Charlotte Events and Festivals

(Charlotte, North Carolina - NC, USA)

Spring is a great time to visit Charlotte and its surrounding areas and to take in the city's flowering beauty. Sporting events, music performances and arts and craft festivals are usually held during Charlotte's summer months, although some take place in early autumn and late spring.

Winter in Charlotte can get quite chilly and it is usually a quieter time in terms of festivals and events. Below is a list of Charlotte's main yearly festivals, events and seasonal things to do.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day
• 12th February - Lincoln's Birthday
• Third Monday in February - Washington's Birthday
• Last Monday in May - Memorial Day
• 4th July - Independence Day
• First Monday in September - Labor Day
• Second Monday in October - Columbus Day
• 11th November - Veterans Day
• 4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving
• 25th December - Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• There are no significant events held in Charlotte during January.

February

• There are no significant events held in Charlotte during February.

March

• St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival - mid-March, a parade accompanied by Irish music and dancers.

April

• Springfest - late April, held in Uptown Charlotte over three days and featuring live music, street vendors, food stalls and other live entertainment.
• Loch Norman Highland Games - celebrating Scottish culture and heritage at Huntersville and featuring plenty of food and live entertainment.

May

• Cityfest Live - early May, an annual concert featuring some the country's most popular performers.
• Charlotte Gay Pride Week - mid-May, the city's popular annual gay pride festival, with parades, parties and festivities.
• Coca-Cola 600 - late May, Charlotte Motor Speedway comes alive for this popular NASCAR race that includes parades, concerts and loads of other entertainment.

June

• WorldFeast - early June, a celebration of different cultures from around the world and featuring plenty of music and arts and craft.

July

• Family Cultural Appreciation Weekend - late July, featuring family orientated live entertainment and activities and held at the Afro-American Cultural Center.
• Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Show - late July, home to over 25 exhibitors offering all sorts of different beads, jewelry, books, and supplies, as well as bead making demonstrations.

August

• Fastgrass Bluegrass Festival - early August, a popular bluegrass festival featuring numerous acts spread over three days.
• Liquid Steel Big 50 Bike Show - late August, a huge national event attracting the country's best custom bike builders and including live music and more than 130 vendors.

September

• Festival in the Park - mid-September, a celebration of local and regional arts and crafts.
• YIASOU Greek Festival - mid-September, one of the city's biggest cultural events, featuring Hellenic cultural exhibits, authentic Greek food, live entertainment, art and plenty of shopping.
• Time Warner Cable BBQ and Blues - held in early September in Uptown Charlotte, a barbecue event with teams competing for trophies and prizes with the additional attraction of a blues fest.

October

• Charlotte OktoberFest Beer Festival - early October, an annual event featuring hundreds of craft-brewed beers, food and loads of live entertainment.
• Carolina Renaissance Festival - October and early/mid-November, running on weekends throughout October and the first half of November, this popular family event features a medieval amusement park, nine-stage theater, circus, arts and crafts fair and a jousting tournament.
• Latin American Festival - early October, held at the Mint Museum of Art and offering a great family day out with kid's activities, music and authentic Latin American food.

November

• Le Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Tasting Festival - mid-November, one of just 13 cities in the country given the honor of hosting an official uncorking and celebration of the annual Beaujolais Nouveau harvest.
• Harvest Day - mid-November, an interesting celebration that examines how different cultures from around the world mark the end of the growing season.

December

• Celtic Traditions Festival - mid-December, featuring traditional Irish and Scottish dancing, Celtic music and traditional jewelry and clothing.
• First Night Charlotte - New Year's Eve alcohol-free celebrations, with a wide range of activities and events including a late afternoon / early evening music and dance function for children, as well as a variety of evening performances before the count down to midnight.