Charlotte Events
Sep 21–27.
The first full week of fall brings the 62nd Festival in the Park at Freedom Park, the Breakaway Music Festival at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte FC vs Chicago Fire, six days of the Charlotte Film Festival, and Yeat at Skyla Amphitheatre. Here is your guide to what is happening in Charlotte this week.
Things to do this week.
Monday night is all about live music across Uptown and NoDa, then the Charlotte Film Festival opens Tuesday and the fall festival season really kicks into gear by Friday.
Yeat, The LOVE/LYFE Tour
Yeat brings his LOVE/LYFE tour to Charlotte's Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre for a Monday-night show. The LA rapper's signature blend of rage beats, autotuned melodies, and futuristic production has made him one of the biggest young names in hip-hop, and this local stop is one of the hottest tickets of the week. Grab dinner at the Music Factory beforehand and doors open early for the floor.
President with Showing Teeth
Post-hardcore band President headlines The Underground with Showing Teeth opening the bill. The intimate club room inside the AvidXchange Music Factory is the place to catch rising national acts up close, and Monday's show is a great low-key way to start the week with loud guitars and serious energy.
French Police at Neighborhood Theatre Tap Room
Indie outfit French Police plays the Tap Room at the Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa on Monday night. Their punk-tinged, melancholic indie-pop sound fits the room, which keeps shows small and sweaty in the best way. A perfect evening show for fans of jangly guitars and heartfelt lyrics.
Find Your Muse Open Mic at The Evening Muse
The Evening Muse in NoDa hosts its Monday open mic night, a long-running staple where Charlotte musicians test new material in front of a friendly room. Whether you are playing or just listening, it is the most welcoming way to plug into the city's live-music scene. Free to attend.
Taste of Chaos at The Fillmore
The Taste of Chaos tour makes its long-awaited return to The Fillmore with co-headliners Hollywood Undead and In This Moment, backed by I See Stars, Vana, and Melrose Avenue. It is the first run of the rock-leaning festival tour in roughly a decade, and this bill leans heavy: expect theatrical sets, big hooks, and a packed room on the Music Factory grounds. A great Tuesday-night show for fans of modern rock.
Gorillaz, The Mountain Tour
Gorillaz bring The Mountain Tour to Spectrum Center for a rare arena headline show in Charlotte, with Little Simz and Deltron 3030 opening. Expect the animated band's genre-blending setlist, from "Clint Eastwood" and "Feel Good Inc." to new material, all backed by a full live band and big visuals. One of the biggest midweek concerts of the season.
Charlotte Film Festival, 18th Annual
The 18th annual Charlotte Film Festival returns for six days of bold independent cinema at the Independent Picture House in NoDa, with more than 140 films, filmmaker Q&As, and panel conversations. Friday's programming includes "Kids Like Me," a family-friendly screening, and the Carolina Crafted Films series spotlights North Carolina moviemakers all week. Individual tickets run around $12 with festival passes available.
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is open year-round, and late September is peak fall harvest season. You will find early apples and pumpkins alongside late-summer tomatoes, peppers, and peaches, plus local honey, artisan cheese, farm-fresh eggs, and baked goods across the market's vendor buildings. Free admission and parking, and the best local-produce stock-up in the metro.
Houndmouth with Daniel Donato & Molly Tuttle
Roots-rock favorites Houndmouth headline The Amp Ballantyne on Friday evening with Daniel Donato and Molly Tuttle also on the bill. Expect a full night of Americana and guitar-driven songwriting, with three acts that tour nationally and bring serious instrumental chops. A great way to kick off the weekend in south Charlotte.
The Grass Is Dead at Visulite Theatre
Grateful Dead tribute band The Grass Is Dead brings its faithful, high-energy take on the Dead catalog to the Visulite Theatre in Elizabeth on Friday night. The intimate venue, wood-paneled stage, and devoted crowd make it a fun, community-style show for Deadheads and newcomers alike.
Festival of Lebanon
The Festival of Lebanon returns for two days of Lebanese food, music, and heritage at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Ballantyne. Expect grilled kebabs, mezze, baklava, and coffee alongside live performances and family-friendly programming. A delicious window into one of Charlotte's vibrant Middle Eastern communities.
Castle Rat: Summon the Beasts Tour
New York doom-metal outfit Castle Rat brings its theatrical Summon the Beasts tour to the Neighborhood Theatre's main room in NoDa on Friday night. Expect heavy riffs, dungeon-fantasy stagecraft, and a devoted crowd that already knows every song. One of the more unique bills of the weekend, and a great 18+ show in the neighborhood's best live room.
Julia Wolf at The Fillmore
Genre-blending singer-songwriter Julia Wolf headlines The Fillmore on Friday night. Her alt-pop sound, moody lyrics, and viral singles have built a loyal young following, and the Music Factory's big club room is the right size for her current run. Grab dinner in the complex beforehand and make a full evening of it.
Emo Nite
Emo Nite takes over The Underground for a Friday-night DJ dance party built on 2000s emo and pop-punk anthems. Expect sing-alongs to My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and Taking Back Sunday in a packed, nostalgia-fueled room. 18+. A low-stakes, high-energy way to close out the work week.
Charlotte events this weekend.
It is one of the biggest weekends on Charlotte's fall calendar: Festival in the Park, Breakaway Music Festival, Charlotte FC at home, college football at UNC Charlotte, and farmers markets across the metro.
Festival in the Park, 62nd Annual
The 62nd annual Festival in the Park returns to Freedom Park for three days of art, music, food, and family fun. This is one of Charlotte's oldest and most beloved traditions, featuring more than 180 artists and craftspeople, live music on multiple stages, a dedicated Family Fun Zone for kids, and food vendors serving everything from festival classics to local specialties. Admission is free, and shuttle lots get busy, so arrive early.
Breakaway Music Festival Carolina
Breakaway Music Festival Carolina returns to the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway for two days of electronic and dance music, with multiple stages of DJs and producers drawing crowds from across the region. The massive drag strip setting creates a one-of-a-kind festival atmosphere just north of Charlotte. General admission and VIP passes are available through the festival's official channels.
Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
The Charlotte Symphony brings Warner Bros. cartoons to the big screen in a live film-and-orchestra show, with beloved Looney Tunes shorts accompanied by the full orchestra. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and friends make this one of the most family-friendly concerts of the season, a perfect way to introduce young kids to live classical music in the splendor of Belk Theater.
South End Farmers Market at Atherton
The South End Farmers Market at Atherton runs every Saturday year-round, and late September is one of its best stretches. You will find local produce, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, flowers, and crafts alongside coffee and the busy Atherton Mill courtyard. Grab breakfast, stroll the Rail Trail, and shop local in the heart of South End.
Mint Hill Farmers Market
The Mint Hill Farmers Market holds one of its last Saturdays of the season this weekend, wrapping a May-through-September run of local produce, baked goods, honey, and handmade crafts. It is a friendly, small-town market east of Charlotte that is worth the short drive, especially for fall squash, apples, and seasonal treats before the market closes for the year.
Catawba Fest
Catawba Fest returns to Tega Cay's lakefront Catawba Park for a free day of local makers, food trucks, and family fun just across the state line. The fall market features a Children's Entrepreneur Market where young vendors sell their own creations, plus live music and a picture-perfect lakeside setting. One of the best free family outings of the season in the Charlotte metro.
West End Huetiful Block Party
The West End Huetiful Block Party takes over Five Points Plaza in the Historic West End for a free Saturday afternoon of local vendors, food, live music, and kids' activities. It is a community celebration designed to spotlight Black-owned businesses and West Charlotte culture, and it is completely free to attend.
Charlotte FC vs. Chicago Fire FC
Charlotte FC returns home to Bank of America Stadium for a Saturday night MLS match against the Chicago Fire. With the playoff race tightening, this is a big one for the Crown, whose supporters fill the stadium with among the largest crowds in the league. Game-day energy starts hours before kickoff with tailgates and the Mint City Collective's tifo displays, and Uptown's bars stay buzzing after the final whistle.
Charlotte 49ers vs. Louisiana (UNC Charlotte Family Weekend)
The Charlotte 49ers host Louisiana at Jerry Richardson Stadium during UNC Charlotte's Family Weekend, giving fans a full homecoming of tailgating, campus events, and college football. Tickets for the tailgate and game are pre-purchased through the university, so plan ahead. A fun, family-friendly Saturday on the University City side of town.
Starbomb at The Fillmore
Starbomb, the comedy-rap project known for irreverent video-game themed hip-hop, brings its Saturday night show of laughs and grooves to The Fillmore Charlotte. Expect theatrical stage banter, crowd sing-alongs, and an audience that knows every punchline. A fun, playful concert for gamers and comedy fans alike.
Lucinda Williams and Her Band
Americana legend Lucinda Williams and her band play the restored Carolina Theatre in Uptown on Saturday night. Known for classics like "Passionate Kisses" and "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," Williams remains one of the most respected songwriters in American roots music. The intimate, historic theater is a fitting room for her weathered, powerful voice.
Battle of Charlotte Living History Weekend
The Battle of Charlotte Living History Weekend brings Revolutionary War reenactors, encampments, and period demonstrations to the Charlotte area for a step back to 1780. Musket drills, camp cooking, and historians in period dress make it a hands-on history lesson for kids and adults. Admission is typically free or by donation.
Carolina Panthers at Cleveland Browns, Away Game Watch Parties
The Carolina Panthers head to Cleveland for their Week 3 matchup against the Browns on Sunday afternoon, and Charlotte's sports bars and breweries will be packed with Panthers fans for watch parties. Top spots to catch the game include VBGB in the Music Factory with its big outdoor screens, All-American Pub in Uptown, and Sycamore Brewing in South End, which shows Sunday NFL games with a lively game-day crowd.
Scout Harvester Festival at Camp North End
A free, family-friendly hometown gathering at Camp North End celebrating the Scout brand and its heritage, hosted by Scout Motors. Expect heritage Scouts and the new Scout Traveler and Terra on display, food trucks, live music, and a welcoming community vibe in one of Charlotte's favorite creative districts. Free with RSVP; bring the kids and a camera.
Flatland Cavalry: Work of Heart Tour
Texas country favorites Flatland Cavalry headline Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre on Saturday night with their Work of Heart tour. Clea Vincent's weathered vocals and the band's storytelling songbook make this one of the most anticipated country shows of the season, riding the wave of a chart-topping year for the Lubbock band. A great outdoor evening show with the Music Factory crowd.
8th Annual Pumpkin Palooza at Hot Glass Alley
Hot Glass Alley's 8th annual Pumpkin Palooza kicks off the pumpkin season this weekend with glass pumpkin demos, a pop-up market, and hands-on activities at the studio off North Davidson. Glass blowers fire up the furnaces and pull molten pumpkins in hundreds of shapes and colors, making it the most unique Halloween-season shopping in the metro. Free to browse; pumpkins sell as they are made.
Michael Franti & Spearhead: Heartstrings & Dynamite Trio
Michael Franti and Spearhead close out the weekend with an intimate Heartstrings & Dynamite Trio performance at The Underground on Sunday night. Stripped down to its acoustic core, the set leans into the songs' soul and message while keeping the crowd on its feet. The perfect Sunday-night palate cleanser after a festival-heavy weekend.
Save the date.
Events and attractions running throughout the week and into the fall season across the Charlotte metro.
Charlotte Film Festival
18th annual festival runs through Sep 27 with 140+ independent films, filmmaker Q&As, and the Carolina Crafted Films series
SCarowinds
Select nights through Nov 1: haunted mazes, scare zones, and rides in the dark at the park on the NC-SC line
Fall Season at the U.S. National Whitewater Center
Rafting, zip lines, mountain biking, climbing, and trails in crisp fall weather, with the on-site restaurant and bar open
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
Open Wed through Sun year-round; peak fall harvest with apples, pumpkins, winter squash, and more
Carolina Renaissance Festival
The 2026 season opens the weekend of October 3-4 and runs Saturdays and Sundays through November 22: jousting, artisans, turkey legs, and mead
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Paved trail network connecting neighborhoods, parks, and Uptown, at its best in golden September weather
Fall Exhibitions at the Mint Museum
Rotating art and design exhibitions at both locations, a perfect rainy-afternoon activity
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