May happenings
April 30, 2021
NOTE: Please check in advance with venues and event organizers to confirm details and hours.
Events + activities
Wells Fargo Championship
After a year hiatus, the prestigious golf tournament returns to Quail Hollow Club with limited fan attendance. May 3-9, ticket costs vary; wellsfargochampionship.com
Charlotte Knights Kick Off 2021 Season
Charlotte’s beloved baseball team is back: Homer and the team will kick off the first two weeks of the season with a dozen home games, starting May 4. Ticket costs and availability may vary; milb.com/charlotte-knights
Mother’s Day Tea at The Ballantyne Hotel
Treat mom to The Ballantyne’s take on classic tea with a Southern flair. May 8-9; $45 for adults or $60 with a glass of champagne; $25 for children 5-12; theballantynehotel.com
Mother’s Day Celebration at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Free admission for mothers all weekend, May 8 & 9. Guests who wish to visit this weekend need to reserve or purchase a timed ticket. Enjoy live music, food trucks and the beauty of the gardens, dsb.org/event
Mother’s Day Pop Up Market
Come to the Mother’s Day Sidewalk Mark along the Rail Trail across from 7th Street Public Market. There will be 10+ local vendors, yummy eats, gifts, and a fun, FREE craft. Parking Lot Across from 7th Street Public Market, 11a.m. – 4 p.m, details on Facebook
Charlotte Symphony Evenings at the Park
The CSO welcomes audiences back in this mini-series of concerts at Symphony Park, featuring works inspired by nature and the outdoors. May 7, 21 and 28, June 11 and 18; advance tickets are available in pods of four or six at charlottesymphony.org
Spring Fête
Shop jewelry trunk shows, pick up flowers for mom, sip on cocktails and enjoy the art hosted by the Collaborative. Saturday, May 8, 2325 Crescent Avenue, thecollaborativeclt.com
Final Draught at Town Brewing with Sheri Lynch
Final Draught is a themed, quarterly discussion series featuring local thought leaders, beer and books – and this edition is in person! Best-selling author and radio personality Sheri Lynch discusses her latest book, Cooking with Cats on Tuesday, May 18 from 6-8 p.m. Additional copies of the book, food and beer will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, foundation.cmlibrary.org/final-draught
Secret Gardens of Fourth Ward
Fourth Ward residents welcome guests back to the neighborhood for this popular garden tour, May 22-23 from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at fourthwardclt.org. During tour hours, ticket holders can pick up guidebooks at the booth at the corner of 9th and Poplar streets. Tour organizers expect tickets to sell out in advance.
Memorial Day Trail Race and Memorial Day Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center
The holiday weekend kicks off with a Saturday morning jaunt through the Whitewater Center’s trails on either a 5-mile or 8-mile route. On Sunday, cool off with rafting and enjoy cold beverages, good food, live music, yoga and fireworks. May 29-30; race registration and activity costs vary; usnwc.org
Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Rev up your Memorial Day weekend with the 62nd running of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. The event will include a pre-race military salute and performances by the 82nd Airborne Chorus and Lee Greenwood. May 30; tickets start at $49; charlottemotorspeedway.com
Museums + galleries
Figuratively Speaking at Anne Neilson Fine Art
The gallery commemorates its seven-year anniversary with an exhibition featuring seven painters, sculptors and mixed-media artists whose works celebrate the beauty of the human form. Featured artists include Caroline Boykin, Paul Day, Nick DeMarsico, Jacob Dhein, Lisa Moore, Pam Moxley and Lisa Noonis. May 1-June 12; anneneilsonfineart.com
Brian Rutenberg: Point of Pine at Jerald Melberg Gallery
In this solo exhibition featuring new abstract landscape paintings on linen and paper, Rutenberg returns to his reflections on the landscapes of the South Carolina low country. May 1-June 12; jeraldmelberg.com
In Process: Eleanor Annand
This solo exhibition features new work by Asheville-based artist, Eleanor Annand. Using paper, felt, and steel, she defies and defines the grid, evidences her intuition with design, and negotiates materials with an open mind. Opening reception with Annand is May 7, 6-8 p.m. at Hodges Taylor, on exhibit through June 30, hodgestaylor.com
The Round Chaos at SOCO Gallery
This exhibition curated by Dexter Wimberly includes paintings and mixed-media works by artists Alex Callender, Adin Kachisi, Jackie Milad and Senghor Reid. Through June 12; socogallery.com
Cathryn Miles & Blaire Wheeler at Shain Gallery
Cathryn Miles’ inspiration comes from her immediate environment, like the turbulence of the clouds and the natural patterning of the earth. Blaire Wheeler’s work is a balance of abstract and realism, highlighting the beauty in the everyday. May 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; shaingallery.com
Stitches and Stories presented by Mint Museum Uptown
This livestream event features a conversation about the work of quilt and fiber artist Elizabeth Talford Scott, mother of artist Joyce J. Scott. This talk explores the rich contributions of African American craft artists as the Mint Museum celebrates the acquisition of Elizabeth Talford Scott’s Untitled Shield series. May 13, 4-5 p.m.; free to attend the Zoom event, but registration is required; mintmuseum.org
Levels of Abstraction at Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art
This exhibition celebrates the various approaches to abstraction — and invites the viewer to participate. May 26-Sept. 11; eldergalleryclt.com SP
— compiled by Amanda Lea
