Hey 70-degree weather, is that you? Enjoy the taste of spring this weekend with our round-up of the best events going on in the Queen City. Our guide to what to do this weekend in Charlotte:
THURSDAY
National Margarita Day.
Celebrate the Feb’s best holiday at any one of our 30 Marg Day picks here.
2 Year Anniversary and National Margarita Day
Hot Taco | All day beginning at 11 a.m.
It’s a dual holiday at Hot Taco, as they celebrate National Margarita Day with $2 margaritas and their two-year anniversary with tacos and live music. A portion of proceeds will support the Charlotte Latin American Chamber of Commerce’s small business owner educational programs.
Value vs. Splurge Class
Thursday, February 22 | Corkbuzz Charlotte | 6:30 p.m.
Great wine comes with different price tags. Learn how to identify a quality bottle and taste wines for every budget and occasion. $60 per person.
Guardian Cellars Wine Dinner
Luca Modern Italian Kitchen | 6:30 p.m.
Discover the wines of Washington as Guardian Cellars joins with the culinary creations from Luca Annunziata. $79 per person. Call to reserve your seat: 704.332.9910.
Beer vs. Wine Pairing with Bell’s Brewery
Vin Master Wine Shop | 6:30 p.m.
Wine and beer lovers will both enjoy this event that pairs four dishes with one beer and one wine each. Which pairing will win? $25 per person. Call 704.307.5565 or email vinmasterclt@gmail.com to secure your ticket.
FRIDAY
Taste of the New South: One Charlotte, Many Flavors
Levine Museum of the New South | 6 p.m.
Enjoy a Charlotte-inspired menu, cocktails and local entertainment to support the Levine Museum’s commitment to use history to build community. $125+. Purchase your ticket here. Stick around for Taste After Dark as the fun continues with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and dancing.
Escape From New York Comedy Tour
Helles & Dunkel | 7:30 p.m.
Join NYC comics as they trade the big apple for southern hospitality. Ryan Brown, Eric Neumann, Ron Nobles and Charlotte native Fen Guillaume will have you laughing all night in their “Escape From New York”. $20 per person.
Charlotte’s 6th Annual Banana Bar Crawl
Registration begins at Whisky River | 4 p.m.
Partake in the fun of Charlotte’s sixth banana bar crawl. After registering at Whisky River, enjoy drink specials and complimentary entry to BlackFinn, Suite, Fitzgeralds, Bubble and more. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 the day of the event, including your banana suit!
Bramblin’ Blackberry Release
Red Clay Ciderworks | 3 p.m.
What happens when you take Red Clay’s popular Queen City Common cider and fuse it with house-made blackberry wine? Find out when they release their Bramblin’ Blackberry, a fruity, semi-dry cider. Available beginning at 3 p.m.
SATURDAY
Battle of the Breweries Chili Cookoff
Draught Charlotte | 12 noon – 4 p.m.
We know they make great beer, but which Charlotte brewery serves up the best chili? Join Draught in this head-to-head competition where you (the tasters!) pick the winner. Admission is donation-based, with proceeds benefitting the winner’s charity of choice.
Ride at the Hive with CycleBar and the Charlotte Hornets
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ride for a cause as CycleBar and the Charlotte Hornets team up for a day of cycling, brunch, mimosas and giving back. Browse offerings and goods from local vendors before you ride, then celebrate with brunch and mimosas. Donate or raise $100 or more to participate. Proceeds benefit the Charlotte Hornets Foundation, working to eliminate education gaps, close the economic divide, feed the hungry and other community service goals.
Lenny Boy Brewing Co. | All day
Grab some brews with your crew at Lenny Boy’s Winter Warmer Festival. They’ll be tapping their last keg of Burn Down For What, a Vanilla Ground Up coffee stout, the last reserved keg of Doppelbock and more. Warm up with s’mores by the fire pit, enjoy live music from Them Crumpton and fill up with the help of multiple food vendors on site.
Art For The Paws
Wooden Robot Brewery | 3 – 7 p.m.
Beer, puppies and local art. What else could you ask for? Art for the Paws promises an afternoon of raffles, adoptable puppy cuddles, beer and a silent auction. All donations benefit Greater Charlotte SPCA.
Billinda Daylily Garden Lecture
Historic Rosedale Plantation | 10 a.m. – noon
Bill Gluck, owner and hybridizer of Charlotte’s Billinda Daylily Gardens will teach attendees about his award-winning hybrids, collections of Stout Medal winners and his double and miniture collections. After the presentation, special orders will be taken for spring delivery. $15 per person for lecture admission.
Blue Blaze Backyard BBQ & Bluegrass
Blue Blaze Brewing | Noon – 5 p.m.
We’re glad Blue Blaze Brewing isn’t waiting for the official first day of Spring to host this BBQ and bluegrass event. Enjoy the Spring-like temperatures with a whole hog BBQ (plates available for purchase) and music from bluegrass band River Ratz.
BirdSong Brewing and DeSano Tasting
DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana Charlotte | 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Stop by DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana for a tried-and-true pairing: beer and pizza. Taste for yourself to find which Birdsong Brewing beer best compliments DeSano’s pizzas.
Return of “Beauty And The Beets”
Legion Brewing | All day
The release of Legion’s beet saison deserves an all-day celebration. Kick it off with a sweat session courtesy of the folks at Work For Your Beer, enjoy a post-workout brunch with a DJ and round it out by shopping local, female-owned businesses at the Queen City Makers Pop Up Shop.
Forging Ahead: Smithy
Historic Rosedale Plantation | 1 – 4 p.m.
Learn about the history of this 200-year-old plantation and its role in the history of slavery in our nation through a special house tour. The property’s resident master blacksmith will also be providing guests a smithy demonstration. $10 admission.
Charlotte Curling Open House
Charlotte Curling | 1-5 p.m.
Bring your Olympic dream to life at Charlotte Curling Center. Members and 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist Carolyn McRorie will be onsite to explain the sport and answer questions. Free to attend, $10 for an on-ice session.
Art With Heart
CenterStage@NODA | 7 – 10 p.m.
Support Safe Alliance and bid on art at this year’s Art with Heart fundraiser. The event includes silent and live auctions featuring pieces spanning mediums and price points, hors d’oeuvres, wine & beer, music and more. $85 general admission.
SUNDAY
90’s Brunch
Draught Charlotte | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Kick off your Sunday Funday with the freshest sounds from DJ Edward Shouse and Chef Donnie’s brunch menu. In addition to mimosa and bloody mary bars, enjoy $2 single mimosas, $4 double mimosas, $5 bloody marys, $3 select beers and $15 bottles of champagne.
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles
Belk Theater | 7 p.m.
Experience the world’s most iconic band and celebrate 50 years of the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album with RAIN. Hear the album in its entirety, complemented by a full multimedia experience.
PLAN AHEAD
Junior League of Charlotte Little Black Dress Kick Off Party
Kendra Scott SouthPark | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Junior League of Charlotte will kick-off their Little Black Dress Initiative with light bites, bubbles and 15% off your purchase. Wear your Little Black Dress and learn more about raising money through the Little Black Dress Initiative, a week-long fundraising campaign that raises awareness of poverty in our communities.
