What's On in Charlotte
Events, markets, games, library and parks programs in and around Charlotte, with times, prices and the organizer's own link.
Top story
Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte Dec. 26: Big Ten vs. ACC
The 2026 Duke's Mayo Bowl kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, at Bank of America Stadium, a Big Ten vs. ACC matchup. Tickets, parking, bag rules.
Coming up
The full month- Nov. 3 to 8 Dirty Dancing (Broadway at the Blumenthal)
- Wed. Nov. 4 Wine on Wednesdays at the Mint
- Wed. Nov. 4 Charlotte Symphony On Tap
- Sat. Nov. 7 Salute to Veterans Parade
- Sat. Nov. 7 Carolinas Veterans Day Festival
- Sat. Nov. 7 Joshua Bell Plays Bruch (Charlotte Symphony Gala Concert)
- Nov. 11 to 22 Southern Christmas Show
- Fri. Nov. 13 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Health and Wellness Expo
- Nov. 13 to 14 JAZZ ROOM Presents: René Marie, Experiment in Truth
- Nov. 13 to 14 Bach 360
- Sat. Nov. 14 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, Half Marathon and Chick-fil-A 5K
- Sat. Nov. 14 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon
Plan your weekend
Fourth of July
Charlotte Fourth of July fireworks
Charlotte's 2026 July 4 show paired the Charlotte Symphony and the WBT SkyShow fireworks at Truist Field. 2027 plans are not out yet; this page will update.
Halloween
Charlotte trick-or-treat hours: 2026 over, 2027 is Oct. 31
Halloween 2026 has passed; Charlotte set no official trick-or-treat hours. Halloween 2027 is Sunday, Oct. 31, and this page is updated each fall with the hours.
Christmas
Charlotte tree lighting Nov. 17, Thanksgiving parade Nov. 25
Charlotte's stadium tree lighting is Tuesday, Nov. 17, free with a mobile ticket; the Thanksgiving Eve Parade steps off 5:30 p.m. Nov. 25 on Tryon Street.
High school football
Friday night football 2026: Charlotte high school schedule
Charlotte high school football for the rest of the 2026 regular season: home games Oct. 16, 23 and 30, most at 7 p.m., plus Providence Day at Charlotte Latin Oct. 15.
Fall
Fall festivals near Charlotte: Rural Hill sheepdogs Nov. 14
Pumpkin season near Charlotte ended Oct. 31. Still ahead: Rural Hill's Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival, Nov. 14-15 from 10 a.m. in Huntersville.
Halloween
Halloween in Charlotte 2026: SCarowinds last nights Nov. 6-7
Halloween 2026 in Charlotte is over except SCarowinds, which adds final nights Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7. Halloween 2027 is Sunday, Oct. 31.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Charlotte 2026: turkey trot, closings, trash
Thanksgiving 2026 in Charlotte: the Turkey Trot at SouthPark Mall Nov. 26 (fees rise after Nov. 21), county offices closed Nov. 26-27 and trash a day late.
Black Friday
Black Friday and holiday shopping in Charlotte 2026
Holiday shopping in Charlotte 2026: Black Friday Nov. 27, Small Business Saturday Nov. 28, the Southern Christmas Show Nov. 11-22 and mall hours.
Christmas
Holiday lights and Christmas events in Charlotte 2026
Holiday lights in Charlotte 2026: the stadium tree lighting Nov. 17, Speedway Christmas from Nov. 20, WinterFest from Nov. 27, Billy Graham Library Dec. 1-23.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Charlotte 2026: CLT NYE, fireworks, events
New Year's Eve 2026 in Charlotte: what we know about CLT NYE at Truist Field, family noon celebrations Dec. 31, and what is closed on Jan. 1.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Charlotte 2027: shows, dinners, date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 in Charlotte falls on a Sunday. Death Becomes Her plays the Blumenthal Feb. 9-14, plus symphony concerts and date ideas.
Spring break
CMS spring break 2027: March 29 to April 2 in Charlotte
CMS spring break 2027 is March 29 to April 2, with March 25-26 also off. Plus 2028 dates (April 10-14), early college breaks and county camps.
Easter
Easter in Charlotte 2027: egg hunts, brunch and services
Easter 2027 in Charlotte is Sunday, March 28. Good Friday is a CMS holiday and spring break follows. Egg hunts, brunch and services as they are announced.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Charlotte 2027: brunch, events and gardens
Mother's Day 2027 in Charlotte is Sunday, May 9. The Wiz plays the Blumenthal May 7-9, Wing Haven's gardens mark 100 years, and brunch ideas.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day in Charlotte 2027: Coca-Cola 600, closings, trash
Memorial Day 2027 in Charlotte is Monday, May 31. The Coca-Cola 600 runs May 30, spraygrounds open May 29, and CMS is closed. Ceremonies as announced.
Summer
Summer in Charlotte 2027: camps, pools and splash pads
Summer 2027 in Charlotte: CMS ends June 9; county spraygrounds open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; Cordelia and Double Oaks pools; camps.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Charlotte 2027: events, outings and brunch
Father's Day 2027 in Charlotte is Sunday, June 20. Buena Vista Social Club plays the Blumenthal June 15-20; the Whitewater Center, splash pads and brunch.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Charlotte 2027: Knights, closings, trash pickup
Labor Day 2027 in Charlotte is Monday, Sept. 6. The Knights are home Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, splash pads close for the season and CMS is off.
Brunch
Brunch in Charlotte: 13 places with weekend brunch hours
Weekend brunch in Charlotte at 13 restaurants in Uptown, South End, NoDa and beyond, with days, hours and addresses from each restaurant's own site.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Charlotte: dog parks, patios, trails, leash rules
Dog-friendly Charlotte: county dog parks open 7:30 a.m. to sunset, 70 off-leash acres at the Whitewater Center, dog-friendly breweries and the leash law.
Kids
Kids' activities in Charlotte: story times, splash pads, rainy days
Things to do with kids in Charlotte: free library story times, county splash pads, Ray's Splash Planet, ImaginOn, nature centers and rainy-day picks.
Trails
Charlotte walking and biking trails: greenways, loops, distances
Charlotte walking and biking trails: the 17-mile Little Sugar Creek Greenway, the 3.5-mile Rail Trail, greenway distances and mountain bike trails.
Uptown
A guide to Uptown Charlotte: parks, museums, arenas, getting around
A guide to Uptown Charlotte: Romare Bearden and First Ward parks, the Tryon Street museums, Discovery Place, the stadiums and how to get there.
Live music
Live music and nightlife in Charlotte: venues, clubs, comedy
Live music in Charlotte: The Fillmore and Skyla amphitheater at NC Music Factory, NoDa's Neighborhood Theatre and Evening Muse, jazz and comedy.
Free
Free things to do in Charlotte: museums, parks, trails, events
Free things to do in Charlotte: the Mint and Bechtler free on Wednesday nights, the Billy Graham Library, Uptown parks, greenways and splash pads.
Date night
Date night in Charlotte: dinner, theaters, wine bars, late nights
Date night in Charlotte: McNinch House tasting menus, French bistros on Tryon, wine bars, Broadway at the Blumenthal and late nights at the Mint.
Charlotte Marathon
Charlotte Marathon Nov. 14: sold out, start times, expo
Every Charlotte Marathon race on Saturday, Nov. 14, is sold out with a waiting list. Starts are 7:10 and 7:20 a.m. at 525 S. Tryon St.; the expo is Nov. 13.
Restaurant week
Charlotte Restaurant Week: Queen's Feast dates and prices
Queen's Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week returns Jan. 22-31, 2027, with three-course prix fixe dinners at $30 to $55 a person at 125-plus restaurants.
Charlotte Pride
Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade: dates, parade route, parking
Charlotte Pride's free festival and parade fill First Ward Park and Tryon Street each August. The 2026 event ran Aug. 15-16; 2027 dates are not out yet.
Yiasou Greek Festival
Yiasou Greek Festival Charlotte: dates, hours, parking
The Yiasou Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral on East Boulevard runs each September. 2026: Sept. 11-13; admission $5, under 12 free.
Festival in the Park
Festival in the Park Charlotte: 2027 dates, hours, parking
Festival in the Park, Charlotte's free arts festival at Freedom Park since 1964, returns Sept. 24-26, 2027. The 2026 festival ran Sept. 25-27.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Charlotte: lists by category
Every Queen City Today food list in one place: wings, pizza, tacos, barbecue, coffee, burgers, sushi, ice cream, bakeries, patios, brunch and date night.
Wings
Where to get wings in Charlotte: Uptown, Freedom Drive and more
6 places for wings in Charlotte with 20 locations, from Uptown and Freedom Drive to Steele Creek and Northlake, with hours from each place's own site.
Pizza
Where to get pizza in Charlotte: South End, Plaza Midwood and more
18 Charlotte pizza places, from South End and Plaza Midwood to Rea Road and University City, with hours, addresses and phones from each place's own site.
Mexican food
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Charlotte
16 Mexican, Tex-Mex and Latin restaurants in Charlotte, from South Boulevard and Plaza Midwood to University City, with hours from each one's own site.
Barbecue
Where to get barbecue in Charlotte: Plaza Midwood, South End and more
5 barbecue restaurants with 9 Charlotte locations, from Plaza Midwood and South End to Ballantyne and Steele Creek, with hours from their own sites.
Coffee
Breakfast and coffee in Charlotte: NoDa, South End and Uptown
17 Charlotte coffee shops and breakfast spots in NoDa, South End, Plaza Midwood, Uptown and University City, with opening hours from their own sites.
Burgers
Where to get burgers in Charlotte: Plaza Midwood, NoDa and Uptown
7 burger places with 19 Charlotte locations in Plaza Midwood, NoDa, Uptown, South End and Myers Park, with hours and phones from each place's own site.
Sushi
Sushi and Asian restaurants in Charlotte: South End, Uptown and more
23 sushi, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants in Charlotte, from South End and Uptown to University City, with hours from their own sites.
Ice cream
Ice cream and desserts in Charlotte: Plaza Midwood, South End and more
9 ice cream, donut, cookie and dessert shops in Charlotte, from Plaza Midwood and South End to Ballantyne and University City, with hours from their own sites.
Bakeries
Bakeries in Charlotte: NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Uptown and Park Road
10 Charlotte bakeries with 17 locations in NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Uptown, Park Road and Ballantyne, with hours and phones from each bakery's own site.
Patios
Patios and outdoor dining in Charlotte: Plaza Midwood, NoDa and more
9 Charlotte restaurants and bars with patios, rooftops or gardens, in Plaza Midwood, NoDa, South End and Myers Park, each confirmed on its own site.
Event news
Nutcracker
Charlotte Nutcracker 2026: Belk Theater, Dec. 4-23 shows
Charlotte Ballet's Nutcracker runs Dec. 4-23 at the Belk Theater with 19 shows and the symphony live. Times, $10 parking, VIP add-on and the youth ballet show.
Events
Davidson stages Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín Nov. 19
Davidson College choirs and orchestra perform Defiant Requiem, the story of Verdi's Requiem sung by Terezín prisoners, Nov. 19. Tickets $9-14, students free.
Christmas
Speedway Christmas 2026: Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, 6 to 10 p.m.
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway runs nightly Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, 6 to 10 p.m., closed Dec. 24. Passes, Express Lane, Christmas Village, tubing.
Veterans Day
Charlotte Veterans Day parade Nov. 7: route, time, festival
Charlotte's Salute to Veterans Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, on Tryon Street, with a free festival at Romare Bearden Park until 3 p.m.
ACC Championship
ACC Championship Game in Charlotte Dec. 5: noon kickoff
The 2026 ACC Football Championship Game kicks off at noon Saturday, Dec. 5, at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte on ABC. Teams, tickets, getting there.
Arts
Arts and exhibitions in Charlotte: November 2026
Arts in Charlotte through Dec. 13: Joshua Bell Nov. 7, Bach 360 Nov. 13-14, Judith Leiber handbags at the Mint, the Grinch, Messiah and the Nutcracker.
Things to do
Things to do in Charlotte this weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1
Halloween weekend in Charlotte: the free Safe Trick or Treat Zone at Revolution Park, the ImaginOn Teen Loft Halloween Bash and the last pumpkin patch days.
Events
Free Thanksgiving outreach for girls in Gastonia Nov. 21
Becoming Her Initiative hosts The Hope Table in Gastonia Nov. 21: free beauty bar, glam bags, winter coats and a contest for girls 12 to 22. Turkeys are full.
Events
MLK Parade sign-ups, award nominations close Dec. 12
Groups can register for Charlotte's Jan. 16 MLK Parade and nominate people for 3 MLK awards until Saturday, Dec. 12. The 2027 theme is about faith and hope.