Weekend Forecast

Friday: 87. Partly cloudy. 20% chance of rain.
Saturday: 91. Sunny. 10% chance of rain.
Sunday: 87. Sunny. 10% chance of rain.

Friday, September 23

Food and Drink

Mecktoberfest at OMB: A three-day festival to celebrate the best of German-style food, culture and of course beer. Fri-Sun: 11-11 p.m. Free. Details.

Open Bar for $10 at Belfast Mill: The open bar will cover mixed drinks and beer; capacity will be capped. 8-10 p.m. $10. Details.

Experience

Festival in the Park at Freedom Park: Expect good music, good art and good times with an emphasis on professional and amateur visual and performing artists. Free. Details.

Charlotte AutoFair at Charlotte Motor Speedway: The world’s largest automotive extravaganza, bringing together hot rods, muscle cars, exotic sports cars and classic automobiles. Thur-Sun: 8-5 p.m. $11-$32. Details.

I Love the 90s in Charlotte at Time Warner Cable Arena: Featuring Vanilla Ice, Salt n Pepa, Color Me Badd, Tone Loc, Coolio and Rob Base. 8 p.m. $50-$130. Details.

SEAL Swim Sends off Rudder at The Rusty Rudder: Join as they bid a fond, and heartfelt farewell to the Rusty Rudder. 5-9 p.m. Free. Details.

James Taylor from the Bachelorette at Tin Roof Charlotte: James Taylor from TV’s The Bachelorette will be playing some live music. 8-10 p.m. $10. Details.

Fortune Friday with Bones & Dice at Red Clay Ciderworks: An Appalachian form of fortune telling that is entertaining and intriguing; find the Red tent in the production room. 7-10 p.m. Details.

Dirty Dancing at Ovens Auditorium: Don’t miss your chance to see this record-breaking live theatre performance. Fri-Sun. $29.50+. Details.

Learn Things

The Wave of FinTech Disruption & The Technology That’s Enabling it at Skookum: Learn how FinTechs are disrupting the banks by creating new business models and redefining customer expectations. 12 p.m. Free. Details.

Free Crash Course: Build a Full-stack Web App with Luke & Ben at Packard Place: An introduction to Front End and Back End engineering. 6-9 p.m. Free. Details.

Kids

Family Movie Night: Minions at BB&T Ballpark: Bring a blanket and sit on the outfield of BB&T Ballpark or sit in the seating bowl; admission is 1 canned food item to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. 6:30 p.m. Free. Details.

Saturday, September 24

Food and Drink

Pumpkin Fest at Sycamore Brewing: Pumpkin beers by Sycamore Brewing, including the famous ‘Gourd Have Mercy!’ as well as pumpkin and fall beers by select NC and SC breweries. 12-10 p.m. Free. Details.

Zuffenhaus Porsche Pop-Up Wine Dinner at Zuffenhaus Porsche Restoration Garage: A five-course dinner with wine pairings from Chef Taylor Kastl of Tayste Catering’s culinary repertoire. 7-11 p.m. $125-$150 +tax/tip. Details.

Pints & Pups: a Farewell Pawty at NoDa Brewing Company: Join for award-winning brews and a going away celebration to organizers Stephen & LaVonne. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Details.

Uncorked at USNWC: SUP Stream Catawba River Race, Wild Vine 5k and half marathon trail races, followed by wine tasting from 1-6 p.m.; guests may purchase individual tickets valid for four samples. 9-8 p.m. Details.

Lake Norman Wildlife Oyster & Shrimp Festival at The Lake by RL West: Expect a cash bar, live music and silent and live auction items for the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists. 5-10 p.m. $50-$100. Details.

Experience

UNC Charlotte’s 41st Annual International Festival at UNC Charlotte: Expect a colorful marketplace style representing the cultures of over 50 nations with booths staffed by UNCC international students and members of Charlotte’s international community. Free. Details.

Birdsong Semi-Annual Little Sugar Creek Clean Up & After Party at Birdsong Brewing Co.: Join the Birdsong crew and help clean up their section of Little Sugar Creek; volunteers will be rewarded with beer, pizza & prizes during an after party at the Birdsong tap room. 9:45-12:45 p.m. Free. Details.

Hannibal Buress: The Hannibal Montanabal Experience at Knight Theater: Buress is an Emmy and WGA Award-nominated comedian, writer and actor. 8 p.m. $25. Details.

SoleFest at Charlotte Convention Center: A sneaker convention for collectors to buy, sell, and trade their shoes as well as enjoy sneaker focused art, competitions, raffles and giveaways. 12-5 p.m. $15-$30. Details.

Cajun Festival at Romare Bearden Park: Each month a different genre of music will be performed with additional programming supporting the music style. 2:30-9 p.m. Free. Details.

Stand Against HB2 – North Carolina Musicians United for EqualityNC at Neighborhood Theatre: A concert with 100% of net profits going to organizations fighting against HB2 and directly working with queer youth and music. 12-11 p.m. $15-$20. Details.

The Martini SWING at The Tavern: Expect great music, fashion and fun. 8-12 a.m. $10. Details.

Britax Warehouse Sale at Britax Child Safety Systems: Shoppers will have access to a wide selection of Convertible Seats, Belt Positioning Boosters, Infant Car Seats, Baby Carriers and more priced up to 70% off. 8-4 p.m. Details.

Grand Opening Pawty at Pet Wants: The Urban Feed Store: Bring your pets so they can enjoy romping around in the fenced BarkingLot patio. 1-4 p.m. Free. Details.

Learn Things

Early Voting Block Party at 2311 Lasalle Street: Enjoy food and live entertainment while meeting elected officials, community leaders and neighbors to learn about candidates and laws, networking and registering to vote. 1-3 p.m. Free. Details.

Charlotte Small Business Conference at Johnson C. Smith University: This conference will help entrepreneurs and business owners to “Evolve & Emerge” in the areas of starting a business, finance, legal, technology, strategic planning and marketing. 8-1:30 p.m. Free. Details.

Invest In Your Chest at AvidXchange Music Factory: This group brings together breast cancer charities, survivors, medical practices and experts while offering survivor squad sessions; expect yoga and a bra fitting workshop. 12:30 p.m. Free. Details.

Art

Queen City Groove: Staying Power at Tate Hall – CPCC: The a cappella group presents a concert to celebrate 5 years singing together. 7:30-9 p.m. $15. Details.

Queen City Anthology at C3 Labs: An interactive photography retrospective from the Charlotte music scene of the 90’s featuring never before seen photos from the archives of local photographer Daniel Coston. 6-9:30 p.m. Free. Details.

Three’s A Crowd Improv Show at Charlotte Art League: Based on the Chicago style of a long form improv play, OTC improv presents its unique 3-person improv team; expect four mini-shows. 8-9:15 p.m. $5. Details.

Winterfield Community Festival at Winterfield Elementary School: In celebration of Welcoming Week, the Charlotte Symphony and Community School of the Arts will present a community festival to promote inclusion and diversity. 1-5 p.m. Free. Details.

Kids

Mini-Masters Workshop: Ships at Sea at Mint Museum Randolf: Paint, collage, and construct your boats and seascapes, and “drift” through the museum in search of boats in the artwork. 1:30-2:45 p.m. $12-$16. Details.

Museum Day Live at Carolinas Aviation Museum: Take part in their recycle plane build activity, launch a bottle rocket, and talk to passengers from Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson. 10-5 p.m. $8-$12. Details.

Musical Petting Zoo at ImaginOn: Explore rhythms and rhymes, and make your own music, presented by the Symphony Guild of Charlotte. 11-1 p.m. Details.

Guys With Ties Get Rowdy for Reading at NoDa Brewing Company: Expect a tug-o-war tournament, silent auction, live music, food truck, hula hoops contest, sidewalk chalk art contest supporting Augustine Literacy Project. 12-7 p.m. Free. Details.

Theatre 360 at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte: The first day of the free series of programming by Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. 10:45 a.m. Free. Details.

Fitness

9th Annual 5k/10K for Kids Cancer at Ballantyne Corporate Park: There will be a 5k and 10k course, along with a one mile fun run. 8 a.m. $25-$45. Details.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s® at Symphony Park: Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Details.

Sports

Dig the Beach Doubles at Queen City Beach Volleyball Club: Men in the morning, women in the afternoon; standard doubles tournament with three levels followed by a single elimination tournament. 9-6 p.m. $20-$50. Details.

Sunday, September 25

Food and Drink

Let’s Be Mermaids at Sugar Creek Brewing: The Charlotte Mobile Makery will be onsite with all the DIY supplies needed to make your own mermaid crown and nautical inspired jewelry. 1-4 p.m. Free. Details.

Experience

Carolina Panthers Watch Party at Whiskey Warehouse: Join CycleBar Midtown CLT to cheer the Panthers on. 12-4 p.m. Free. Details.

Fitness

Race 13.1 throughout Charlotte: The course will range from tree-lined streets to flat and fast on the Four Mile Creek Greenway and McAlpine Creek Greenway. 7 a.m. $45-$89. Details.

Sports

Football at Bank of America Stadium: Carolinas Panthers vs. Minnesota Vikings. 1 p.m. $50-$370+. Details.

Wish you had known about some of these events before now? Plan ahead for next weekend here.

Cover photo via OMB.