20 Best Festivals and Events in Charlotte, NC

One of the best aspects of living in Charlotte is that everyone has something to do all year round. It helps that the Queen City is home to several major performance and sporting event venues. Our city can accommodate the thousands of visitors for unique festivals and popular events. For the locals, it means more exciting activities and entertainment options!

Look for some of Charlotte’s favorite festivals to make their way to your calendar. The choices range from music acts to family-friendly fairs to cultural celebrations. If you’re new to Charlotte, going to these will help you feel right at home in your new town.

Spectrum Center

The Spectrum Center is the event venue for big-name performing artists. Join the thousands likely to buy tickets to see any of the shows big enough to fill the center. Past performing artists include Billie Eilish, TwentyOne Pilots, Kacey Musgraves, Jerry Seinfield, and Jeff Dunham. You’re guaranteed captivating performances.

The center also is the home of the Charlotte Hornets. Check out the schedule to for home games and the visitors. The courts occasionally host collegiate basketball games and tournaments, too.

The Fillmore Charlotte

Themed after the original Fillmore in San Francisco, the Fillmore is a performance venue for live acts. It has a unique ambiance with magnificent chandeliers, red oak floors, and stadium seating. The show schedule upgrades, but past and upcoming artists to the Fillmore include Kaleo, K. Flay, Alan Walker, Awolnation, and Nurse John. Head on down for intimate band performances in a cool venue.

Blumenthal Performing Arts

Another iconic Charlotte performance venue, the Blumenthal, has multiple stages to present more performing arts. It hosts live music, drama, musical theater, and other shows on its stage. The Charlotte Symphony makes its home here at the Knight Theater. The other stages are in the Booth Playhouse and Belk Theater. Shows stopping at the center have included comedian Fortune Feimeister, lecturer Neil deGrasse Tyson, musician Patti Labelle,and musical Hamilton. It’s part of the larger Blumenthal Arts organization that also runs the Levine Center for the Arts and the Charlotte International Arts Festival.

Rich & Bennett St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl

It’s hard to imagine a pub crawl with over 25,000 people, but it happens every year n Charlotte. Rick Sanner and his friend Jeff Bennett started a renowned party business. Today, R&B hosts several holiday-themed parties throughout the year, starting with the Saint Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl. Tickets for this particular annual event start at $20, including a t-shirt and other emerald green swag. 2025 features a kick-off party at First Ward Park from noon-3 pm. Participating bars and beer vendors are scattered around Uptown and Southern Charlotte. Event proceeds support two local charities.

Other popular party events hosted by the event company include the Americrawl on the 4th of July, a Halloween Pub Crawl, and a New Year’s Eve Bash. All of these events require ticket purchases and are for adults 21 and over.

Music at the Met

Running from April to September, head to Midtown on Thursday evenings for this annual live concert series at The Metropolitan. Performances feature acoustic music on the patio along the Sugar Creek Greenway. Bring blankets or chairs. Make an extra special evening by picking up a takeaway from one of the local restaurants or pack your own picnic.

Attending Music at the Met is free. Check with the Met for a schedule of performers. Any weather cancellations are posted on their social media.

TuckFest

Charlotte SHOUT!

Engage all your senses at the multi-week Charlotte SHOUT! Residents best remember the 2019 festival for its giant inflatable bunny display.

This extended ultra-sensory festival runs in the spring. It has hundreds of events, including concerts with local musicians, dance performances, art installations, and renowned public figures giving special chats. Over 20 art installations are added around Uptown Charlotte. During the festival, participating local chefs serve creative dishes at the ticketed StrEATS Festival and Tasting Tour. Visit the website for an updated schedule and festival event information.

Sounds on the Square

Another free concert series that runs each Friday from May through August in Uptown’s Spirit Square. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center hosts free outdoor concerts at Spirit Square. In past years, there have been acts as diverse as Temperance League, Gina Robinson, and Biscuit Miller. Whether your jam is rockabilly, gospel, or jazz, you’ll find music to enjoy beneath the lights of Uptown. Check with Blumenthal Performing Arts on event plans and schedule.

Circle K Speed Street & 600 Fest

When the fast cars hit the Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, the fans speed in for Circle K Speed Street. This family-oriented event coinciding with the Coca-Cola 600 Festival Memorial Day Weekend has been going on for over 20 years. Come for the big-name concerts on the main stage. Attendees also have opportunities to engage with some of racing’s big stars, participate in interactive events, and have some racing-related fun.

Circle K Speed Street has family activities like interactive games and displays. Food trucks deliver the goods for your appetite. Head to the Fan Zone for all the excitement and fun. Anyone with a ticket to the Coca-Cola 600, Alsco Uniforms 300 or North Carolina Education Lottery 250 can gain access to the Speed Street festival.

Taste of Charlotte

If you are a foodie, you can’t miss the three-day Taste of Charlotte Festival. Hosted every year in June, the six city blocks close to vehicles and open to food vendors. Over 100 different samples of mouth-watering options will fly out the food vendor tents. Taste everything from biscuits to barbecue to pad thai. Coinciding with the dishes from the local restaurants are various performances and activities. Taste international wines or a craft brew from the local beer vendors. The live music and performances are spread across three stages. Kids activities are based off Levine Avenue, and include bounce houses, slides, and rides.

Admission to the festival is free, but you’ll need cash to buy festival coins that purchase delicious dishes. You can pre-purchase these or pick them up at booths around the festival. The event is based around Center City Charlotte.

Charlotte Pride Week

Over 100,000 people typically descend on Uptown during August for Charlotte Pride. The parade has quickly become one of the largest held during the year in Charlotte. But Pride is more than a walk down the Tryon Street. It’s a whole festival celebrating love for all. During the festivities, you’ll find musicians, drag performers, and comics entertaining during the day and special parties at the scene’s local bars at night.

Much of the Pride Week festivities center around Tryon Street and Levine Avenue of the Arts in Uptown. There are multiple stages, a youth zone, and a neighborhood market. Go to the Charlotte Pride website to see their current year event plans.

Yiasou Greek Festival

For over 40 years, the Yiasou Greek Festival has been a cultural experience for all people. The festival features authentic Greek cuisine, homemade pastries, Hellenic cultural exhibits, entertainment, and live music and dancing. Festival attendees can also participate in wine tastings, shop the arts and crafts vendors, and experience other entertainment.

The festival is at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Dilworth and typically charges a $3 admission, although children 12 and under are free. There is a drive-thru option for purchasing fresh Greek food, or you can park and enjoy all the entertainment and tours.

Charlotte International Arts Festival

The Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF) is an annual celebration that transforms Charlotte into a hub of global art, culture, and creativity. Held in multiple locations in Uptown and around the city, the festival brings together artists, performers, and creators worldwide for a spectacular fusion of music, dance, theater, visual arts, and interactive experiences. It’s designed to engage people of all ages, with family-friendly events, large-scale installations, and immersive activities that make the festival approachable and inclusive.

A highlight of the festival is the outdoor installations, which bring whimsical sculptures, interactive light displays, and public art pieces to life in parks and open spaces. Most are concentrated around Ballantyne Sculpture Park and the Uptown Sculpture Park. Visitors can explore these creative installations by day or night. The festival also hosts live performances—everything from street theater to acrobats and world music concerts—celebrating cultural diversity and showcasing artists’ talents. The CIAF usually lasts about two weeks in September.

Festival in the Park

Head to Freedom Park for a three-day outdoor Art Festival. By 2024, the Festival in the Park will be in its 60th year of showcasing creations from over 200 artists and vendors. Live music, food concessions, and art installations accompany the festival events. This Charlotte tradition is known for its relaxed atmosphere and is a family-friendly event with children’s activities.

The Festival is typically scheduled for mid-September 16-18, kicking off on Fridays at 4 pm and running until 9 pm. Saturday runs from 10 am to 9 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. You can find the schedule of performances on the website. Admission is free for all.

Breakaway Music Festival

Head to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for an epic weekend of live music from amazing artists performing on two stages. The Breakaway Music Festival always draws a fantastic line-up; 2024 had Marshmello, Fisher, and Loud Luxury. The outdoor music weekend usually occurs the first weekend of October. In 2021, two-day passes begin at $105. Check back in to see which artists they have booked for the upcoming show and ticket packages.

Around the Crown 10K

Hola Charlotte

This is the city’s most prominent Hispanic Heritage Festival. The Latin American cultural event celebrates the heritage of 15 Latin American countries. The Hola Charlotte Festival is in Uptown Charlotte off Tryon Street. The festival includes a parade, live music from acclaimed Latin American bands and artists, cultural performances, Latin cuisine, and family-friendly activities. Visit the Latin American Cultural Village, where various countries probably display authentic items from their native lands.

The typically held during National Hispanic Heritage Month in the fall. Refer back to the website for information on the upcoming event.

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Hear ye, hear ye, the Renaissance Festival opens weekends throughout the fall. Don ye gay apparel, leathers, dresses, and more for a weekend of chivalry and revelry. Tickets to the Carolina Renaissance Festival regularly sell out, so plan early. It has all the classic entertainment, like jousts and feasts, buskers, and village artisans. Enjoy comedy shows, aerobatics, and rides between touring the arts vendors and entertainment stages. Parking is free, and the festival runs rain or shine from its Huntersville location.

Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Charlotte Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition dates back to the 1940s. USA Today has ranked it as one of the 10 Best Holiday Parades in the nation. It’s the fourth-largest Thanksgiving parada in the nation and has over 100,000 watching in person and a million more on the broadcast. In 2021, the parade changed to a nighttime event running the day before Thanksgiving. The route goes down Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte. Check back for information on the upcoming parade. It is free watch but there are VIP tickets if you wish to purchase them.

Carowinds Winterfest

A totally immersive winter attraction, the popular theme park on the Carolina border is dazzling under thousands of holiday lights and delights. Wander around while serenaded by carolers and holiday music. The nightly Wonderland Parade is brilliant, with decorated floats, music, and performers. Drop off letters for Santa and play holiday-themed games.

Winterfest begins mid-November and runs until January 2. Check the Carowinds website for updated admission pricing.

Best Charlotte Events

As you can see, we have a jam-packed year of excitement ahead. These festivals and events are just a small taste of what’s happening in Charlotte. Stay tuned for more announcements about music performances from big-name artists, professional sporting events, and the carnivals coming to Charlotte in the months ahead.

For more about things to do in Charlotte or living in the Queen City, visit the EZ Home Search blog.