Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | June 10-16
Friday
Celebrate Pride Month at Drag Me To Dinner, Rock Hill’s only drag dinner, hosted on the second Friday of each month. During Pride Month, a portion of its June show proceeds will be donated to Rock Hill Pride. Ticket includes admission and dinner catered by Kre8 Xperiences and Kounter of Rock Hill. 8-11 p.m. Tickets: $25. Purchase online. The Hide-A-Way, 405 E. Baskins Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29730. https://bit.ly/394d7xW
Catch The Charlotte Symphony’s annual performance in Matthews. Bring your own blankets or chairs and enjoy a Boba Tea bar, craft beers from Seaboard Brewing and treats from Sweet & Cozy Bakery. 7-10 p.m. Prelude performance at 7:15 p.m. Symphony performance at 8:30 p.m. Free. Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105. https://bit.ly/3NY3OOQ
Saturday
Cheer on the home team, Charlotte FC, as the team plays the New York Red Bulls. 3 p.m. Tickets: start at $31. Purchase online. Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St., Charlotte, NC 28202. https://bit.ly/3zkJvH3
Experience local cuisine from Black-owned restaurants and culinary artists at the EatBlkCharlotte Food & Culture Festival. The family-friendly event will feature food trucks, vendors, live music and more, and is a part of Eat Black Charlotte Week, a week of pre-fixe lunch and dinner menus from Charlotte area Black-owned restaurants, available until Sunday, June 12. 12-4 p.m. Free. Purchase online. 835 Gesco St. Charlotte, NC 28208. https://bit.ly/3zlCeGW
Get your dance on while raising awareness and funds for a great cause at beloved radio host from Matt & Ramona Show on MIX 107.9 FM, Ramona Holloway’s #ENDALZ Family Dance Party. The event will include DJ Arroe Collins from LA Productions, games, food and a dance contest with a $500 top prize. Tickets: $10. Purchase online. Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211. https://bit.ly/3Q38vZp
Enjoy an action-packed day at the lake at the Smithfield® Hot Grill Summer Cookout and Movie event. The brand is teaming up with local chefs and owners of What The Fries, Gregory Williams and Jamie Barnes, to create original dishes made from Smithfield® products including Smithfield Gold Finger Spareribs, Smithfield Spicy Strawberry Vinegar Pulled Pork BBQ Fries, and more. Once the sun sets, head to nearby Martin Luther King Jr. Park Amphitheater for an outdoor screening of classic film, The Goonies from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and enjoy outdoor games as well as a range of complimentary snacking options will be offered during the movie, including Smithfield Maple Thick Cut Bacon-sprinkled popcorn and candied bacon. Cookout: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Movie Screening: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Free. Lake Norman State Park Picnic Grounds, 759 State Park Rd. Troutman, NC 28166. Martin Luther King Jr. Amphitheater, 911 Lakewood Dr., Statesville, NC 28677 https://bit.ly/3mn1apN
Go on a four-mile run/walk around town to celebrate Pride Month with the free Truist Training Tour Pride Run. The event is hosted by Around the Crown 10K, sponsored by Truist, in partnership with two of the Carolinas’ largest LGBTQ+ sports organizations for running and amateur spots, Stonewall Sports and Front Runners. Enjoy giveaways from Brooks, Truist, coffee, food, and a rainbow mimosa bar. Free with registration. 9 a.m. Common Market, South End, 235 W. Tremont Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203. https://bit.ly/3xjtJth
Sunday
Enjoy live swing tunes from the big band era at the 2022 opening of The Charlotte Symphony’s Summer Pops Series. Free. 8:15-9:30 p.m. Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211. https://bit.ly/3MhSM5L
Fill your calendar with the Charlotte area’s upcoming summer festivals. From food trucks, to live music, to lavender fields and more, there’s a slew of festivals coming up in the next few months with something for everyone. https://bit.ly/3MCfyFF
Monday
Take your kids of all ages to Cotton Bean Goat Farm for a cuddle session with baby goats. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Tickets: $18. Purchase online. 29631 Herrin Grove Rd. Mount Pleasant, NC 28124. https://bit.ly/3mhjPnd
Skip the cooking and cleanup and enjoy affordable homestyle cuisine including chicken and dumplings, veal parmesan, manicotti and more at Charlotte’s Classic Eats favorite Tatsis Restaurant, a family-owned eatery that has been serving Charlotteans for more than 60 years. Tatsis Restaurant, 2328 N. Graham St., Charlotte, NC 28206. https://bit.ly/3GWOn7f
Tuesday
Get crafty with the whole family at a Creative Clay Workshop hosted in partnership with Clayworks and the ASCs Culture Blocks Program. Learn how to craft your own work of clay art from a teaching artist from Clayworks Projects will be taken to Clayworks to be fired and glazed before being returned for pickup at Waymer Recreation. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. David B. Waymer Recreation Center, 14008 Holbrooks Rd. Huntersville, NC 28078. https://bit.ly/3th6mPY
Wednesday
Enjoy an intimate performance of Queen’s legendary tunes in a candlelit setting while enjoying beverages available for purchase from Triple C Brewing Company. 7-8 p.m. $40. Purchase online. The Barrel Room, 2832 Griffith St., Charlotte, NC 28203. https://bit.ly/3zkXqwN
Check out our review of the winner of our Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Donuts, Yummm Donuts. Afterward, you’ll definitely want to pay them a visit to try one of its winning cake or yeast donuts available in flavors such as Oreo, Fruity Pebbles and more. 2516 E. Franklin Blvd. Ste. 9, Gastonia, NC 28056. https://bit.ly/3xh7DrH
Thursday
Test your knowledge of the beloved TV show from the early aughts, The Office, at Tipsy Taco’s themed trivia night hosted by Carolina DJs. The event includes $5 margaritas and frozen drinks, $2 draft Mexican beer and three rounds of trivia with prizes such as a Tipsy Taco swag bag ($50 value) for three first-place winners and gift cards for three second-place winners. Free. 6-8 p.m. Tipsy Taco, 7708 Rea Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277. https://bit.ly/3tgE9bW
Solidify your summer travel plans by checking out our readers’ picks for the best beaches in the Carolinas. https://bit.ly/3mvlYvj
Mark your calendar
Map out your selections for Untappd. The June 18 festival features unlimited beer samples from more than 300 choices provided by 100 of the social networking platform’s highest-rated breweries — including some of your local favorites. Live music and souvenir cups are included. Session one VIP entry starts at 11 a.m., with doors open for general admission at noon and closing at 3:30 p.m. Session two VIP entry starts at 5:30 p.m., with general admission starting at 6:30 p.m., and wrapping up for the night at 10 p.m. General admission is $60, while VIP entry is $150. American Legion Memorial Stadium, 1218-1238 Armory Drive. https://bit.ly/354E16K
Tickets are on sale now for the inaugural Queen City Jam Sessions, a multi-day music festival from Aug. 19-21, presented by MaxxMusic and NoDa Brewing Company. See Greensky Bluegrass, Oteil and Friends, and Infamous Stringdusters and more at NoDa Brewing. A general admission three-day pass is $189. VIP passes are $299 and include express entrance, premier seating, two beers per day and private bar access. Admission is free for children under 7. Purchase tickets online. NoDa Brewing Company, 2921 N. Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3ENznYk
This story was originally published June 8, 2022 at 9:00 AM.