Have we caught you already looking ahead to the weekend? It’s okay, we’re guilty too. Start planning with 25 ideas for what to do this weekend in Charlotte:
ALL WEEKEND
Charlotte Pride Festival
Uptown Charlotte | Saturday – Sunday
Celebrate Charlotte’s vibrant LGBTQ community with a weekend-long festival featuring entertainment on the Wells Fargo stage, art exhibits, vendors and more. Join in the parade Sunday at 1 p.m. departing from the corner of 9th and N. Tryon streets. Check out all the Pride festival happenings here.
God Save the Queen City
Neighborhood Theatre | Friday-Saturday
God Save The Queen City, a two-night music festival celebrating the best talent in the QC, is back at the Neighborhood Theatre. View the line-up to start planning and be on the lookout for the special GSTQC beer release. Tickets are $15 each night in advance, $20 day of show. Purchase here.
THURSDAY
Italian Wine Dinner
Dogwood Southern Table and Bar | 6:30 p.m.
Take a culinary tour of Italy with the help of the Chefs at Dogwood Southern Table and Bar. The five-course tasting menu includes twists of classics and sweet treats, each paired with a handpicked wine.  View the full menu here. $70 per person. Call to reserve your seat: 704.910.4919.
Uptown Crawl
Charlotte Center City | 6-9 p.m.
Discover all the art Uptown has to offer. This free gallery crawl allows art-lovers to freely wander through participating galleries, including Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Sozo Gallery, New Gallery of Modern Art and more. There will even be free trolley rides to get you from exhibit to exhibit. View the full list of participating venues.
Shake.Stir.Sip.Socialize Cocktail Class: The Italian Aperitivo ii
Luca Modern Italian Kitchen | 7 p.m.
Explore Italy’s contributions to classic and modern mixology with the help of the experts at Luca Modern Italian Kitchen. This hands-on class will have you stirring and shaking up three classic cocktails using Campari, Prosecco, Limoncello and other Italian ingredients under instruction from Luca co-owner Jessica Annunziata and her husband, Chef Luca. Light bites will be served with each cocktail. $65 per person.
Summer Concert Series – The Reflections featuring Joe ‘Elvis’ Borelli
Comporium Amphitheater | 6:30 p.m.
Grab your blanket and chairs for a night of live music on the greenway. For this concert, The Reflections featuring Joe ‘Elvis’ Borelli take the stage, while food trucks serve up picnic-worthy offerings. Free for members, $5 for non-members.
FRIDAY
Tequila Dinner​
Napa on Providence | 7 p.m.
Don’t miss this four-course dinner and tequila pairing at Napa on Providence. Menu highlights include a stuffed and smoked poblano pepper and slow-roasted carnitas, with each course paired with a tequila. Â $75 per person, plus tax & gratuity. Call 704.900.8535 to reserve your spot.
Food Trucks and Music in the Garden
Wing Haven | 5:30 p.m.
Settle into a seat in the garden as Hot Chocolate and Vanilla Soul Duo takes the stage. Food trucks Improper Pig and New Wrap Order will be serving up dinner, with beer and wine available for purchase. $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Children ten and under are free. Purchase tickets in advance.
Live on the Green
First Ward Park | 7 p.m.
Kick start your weekend with Live on the Green, First Ward park’s free live music series. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music from Town Mountain with Jenni Lyn, food trucks and local craft beer.
Movies Under the Stars: Beauty and the Beast
Symphony Park | 7 p.m.
The whole family will love viewing this Disney classic from the lawn at Symphony Park. Family activities and the movie showing are free.
Back to School – Summer Concert Series
Quail Corners Shopping Center | 6 p.m.
Shake the back-to-school blues with live music at Quail Corners Shopping center. In addition to live entertainment expect family-friendly activities to celebrate the start of a new year.
Matthews Food Truck Fridays & Concert Series
120 S Trade St, Matthews | 5 p.m.
Bring the whole family out for live music, food trucks and kids activities. Alternate Take will take the stage. Free admission.
SATURDAY
Intro to Chardonnay
Corkbuzz Charlotte | 1 p.m.
It’s prime white wine-sipping season, and Corkbuzz Charlotte is here to give us a refresher on all things Chardonnay. Discover the differences between oaked verses unoaked wines and explore the regions in which the grape is grown. $65 per person.
Barre, Sweat, and Cure for Project Alive
4810-A Ashley Park Ln | 8 a.m.
Sweat for a cure for Hunters Syndrome and help a local Charlotte family with three class options offered by Bar Method. View the inspiring story of the Muddier family and their son, Finn, here. Class times are at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. $20 admission with all proceeds benefiting The Muedder’s and Project Alive’s mission.
Hops, Hounds and First Downs
Lucky Dog Bark & Brew Charlotte | 2 p.m.
Get ready for kickoff with a football-themed event at Lucky Dog Bark & Brew. Dress up your pup in your team’s gear to be entered into a giveaway, grab a beer and cross your fingers to win a raffle prize. Proceeds benefit St. Francis Farm Animal Sanctuary.
Not Just Coffee Opening
421 Providence Road | All day
It’s the first day of pouring for Not Just Coffee in their new location on Providence Road. Stop by for your favorite drink and shop with neighbors Soco Gallery and Tabor Charlotte.
Summer Jazz Series
Freedom Park | 6 p.m.
It’s your last chance to catch live jazz in Freedom Park. Bring your picnic blankets and lawn chairs to see Nick Colionne and Freeport Jazz take the stage, plus enjoy food and beverage vendors.
Pizza Wars
Rooftop 210 | 3 p.m.
Charlotte’s best restaurants will battle it out for the title of best pizza, and you get to be the judge. Try, taste and vote for best pizza, most unique and best booth. Plus, join in a pizza eating contest. Ticket includes entry, ten pizza samplings, beer samples and live entertainment. $20-$35.
Spanish Wine Tasting
Grapes Wine Bar, Matthews | 6:30 p.m.
Taste five Spanish wines in this guided tasting. $20 per person.
Women’s Equality Day Celebration
Blue Blaze Brewing | 2 p.m.
Raise a glass to women’s equality day with a yoga class, food trucks, live music and a vendor market featuring over 25 local women artisans, entrepreneurs, musicians and businesses. Free admission, yoga class is $5 per person.
Yiasou Greek Festival 5K
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral | 7:30 a.m.
Get excited for the Yiasou Greek Festival in September with this family-friendly 5k. Run a personal record or introduce your little ones to running with the 1-mile fun run. Afterwards, runners 21 and up can meet in the beer garden presented by NoDa Brewing Company.
Bad Daddies LIVE at Reid’s SouthPark
Reid’s Fine Foods SouthPark | 7 p.m.
Reid’s Patio Concert Series continues with live music from Bad Daddies. Tickets are $20 each and available at Reid’s SouthPark.
SUNDAY
Cigar City The Order of the Red Banner Dinner
The Cellar at Duckworth’s | 1 p.m.
Cigar City Brewing has teamed up with the chefs at The Cellar to present a five-course menu that pairs perfectly with the brewery’s beers. Learn more about the beers as you sip and taste your way through the dinner. $100 per person. Reserve your seat by calling 980.349.4078.
Teal Tea Party “6” Fundraiser for Gynecologic Cancer Research
Byron’s South End | 3 p.m.
Wear your teal Sunday best to raise funds for gynecologic cancer research, education and awareness programs at the 6th Teal Tea Party. General admission tickets are $70.
Pure Barre + Brunch in The Beer Garden
Sycamore Brewing | 9 a.m.
Bring your own mat to this free Pure Barre class followed by brunch and beermosas by TIN Kitchen and Sycamore Brewing.
