Looking for something new to do in Charlotte? This weekend has plenty of options, from art talks to derby parties and even where to sip your margarita on Cinco de Mayo. Your day-by-day guide to this weekend in the Queen City:
ALL WEEKEND
Charlotte SHOUT
April 29 – May 11
This first ever, biggest ever QC festival Uptown began this week. Here are our 8 Picks on the Best Things to Do Week One at Charlotte SHOUT.
Wells Fargo Championship 2019
April 29 – May 5 | Quail Hollow Club
The Wells Fargo Championship, being held in Charlotte for the 16th year, continues through the weekend at Quail Hollow Club. Purchase ground tickets here.
Plaza Midwood Home & Garden Tour
May 3 – 4 | Plaza Midwood Neighborhood
Explore the beauty of nine homes, one garden and a local shop as part of this year’s Plaza Midwood Home & Garden Tour. The fun kicks off with a Candlelight Tour on Friday, and continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, guests will get the inside scoop on paint colors throughout the homes and get to attend a free Color & Design Workshop from Sherwin-Williams. 10% of ticket sales will benefit the Urban Ministry Center of Charlotte.
Kings Drive Art Walk
May 4 – 5 | Little Sugar Creek Greenway at 600 South Kings Drive
The 9th annual Kings Drive Art Walk offers residents and visitors the chance to stroll along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway and browse artwork by fine and emerging artists along the way. Browse through participating artists here.
Charlotte Jazz Festival 2019
May 2 – 4 | Jazz Pavilion on the Levine Center for the Arts Plaza
The Charlotte Jazz Festival features three days free performances from Thursday to Saturday. Concerts will be at the Jazz Pavilion on the Levine Center for the Arts Plaza.
Cinco de Pinko
May 2 – 5 | Pink Cactus CLT
Why limit the fun of Cinco de Mayo to just one day? SouthPark newcomer Pink Cactus will celebrate all weekend long with drink specials, live music and more. Featured drink specials (Thursday through Sunday):
$3 Corona Premier
$4 Select Drafts
$5 Frozen Drinks
$5 Jose Margaritas
$5 Jack Daniels
THURSDAY
5th Anniversary Celebration + Southern Accent’s Opening Reception
Anne Neilson Fine Art | 6 – 8 p.m.
Grab a margarita to toast the gallery’s 5-year anniversary and the opening reception of the group exhibition Southern Accents: fresh. fearless. female., featuring artists Caroline Boykin, McKenzie Dove, Kerry Hays, Hannah Lane, Trudi Norris and Adele Yonchak. Exhibition will be on display through May 25.
11th Annual Golf Night
Piedmont Town Center | 5:30 – 11 p.m.
As part of the Wells Fargo Championship in town this week, the 11th annual Golf Night will feature live music by New Kids and On the Border, drink specials and an official post-party at Del Frisco’s. Free and open to the public.
A Night at the Museum
Levine Museum of the New South | 6 – 9 p.m.
The second annual Night At The Museum, presented by Carolina Farm Trust, features cuisine from seven local chefs that uses North Carolina produce and is inspired by museum exhibits. $50 per person.
Music at the Met
METROPOLITAN | 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Music at the Met is back every Thursday. Grab dinner or a cocktail to enjoy live music (Late Night Special will take the stage this week) and a front row seat to view a sunset and the skyline.
Dilworth Ladies Spring Party
Theory Design Studio | 6 – 9 p.m.
Enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Fran’s Filling Station, wine, music and gorgeous decor at this year’s Dilworth Ladies Spring Party. All proceeds benefit Dilworth Elementary Schools. $35 per person.
FRIDAY
First Friday Gallery Crawl in South End
South End Neighborhood | 5 – 9 p.m.
via Facebook (background art by Andrea Guice Engelhardt)
On the first Friday evening of every month, many neighborhood galleries (and the occasional unconventional space like a design studio or furniture shop) will stay open late to host lively receptions for new art exhibitions with music, food and drink, and an opportunity to meet the artists.
Sounds of Summer in First Ward Park
First Ward Park | 7 p.m.
Sounds of the Summer returns to First Ward Park with free live music by Yonder Mountain String Band w/ Hank, Pattie & the Current, food trucks, craft beer and wine for purchase. Don’t forget your chairs and blankets.
SATURDAY
Kentucky Derby Watch Party
Upstream Seafood | 4 – 7 p.m.
Grab your best hat and a mint julep and get ready to enjoy the “greatest two minutes in sports” in the lounge at Upstream. They’ll have all six TVs tuned into the race, plus an assortment of derby drink specials and appetizers including a classic mint julep with a jalapeño kick, the improbable cosmo and drafts from OMB.
29th Annual YAM Derby Days
Mint Museum Randolph | 3 – 7 p.m.
Join more than 400 of Charlotte’s young professionals in enjoying a day of live music, lawn games, Mint Juleps, open wine and beer, food trucks, raffles and a large-screen viewing of the derby. Proceeds will sponsor free tours of The Mint Museum for Charlotte Mecklenburg school students. General admission sales end Friday, May 3 at midnight.
Hands-On Cocktail Class: Creative Margaritas & Tequila Cocktails
Liberate Your Palate | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
via Facebook
Learn how to mix up the best margarita just in time or Cinco de Mayo festivities. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn the history and tradition of the agave plant and tequila production and use unexpected ingredients to craft unique takes on the classic as well as an additional tequila cocktail. $70 per person.
Untappd Beer Festival
Bank of America Stadium | 4 – 8 p.m.
The inaugural Untappd Beer Festival gives beer-lovers the chance to sip and sample brews from more than 178 breweries from the field at Bank of America Stadium. The day also includes live entertainment and souvenir sampling glasses. $50 general admission.
Monthly Saturday Wine Tasting-Wines from Portugal
Foxcroft Wine Co-Dilworth and SouthPark | 12 – 2 p.m.
via Facebook
Both Dilworth Tasting Room locations will be pouring wines from Portugal for their monthly Saturday wine tasting. $5 per person.
Run for the Rosés! Wine Tasting & Derby Party
Common Market (Southend) | 12 – 4 p.m.
via Facebook
Break out the sundresses, bow ties and floppy hats for Common Market’s Run for the Rosés wine tasting and derby party on the patio. $15 per person.
Cinco De Mayo Fiesta
Sycamore Brewing | 12 – 10 p.m.
via Facebook
Sycamore Brewing will celebrate with a Mariachi band, tacos, cervezas con lima and margarita frosé. There will also be a food truck line-up including Chilaka tacolab and Cousins Maine Lobster and live music by The Hwy and Falconheart.
9th Annual NoDa Day in May
NoDa Neighborhood | 1 – 7 p.m.
The 9th annual NoDa Day in May street festival features more than 40 artists and vendors to shop from, food trucks, beer and DJs. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Crisis Assistance Ministry, and they’ll also be on hand taking donations of gently used clothing.
Taste of Ayrsley
Ayrsley Town Center | 12 – 4 p.m.
The second annual Taste Of Ayrsley showcases nearby restaurants and bars through a tasting of their most popular dishes and beverages. You can also expect kids activities, live music by Neel and Braden and a marketplace featuring local artisans and businesses.
1 Year Annipursary Party
Daily Mews Cat Café | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Daily Mews Cat Cafe will celebrate their first year of business and more than 100 successful adoptions with a day of giveaways, a wine tasting, cat-themed drink specials, a silent pawction and more.
SUNDAY
Art of Reading Public Tour: The Lacuna
Mint Museum Randolph | 2 p.m.
Join in a discussion of Barbara Kingsolver’s 2010 Orange Prize winning work The Lacuna followed by a docent-led tour of Spanish Colonial, Pre-Colombian, Mayan and Mexican galleries that bring to life events and cultures depicted in the novel. Free for Mint members or with admission.
Rosé Patio Party
Corkbuzz Restaurant | 3 – 5 p.m.
via Facebook
Head to Corkbuzz in SouthPark for a day of all-you-can-drink rosé on their patio. $35 per person.
Cinco de Mayo Front Porch Sundays Market
2161 Hawkins Street | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Front Porch Sundays is back with more than 65 vendors, live music, food trucks, adoptable pups, festive beer and food, a free boot camp class and more.
Cinco De Mayo with Party Parrot Band
1900 Mexican Grill Elizabeth Location| 6 – 8 p.m.
Elizabeth’s 1900 Mexican Grill will have drink specials all weekend and live music by the Party Parrot Band on Sunday from 6 – 8 p.m.
Cinco de Puppo 5K Run/Walk
Ballantyne Village | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your pup at Ballantyne Village’s Cinco de Puppo 5K. After crossing the finish line, stick around for an after party featuring local food trucks, beverages (including mutt-garitas and doggie daiquiris), doggie-licious biscuits and paw-ty cake samples in the Dog Bar area, as well as vendor booths and entertainment.
Cinco De Puppo Adoption Event and Fundraiser
Bold Missy Brewery | 1 – 4 p.m.
Bold Missy Brewing will partner with Long Trails to Happy Tails Dog Rescue to help find homes for their adoptable pups. $1 per pint sold during the event will be donated to the rescue.
Cinco de Mayo with Casamigos
Queen Park Social | 2 – 6 p.m.
Queen Park Social will team up with Casamigos to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style with $2 tacos, Casamigos Margarita specials, music by DJ View Beats, tequila shotskis, a photo booth, mustache contest and more.
AR Workshop Mother’s Day Mini Market
AR Workshop Charlotte | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Shop local vendors for home decór, fragrances, jewelry, tea and more just in time for Mother’s Day. You’ll also be able to sample sips from Sycamore and enjoy snacks from Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit Food Truck.
