Pumpkin Spice Charlotte
Pumpkin season, known by some as “autumn,” is upon us. In Charlotte, we welcome the sweater weather by fully embracing all the basic essentials of fall. Pumpkin patches, pumpkin festivals and yes, pumpkin-flavored everything.
by Cassie Townsend Sep 15, 2022
Pumpkin Pours & Pints
Mugs Coffee
Neighborhood: Madison Park
While Mugs Coffee offers a signature Pumpkin Spice Latte, they also invite pumpkin spice enthusiasts to add pumpkin spice to any drink on the menu, with whipped cream and cinnamon on top, of course. Another cozy option to try: the Fireside Latte with caramel syrup and brown sugar cinnamon.
CupLux
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Pick up a classic Pumpkin Spice Latte at this convenient and friendly drive-thru coffee spot. Follow them on Instagram to be privy to the secret, off-menu seasonal items.
HEX Coffee Espresso Bar
Neighborhood: Camp North End
For something a little different, try a Kabocha Squash Latte at HEXCoffee Espresso Bar. The Kabocha is a Japanese winter squash with a sweet flavor that tastes like sweet potato mixed with pumpkin. The Kabocha is roasted, combined with Star Anise, Cardamon, Cassia Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Cloves, then reduced down to a puree. Espresso, steamed milk and cinnamon aromatics complete the seasonal beverage.
Undercurrent Coffee
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Undercurrent’s Southern Spice Latte features a sweet potato sauce made in-house with roasted sweet potatoes, brown sugar, spices, milk and espresso.
Community Matters Café
Neighborhood: Uptown
On the west side of Charlotte nestled behind the Panthers practice field sits Community Matters Café. Cozy up with a mug of Pumpkin Spice Latte and a pumpkin roll made with local butterkin pumpkins and filled with cream cheese icing.
Bitty & Beau
Neighborhood: South End
Order up a Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Spice Frappe, or add pumpkin spice syrup to any coffee product. The best part? Bitty & Beau’s is more than just a place to grab a great cup of joe – the shop is on a mission to help those with intellectual and development disabilities become more valued, accepted and included in the Charlotte community.
NoDa Brewing Company
Neighborhood: NoDa
Over 50 lbs. of pumpkin and 42 lbs. of brown sugar is used to brew each back of NoDa Brewing Company's NoDa Gordegous.
Sycamore Brewing
Neighborhood: South End
Pumpkin Latte Blonde is a blonde ale that's sure to fulfill all your more than basic fall cravings. Grab a can of this Sycamore Brewing fall staple.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Neighborhood: Lower South End
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's Mecktoberfest is an award-winning Marzen-style lager that balances malts, sweetness and a pinch of hops that has signaled the start of fall in Charlotte.
Catawba Brewing
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Named for one of the original North Carolina brewers who lent his pumpkin prowess to produce this Catawba Brewing seasonal sensation, King Don's Pumpkin Ale sports hops, spices and of course, fresh pumpkin.
Brewers at 4001 Yancey
Neighborhood: Lower South End
Southern Tier's Pumking imperial Ale has become a nationwide fall tradition. While the original is tough to top, try one of the varietals - Pumking Nitro or Cold Brew Coffee Pumking Nitro - straight from the tap at Brewers at 4001 Yancey.
D9 Brewery
Neighborhood: Uptown
Crafted with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, D9 Head of the Horseman is a massive 10% ABV Imperial Pumpkin Ale brimming with sweet pumpkin, fall spices and brown sugar flavors that inform but never overpower.
Pumpkin Donuts & Treats
Honeycomb Cafe
Neighborhood: Belmont
Popular Belmont brunch spot, Honeycomb Café, is offering an autumn menu complete with Pumpkin Frosted Pancakes, buttermilk pancakes layered with pumpkin cream cheese frosting, and Seasonal French Toast, brioche French toast topped with stewed apples and raisins. Honeycomb is owned by Patrick Murphy, the chef behind Heirloom.
Moji Teahouse
Neighborhood: North West Charlotte
Move over cronuts, mochi donuts have arrived. A fusion between a traditional American doughnut and a Japanese rice cake (mochi), mochi donuts are made up of eight small rice flour balls linked together to form a donut-like ring with a delightful chewy texture. Moji Teahouse offers seasonally-themed weekly flavors including Pumpkin Spice in the fall.
Your Mom’s Donuts
Neighborhood: Montford
With three locations in Matthews, Park Road Shopping Center and South Carolina, Your Mom’s Donuts doughnuts are crafted with locally-sourced ingredients. The menu rotates weekly and past pumpkin-inspired flavors have included Pumpkin Pie topped with a pumpkin spice glaze and pie crust cookies, Sweet Potato Soufflé, Pumpkin Butter topped with toasted, salted pumpkin seeds and Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Suarez Bakery
Neighborhood: Montford
Suarez Bakery will be rolling out their pumpkin-flavored treats all fall long, starting with Pumpkin Sugar Cookies in early September, then rolling out Pumpkin Bread later in the month. In October, prepare to fill your plate with Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes.
Sugar Donuts
Neighborhood: Ballantyne
What began as Charlotte’s first donut truck in 2014 quickly found a sugar-loving following and, soon after, a home in Ballantyne with the opening of SUGAR’s first retail location. Flavors rotate each month and the fall line-up features gluten-free pumpkin spice donuts, apple cider cake donuts, and apple cider glazed donuts. Pair with a sweet side such as pumpkin spice gelato or pumpkin spice cappuccino.
Pumpkin Festivals & Fun
Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall
A group of community volunteers erect the wall, which stands roughly 60 feet long and 20 feet high and resembles a giant set of wooden shelves filled with pumpkins. Each year, the community selects a word to spotlight in the wall. 2021’s word was “GRATITUDE.” The specific location of the wall changes from year to year. More details available on the Elizabeth Community Facebook page.
Carowinds' The Great Pumpkin Fest
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! The Great Pumpkin Fest at Carowinds has family-friendly Halloween attractions for the little ghosts and goblins from 12 – 5:00pm including a costume parade, foam zone and mazes. Open Saturdays and Sundays from September 17 through October 30.
Pumpkin Patches
Hall Family Farm
Area: Lancaster, SC
After you pick your perfect pumpkin at Hall Family Farm, hop aboard a hay ride or fill your cup with hot cocoa and your belly with doughnuts and funnel cakes. For families looking for a challenge, try finding your way through the “Great Train Robbery” themed corn maze. Open September 23 through October 31.
Hodges Farm Pumpkin Patch
Area: Northeast Charlotte
Located on 180 acres of land in Mecklenburg County, Hodges Family Farm has been in operation for over 100 years and recognized by the state of North Carolina as a “Century Farm.” The farm features a “Pick Your Own” pumpkin patch along with a hay mountain and sweet treats. Pumpkin patch season runs from September 24 through October 31.
Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze
Area: Huntersville
While the headlining attraction is the Amazing Maize Maze, a seven-acre corn maze, Rural Hill also offers hayrides, pumpkin picking, hiking trails and mini-mazes September 11 through November 7.
Hunter Farm
Area: Weddington
On your way to the Hunter Farm pumpkin patch, check out the petting barn, where you can feed the animals before finding your gorgeous gourd. Fall season on the farm runs from September 16 through November 6.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery
Area: Fort Mill, SC
Windy Hill Orchard is a family owned and operated boutique apple orchard and cider producer. Open every fall, Windy Hill offers visitors award-winning ciders and hard ciders, pumpkins, apple cider donuts, fresh-pressed apple juice and other fresh-made apple products. If you're interested in picking your own apples, make a reservation here.
Wise Acres Organic Farm
Area: Indian Trail
This popular Charlotte U-pick destination is open for the fall season from September 17 through November 6. Guests can take a wagon ride through the woods, share a meet and greet with goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits, enjoy a made-to-order wood-fired oven pizza and pick their own pumpkins. Reservations are required and fill up quickly, so book early.
