NC 28202
704-332-7177
Call for performance schedule
The mission of Opera Carolina is to inspire and entertain the region’s diverse community through the presentation of excellent Opera, Operetta, Music Theater and Education & Outreach Programs that elevate the quality of life in the Carolinas.
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
201 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28244
704-972-2000
Call for performance schedule
Afro-American Cultural Center
401 North Myers Street Charlotte, NC 28202
704-374-1565
Call for additional information
The center was established in 1974 and offers exhibits, educational programs, fascinating facts, music, theatre, dance and more.
Booth Playhouse
Founders Hall
130 North Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-372-1000
A 434-seat facility, the Booth Playhouse is a courtyard-style proscenium theater. The theater has the capability for theater-in-the-round. Generally, the Booth Playhouse hosts choral, dance and musical ensembles.
Paladium Amphitheatre at Paramount’s Carowinds
14523 Carowinds Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-588-2600
Outdoor amphitheater which seats 13,000. Concerts are presented mid-spring through mid-fall.
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
707 Pavilion Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28262
704-549-1292
State-of-the-art amphitheatre with concerts held May through October.
Sports
Carolina Panthers – NFL
Professional Football
800 South Mint Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-358-7000
Season runs September – January
Charlotte Bobcats – NBA
Games played at the Uptown Arena
129 W. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-BOBCATS
Season runs October – April
Charlotte Sting
Professional Women’s Basketball
129 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-357-0252
Season runs May – September
Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Professional Race Car Racing
5555 Concord Parkway South
Concord, NC 28027
704-455-3200
Call for racing schedule and additional information