Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | Sept. 16-22
Friday
Check out the first night of Charlotte International Arts Festival, Blumenthal Performing Arts’ new 10-day arts festival, happening all over Charlotte from Sept. 16-Oct. 2. The festival will be a celebration of imaginative visual and performing arts from international and local artists, with over 200 ticketed and free events at various locations around the city. Find a list of all the events and purchase tickets online. https://bit.ly/3p7bjZ7
Support animals and humans in need by participating in “Fun Friday at the Ranch,” a blood drive and day of fun with food from Cousins Maine Lobster, an indoor group tour and access to the barnyard area with feed for the animals, hosted by animal welfare nonprofit Rescue Ranch. For every blood donation, $20 will be donated to Rescue Ranch. Free. Book an appointment online; walk-ins are also welcome. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 1424 Turnersburg Hwy. https://bit.ly/3DdBYMg
Saturday
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the 32nd annual Latin American Festival, hosted by the Latin American Coalition. The festival will feature music, food and art from several Latin American, Central American and Caribbean cultures. The festival will feature performances by Billo’s Caracas Boys, Rubby Perez and Karlos Rose. Noon. Barclay Downs, 4400 Sharon Road.
[READ NEXT: Here are 5 ways you can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Charlotte.]
Sunday
Join Lisa Brooks, owner and chef of Heart & Soul Personal Chef Services, and her team of female chefs for Mattie’s Front Porch, an intimate monthly pop-up multi-course dinner series showcasing Lowcountry and Southern coastal cuisine with a different theme each month. September’s theme is “Sunday Dinner” and will feature classic Southern staples served family style, such as old-fashioned chicken pot pie, turnip greens and pepper vinegar, red velvet cake, and more. 3 p.m. $85 per person (excluding gratuity). Purchase online. 10818 Tavernay Pkwy. https://bit.ly/3RU8F5n
Monday
Place your order today to reserve a full Rosh Hashanah feast from YAFO Kitchen. $125; feeds 4-6. Pick up from YAFO Kitchen’s East Boulevard location on Sept. 24. Order online. YAFO Kitchen, 1231A East Blvd. https://bit.ly/3eJalQP
[RELATED: Celebrate Rosh Hashanah in Charlotte with these holiday meal packages.]
Tuesday
Join fellow nature enthusiasts for an adults-only 90-minute hike at McDowell Nature Center. 1-2:30 p.m. Free. Registration required. Ages 18 and up only. Register online. McDowell Nature Center, 15222 South York Road. https://bit.ly/3qxy1KW
Wednesday
Take a “Twilight Tour” of UNC Charlotte’s Botanical Gardens led by assistant director Amy Timpton. Free for UNC Charlotte faculty, staff, students and garden members; $5 for the general public. Online registration required. McMillan Greenhouse, 9090 Craver Road. https://bit.ly/3qw9xBG
Thursday
Immerse yourself in fall flavors by ordering a pumpkin spice latte or s’mores mocha along with a pumpkin roll at Community Matters Cafe. Or sip an Apple Chai-der — a chai latte with oat milk, apple syrup and cinnamon — at Brakeman’s Coffee & Supply in Matthews. This CharlotteFive guide to local drinks can help you celebrate the changing seasons. https://bit.ly/3L5C22p
[READ NEXT: It’s fall y’all and that means PSL time: Here’s where to get your fix in Charlotte]
Mark your calendar
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
Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto is coming to Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum Sept. 29-Oct. 2, and tickets are on sale now. Take a trip through ice skating to Arendelle, where Anna has set out to find Elsa. Olaf, Kristoff and Sven will be there in the quest to bring back summer, which is gone due to Elsa’s icy powers. Next, you’ll visit the Madrigal family’s Casita in the Colombian mountains. Mirabel and her sisters, Isabela and Luisa, will be trying to save their family home. Mickey and Minnie will be your hosts! https://bit.ly/3QFcM4o
Join over 100,000 film enthusiasts screening Oscar-nominated short films at venues all over the world for the 25th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival. Following the screenings, you’ll have the opportunity to cast your ballot for Best Film and Best Actor. Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Northwest School of the Arts, 1415 Beatties Ford Road. https://bit.ly/3QAtVvW
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 September 14, 2022 at 5:30 AM.