Our top Charlotte activity picks in October
Here’s what’s going on this month in the Charlotte area(we’ll keep adding to the list!):
Top 10 things you MUST do in October
From Fall Fest to a pancakes and beer 5K.
The top family-friendly events happening in Charlotte in October
From the Great Pumpkin Fest to the Carolina Balloon Fest. #Partner.
Meet & Eat with the City of Charlotte
Enjoy a great meal, find out the skinny from city and county reps, learn something new about Charlotte and give your input to where our fair city is headed.
- October 11: Sugaw Creek Rec Center, 943 W. Sugar Creek Road, 28213 (Due to inclement weather, the Meet & Eat event that was scheduled for tonight at Sugaw Creek Rec Center has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 30. More details here.)
- October 18: Elon Rec Center, 11401 Ardrey Kell Road, 28277
- October 23: Charlotte Innovation Barn, 932 Seigle Avenue, 28205, (Park at 1105 Otts Street)
- October 25: Ivory Baker Rec Center, 1920 Stroud Park Court, 28206
Pick a date, RSVP and you’re there! All events are from 6-8 p.m. #Partner
Beauty in Paris – 11th Annual Boo-Tox Event
Get great deals on Botox®, fillers, CoolSculpting® and skin treatments performed by board-certified physicians from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, October 17 and Thursday, October 18. Learn about new products and services from vendors onsite, and enter to win designer handbags, gift certificates and more during the event. Bring a friend to receive additional discounts. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit The Purple Promise Foundation and The Sand Box. If you can’t make it to the event, you can prepay and receive the same discounts by calling 704-375-6766 between 10am – 7pm on October 17th and 18th to purchase any specials over the phone. You’ll have until March 2019 to redeem. Free admission. Prices for procedures vary. Botox® and Xeomin® will be $8.99 per unit during this special event, compared to the regular price of $14 per unit.
Graduate Open House: Looking into the Crystal Ball
Join Northeastern University Charlotte on Wednesday, Oct. 17 for an evening of cocktails and conversation to learn how technology is transforming employment opportunities in Charlotte and beyond. Find out more here. #Partner
Bark-Tober Fest
On Oct. 20, Blackfinn Ameripub and Vida Cantina are hosting Bark-Tober Fest with the Greater Charlotte SPCA. From 2-6 p.m., dogs and puppies in need of a home will be on Blackfinn Ameripub’s patio, ready for adoption. Then, bring your own furry friends dressed up for Halloween to Vida Cantina for a costume contest. Catawba Brewing Company’s seasonal Festbier will be served at Blackfinn Ameripub and Vida Cantina will serve up spooky drink specials. At both restaurants, $1 from each purchase will be donated to the Greater Charlotte SPCA. Blackfinn Ameripub and Vida Cantina, 210 E Trade St, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202.
Singles Serve – A Day in the Park
Join CLT ONE and Refugee Support Services of the Carolinas for a fun day in the park with the families RSS serves Oct. 20, noon-3 p.m. Enjoy food and fun! Sign up for a volunteer shift from 12-2, or 1-3. What is Singles Serve? This event is designed to give you the opportunity to meet singles in a non threatening, fun way and serve the community by working with a nonprofit. Veterans Park.
Straight from the Campaign Trail
Hear from Dr. Mirsad Hadžikadić on Monday, Oct. 22, for his up-close and personal account of the 2018 presidential elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the election results and his experiences as a candidate for the presidency. Hadžikadić is UNC Charlotte’s founding executive director of the Data Science Initiative and professor of software and information systems. The conversation will begin at 6:30 p.m. at UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th Street, Charlotte 28202. Register here.
Free Orin Swift Cellars Wine Tasting
Head to Reid’s SouthPark on Tuesday, Oct. 23, for in-store tastings of Orin Swift Cellars from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This event is free. 4331 Barclay Downs Drive, Charlotte, 28209.
Lights Camera Fashion
On Thursday, Oct. 25, the Junior League of Charlotte will be hosting its annual Lights Camera Fashion fundraiser at SouthPark Mall. For this ticketed event, the JLC will host a happy hour-style reception in the rotunda area between Burberry, Louis Vuitton, St. John and Tiffany & Co. followed by a fashion show later that evening highlighting looks from several different SouthPark stores. Additional SouthPark stores will be offering special in-store activations and/or discounts.
Break Into Tech.
Interested in learning about computer science, but you don’t have a technical background (and you’re on a budget)? Northeastern University Charlotte is offering a complimentary two-day workshop to teach you the basics of computer science, along with an introduction to programming in Python. The free workshops will take place on select Saturdays in October and November. Find out more here. #Partner
Trick or Treat Street
Grab your friends, family and neighbors for an afternoon of live music, shopping and Halloween fun Saturday, Oct. 27 from 2-4 p.m. Hosted in partnership with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, families can participate in free safety demonstrations, chat with on-site safety advocates and explore exhibitor and vendor tables. Bonus for the kids? Find candy at every table, while supplies last. While moms and dads enjoy live music, kids can bounce out their energy in the obstacle course and trick or treat their way through participating vendor booths. All children are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes, too! Take advantage of special offers from select Blakeney retailers and restaurants throughout the event. Blakeney Shopping Center, 9839 Rea Rd. Charlotte, NC 28277.
Queen City Tattoo & Arts Festival
The festival is coming to the Charlotte Convention Center Oct. 26-28 with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme. Come get a tattoo onsite from one of the hundreds of famous artists (some may require appointments), many of whom are in town from across the nation or world just for the festival, or observe the unmatched level of artistry and creativity of these 21st-century tattoo artists. A draw for all ages, the festival will also gather artists and entertainers so unique that you’ll probably never have seen anything like it all in one place: 3D chalk art, MUNNY painting, the Mad Hatter cartoon artist and more. Plus, you’ll be able to meet celebrities, including reality television stars and a UFC champion, and purchase items like clothing, body jewelry, original art and accessories from all types of vendors. Tickets are available here. The festival will be open Oct. 26: 2-11 p.m.; Oct. 27: Noon – 11 p.m.; Oct. 28: Noon – 8 p.m.
2nd Annual Pug-o-Ween
Ten percent of all bar sales at this event will be donated to the Mid Atlantic Pug Rescue. There will be a dog costume contest and bobbing for beers (for humans). Oct. 27, 4-9 p.m. at Lucky Dog Bark & Brew, 2220 Thrift Road. Adults 21+ only. All dogs must be up-to-date on shots, friendly and fixed (if over six months of age). See more pup-friendly fall events here.
Want to submit an October event?
Email ktoussaint@charlotteobserver.com with the subject line “October Calendar Event,” and include event name, date, time, location/address, blurb description, event website link.
This story was originally published October 7, 2018 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Our top Charlotte activity picks in October."