Happenings: Calendar of events
September 1, 2023
Here’s our calendar of events and art exhibits around Charlotte. Our SouthPark neighborhood guide covers where to eat and shop. The Fall Arts Preview has more tempting shows to see now through December.
EVENTS + ACTIVITIES
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Through Oct. 1
This family-friendly festival takes place from uptown to Ballantyne, with immersive installations and performances by artists based locally and around the globe. Some favorites are returning (Birdmen, Lotty by Moradavaga) with many new featured events. Most attractions are free, some are ticketed. charlotteartsfest.com
Charlotte Film Festival
Sept. 27-Oct. 1
The entries are in, now it’s time to watch. The Charlotte Film Festival celebrates established and emerging indie filmmakers locally and from around the globe. Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St., charlottefilm.com
Fall Market and Shopping Stroll
Sept. 30 I 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Take a stroll through this open air market at Phillips Place and get exclusive offers from boutiques and restaurants. There will be raffles, gifts with purchases, and a curated lineup of local vendors in the courtyard. Plus live music, kids’ crafts and seasonal experiences. phillipsplacecharlotte.com
Charlotte Wine + Food Festival
Sept. 30
This annual festival celebrates winemakers from North Carolina and beyond with hundreds of wines available to sample. Fill a souvenir tasting glass and savor the afternoon at Symphony Park. There will be crafts, music and bites. General admission tickets are $39. VIP tickets are $75. charlotte.uncorkthefun.com
Jonas Brothers: Five Albums. One Night
Sept. 30
Kevin, Joe and Nick are coming to the Queen City with a set list that includes songs from five albums, as the tour name implies. Spectrum Center. ticketmaster.com
Farm to Fork in the Garden
Oct. 1
This showcase of chefs, artisans and farmers shares the region’s best flavors and seasonal ingredients. Throughout the grounds of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, attendees will find more than 25 tasting stations with craft dishes. Bring a blanket (and the kiddos) and relax on the lawn while listening to live music. All proceeds support agriculture and food-system training programs at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and farmer grants at Piedmont Culinary Guild. Adult general admission is $125. piedmontculinaryguild.com
BayHaven Food & Wine Festival
Oct. 4-8
The festival celebrating Black foodways returns, featuring new venues in uptown and on the west side. The theme for this year’s festival is “Wild & Free 23,” drawing inspiration from the ’60s and ’70s. The festival kicks off Wednesday with a family-style community feast — other events include a Pig Picking and Oyster Roast, Tasting Tent, and Boogie Down Brunch. Single-event tickets start at $100. bayhavenfoodandwine.com
Ballantyne Brunch Festival
Oct. 7 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
This inaugural event presented by the Isabella Santos Foundation features live music, brunch bites, family-friendly activities and more at The Amp Ballantyne. General admission tickets are $25 and include access to music, activities and food trucks. VIP tickets are $125 and include a VIP lounge with food by Mizu, two drink tickets and more. Tickets for kids 5-13 are $10; kids 4 and under are free. Learn more here.
Luke Bryan: Country on Tour
Oct. 7
PNC Music Pavilion, livenation.com
Home.Grown CLT
Oct. 7
This arts extravaganza at the Charlotte Art League celebrates visual and performing arts by bringing local creatives and artisans together under one roof. Doors open at 3 p.m. Early bird general admission starts at $25. 4237 Raleigh Street, homegrownfest.org
Pink Cupcake Walk
Oct. 7
Grab a mini cupcake from local bakeries as you walk laps around Truist Field in uptown. Your support through WBTV’s #TeamMolly helps local nonprofit Go Jen Go provide financial assistance to families fighting breast cancer. Field opens at 8:30 a.m., register online tasteofcharlotte.com/pinkcupcakewalk
Mecklenburg Oktoberfest
Oct. 7 | 11 a.m.
Guests can expect a biergarten, local food vendors (State of Confusion, City BBQ, Viscious Biscuit, to name a few), kids activities and a pumpkin patch (until sold out) at Truist Field in uptown. More info here.
The Hive @ 35
Opens Oct. 10
Celebrate 35 years of the Hornets at Charlotte Museum of History, with a tour of classic memorabilia, interactive installations and plenty of nostalgia for the NBA team that put the Queen City on the map. The exhibit is included with regular museum admission, $10 for adults. 3500 Shamrock Drive. charlottemuseum.org
Build Your Own Boat competition
Oct. 14
This BYOB competition puts teams to the test on the Whitewater Center’s challenging rapids. Skip the construction and go watch the spectacle unfold. Registration cost to BYOB is $40.center.whitewater.org/race
Aerosmith: Peace Out, The Farewell Tour with The Black Crowes
Oct. 17
With legendary frontman Steven Tyler, Grammy Award-winning Aerosmith comes to the Spectrum Center to rock out and say farewell to fans after a 50-year run. ticketmaster.com
Charlotte Craft Beer Week
Oct. 20-29
With more than three dozen breweries, cideries and taprooms participating, this something for every kind of beer enthusiast. Events include neighborhood brewery crawls, collab releases, a home brew competition and more. charlottecraftbeerweek.com
Colonel’s Club Boil & Brew
Oct. 21
Embrace the fall season during this Lowcountry boil with plenty of craft beer, wine, games for the kids (and adults), plus live music from Kris Hitchcock. Ticket prices vary; adult general admission is $55. Anne Springs Close Greenway, ascgreenway.org/events
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Oct. 21
This annual walk lifts up and recharges those affected by Alzheimer’s and their families, friends and caregivers. All funds raised during the walk go toward care, research and support efforts.. Registration starts at 9 a.m. The walk begins at 10 a.m. Truist Field. act.alz.org
Macabre Masquerade at Discovery Place Science
Oct. 21 | 7-11 p.m.
Put on your spookiest costume and head downtown for this adults-only experience includes music, bubbling brews and entertainment. Tickets are $34-$64. discoveryplace.org
John Mayer: Solo Acoustic Fall Tour
Oct. 23
The singer-songwriter-guitarist comes to Spectrum Center in this tour with JP Saxe. ticketmaster.com
Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks
Oct. 25 | 7 p.m.
The Hornets open the regular season against their I-85 rival. It’s one of eight 35th Anniversary Nights, and the first 15,000 fans will receive free T-shirts. hornets.com
Pagliacci with Cavalleria Rusticana
Oct. 28, 29 and Nov. 2
Opera Carolina’s 74th season starts with two tragic stories of love and betrayal, featuring La Scala soprano Barbara Frittoli. Belk Theater; tickets start at $22.44. operacarolina.org
ONGOING EVENTS
SouthPark After 5
Sept. 7 – Oct. 12, Thursdays
The concert series is back this fall at Symphony Park with a new lineup of music acts each Thursday through Oct. 12. southparkafter5.com
Crossroads Cinema: Summer 2023 Movie Series–EXTENDED
Thursdays
Bring a lawn chair and some friends to enjoy a classic film at Camp North End. Add some food and drink from CNE vendors to complete the evening. Extended through Oct. 26. camp.nc/events/
Wednesday Night Live
Wednesdays from 5-9 p.m.
The Mint Museum, The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and the Knight Theater are partnering in this weekly event series featuring free admission and live entertainment. Visit mintmuseum.org for the programming schedule and updates.
First Friday South End Gallery Crawl
Galleries and shops offer extended hours, special receptions, live painting and music along the Rail Trail on the first Friday of each month. southendclt.org
Carolina Fine Art Sip & Shop
The Cotswold Village gallery hosts a sip & shop every first Friday of the month in partnership with Butler’s Pantry. carolinafineart.com
Party in the Park
The party returns for the last Sunday of the month at Mint Museum Randolph. All ages can enjoy an afternoon with live music, food trucks, a cash bar, plus complimentary museum admission and shopping at The Mint Museum Store. mintmuseum.org
Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes at Discovery Place Science
Through Jan. 1, 2024
This exhibition traces the stories of iconic characters such as Captain America, Spider-Man and Black Panther and features more than 300 Marvel artifacts, including costumes, props and original artwork. It’s the show’s only stop in the Southeast. Adult tickets are $44; children 2-18 are $39. discoveryplace.org
MUSEUMS + GALLERIES
Magnolia Laurie Into the Woods at The George Gallery
Through Oct. 13
This solo exhibition features Laurie’s oil on panel and ink on paper works, which demonstrate a harmony between delicate, yet makeshift designs that seem to teeter on the brink of collapse. georgegalleryart.com
Playing With Fire at Jerald Melberg Gallery
Through Oct. 21
This solo exhibition features works by Dennis Lee Mitchell, a Washington, D.C.-based artist who creates drawings on paper resembling flowers and spiral shells, made purely with smoke from a burning flame. jeraldmelberg.com
Farshad Farzankia She Rose at SOCO Gallery
Through Nov. 1
With a bold palette, the artist creates bright paintings, sculptures and installations that hold personal and cultural significance. Farzankia, born in Iran, is deeply inspired by women’s rights issues that translate across borders. An opening reception with the artist takes place Tuesday evening, Sept. 12. socogallery.com
my Presence is Present: interpretations of afrosurrealism from the American South
Through Jan. 15, 2024
An exhibition curated by Carla Aaron-Lopez that navigates through surreal African-American experiences. The show features 21 emerging and established contemporary artists from the Carolinas. ganttcenter.org
The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design
Through Feb. 25, 2024
Sometimes a chair is more than just a chair. This exhibit at Mint Museum Uptown puts 52 chairs on view and each one has a story — from the maker and designer to the culture and history of the time when made. mintmuseum.org
Don’t forget to check out our SouthPark neighborhood guide.
— compiled by SouthPark magazine staff
