Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | Sept. 2-8

Friday

Head to Stumptown Park in downtown Matthews for the Matthews Alive Festival, running through Monday. The annual festival will feature live music, rides, games, arts and crafts market, food and drink vendors and a Labor Day parade. Free entry. 6-10 p.m. Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St. https://bit.ly/3CE79jC

Saturday

Enjoy the long Labor Day weekend at the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s Labor Day Celebration. The two-day festival will feature live music, free yoga and trail races. Free entry. Parking: $6. Trail races and pass activities are an extra charge. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway. https://bit.ly/3ArPjxC

Browse running gear from brands including Brooks Running, Recover Brands and Feetures, check out nonprofits and sports medicine and fitness programs at the Around the Crown 10K Expo. If you’re participating in the 10K, you can also pick up your race packet. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Camp North End, 1803 N. Graham St. https://aroundthecrown10k.com/participants/expo/

Watch the N.C. A&T Aggies go head-to-head with the NC Central Eagles for Duke’s Mayo Classic. Kick off your game day celebrations early at the free FanFest happening at Romare Bearden Park from noon-6:30 p.m., featuring live music, vendors, food trucks, tailgating and more. 7:30 p.m. Duke’s Mayo Classic game tickets: $47 and up. Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St. https://bit.ly/3RdXAfh

Celebrate the first annual National Cinema Day with $3 tickets for all showings and every movie playing. Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas, 5336 Docia Crossing Road. https://bit.ly/3cvPNL2

Sunday

Run along 1-277 with a few thousand athletes during the Around the Crown 10K race — or get inspired for next year. Registration has already closed, but runners and walker will take to the streets at 7:30 a.m., raising money for Partners for Parks. Truist Field, 395 S. Mint St. https://aroundthecrown10k.com/race/

Grab coffee and pastries with friends in NoDa while playing with adorable adoptable cats at Mac Tabby Cat Café. Walk-ins: $8 for 30 minutes. Advance reservations: $12 for 60 minutes. Book reservations online. 3204 N. Davidson St. https://bit.ly/3QZCr8N

Fill up on bratwurst and cold beers while enjoying live music and games at the two-day Best Wurst Fest. Free. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Road. https://bit.ly/3AQKjE2

Get crafty at the Uptown Farmers Market with Arts+, a local nonprofit dedicated to furthering arts education for over 50 years. On the first Saturday of each month, you can join Arts+ for a free crafting event. The activities, which change each month, are designed with younger children in mind, however, they’re always adaptable and accessible for all ages and skill levels. Free. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 300 S. Davidson St. https://bit.ly/3Tqw93J

Monday

Celebrate Labor Day in Uptown by honoring the accomplishments of organized labor in our country and community at the Charlotte Labor Day Parade. The annual parade will kick off at North Tryon Street and include local labor union flats, political candidates, bands, car clubs, community groups and more. Free. 11 a.m. North Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3cuJ8AO

Make your yard your canvas, or just admire the creativity of your neighbors and the local community at Yard Art Day 2022. Every year on Labor Day, Charlotte neighborhoods and businesses transform their outdoor spaces into works of art using sidewalk chalk, photography, dance, poetry and more to express themselves. Free. Various locations. https://bit.ly/3RfzIYv

Tuesday

Take the family out for dinner at Fenwick’s Restaurant, a Myers Park staple that has been serving Charlotte for nearly 40 years. Make sure to leave room for one of the restaurant’s housemade desserts, such as the bread pudding. 511 Providence Road. https://bit.ly/3PYaq0a

Catch the Broadway hit musical “Mean Girls” at Belk Theater, a take on the 2004 teen comedy written by Tina Fey. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25. Purchase tickets online. Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3wxEAR1

Wednesday

Join Beerly Funny host Lauren Ansley for a night of wine, Italian-inspired small plates and lots of laughs featuring comedians Andy Forrester and Jas Gill. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets: $25 online; $30 at the door. The Social Cork Wine Bar, 887 Gold Hill Road. https://bit.ly/3e6O5Qw

Thursday

Enjoy an interactive performance and lecture on the evolution of Irish and Scottish fiddle traditions in the Appalachian Mountains from violinist and North Carolina native Andrew Finn Magill. 6 p.m. Free, but space is limited. Register online. Birdsong Brewing Company, 1016 N. Davidson St. https://bit.ly/3R1iL4C

Mark your calendar

Head to Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 10 for the 21+ launch party of Modelo Salud, Modelo beer’s new series of live 3D art installations it’s 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

Celebrate with Sycamore Brewing from Sept. 30-Oct. 2 as the staff says goodbye to its 2161 Hawkins St. taproom and moves right next door to a new space at 2151 Hawkins St. The fun starts at noon on Sept. 30 and ends at 7 p.m. Oct. 4. https://bit.ly/3wG1PbD

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 31, 2022 at 9:30 AM.