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Events & Festivals

Year-round happenings unique to Charlotte showcase the city at its very best. And one that attracts more than one million people to the region annually is NASCAR. Races like the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Bank of America 500, and Coca-Cola 600 draw fans to Charlotte Motor Speedway – a favorite track for drivers considering more than 80% of Sprint Cup drivers call the region home. Fans fill the streets of Uptown in May for the Food Lion Speed Street 600 Festival, a celebration of all things NASCAR. Charlotte also hosts one of the state’s most culture-laden months of the year in September: The Time Warner Cable BBQ & Blues Festival and “Cultural Free for All” bring fans from throughout the Carolinas and beyond. The fun continues year round with Taste of Charlotte, Festival in the Park, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Yiasou Greek Festival, the Wells Fargo Championship and Queen’s Cup Steeplechase to name just a few more events.

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Culture

With more than a mile’s worth of cultural facilities all within Center City alone, it’s clear Charlotte has an ever-increasing commitment to the arts. And throughout the region, museums, historical sites, and more make for one-of-a-kind visitor experiences. Breathtaking ballets by NC Dance Theatre, awesome operas by Carolina Opera, and a wide variety of scintillating stage shows at Belk Theater or Ovens Auditorium are just a sampling of city happenings thanks to the Arts & Science Council. Renowned for its support of 62 cultural partners throughout the region, the organization ranks right up there with the best arts and culture infrastructure in the nation – second only to New York in revenue dollars.

The Levine Center for the Arts is the heart of the Center City cultural corridor, encompassing the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Mint Museum Uptown, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and 1,150-seat Knight Theater. Beyond Center City, neighborhoods like NoDa and South End embrace the arts with off-the-beaten-path venues that tout musical genres ranging from jazz to alt-rock and gallery crawls that show off masterpieces by local artists. Events throughout the year like the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival, Charlotte Symphony Pops in the Park in June, and the Cultural Free for All in September also showcase the region’s rich cultural talents through engaging programming and performances.

Development

New developments are movin’ on in and up throughout Charlotte’s Center City as of late even though this bustling hub already brims with diversions like sumptuous steakhouses, paint-the-town red nightspots, and enriching museums and theaters. But public transit, new hotels, entertainment offerings, cultural diversions, and urban living alternatives are filling the horizon line day by day.

Recent additions to the city skyline include the Duke “Power Tower,” Levine Center for the Arts, NC Music Factory’s Fillmore and Road Runner Mobile Amphitheatre, NASCAR Hall of Fame and Crown Ballroom, the eco-friendly Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, NC Dance Theatre’s Center for Dance and One Bank of America Center, as well as renovations to the Elizabeth neighborhood. These developments join other new spots like the Aloft hotel and the ever-growing list of restaurants and venues at The EpiCentre, downtown’s hottest mixed-use area.

Taking a page from efficient public transit systems in Denver and Portland, Charlotte’s light rail system connects entertainment, retail, museums, dining, and more, with an expansion north of the city planned for future years. Other projects opening soon include the Mint Museum Uptown as the last piece of the Levine Center for the Arts, more nightlife and dining options at the NC Music Factory and EpiCentre, as well as an expansion and new terminal at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

And don’t forget about the core Charlotte attractions that have undergone renovations. The U.S. National Whitewater center has added new activities, Discovery Place underwent extensive renovations and has opened with all new exhibits, and the Billy Graham Library has improved its experience as well. With so much going on, it can be hard to keep up!

Dining

Charlotte is home to culinary leader Johnson & Wales University, which has had a flavorful impact on the city’s burgeoning culinary scene. Named one of the “Top 50 Cities that Sizzle” by Restaurant News Magazine, Charlotte’s menus are bursting with invigorating restaurant concepts, regional favorites done right like BBQ and fried pickles, and countless hotspots serving upscale elegance and local flavor. From worldly flavors to a farm to fork focus, there’s something to please every taste. Visit a Bon Appétit Magazine pick for the best fried chicken around at Price’s Chicken Coop or one of Esquire Magazine’s best bars in America at Thomas Street Tavern. New restaurants on the scene like Aria Tuscan Grille and King’s Kitchen add intrigue to Charlotte’s already flavorful palate. No matter where you dine, be sure to know that your meal will always be served with the grace and charm that characterizes this fair city.

Luxury

Lose yourself in luxury in Charlotte. The Mobil Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge offers elegant guest rooms, upscale dining at Gallery Restaurant, a redesigned golf course, and a spa with treatments too good to be true. The south Charlotte resort is just a short drive from South Park, the luxury destination for fashion, which offers up some of the best designer labels this side of Manhattan. Just ask Laura Vinroot Poole, owner of Capitol Clothing. Her new South Park boutique located in the Morrison complex is the only place in the region to find Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent. Over the past year, the addition of alfresco mixed-used developments like the Village of South Park and Blakeney have added to this area and attracted some of the most upscale boutiques in the Southeast.

The first Ritz-Carlton in North Carolina opened in Center City Charlotte in October 2009. Synonymous with luxury, the hotel features 147 rooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a bi-level penthouse spa, and Bulgari bath amenities. Hotel Sierra, slated to open in 2011, will bring comfortable luxury to its Uptown location adjacent to Time Warner Cable Arena. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s flavorful dining scene has become a magnet for inventive and high-end restaurant concepts thanks in part to the addition of culinary leader Johnson & Wales University. Newer additions like Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, M5 Modern Mediterranean, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar bring together cuisine that crisscross the globe. And time-tested mainstays like Bentley’s on 27 with panoramic city views and Mimosa Grill with farm-to-fork fare all dish up excellence with a southern twist.

Green Initiatives

Across Charlotte, several initiatives are underway to lighten the footprint and prove that sustainable practices are not just good intentions, but imperative ones. A city-wide Green Team was even created to identify best practices for events and sustainable initiatives. The Charlotte Convention Center follows a number of procedures that all add up including introducing biodegradable cups made from corn products, recycling paper, aluminum, and glass, bundling a variety of suppliers, and much more. As a member of the Convene Green Alliance, the facility is continuously seeking ways to cut environmental costs and show others in the industry that going green is more than just a trend.

Other facilities in the city are putting green methods into practice as well. LEED-certified buildings like the new Bank of America Corporate Center, which houses The Ritz-Carlton, and the kid-friendly ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center are making waves with innovative construction methods that pass elite standards. Facilities like the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are set to implement green roofs, which reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. And a light rail system has seen phenomenal ridership successes since its opening in 2007. Long-range plans seek to expand this environmentally-friendly public transit option into five corridors that span the region. While making great strides with green initiatives, the region also has a strong commitment to keeping its green spaces pristine. Programs protect the gorgeous green canopies found in the city’s neighborhoods and plan for acres upon acres of additional park space.

Family Friendly

Suitable for kids big and small (that includes mom and dad), Charlotte is ready to spice up family vacations. Banking may have helped shape this city, but its ways to play add to its unforgettable appeal. A new coaster and kids’ area opened at Carowinds, the rousing May and October races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the boisterous Stanford Broadway Lights performances at NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center show exactly why Charlotte’s got a lot. For animal enthusiasts, don’t miss the Lazy 5 Ranch for an up-close look at exotic animals and the Carolina Raptor Center for a lesson in birds of prey. Featuring everything from firework-filled minor league baseball games to adrenaline-rushing adventures at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte’s family-friendly attractions engage, excite, and exhilarate.

As for recent enticements, Great Wolf Lodge in Concord combines indoor water park fun, a spa to excite the senses, themed restaurants, and much more. Discovery Place, the premier children’s science museum in the Southeast, revealed a whole new experience in June, thanks to a complete renovation. Affordable hotels throughout Center City like the new Starwood concept, Aloft, make family getaways easy on the pocketbook. Located in the mixed-use entertainment hub, The EpiCentre, if IKEA designed a hotel, this would be it. So skip the dull getaways of yesteryear and prepare for thrills, wonders, and good, plain fun.

History

Charlotte may have lots of cranes adding to the area’s skyline, but it’s certainly not short on history. Pan for gold at the site of the nation’s very first gold rush at Reed Gold Mine. Relive a civil rights era sit-in at a lunch counter or even stroll down a recreated main street to try on a hat in an early Belk department store at Levine Museum of the New South. And plenty of historic sites like the Rosedale Plantation with its Civil War era docents and Historic Brattonsville with its Revolutionary War re-enactments make for interactive and educational experiences. For a fun take on a historical tour, hop aboard a bicycle or Segway with Charlotte NC Tours for a look at the Queen City’s past or step back in time with a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Reminders of Charlotte’s roots still stand among new office buildings and suburban homes. Check in to the historic Dunhill Hotel in the heart of Center City, originally opened in 1929 as the Mayfair Manor and a member of the Historic Hotels of America, or take in a quiet retreat at the Duke Mansion, the palatial former home of James B. Duke, of Duke University and Duke Energy. The mansion, built in 1915 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, serves as a bed and breakfast and features the original marble floors and outdoor fountains. Step back in time with a seven-course meal at the McNinch House, the circa 1892 former home of Victorian-era Charlotte Mayor Sam McNinch and a restaurant long renowned as one of the most romantic spots in Charlotte.

Sports and Recreation

Most Charlotteans like to play as hard as they work, which has shaped the city into a place where mountain-biking trails meet expertly manicured greens. Where cheering for the Carolina Panthers can be followed up by tubing along the shores of Lake Norman. And where a day of whitewater rafting is best complemented by a stroll through an oak-shaded park.

With world-famous public golf courses, pro sporting events that bring fans to their feet, and adventurous attractions clamoring for thrill seekers, you’ll see why Charlotteans enjoy playing so hard…and be ready to join them. Catch a fireworks show at a Saturday Knights baseball game, or stand and cheer for Panthers football. Watch the AHL Checkers take to the ice and the Bobcats shoot hoops at Time Warner Cable Arena. Some lesser known sports teams like Charlotte Eagles soccer and the Charlotte Roller Girls roller derby team provide entertainment outside the usual sporting events.

With over 14,000 acres of parks and 19 recreational centers, green space almost outweighs the pavement in and around the city. At the U.S. National Whitewater Center, outdoor enthusiasts and nature novices can be found making waves on the largest manmade whitewater river in the world. It also touts 14 miles of rolling hiking, biking, and running trails, flat water paddling on the Catawba River, one of the largest climbing wall surfaces in the nation, eko trekking, a MegaZip line, and an Adventure Course.

In addition, Charlotte has more than 40 public golf courses to choose from. Whether driving the impressive wetland-shrouded 15th hole of Rocky River Golf Club or teeing off at the newly renovated championship course at Ballantyne Resort, you’ll find a lot of links to your liking. Combine that with world-class sporting facilities like Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bank of America Stadium, and Time Warner Cable Arena, and it’s apparent that Charlotte’s got game.

Wine

Like a fine wine, North Carolina’s Piedmont vineyards have certainly gotten better with age. Nestled along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this promising grape-growing terrain has been compared to France’s celebrated Burgundy region and ranks 7th in the nation’s wine production and 10th in grape production. The state is practically bursting with wineries, boasting 92 currently and three American Viticultural Areas (AVA's): Yadkin Valley, Swan Creek, and Haw River Valley. Area wineries include NASCAR team owner Richard Childress’ Childress Vineyards, Shelton Vineyards and Uwharrie Vineyards.

Festivals celebrating the grape and its wine byproduct are plentiful and include the North Carolina Wine Festival and Lake Norman Wine & Food Festival. Several wineries also celebrate their new releases and host events like the Swan Creek Herb Festival and Harvest Festival, and Childress Vineyards’ Music in the Vineyards. The city has embraced the industry, and the Visitor Info Center in Center City has recently started carrying wines made in North Carolina, in addition to the airport’s Yadkin Valley Wine Bar.

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Pet Friendly

The Queen City is the perfect place to explore with your four-legged friend. From pet-friendly hotels and restaurants to off-leash dog parks and everything in between, Charlotte’s got what you need to enjoy a dog day afternoon. Enjoy the outdoors at one of several spots, like Freedom Park or Barkingham and Fetching Meadows dog parks. The city has gone to the dogs with specialty spots like Dog Bar in the artsy NoDa neighborhood, a spot where owners can enjoy a beer alongside their pets, and Canine Café, a shop and catering company serving up all-natural dog treats. Dogs are always welcome at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, but the best time for puppy watching is the weekly River Jam event, where live music sets the scene for laid back fun, with water bowls and staff bringing around treats for well-behaved pups. Charlotte Knights baseball also welcomes dogs for their annual Bark in the Park game, where owner and dog can enjoy America’s favorite pastime from the stands. Dog-friendly events pop up all the time, and with so much green area, there’s always a place for pets in Charlotte.

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