The Fall is upon us – the Panthers jerseys are back, talk of Ron Rivera and Cam are all abuzz, filling up our news feeds; back-to-school shopping flyers and promotions are everywhere – Crayons, markers, boots. And before others fill up your days, be sure to carve out time for these 20 Charlotte Fall events you won’t want to miss. If you can’t go, at least save the article or share it, so you’ll be in-the-know.
Charlotte Fall Events For the Foodie:
The 29th Annual Great Gatsby Gala – Saturday, August 19
Dress up in your best 1920’s sequin shift dress and enjoy food from Charlotte’s best restaurants, an open wine and beer and a phenomenal silent auction. Standard tickets are $75 and VIP Speakeasy tickets are $150. All proceeds go to the National MS Society Greater Carolinas Chapter. More info here
Dishes and Delights of Dilworth Tour – Saturdays at 3:00 pm.
Distance covered – .6 miles or less, but wear comfy shoes, nonetheless. Dine with an intimate group of 12 persons or less, sampling far from home-grown restaurants in the historic Dilworth area. More info here
Culture Feast – Friday, September 8
The Arts and Science Council will shut down a block of North Tryon Street, dress two very long tables, so that you and 500 other guests can savor the Southern fare served while being entertained. There’s not an event anywhere in the City that can boast this dining open concept. If it’s anything like last year’s feast, expect open-street dancing to follow.
More info here
Fiddle ‘n’ Pig Shindig – Saturday, September 9
Back for the 12th year, the Anne Springs Close Greenway’s annual barbeque and bluegrass festival.
The event, hosted in a beautiful Greenway setting, starts at 11a.m. and goes until 9p.m. Enjoy the Fiddle ‘n Pig Biergarten and Grand Tasting, which highlights many of the South Carolina breweries located across the border, as well as some North Carolina favorites. The Grand Tasting will take place on Saturday afternoon from 2-6 p.m. and give brew afficionados a chance to sip some of the South’s best craft beer. This could be a great event to invite your SC friends too because it’s so close to the border.
More info here
Great Grapes! Wine and Food Festival – Saturday, September 30
Charlotte’s premier casual wine tasting event with 220+ wines from over 20+ wineries. Take your souvenir tasting glass as you enter the festival and stroll from tent to tent and table to table tasting and sampling the rich heritage of North Carolina vines. If the kids or grandkids are in town, you’re welcome to bring blankets or chairs to enjoy the lawn at Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall. If you’d rather taste and enjoy your wine in the comfort of your own home, there’s an option to purchase wine by the bottle or case and have them sent to Wine Pickup for you to get as you head home from the festival.
More info here
Taste of the Mint – Wednesday, October 4
Join this Taste of the Mint with Rebecca Elliot, Assistant Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion, as she leads guests through the special exhibition that highlights recent costume designs by Tony Award Winning Designer, William Ivey Long. Bring your parking ticket from the Levine Center Parking Garage to get discounted parking. Registration closes at 5 pm on October 3.
More info here
Charlotte Fall Events For the Thinker:
K(NO)W Justice, K(NO)W Peace Author Talk Featuring Carol Andersen – Saturday, September 26
Levine Museum of the New South’s exhibit closes October 22. K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace is a community-created exhibit about police-involved shootings throughout the nation and in Charlotte. Co-created with activists and law enforcement, the media, students, clergy and civic leaders, K(NO)W Justice K(NO)W Peace explores the historical roots of the distrust between police and community, tells the human stories beyond the headlines, and engages viewers in creating constructive solutions. The exhibition also captures the voices of local police, protesters, emergency personnel, faith leaders and others reflecting on their personal experiences during Charlotte’s protests. Writer, Carol Andersen, discusses her book White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
More info here
Rent – Blumenthal Performing Arts Center – September 26 – October 1
Broadway in Charlotte, what else is there to say except this edgy musical is catchy, riveting and thought-provoking. Discussion WILL follow. More info here
Simon and Garfunkel Story – Friday, October 1
Coming to Charlotte straight from London’s West End, The Simon & Garfunkel Story will be at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Oct. 1. This concert-style theater show is critically acclaimed and has been seen by over 250,000 people around the world. Tickets start at $25.
More Info Here
Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida – September 8 – 24
Aida, which premiered on Broadway in March 2000, ran for 1,852 performances and was nominated for multiple Tony Awards. It is a musical based on the opera of the same name by Giuseppe Verdi.The Original Broadway Cast Recording won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. This show will be performed at The Eloise MacDonald Playhouse
More info here
Charlotte Fall Events For the Aesthete:
Chinese Lantern Festival at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens – September 7 – October 29
Just stunning. A must for anyone who loves beauty and savoring a Fall evening outdoors. From humble beginnings of silk and paper, the Chinese lantern has evolved into the wondrous shapes and sizes of the Chinese Lantern Festival. Enter “The Wild,” a world of life-size (sometimes larger than life) illuminated panda bears, lions, flamingos and more fauna from the world’s seven continents. Each of the lanterns is made by masters of the craft in Zigong, China’s center of lantern heritage. Others are made of small glass medicine bottles filled with colored liquid. Arranged in the shape of dragons, peacocks, and giant pearls, they glimmer like crystal rainbows. It’s Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s largest exhibition to date and over 800 handmade lanterns will fill more than 12 acres. Wednesdays – Sundays (5:30 pm – 9:30 pm)
More info here
Mad about Modern Home Tour – September 9
Presented by Charlotte’s Museum of History, mid-century modern homes will be on tour from 10 am – 4 pm with a VIP Party on September 7.
More info here
Potters Market Invitational – Saturday, September 9
In its 13th year, this event boasts that more than 50 North Carolina potters will gather on the lawn of Mint Museum Randolph to sell their creations. PMI showcases the breadth and depth of work by makers in what has become known as the Pottery State. Enjoy this opportunity to purchase works of art directly from North Carolina ceramic artists. Tickets can be purchased online until September 1.
More Info Here
Opening Night at the Charlotte Symphony – Tuesday, September 12
Time-honored piano great Yefim Bronfman joins your Charlotte Symphony for this opening night special event concert. Lauded as “one of the greatest pianists active today” by The New York Times, Bronfman, who is affectionately called “Fima,” returns to the Queen City to perform Beethoven’s exhilarating Emperor Concerto under the direction of Music Director Christopher Warren-Green.
More info here
Charlotte Ballet’s Fall Works – October 19 – 21
“Fall Works explores the exciting evolution of Charlotte Ballet, starting with what the future holds, with Johan Inger’s Walking Mad. Described as a “stylistic game changer” by Artistic Director Hope Muir, Johan’s choreographic talent was first discovered by contemporary ballet choreographer Jiri Kylian.
A tribute to Charlotte Ballet’s legacy, Fall Works features George Balanchine’s Apollo, staged by legendary Balanchine dancer and Kennedy Center Honoree Patricia McBride.
Elsa Canasta, a dark, funny, sexy evocation of the world of Cole Porter, choreographed by Javier de Frutos, makes an exhilarating finale to the performance. Tickets start at $25.”
More Info Here
Charlotte Fall Events For the Adventurer:
Earth Wind and Fire Concert – Friday, August 18
Tour 2054 concert at Spectrum Center.
More Info Here
NC Yoga Bar at Mint Museum – Wednesday, August 23
Enjoy a one-hour yoga class every Wednesday (May – December) from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm and roam the galleries free of charge afterwards. May I also suggest dinner or drinks to follow on the balcony at Halcyon?!
More Info Here
Blowing Rock Fall Classic – Saturday, September 16
Who doesn’t love the mountains in the Fall, and this is before all the hustle and bustle begins up there. This is a 72-mile bike ride that I’m sure you’d probably want to train for (maybe next year), but it’s definitely a reason to go the mountains to spectate. The ride starts Saturday morning at 8 am, beginning and ending on Park Avenue, in front of the Police Department in downtown Blowing Rock. Park Avenue will be closed to automobile traffic Saturday from dawn until around 4 pm, so enjoy the downtown area and cheer on the bikers after maybe a mid-afternoon nap. 🙂
More info here
Alison Krauss and David Gray Concert – Friday, September 29
A mellow, relaxing concert at PNC Music Pavilion – Should be a beautiful time to be outdoors.
More info here
David Sedaris in Concert – Saturday, October 21
At Ovens Auditorium. His books are hysterical, so I can imagine he’s even better in person. Author and humorist, David Sedaris, will be reading in October. If you want to laugh, this is a MUST.
More info here
