Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | Feb. 21-27

Friday

Explore international art at the opening Intimismos: Franco Fasoli & Octavio Garabello. In this exhibition, Barcelona-based artist Franco Fasoli and Berlin-based artist Octavio Garabello explore intimacy and relationships with friends, lovers, technology and social media. 6 p.m. 1429 Bryant St. Free admission.

Learn about Charlotte’s spooky past at the Haunted History Tour at Historic Rosemont Plantation. Listen to stories about the spirits that inhabit the plantation and other eerie tales while you tour the grounds at night. 6:30 p.m. 3417 N. Tryon St. $20.

Take an international wine tour at the Angeline’s Pinots of the World Wine Dinner. Taste five different wines made with Pinot grapes paired with five courses prepared by Executive Chef Robert Hoffman. 7-10 p.m. 303 S. Church St. $150.

Saturday

Join Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts as the brewery celebrates its one year anniversary, or “the Big One,” with bottle and can releases, guest taps and food trucks on site all day. 9 a.m.-11 p.m. 1030 Woodward Ave. Free admission.

Come to raise awareness for rare diseases but stick around for the fun at the Second Annual World Rare Disease Day Rally of Charlotte. Start the morning with a short walk, then enjoy special speakers, music, face painting and a food truck with donuts and coffee. 9:30-11:30 a.m. 3115 Providence Road. Free admission.

Check out the new bike lanes on The Plaza at the Mardi Gras Bike Parade. Arrive early to see a special ribbon cutting ceremony and bike ride, then enjoy food, activities and a live Mardi Gras band. 11 a.m. 1900 The Plaza. Free admission.

Sunday

Anyone with a sweet tooth shouldn’t miss the CLT Donut Festival. Admission includes 10 doughnut sample tickets, each good for a quarter of a doughnut, 6 5 oz. drink sample tickets to use for coffee, juice or smoothies, and 2 doughnut voting tokens to help determine which are the best in Charlotte. Alcohol is available for purchase. 2905 Griffith St. $25.

Sample bites from emerging culinary talent at Soul Food Sessions presents “Young Guns.” This dinner features eight courses and three cocktails from up and coming Charlotte area chefs. 6:30 p.m. 224 E. 7th St. $75.

Start your Fat Tuesday celebrations early at Fat Sunday at Brewers at 4001 Yancey. Enjoy a crawfish boil, king cake cupcakes, all day Hurricane specials, all day beer specials, live music from a jazz band, masks and lots of Mardi Gras beads. 1-4 p.m. 4001 Yancey Rd. $15 for a pound of crawfish boil and a cupcake.

Monday

Shake off the winter doldrums with a Midwinter Beer Dinner at 44 Mills Kitchen & Tap. Enjoy a five-course meal, each course paired with a Southern Strain Brewing Company beer. 7 p.m. 6189 Bayfield Pkwy., Concord. $85.

Tuesday

Spend your Mardi Gras dinner at the Gumbo Contest at Seventh Street Market. Enjoy free tastings from local restaurants and vendors and cast your vote for the best gumbo. Once you’ve found your favorite, you can get a to-go bowl for $8. 5-8 p.m. 224 E. 7th St. Free admission.

Wednesday

Hear a live recording of LiteratureLIVE with Charlotte Reader’s Podcast while you enjoy a three-course meal at POPLAR, the former home of Poplar Street Books. The guest speaker for the podcast is Tom Hanchett, who will read from and discuss his book “Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class and Urban Development in Charlotte 1875-1975.” 6:30 p.m. 224 W. 10th St. $55.

Thursday

Take a Big Fat Tour of Sake. Enjoy five sake samples paired with sushi, popcorn and salty cheese as a sommelier guides you through the tastings. 6-8 p.m. 224 E. 7th St. $35.

Hear Grammy award winners Old Crow Medicine Show, known for its hit single “Wagon Wheel,” live at Knight Theatre. 7:30 p.m. 130 S. Tryon St. $37.50.

This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 5:30 AM.