Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | Aug. 26-Sept. 1
Friday
Catch the opening night of Not In Repose: A Reckoning. A Moment. A Fury, a new exhibition at Goodyear Arts. The exhibit highlights art as activism in response to decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court, including interdisciplinary works reflecting on reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights, civil unrest, immigration, indigenous genocide, gun control and climate justice. The opening event will feature beer from woman-owned brewery Resident Culture, live music from Kadey Ballard, the work of more than 20 visual artists and poetry readings by Erin Rose Coffin and Kurma Murrain. 6-9 p.m. Free. 301 Camp Road #200. https://bit.ly/3K73gp7
Get excited about fall with an apple picking trip to one of Charlotte’s nearby farms. Find opening dates, available apple varieties, pricing information and everything else you might need to know with this CharlotteFive guide. Multiple locations. https://bit.ly/3wks1Zc
Saturday
Experience the diversity of Indian dance, food, art and music at the 26th Annual Festival of India. The festival also includes fun for all ages including a yoga demo, henna tattoos, dancing on the street to live pulsating music and so much more. Noon-8 p.m. Purchase tickets online: $7; $6 at the gate; free for kids under $10. Parking is an additional $5. Belk Theater, 130 North Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3Kc3dYQ
Meet adoptable pets while enjoying limited-release dog-themed beers and live music at The LoSo Pup Crawl, presented by the Charlotte Beer Collective and benefiting Friends of CMAS/CMPD Animal Care & Control. In addition to enjoying professional pet photography, a dog plunge pool and an obstacle course, your pup will have a chance to participate in competitions to win prizes for the best-dressed dog, best dog trick and more. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $35. Purchase tickets online. Protagonist LoSo, 227 Southside Drive. https://bit.ly/3JRKnGB
Learn about Charlotte’s most iconic signs with photographer Christopher Lawing inside his exhibit, “Charlotte: Signs of Home” at The Charlotte Museum of History. You’ll learn about the Queen City’s past and present, and can purchase a signed copy of his book, “Charlotte: The Signs of the Times.” 2:30 p.m. Free with museum admission of $10 for adults; $7 for ages 62+, children 6-17 and students with ID; and free to children under 5, museum members and active-duty military personnel and their families until Labor Day. The Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive. https://bit.ly/3bSG41
Sunday
Grab gelato at Artisen Gelato, the winner of our Reader’s Choice Award for Best Ice Cream in the Charlotte area. The shop offers nut-free, soy-free and dairy-free options, with classic flavors like Rum and Raisin, Brownie and Cookie Dough paired alongside seasonal favorites such as Passion Cheesecake and S’mores. 301 W. John St. https://bit.ly/3QDwj5T
Venture out for brunch at The Neighborhood Cafe, then take a guided tour of The Hugh Torance House and Store, Mecklenburg County’s only surviving 18th-century structure and oldest store. Tours: 1:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. Free. RSVP online. 8231 Gilead Road, Huntersville. https://bit.ly/3QDSmcP\
Monday
Take the mic or just sit back and enjoy live music from local artists along with rock ‘n roll duo Jamie and the Guarded Heart at “Find Your Muse Open MIC.” 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $5 + fees. Purchase online. The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. https://bit.ly/3T7spnG
Tuesday
Delve into art history — without stress or homework — with the Mint Museum Uptown’s new art history survey course. Classes take place every Tuesday evening until Nov. 15, along with one Super Saturday class on Oct. 1. If you can’t attend every session live, password-protected recordings will be available. Each week, the evening kicks off with social time and a cash bar from 5:30-6 followed by class from 6-7:30 p.m. $350 for members; $500 for non-members. Register online. 500 S. Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3PCrDMn
Wednesday
Join Charlotte Poet Laureate Jay Ward, Ohavia Phillips, Councilman Braxton Winston, educator and Executive Director of Be More Foundation De’Les Green-Morris and activist and community leader Kass Ottley for “Black August — Commemorating the Black Liberation Movement.” Each year, Black August remembers those who lost their freedom in efforts against racial oppression. This event will include a panel discussion about how to create and support a successful movement, along with the reading of an exclusive piece Ward wrote for Black August that explores the tenacity and passion it takes to fight for a cause. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Register online. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 S. Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3wnlk8D
Thursday
Remember how glad you are to no longer be in high school while drinking beer legally at an outdoor screening of “Mean Girls,” an iconic teen comedy from the early aughts. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop, 1320 S. Church St. https://bit.ly/3yglGOx
Mark your calendar
Head to Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 10 for the 21+ launch party of Modelo Salud, Modelo’s new series of live 3D art installations launching across the Southeast, created in partnership with artist Shawn McCann. Once the live painting onsite — which will include a DJ spinning tunes — is completed, it will be up for a week for the public to check out. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.
Charlotte International Arts Festival, Blumenthal Performing Arts’ new festival, kicks off this fall from Sept. 16-Oct. 2. The festival will be a celebration of imaginative visual and performing arts from international and local artists, offering something for everyone with over 200 ticketed and free events at various locations around the city. Purchase tickets online. https://bit.ly/3p7bjZ7
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
Secure tickets for the Farm to Fork Picnic in the Garden on Sept. 25 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. The event pairs more than 30 local chefs and food producers to celebrate locally sourced foods and drinks with live music and samples. Proceeds will support agriculture and food system training programs at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and farmer grants at Piedmont Culinary Guild. 4-7 p.m. Tickets are $110 or $50 for children 6-12. 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont. https://bit.ly/3PCXUnz
The Carolina Renaissance Festival is back with several changes this year. Be sure to grab your tickets on the festival website this year, as they are date specific and limited in supply. Tickets will be available at the box office day of only if they are not sold out in advance. Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Oct. 1-Nov. 20. $32 for adults; $20 for kids (5-12); free for kids 4 and under. Purchase tickets online. 16445 Poplar Tent Road. https://bit.ly/3PaLrpZ
This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 9:30 AM.