Top 10 things you MUST do in September

Whether you’re sad to see summer go or you’re thrilled for fall to finally arrive, here’s how to make the most of your September here in the Queen City.

(1) 41st Annual Yiasou Greek Festival 2018.

Thursday, September 6 – Sunday, September 9. $3. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Blvd. 

Since 1978, the Yiasou Greek Festival has been a staple event in the Charlotte community. Stop by sometime throughout the festival’s duration to stuff your faces with drool-worthy authentic Greek cuisine and homemade pastries, check out Hellenic cultural exhibits, enjoy live music and dancing, shop for Greek souvenirs, partake in wine tastings and more. Tickets are $3 in advance or at the door (but at the door, they’re cash only). More details here!

(2) Girl Tribe Pop-Up.

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Friday, September 7 – Saturday, September 8. Free general admission. Brewers at 4001 Yancey, 4001 Yancey Rd. 

Make your way to Brewers at 4001 Yancey in LoSo for the ultimate girls’ weekend with Girl Tribe Pop-Up. Shop local boutiques, artists, jewelry makers and more while enjoying local brews and coffee, pastries, snacks and more.

General admission is Saturday from 12 – 5 p.m. and is free — or you could opt to pay $10 to get in for the VIP hours on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. to get a reusable Girl Tribe bag, a #GirlTribePopUp bracelet and great discounts and specials. For an even more exclusive experience, you can pay $35 to be a part of “Preview Night” on Friday from 6 – 10 p.m. to get a drink, awesome swag, killer discounts and all the shopping you want without the crowds. Get more information (and your tickets) here.

(3) Savor 7th.

Saturday, September 8. 7 – 9 p.m. $35. 7th Street Public Market, 224 E. 7th St. 

Sample all the seasonal flavors you’ve been craving AND help support the 7th Street Public Market at this special event. Enjoy an evening of delicious bites and drinks, along with live entertainment. A $35 ticket gets you samples from all vendors and two drink tickets — plus, a $5 voucher for a future visit to the 7th Street Public Market as part of their new “Friends of the Market” program. Find out more here.

(4) The Great Pumpkin Fest at Carowinds.

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Saturday, September 15 through Sunday, October 28. Ticket prices vary. Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. 

Kick off the fall season with family-friendly fun with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang at “The Great Pumpkin Fest” at Carowinds. On Saturdays and Sundays September 15 through October 28, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., you can check out a costume parade, a hay bale maze, a tractor tour and more — in addition to hopping on all of your favorite rides in Camp Snoopy and throughout the whole park. Find out more here.

(Looking for something a little spookier for the adults? SCarowinds is back starting Friday, September 14. Get your tickets here.)

(5) 8th Annual Stiletto Sprint.

Saturday, September 22. 8 a.m. SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd. 

Slip on those high heels and run for a good cause at the 8th Annual Stiletto Sprint, benefiting the Carolinas Ovarian Cancer Fund. Whether you choose to register as a competitive sprinter (requiring heels at least 2.5 inches high with a tapered heel — no wedges!) or a non-competitive sprinter (allowing you to wear whatever shoes you’d prefer), you’ll be supporting Levine Cancer Institute’s research to advance the treatment and early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Learn more (and register) here.

(6) The Inaugural Flow Fest at the USNWC.

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Saturday, September 22. 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Free admission, activity costs vary. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. 

The USNWC will host its first-ever Flow Fest on September 22, offering up a full day of yoga and meditation as well as wine and kombucha. The festival is open to the public and doesn’t require a ticket, and several of the workshops and classes are free to participate in — but some, like the Wild Vine Half Marathon & 5K Trail Race, require paid registration. Whichever of the weekend’s dozens of activities you choose to participate in, you can add in a wine sampling for $10 to taste a selection of 20 different wines between 3 – 7 p.m. Find out more about the weekend here.

(7) 8th Annual Beers and Burpees Charity Event.

Saturday, September 22. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Registration price varies by team type. CrossFit Charlotte, 9535 Monroe Rd. #100. 

More than 25 local gyms and 1,000+ people will come together for this annual event to work out, drink beer, and raise money (the goal is $100,000!) for the Dream On 3 charity organization. Participate in one of the heats every 40 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., then swing by the NoDa Brewing Beer Garden for a pint and to enjoy live music, grab some food truck fare and more. More information here.

(8) Carolina Jubilee 2018.

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Friday, September 28 – Saturday, September 29. Ticket prices vary. Van Hoy Farms, 742 Jericho Rd. Harmony, NC. 

Mark your calendars for the fourth annual Carolina Jubilee, a two-day music and food festival with a mission to raise funds to protect farm land and encourage the ecosystem of sustainable farming in the Carolinas. From funk to folk and beyond, you’ll hear a little bit of everything while enjoying chef-inspired food along with local brews and spirits. Learn more here.

(9) 19th Charlotte Oktoberfest.

Saturday, September 29. 12 – 5 p.m. $42. Bojangle’s Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 

For almost 20 years, the Charlotte Oktoberfest has been bringing Charlotteans together in celebration of local craft beer. This year, the festival will move indoors to Bojangle’s Coliseum, where more than 5,000 local and regional craft beer lovers will gather to enjoy year-round and specialty beers from dozens of breweries, in addition to shopping local vendors, enjoying delicious food, and participating in on-site activities and events throughout the festival. Find out more here.

(10) Opening Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival.

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Saturday, September 29 – Sunday, September 30. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. $24. Carolina Renaissance Festival, 16445 Poplar Tent Rd. 

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is back and better than ever for its 25th season, and they’re kicking things off with ‘buy one, get one free’ tickets for opening weekend September 29 – 30. Enjoy live entertainment, shop the artisan marketplace and join in on the fun with on-site games and rides —  and don’t forget to try out the local feasting options. Find out more here.

Featured Image: Charlotte Observer archives.

This story was originally published August 30, 2018 at 9:30 PM.