Food and drink
Charlotte VegFest at the Grady Cole Center: The Humane League hosts their 5th annual free festival to celebrate healthy, sustainable and compassionate eating from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 3,000 people expected, and the first 100 get a bag of samples. Saturday, 5/21
@lunaslivingkitchen via Instagram
4th Annual Charlotte Beer Festival: Over 75 craft, import, specialty and local beers will be available at this EpiCenter beer festival. $20-$40 – tickets. Saturday, 5/21
Charlotte Food Fight at Stumptown Park: This annual foodie event serves up Charlotte’s local food trucks in a battle for bragging rights from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. 100% of proceeds to go Relay for Life Charlotte. Saturday, 5/21
Photo via Facebook
11th Annual Festa Italiana Charlotte: Enjoy Italian food, Italian beverages, children’s activities, Italian vendors and more from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the courtyards at Queens University. Tickets. Sunday, 5/22
Dragon Boats and Brews at Sugar Creek Brewing: Games, live music, raffle, silent auction and cold beer from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. $15 – tickets. Sunday, 5/22
Photo via Facebook
Experience
MeckDec Day of Service: Start your weekend early by taking some time off on Friday to volunteer then meet up with the Charlotte Podcast team at The Unknown Brewing Co to celebrate MeckDec Day. The first 50 people to sign up here get a free pint of beer. Friday, 5/20
Science on the Rocks at Discovery Place: Throw back to your summer camp days at this adult-only museum night. Activities include a rock climbing wall, Nerf archery, kayak races, friendship bracelet crafts, ghost stories and more. $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Friday, 5/20
Photo via Facebook
Swing Dance at 7th Street Public Market: Enjoy drinks and dinner from the market’s vendors then dance the night away with Gottaswing Charlotte. Make sure you get there before the market closes to the public at 8 p.m. to grab food. $5 at the door. Friday, 5/20
No Pants Bike Ride: Meet at Good Bottle Co. for a beer and some food between noon and 1 p.m. then bike pantsless with the group to Unknown Brewing for live music, food trucks and more beer. Saturday, 5/21
Photo via Facebook
Operation Walk Carolinas fundraiser: Enjoy an evening aboard a yacht on Lake Norman while helping to send a medical mission team from OrthoCarolina, Novant Healthcare and Carolinas Healthcare to Cuba to do free hip and knee replacements. Event is limited to 100 people – tickets here.
Kids
Sesame Street Live! at Bojangles’ Coliseum: An interactive performance with all of your favorite Sesame Street characters. Tickets. Friday, 5/20 through Sunday, 5/22
@threadedgypsy via Instagram
Dads and Donuts Storytime: Dads, grandfathers, uncles and other caregivers are invited to enjoy donuts and stories at the Plaza Midwood Library from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. Free. Saturday, 5/21
Fairy Festival at the Charlotte Nature Museum: Wear your wings and participate in fairy and hobbit house building, pixie play dough and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included with museum admission. Saturday, 5/21
The Arts
Charlotte Symphony KnightSounds: Romeo & Juliet: The Symphony is teaming up with Opera Carolina and Charlotte Ballet for an epic KnightSounds finale. Watch the performance inside Knight Theater (tickets) or at a free, live outdoor PlazaCast on the Levine Center for the Arts plaza. Friday, 5/20 and Saturday, 5/21
@cltballet via Instagram
Free Museum Nights at The Bechtler and the Mint Museum Uptown: Bechtler By Night takes place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature choreographed dances by Kinetic Works and Eco Fab Trash Couture. The Mint Uptown will also be open for free from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 5/20
The Sins of George Kuchar screening at the McColl Center: The final screening of the New Frequencies season will feature a select of short films by George Kuchar, an underground film legend. $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Friday, 5/20 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Kenny Chesney & Old Dominion at PNC Music Pavilion: Performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets. Friday, 5/20
Levine Center for the Arts Community Festival: Free admission to the Mint Museum Uptown, The Bechtler and the Harvey B. Gantt Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Take advantage of the free docent led tours at each location and enjoy food trucks along Tryon. Saturday, 5/21
Bearden Music Series at Romare Bearden Park: Terence Young Experience Jazz kicks off this summer music series with jazz from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 5/21
The Blumey Awards at Belk Theater: An awards ceremony recognizing the best in local high school musical theater. Ceremony includes performances from finalist. Sunday, 5/22
Fitness
The HEARTest Yard + Showers 5K: Race kicks off at 8 a.m. at the Irwin Academic Center in Uptown and ends at Levine Children’s Hospital with refreshments, music and children’s activities. All proceeds will benefit programs at Levine Children’s Hospital. Register. Saturday, 5/21
@gregolsen88 via Instagram
Jimmie Johnson Foundation 5K: A family friendly 5k race and 1 mile run/walk at the Newell-Rubbermaid Campus in Huntersville. Following the race there will be children’s activities in the event village. Register. Sunday, 5/22
Sports
Boxing: Lee “The Silverback” Campbell takes on his opponent on Saturday evening at The Carole Hoefener Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. but Lee’s match will be later in the evening (closer to 9 p.m.) Tickets (enter promo code “Campbell”). Saturday, 5/21
Racing: NASCAR Sprint All-Start Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tickets. Saturday, 5/21
Soccer: The Charlotte Independence host F.C. Cincinnati at Ramblewood Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. Tickets. Saturday, 5/21
@cltindependence via Instagram
Frisbee: The Charlotte Express face the Raleigh Flyers at 7 p.m. at Irwin Belk Complex at Johnson C Smith University. Tickets. Saturday, 5/21
Baseball: The Knights host the Gwinnett Braves in back to back games this weekend – Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Tickets.
Cover image via Gregor Smith (Flickr)
