Celebrate the sandwich at this deliciously unique Charlotte festival
You can get the whole world in your hands Saturday as the second annual International Sandwich Festival returns to Aldersgate and its vast, park-like campus in east Charlotte.
The free-to-attend festival features sandwiches from around the world (for purchase), family-friendly entertainment and, best of all, a great way to meet and share fellowship with your neighbors – all while enjoying the grounds of this 230-acre non-profit continuing care retirement community.
Breaking bread is at the core of this spring fest and there will be ample opportunity to experience creative, global interpretations on the sandwich. Scheduled sandwich/food purveyors include: Yummi Bahn Mi, A Piece of Havana, Hiya Food Truck, The MayoBird, and Los Mariachis. Pair your sammies with locally-brewed goodness from Birdsong Brewing Co.
Music, dance and theatrical performance art are front-and-center on the UNC Charlotte Max stage, highlighted Trikster — a circus-inspired acrobatics performance. The kiddos will enjoy face painters, a bounce house and a make-your-own sandwich station with ingredients like peanut butter, marshmallow fluff and chocolate chips.
The festival is part of an ongoing by Aldersgate to support and reach out to its east Charlotte neighborhood. Aldersgate was initially founded nearly 70 years ago as The Methodist Home, a retirement center for Methodist ministers. Today it hosts 500 residents and provides care and service to another 600 seniors annually. They are one of east Charlotte’s largest employers with 450 associates on staff.
“We set off on a (strategic planning) journey more than four years ago and redoubled our commitment to visibly connecting with our east Charlotte neighborhood in a way that is inviting and inclusive,” Aldersgate CEO Suzanne Hodge Pugh said. “Last year we hosted more than 2,000 people at the inaugural festival and we expect at least that many this year. We want to be good neighbors and this is one more way to be involved.”
Pugh noted Aldersgate residents enjoy the activities just as much as the guests. “It’s really great fun for all of us and this year we’ll have our residents not only attending but helping the kids at the sandwich making station.”
Aldersgate will also have a job/information table set up at the festival and is looking to fill many open positions. They are heavily recruiting for the anticipated opening of their healthcare center in July and have openings for RN Supervisors, Staff RNs, LPN Charge Nurses, Staff LPNs, and CNAs on all shifts.
Want to go?
International Sandwich Festival:
– 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 29.
– Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive.
– Free admission and parking. Sandwiches, food and beverages available for purchase.
Scheduled performances:
– 11-11:30 a.m.: Ballet folklorico of Julio Ruiz.
Photos: Aldersgate and UNC Charlotte
This story was originally published April 23, 2017 at 9:45 PM with the headline "Celebrate the sandwich at this deliciously unique Charlotte festival."