Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | Oct. 28-Nov. 3
Friday, Oct. 28
Dive in to the Halloween spirit with BOOllantyne! on Oct. 28 from 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Enter a pumpkin contest, explore a ghoulish graveyard and enjoy other activities, along with a 7:45 p.m. screening of “Hocus Pocus.” Free until 4 p.m. After that, tickets are $10, but children 5 and under remain free. 11611 N. Community House Road. https://bit.ly/3EpbxDU
Head out for dinner or a dessert at a local business participating Charlotte Black Restaurant Week. Among the specials available during the event held by the Black Business Owners Corp., are five wings and a half order of lobster mac and cheese for $14 from Cuzzo’s Cuisine, or Nola Girl Shrimp (or Fish) and Grits for $13.50 from G.R.I.T.S. food truck.The event runs through Oct. 31. Multiple locations. https://bit.ly/3VIeDJe
Sway to the tunes of The Dropouts during the last Live Under the Oaks performance of the year at Birkdale Village. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets to sit on while sipping a drink from the onsite bar provided by Red Rocks. (No coolers are allowed.) 6-8 p.m. Free. Birkdale Commons Parkway and Sam Furr Road, Huntersville. https://bit.ly/3s9czg2
Get spooky at the Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts’ annual Haunted Trail, which raises funds for scholarships and sponsoring students in arts programs. The “Not-So-Spooky” Hour, featuring a free Trunk-or-Treat and other children’s activities, will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Food trucks will also be available. $10 per person. Trail runs 7-10 p.m., Oct. 28-30. Matthews Community Center, 100 E. McDowell St., Matthews. https://bit.ly/3fTC55V
Saturday, Oct. 29
Get nostalgic with the original Jersey Boys — that’d be Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, the famed singing group responsible for ’60s- and ’70s-era pop-rock hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry” and “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night).” This is a makeup date for an Ovens Auditorium show that was postponed last year after Valli was felled by the flu. He turned 88 this past May. Tickets start at $69.50. 8 p.m. 2700 E. Independence Blvd. www.ticketmaster.com.
Dress in costume and raise a glass of Charlotte craft beer during the LoSo Halloween Crawl. Check in on the Hopp app at each location for a chance to win prizes, and Ride Jaunts will be available for transportation between locations. Noon-6 p.m., Oct. 29. Participating breweries in the Charlotte Craft Beer Week event are Brewers At 4001 Yancey, Protagonist LoSo, Gilde, Lower Left Brewing, The Old Mecklenburg Brewery, Red Clay Ciderworks, Weathered Souls Charlotte, Sugar Creek Brewing. Multiple locations. Free admission. https://bit.ly/3yAKUs4
Sample some the Lake Norman area’s best craft beer during the Lake Norman Halloween Brew BOO Tour. Guests 21+ will enjoy a professionally guided brewery tour with transportation that includes stops at Lost Worlds Brewing Company, Eleven Lakes Brewing Company, D9 Brewing Lake Norman and Primal Brewing and two souvenir pint glasses for each attendee, along with three tastings at each brewery. Lunch will be provided from Ghostface Pizza. Prizes for best costumes will include four flights to four winners (a $24 value) and a grand prize of two free tickets to a future Brew Ha Ha Tour (a $120 value). Oct. 29, noon-6:30 p.m. $59.95. The tour leaves from The Kilted Buffalo, 119 Landings Drive, Suite 101, Mooresville. https://bit.ly/3yEgJ2X
Bring along the kids in costume and celebrate Halloween and D9 Brewing’s anniversary with a family friendly Trunk or Treat. There will be pumpkins for painting, and the event will finish off with a costume parade around the brewery. Free admission. 2 p.m. 11138 Treynorth Drive, Cornelius. https://bit.ly/3eHiHJo
Parade your pet and/or your children around Waverly — or just watch the fun— at Monster Bash. A Pet Parade begins at PetPeople at 3 p.m., and a $1 donation will go to a local animal charity. You’ll also find mini pumpkin giveaways and $1 JJ’s Red Hots Hot Dogs for the first 500 guests. Those who want to join in on the costume contest can register from 3–4:30 p.m., while a DJ spins seasonal tunes, with winners in various pet, kid and adult categories announced at 4:45 p.m. There will also be live music by KRVE from 6-10 p.m. at The Waverly Walk Stage. Free. Providence and Ardrey Kell roads. https://bit.ly/3DevXyo
Party with the Special Olympics Lake Norman at Boo Bash 2022, which will include a costume contest, food and games, and trick-or-treating. Oct. 29, 6-8 p.m. Free, but RSVP required. Mooresville War Memorial Building, 220 N. Maple St., Mooresville. https://bit.ly/3EDcp7U
Dance all night at Cloud Bar by David Burke’s Rooftop Halloween. You’ll find a costume contest, DJ, spooky specials, giveaways and more. $10 cover. 8 p.m. Le Méridien Charlotte, 555 S. McDowell St. https://bit.ly/3gCnpso
Sunday, Oct. 30
Parade around SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord in costume and Trick-or-Treat at the aquarium on Oct. 30. While you’re at Concord Mills, stop by the mall’s selfie station in the Fashion Court in front of Brook’s Brothers, which remains up until Halloween. Passes start at $17.99 for adults and $14.99 for children. Noon- 4 p.m. 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord. https://bit.ly/3eIo9LQ
Say goodbye to Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte at the last performance of “Evil Dead the Musical.” The theater group will be permanently closing afterward. Be sure to leave the younger kids at home and bring your own chairs as the spooky musical based on Sam Raimi’s ‘80s cult classic films takes place outdoors and is recommended for ages 16 and up. 8 p.m. Purchase tickets online; general admission starts at $36.66. The Barn at MoRA, 8300 Monroe Road. https://bit.ly/3r8fFAd
Monday, Oct. 31
Celebrate Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos with the Charlotte Hornets and their fans as the Queen City’s NBA team faces off against the Sacramento Kings on a special holiday-themed night at Spectrum Center. Costumes are encouraged, BUT: Masks and props are prohibited, so you’ll have to get creative. Tickets start at $15. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. 333 E. Trade St. www.ticketmaster.com.
Head out for a vegan meal, then vote and comment for your favorite items as part of the Charlotte Vegan Chef Challenge. There are 25 restaurants participating, including Plant Joy, Bean Vegan Cuisine, Rhino Market & Deli, Ve-Go Food Truck and more. https://veganchefchallenge.org/charlotte/
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Take the stage at Petra’s and sing your heart out during the piano karaoke sing along, held every first Tuesday of the Month. Host Ryan Stamey accompanies on piano while singers do their thing. You can also make requests, or just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Signups start at 7:30 p.m. Free in advance or $3 day of 21+ with valid ID. 1919 Commonwealth Ave. https://bit.ly/3CUJObI
Wednesday, Nov. 2
Put your brain to work during Drinkin’ N Thinkin’ Music Bingo at The Kilted Buffalo Langtree, which hosts the event every Wednesday. There’s prizes on the line, so come ready. Free admission. 8:30–10:30 p.m. 119 Landings Drive, Suite 101, Mooresville. https://bit.ly/3MOpugV
Thursday, Nov. 3
Relax from a hectic workweek at a waterfront restaurant, as studies show spending time near “blue spaces” is calming. Choose from among CharlotteFive’s list of best waterfront dining spots in the area, including Eddie’s on Lake Norman; Hello, Sailor; and Drift on Lake Wylie. https://bit.ly/3gtHSzk
Join the Charlotte Museum of History for a screening of three short documentary films about Native music to kick off Native American Heritage Month. The films include a short on Cherokee singer Karen Dalton, a documentary about Peter La Farge and Native influences in rock ‘n’ roll and a music video based on La Farge’s Drums song. The event will include a short introduction and Q&A with producer Sandra Hale Schulman. Free, but pre-registration is encouraged. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 3500 Shamrock Drive. https://bit.ly/3SzW47k
Mark your calendar
Watch as firebreathers and artists set the night ablaze, then peruse whiskeys, wines and cocktails at The Whiskey, Wine & Fire Festival. The event will feature music, food and firepits around Ballantyne’s Backyard, plus seminars with master distillers, brew masters, grill masters, butchers and pit masters. General admission is $59, and VIP tickets are $89. Nov. 5, 5-9 p.m. https://bit.ly/3MRnqVu
Experience the 1987 hit film, “Dirty Dancing” like you never have before with a screening accompanied by a live performance Nov. 26 of the film’s soundtrack at “Dirty Dancing in Concert.” 8 p.m. Tickets start at $40. Purchase online. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. https://bit.ly/3SPI0Hv
Explore Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth., which profiles Black male icons in America, at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture and Levine Museum of the New South. The exhibit highlights revolutionary men including Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B. DuBois and Kendrick Lamar, whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country. The traveling work from the Smithsonian will remain on display through March 12. Free. Gantt at 551 S. Tryon St., and Levine Museum at 401 South Tryon St. https://bit.ly/3fNnyZm and https://bit.ly/3fMUUId
Théoden Janes contributed to this article.
This story was originally published October 26, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
