Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | July 8-14
.jpg "Experience a technicolor explosion of dancing, acrobatics, international cuisine and more at the final weekend of Grand Carnival Carowinds.")
Friday
Check out the last weekend of the Grand Carnivale Carowinds, an international festival with live music, specialty cuisine from countries all over the world, crafts and more. Conclude the night at the Spectacle of Color Parade, a multi-sensory experience featuring high-energy live music, acrobatics, street performers and technicolor floats, ending with a dance party hosted by King Carl Nivale, Queen Cara Nivale and their royal court. July 8-10 from 5-10 p.m. Tickets: $69.99 per person, including admission, parking and three Grand Carnival food sample tastings of your choice. Purchase tickets online. 300 Carowinds Blvd. https://bit.ly/3IlfIAz
Saturday
Celebrate Wooden Robot’s 7th anniversary with special takeovers from national breweries pouring their craft beers not typically served in Charlotte, a live mural painting, local vendors, food trucks and more. Noon-11:45 p.m. Free. Register online. The Chamber by Wooden Robot, 416 E. 36th St., #100. https://bit.ly/3Ibqdq2
Get festive with the Charlotte FC at “Bash at the Bank” before the club takes on Nashville SC. Activities will include a kid zone with an inflatable slide and a mini soccer pitch, a fire truck with foam, live mural paintings, food trucks, merch trailers, DJ sets and more. Free, but match tickets sold separately. 4-7 p.m. 800 S. Mint St. https://bit.ly/3aufU3Q
Sunday
Get your car washed for a cause, pick up a few records at the Re-Spin pop-up shop and maybe even find your new best friend at Fighting Chance & Rescue’s pet adoption event, all happening at Devil’s Logic Brewing. Free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 1426 E. 4th St. https://bit.ly/3OJii5Q
Binge watch the latest “Stranger Things,” then check out this guide to celebrating the cultural phenomenon the Netflix series has become n Charlotte. Get waffles. Skate. Live the ‘80s. https://bit.ly/3nKvKue
Monday
Groove along with Cost N’ Mayor, a viral dance duo who found fame on TikTok and Instagram after quarantining together in North Carolina and ended up married. The pair — now Marideth and Austin Telenko — recently reached 1 million followers on Instagram. https://bit.ly/3nKtPpx
Tuesday
Enjoy a show from some of Charlotte’s most talented Drag Kings at Kings on Tap, Hattie’s monthly drag show. Doors: 8 p.m. Show: 9 p.m. Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, 2918 The Plaza. https://bit.ly/3IfUvrN
Wednesday
View the newest exhibit titled “Here and Where” at Bliss Gallery, an art gallery owned and operated by Holy Angels, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities and employment for children and adults with disabilities. “Here and Where” features works from Holy Angels resident artists and will run from now until Aug. 20. Noon-3 p.m. Free. 25 N. Main St., Belmont. https://bit.ly/3OTCBgC
Visit Mint Museum Randolph for Wild Wednesday, where you’ll have the chance to participate in nature-themed art projects, go on a self-led tour of the museum and even meet an animal visitor on the lawn from Stevens Creek Nature Center. Free. 5-9 p.m. https://bit.ly/3yEkAO4
Thursday
Catch an outdoor screening of “Dirty Dancing” while enjoying local and regional craft brews, as well as flatbread pizzas, charcuterie and more at Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop’s 6th annual movie series, happening every Thursday night through Oct. 20. Free. 8 p.m. 1320 S. Church St. https://bit.ly/3yglGOx
Mark your calendar
Experience the first Fillmore Funday, a pet-friendly event on Sunday, July 17 for all ages featuring a local vendor market, food trucks, live screen printing, performances from local musicians, drink specials, photo booths, games and more. $5. Purchase tickets online. 1-6 p.m. The Fillmore Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St. https://bit.ly/3unN10f
Plan out your Queen’s Feast: Restaurant Week dinners. From July 22-July 31, you can get a prix fixe meal between $30 and $45 at one of 80 participating restaurants in the Charlotte area. New to the promotion this year are Drift along Lake Wylie, PARA in South End, Juniper Grill in Ballantyne and more. https://bit.ly/3AtSwOE
Grab your tickets now for Tacos ‘N Taps Festival. Get ready to taste over 60 craft beers, mezcals, margaritas and tequilas, sample over 30 different types of tacos, dance to mariachi bands, and, if you’re feeling brave, participate in hot pepper eating contests. Aug. 20. Noon-5 p.m. VIP: $75; general admission: $39; taco-only ticket: $30. Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N. Community House Road. https://bit.ly/3MYUYPS
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
Get ready to fill up your coffee cup at Charlotte’s first and only craft coffee festival, No Filter Coffee Fest, returning Sept. 25 after a two-year hiatus. Formerly known as the POUR Coffee Festival, the day-long tasting event will feature over three dozen Southeastern coffee roasters, tea purveyors, local food artisans, live music and more. Tickets on sale now. $25. Purchase online. Camp North End, 300 Camp Road. https://bit.ly/3xAZnmt
This story was originally published July 6, 2022 at 1:27 PM.