Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | July 15-21
Friday
Check out live music and visual art at Doomsday & Night at Goodyear Arts, a month-long exhibition inspired by comic book culture, life during the pandemic and obsession-worthy subjects. The event will feature the work of more than 60 visual and performing artists. Free. 6-9 p.m. Goodyear Arts, 301 Camp Road, #200. https://bit.ly/3AEy8KF
Saturday
Join Skiptown for a celebration of all things watermelon, including cocktails, snacks, watermelon races for dogs, a Carolina PAWS adoption event and more at Watermelon Fest. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets included in Skiptown admission fee (membership levels vary). Check-in through the Skiptown app. https://bit.ly/3nvRIRy
Venture to Belmont or Concord and stop by Tastebuds Popcorn, where you can choose from more than 200 flavors — including Butterbeer, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Mango — to elevate your snack game. 208 N. Main St., Belmont or 3805 Concord Pkwy South, #132, Concord. https://bit.ly/3Iuvn0C
Sunday
Experience the first Fillmore Funday, a pet-friendly party featuring a local vendor market, food trucks, live screen printing, performances from local musicians, photo booths, space for the kids to play and more, happening indoors and outdoors at The Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte Metro Credit Union, as well as in the parking lots and surrounding areas. $5, or free with online RSVP. 1-6 p.m. 820 Hamilton St. https://bit.ly/3unN10f
Monday
Grab a meal at Green’s Lunch, an Uptown institution for nearly 100 years. Hot dogs are the staple food there, which you can get slathered with its secret recipe chili. 309 W. 4th St. https://bit.ly/3uGICpd
Decompress with rooftop yoga hosted by Dancing Lotus Yoga + Arts at the AC Hotel’s Cordial Cocktail Bar in SouthPark. Free parking is available in the hotel parking lot and two-story parking deck. $10. Register online. 6:30-7:30 p.m. 1824 Roxborough Road. https://bit.ly/3RmsUt8
Tuesday
Keep the kids entertained and your wallet happy with discounted tickets to see “Penguins of Madagascar” on the silver screen. 10 a.m. Tickets: $1.50 per child; $2 per adult. Cinergy Dine-In Cinema, 5336 Docia Crossing. https://bit.ly/3AEUyvh
Wednesday
Catch a live rock show featuring local rock band Petrov, along with Dikembe, an emo punk rock band from Gainsville, Florida; and Zeta, an avant experimental punk rock group hailing from Venezuela. $13. Purchase tickets online. Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. https://bit.ly/3yt8mGE
Thursday
Watch song and dance numbers from “DreamGirls,” “For Colored Girls,” “The Color Purple,” and more at Centerstage, part of Charlotte Black Pride Week. Doors open at 6; show lasts from 7:30-10 p.m. $25 tickets; purchase online. Midwood International and Cultural Center, 1817 Central Ave. https://bit.ly/3Pip1E6
Break a sweat in a heart-pumping HIIT class, then cool off post-workout with complimentary adult popsicles and mingle with your new workout buddies. 6:40 p.m. $29 per class. Register online. Barry’s Charlotte, 2140 South Blvd. Suite 2. https://bit.ly/3yWSY74
Mark your calendar
Dance the night away at FabFest, Charlotte’s annual Beatles Festival featuring special guest Micky Dolenz of The Monkees. This year’s festival will provide plenty of fun for Beatles fans of all ages, including live performances from the Emmy Award-winning and The Fab Four, a Tosco Music Beatles tribute and a daytime party with a Beatles art contest, Beatles trivia, family games, crafts, live music, food trucks, a Beatles music open mic and more. CPCC’s Parr Center. July 22-23. Tickets start at $21.50 for adults, $10.74 for kids ages 5-17 and free for kids under 5. Purchase online. https://bit.ly/3Is2KRs
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
Celebrate the versatility of the tomato plant at the fifth annual Homegrown Tomato Festival benefiting 100 Gardens, a local nonprofit that educates and implements aquaponics farming in schools, institutions and communities of need. During the event, you’ll have the chance to vote for the best “garden-inspired” cocktail crafted by local mixologists, sample tomato-focused dishes from area restaurants, shop for locally-sourced produce and other goods from local vendors, enjoy live music and more. General admission tickets include event access, a complimentary tomato sandwich and tomato samples from local growers. VIP tickets include everything in the GA ticket plus culinary samples and mixologist tastings. July 23. Noon-4 p.m. General Admission: $25; VIP: $45. CPCC Central Campus Worrell Building, 1228 Elizabeth Ave. https://bit.ly/3P86bPAGrab 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 13, 2022 at 9:00 AM.