There is truly a festival for any and every one coming soon to the QC and nearby towns, so get ready for a fabulous Spring Season. The fun starts NOW.
March Charlotte Area Spring 2024 Fairs & Festivals
Charlotte Indepence Fan Fest
Saturday, March 2, 2024
American Legion Memorial Stadium, 310 N Kings Drive, Charlotte
Charlotte soccer fans should head over for a family-friendly, fun-filled afternoon at the Independence home, American Legion Memorial Stadium. Cheer on the Jacks during a preseason friendly and get pumped for the start of the 2024 season. There will be bounce houses, yard games, face painting and more.
4th Annual CLT Donut Festival
Sunday, March 3, 2024, 1 – 5 pm
Norfolk Hall, 2905 Griffith Street
This festival showcases the delicious round treat so many of us love, the donut. But plenty of other tasty, sweet treats from some of Charlotte’s favorite bakeries will also be available. Enjoy music, lifestyle vendors, and goods from other local artisans and artists.
SAVOR Charlotte
March 12 – 26, 2024
Various Restaurants & Locations around the QC
Savor Charlotte will provide epicurean adventurers one-of-a-kind experiences, such as hands-on classes and demonstrations, exclusive menus and special offers. From March 12-26, indulge in the offerings from talented tastemakers as you discover what makes Charlotte a vibrant culinary destination.
Green River Revival
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Whitewater Center
Kick off spring festivities with Green River Revival. Watch as the Whitewater Center’s resident leprechaun transforms the river green for St Patrick’s Day. Start the day with the Color Me Green 5K Trail Run before rafting down the river and listening to live music.
Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade ad Festival
Saturday, March 16, 2024
UPTOWN
The Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Festival is a Charlotte tradition. The festival will be held from 10 to 6 with the parade marching from 11 to 1. Don’t miss out on vendors, bands, Irish dancing, and more.
Rich & Bennett’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl
Saturday, March 16, 2024
UPTOWN
Paint the town green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Rich & Bennett’s 22nd St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl in Uptown. Since the pub crawl’s inception in 2001, it has continuously grown in popularity with participants traveling to the Queen City from all over the country, and even internationally to don their green t-shirts and enjoy access to all participating bars and drink specials.
No Man’s Land Festival
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Ford Building in Camp North End
The Inaugural No Man’s Land festival and market is here to celebrate all women. Join in on March 23rd, 2024 where you can expect 100+ woman-owned businesses, hands-on workshops, breakout sessions, activations, and photo opps.
Holi Festival of Colors
Saturday, March 23, 2024 12-4PM
Elon Recreation Center at 11401 Ardrey Kell Road Charlotte
Holi Hai! Join the Elon Rec Center’s HOLI for a vibrant and joyous celebration of the festival of colors filled with festivities. Cover your family and friends with safe gulal (colored powder) , and explore cultural traditions as you welcome the Spring season.
Olé España
Saturday March 23, 2024
Camp North End (Boileryard Area)
Celebrate authentic Spanish cuisine and culture on Saturday March 23rd at Olé España, featuring live performances by Vadim Kolpakov Group and Sincopao Flamenco, a paella cooking demonstration, delicious sangria and Spanish wine selections at a one-of-a-kind experience. 12-5PM – FREE ADMISSION. Sponsored by Arts & Science Council Culture Blocks, a community partnership funded by Mecklenburg County.
STEAMfest 2024
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | 12 PM to 5 PM
Woodlawn School, 135 Woodlawn School Loop, Mooresville, NC
“North Carolina’s largest STEM & Arts festival” will feature over 100 free hands-on STEAM activities, games, entertainment, artisans and vendors, food trucks, and more.
Hosted by Woodlawn School, situated on 61 beautiful acres, the event takes place each spring and attracts visitors from all over the Southeastern United States. Featuring hands-on activities created by teachers, students, local universities, museums, community organizations, and businesses, STEAMfest offers visitors an exciting look into the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. It’s an opportunity to take part in fun, engaging, hands-on activities that give us even more reason to imagine, discover, and explore all of the wonderful possibilities that surround us.
Join STEAMfest 2024. Admission is FREE.
Charlotte SHOUT!
March 29-April 14, 2024
UPTOWN
SHOUT! is back! For 17 days, Charlotte SHOUT! transforms Uptown Charlotte into a creative playground for art, food, music, and ideas. SHOUT! celebrates our community’s innovative spirit with exceptionally curated programming from around the corner and around the world. Lots more detail at the link.
South End Wine & Hops Fest
Saturday, March 30, 2024 1– 6PM
Lenny Boy Brewing, 3000 S Tryon St, Charlotte
Charlotte’s most award-winning festival celebrates one of our most beloved neighborhoods in the city. Join over several days to sip on wines, craft brews, and enjoy live music.
April Charlotte Area Spring 2024 Fairs & Festivals
Carolina BBQ Festival
April 5-6, 2024
Camp North End
For the third year in a row, some of the most talented Pitmasters from the Carolinas and beyond are coming together to BBQ for a cause. Back at Camp North End, the Carolina BBQ Festival will be delicious BBQ, live music, vendors, cocktails, beer and more.
Pet Palooza Fundraising Walk & Community Festival
April 6, 2024, 11am — 3pm
Humane Society’s Animal Resource Center 1348 Parker Dr. Charlotte
Celebrate together at the Humane Society of Charlotte’s Animal Resource Center with their building open & full of adoptable animals, plus a backyard set up complete with a dog park and all the vendors and activities you know and love. Pet Palooza is an annual fundraising walk and community festival featuring live music, food trucks, pet-loving vendors, and fun for the whole family. While the festival is free to attend, those who wish to participate in the walk must register ahead of time.
Come See Me Festival
April 11-20, 2024
Rock Hill SC
Since 1962, the Come-See-Me Festival has heralded the beginning of spring for the greater Rock Hill area. What started out as a weekend event has grown to a 10-day festival full of merriment and memories for all ages. Kick off the Festival with the Come-See-Me Parade, enjoy live music and food throughout the week and wrap things up with the Tailgate Party and Fireworks Extravaganza! Visit the Festival Events page and start making plans for this beloved Rock Hill tradition.
The Charlotte Fair
April 11-21, 2024
ROUTE 29 PAVILION 5650 SANDUSKY BLVD. CONCORD NC
Two weeks of fun-filled entertainment, delicious food, and thrilling rides that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With attractions for all ages, the Queen Charlotte Fair offers something for everyone. Early Bird tickets now on sale ~ Save $2 on all adult tickets and $1 on all kid tickets.
Moo, Brew & ‘Que Music Fest
April 12-14, 2024
817 Hamilton Street behind the AvidXchange office tower.
Get your feel of BBQ, beer, burgers and music packed into one weekend at AvidXchange Music Factory Grounds. Taste over 50 beers while you listen to musical performances from artists like The Revivalists, Hippo Campus, and Flipturn.
Paws In the Park
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 10am-3pm
Rain or Shine Pineville Lake Park 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville
Annual event which features Dog Rescue Groups and Shelters with dogs available for adoption, Food Trucks, Arts/Crafts and Business Vendors, Demonstrations, Photo Booth, Kids Playground, Dog Contests at noon and Award-Winning Entertainment – Circus Stella, and the Chairmen of the Board band.
Hinducenter HOLI Festival
Sunday, April 14 12-3PM
7400 City View Dr, Charlotte
Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant hues of Holi! This annual Holi Color Festival from the Hindu Center of Charlotte is set to dazzle on April 14th. Stay tuned to their Facebook event at the link for more details to come.
Charlotte Kids Fest
Sunday, April 14, 2024 11am to 4pm
8844 Craver Road (UNC Charlotte)
This is a free festival with a variety of creative games, experiences, music and learning opportunities for all ages! This year the UNC Charlotte STEAM Innovation Expo (part of NC Science Fest) will add the educational and hands-on demonstrations of the STEAM Expo to the creative and innovative activities of Kids Fest.
Charlotte StrEATs Festival
Sunday, April 14, 2024 12am – 5pm
Gateway Village
Celebrate the city’s culinary scene in a FREE, family-friendly event featuring food & restaurant vendors, a celebrity chef (to be announced soon), cooking demonstrations, food trucks, live music, art, and more. Don’t miss the Neighborhood Cook-off pitting chefs head-to-head in a cook-off to win the title of StrEATs Neighborhood Champion. On April 3rd, from 6-9 PM, StrEATS is expanding to wine and tastings this year at Johnson and Wales. There is also a StrEATS Tasting Tour on April 13th, from 2-3 PM featuring dishes from iconic Charlotte restaurants.
Charlotte Wine & Food Week Presented by Truist
APRIL 16 – 21, 2024
In its 36ᵗʰ year of fundraising, Charlotte Wine + Food Week features a week-long Online Charity Auction and a series of restaurant vintner dinners including its signature walk-around Grand Tasting on featuring 100+ carefully selected wines, tastings from Charlotte-area restaurants, and live music. Proceeds for the 2024 event benefit four local children’s charities; A Child’s Place – a program of Thompson Child & Family Focus, Augustine Literacy Project, GenOne, and The Learning Collaborative.
Tuck Fest
April 19-21,2024
Whitewater Center
This is one of the area’s biggest festivals in spring, a multi-day festival that celebrates the outdoor lifestyle through competitions, exhibitions, demos, and live music at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. The festival features a variety of outdoor competitions, along with 3 days of live music. The name “Tuck Fest” comes from the Tuckaseegee Ford and Trail, a historical landmark located at the Whitewater Center.
For guests who are interested in simply experiencing the sights and sounds of Tuck Fest, there is no ticket or registration required (standard parking fees apply). Everyone is welcome to enjoy the live music, demos and view all of the competitions free of charge.
2024 Charlotte Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 20, 2024 12-4pm
Charlotte Museum of History 3500 Shamrock Drive
Charlotte Earth Day 2024 is a celebration that will bring together communities for an educational celebration of our environment and the local groups that work to improve it. Join in this celebration which promises to be an inspirational, fun, enchanting and enlightening event celebrating the Diversity & Beauty of Life on Earth….for the kids, for the grandkids, for us all.
Loch Norman Highland Games
April 20-21, 2024
Rural Hill 4431 Neck Road Huntersville
The Loch Norman Highland Games at Rural Hill is a family friendly event presented by Historic Rural Hill. Come and experience all the fun with Highland Dancing, Bagpipe Bands, Highland Athletics, a Giant Kid’s Zone, Scottish Merchants, Haggis, Celtic Rock and Traditional Performers, Historic Reenactments, Scottish Country Dancing, Sunday Church Service, Hearth Cooking, NC Beer and Wine, Whiskey Tastings, Kilted Running Events, Scottish Clan Societies, Shoot Long Bows and Blowguns, Throw a Battle Axe and more.
‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak Street, Cornelius
‘Tawba Walk festivities include: 2 stages of Live Bands Over 100 local artists, craftsmen & vendors Local Craft Breweries Multiple Food Truck Courts Epic Kid Zone Street Art & Live Demonstrations Games, Give-a-ways, and more.
BOOM Charlotte 2024 Festival
April 26 – 28, 2024
Camp North End 300 Camp Road, Charlotte
BOOM is back! BOOM 2024 will be the 7th year of the annual arts festival, at a mix of indoor and outdoor venues. BOOM Fringe: original edgy/experimental art performed in intimate settings. It features ticketed performances created by the presenting artists in several small venues. BOOM Intersection: a broad range of art performed on a central stage, plus interactive installations and activities – all free and open to the public. The Intersection is the epicenter of the festival. It becomes a location for artists, audiences, and community members to come together and enjoy live art in an outdoor living room.
April is for Arts Davidson
April 26-28, 2024
April is for Arts is a month-long celebration of the arts in Davidson. We have selected the weekend of April 26-28, 2024 to focus on the arts in town and have exciting events planned for both residents and visitors.
- Gallery Crawl: Friday, April 26, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Art on the Green Festival: Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 28, noon until 4:00 p.m.
- Concert on the Green: Sunday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m.
Regional Festival of India @ MATTHEWS
Saturday April 27, 2024 Noon to 6PM
Stumptown Park, 120 South Trade St., Matthews
A one-day event in an open setting in downtown Matthews, with focus on live performances of Indian Dance forms in the Stumptown Park. Dance performances ~ Cultural exhibits ~ Visual art gallery and kids interactive art corner ~ Indian Food Court ~ Souvenir Bazaar ~ Henna Tattoos ~ Saree wearing ~ Turban tying. FREE Admission and Ample free public parking is available around the venue site. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BLANKET & CHAIR.
Garibaldi Festival
Saturday, Apr 27, 2024 Noon–10pm
24 S. Main Street, Belmont, NC
Immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and community at the 2024 Garibaldi Festival. This annual event is a harmonious blend of artistic expression, artisanal craftsmanship, and electrifying melodies, making it a must-attend for anyone.
May Charlotte Area Spring 2024 Fairs & Festivals
Jiggy With the Piggy Festival Kannapolis
May 2 – 5, 2024
125 N. Research Campus Drive and Downtown Kannapolis
The festival will return in 2024 for its 10th year with the smells and tastes of barbeque and fun for the entire family. Country Music Superstar Craig Morgan will perform in honor of their 10th Anniversary with a free concert, Friday, May 3, on the North Carolina Research Campus on the Horseshoe.
Lovin’ Life Music Fest
May 3-5, 2024
300 North Brevard Street, Charlotte
A new music festival is coming to Charlotte featuring an impressive lineup and is already sold out of several ticket types. Listen to over 40 local and national artists performing live across three stages. The multi-genre festival lineup in Uptown will include popular artists like Post Malone, Noah Kahan and Stevie Nicks.
Kings Drive Art Walk
May 4-5, 2024
Little Sugar Creek Greenway at 600 South Kings Drive
Held along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, a reclaimed natural waterway between East Morehead Street and Pearle Park Way Bridge along Kings Drive with a focus on fine and emerging artists, this spring festival on this beautiful and easily accessible venue is an annual fine arts outing. The KDAW festival is located on the King’s Drive section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, a beautiful public space that is open to all in the community.
- Saturday, May 4, 2024 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sunday, May 5, 2024 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
South Carolina Strawberry Festival
Saturday, May 4, 2024 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Walter Elisha Park, 345 N White Street, Fort Mill
SO MUCH MORE than strawberries! Deets at the link.
Hello Huntersville Music & Arts Festival
Sunday, May 5, 2024 1-6pm
Veterans Park – Downtown Huntersville
Hello Huntersville is an art and music festival that highlights local/regional area artist and musicians. Listen to live music while supporting local artists, food & beverage vendors. This event is FREE to the public.
BeachFest Matthews
May 10-11, 2024
Stumptown Park Matthews
Friday, May 10th 6pm – 10pm Saturday, May 11th 10am – 10pm. HEADS UP! No pets are allowed at BeachFest Matthews per Town Ordinance
Dilworth Jubilee
Saturday, May 18, 2024 Noon until 5 p.m
LATTA PARK
The Jubilee has brought together the Dilworth community and the City of Charlotte for a day of celebration, live music and local vendors almost every year since the first Jubilee in 1973. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to this free event. Tentative Schedule of Events:
- Noon – Jubilee begins, Beer Garden Opens
- 1 p.m. – Jolly Lollies Perform
- 2 p.m. – Pet Parade and awards ceremony (sponsored by Farm Hounds dog treat company)
- 2:30 p.m. –The Angie Rikard Band begins live music
- 5 p.m. – Jubilee ends
Reel Out Charlotte
May 15-19, 2024
The Independent Picture House 4237 Raleigh St., Charlotte
Join in to celebrate the beauty of independent cinema and see LGBTQ lives, loves, and triumphs on the big screen at the new venue, The Independent Picture House, in partnership with the Charlotte Film Society. More event details and ticket purchases coming soon.
St. Philip Neri Italian Festival
May 16-18, 2024
292 Munn Road East, Fort Mill, SC
Join in on the non-stop festivies at St. Philip Neri Italian Festival to experience more than 20 different festival favorites and Italian specialties. Also, after a three-year hiatus, the Cannoli 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run is back in 2024 ~ Saturday, May 18 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Midwood Maynia
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Midwood Park Plaza Midwood
Midwood Maynia is Plaza Midwood’s official event to welcome warmer weather, the blossoms of spring and the beginning of the outdoor festival season with live music, food, beer from a local brewery, parade, great local merchants and fun activities for the kids. This event is free to all, so we welcome you to join friends, family, neighbors, artisans and many of our local businesses in beautiful Midwood Park for the annual Midwood Maynia festival.
Pineville Arts in the Park
Saturday, May 18, 2024 10 AM – 6 PM
Pineville Lake Park, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville
Family oriented outdoor festival held in the picturesque Lake Park, this festival is focused on promoting local arts, crafts, entertainment, musicians, food trucks and a children’s art show. Stage Entertainment and times will be released in April.
Cheerwine Festival
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Salisbury NC
Attend the annual Cheerwine Festival for amazing food, lively entertainment, and all the Cheerwine you can drink.
RiverFest
Saturday, May 18, 11:00-4:00 PM
Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park, Belmont, NC
This event features live music, food trucks, local craft beer, educational activies for kids, kayaking, bounce house, and local vendors. To benefit the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.
Cornelius Jazz Festival
Saturday, May 18, 2024 5 – 9 PM
Smithville Park, 19710 S Ferry Street, Cornelius
This FREE annual jazz music festival will feature live performances numerous delicious food trucks, tasty local beer and wine, kids’ activities, local business vendors, and more. Performers for this years Jazz Fest will be announced soon. Check the link to the FB page above.
Hippie Daze Festival
June 1-2, 2024
Dallas Lavender Lane Farm, 937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas, NC
This is a great festival full of activities and performers, DJ , over 100 vendors , including multiple food vendors, lavender will be in full bloom so they will offer calming crowns from lavender you cut. Stilt walkers, magician, jugglers, face painting, VW show , celebrities , petting zoo including highland cow, mini donkey , mini baby goats, mini pigs that walk around freely on the property, bubble show, bands, VW car and bus show, and more. Stay tuned at their website or Facebook page.
If we missed your favorite Spring Festival, please drop us a line with the info AND link(s) HERE.
This article was compiled and written by Sophia Jacobs, a native Charlottean who recently graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Political Science. Sophia loves to read, practice yoga, and is addicted to the NYT daily crossword. She is currently job searching for opportunities in the marketing or editorial world in Charlotte.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-jacobs-7b135a237
