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