Things to Do in
Charlotte This Week.
September 9-13, 2026: the Yiasou Greek Festival fills the cathedral grounds in Dilworth, Iron Maiden headlines Truliant Amphitheater Saturday with Megadeth and Anthrax, James Taylor closes the weekend Sunday night, Staind plays Thursday, the Knights wrap their final home series, and the Charlotte International Arts Festival keeps the whole month humming.
This is a beautifully full week in Charlotte. The Knights close their home season against the Buffalo Bisons with giveaways and history in the air, the Yiasou Greek Festival turns Dilworth into a two-day block party, Charlotte Symphony pays quiet tribute with Mozart's Requiem on the 9/11 anniversary, and the Charlotte International Arts Festival keeps galleries and stages humming all month. Truliant Amphitheater hosts a once-a-week run: Staind Thursday night, Iron Maiden with Megadeth and Anthrax on Saturday, and James Taylor on Sunday. Friday night belongs to Billy Currington and the OMB Mecktoberfest kickoff, and the weekend closes with the Queen City Coolerfest at Symphony Park. If it feels like the city saved its best for fall, you are right. It is a great week to be in the Queen City.
Monday through Friday.
The Charlotte International Arts Festival programs free events all week, the Knights host the Bisons in their final home series Tuesday through Friday, Staind plays Truliant Thursday night, the Bechtler leads free ArtBreak tours and a free Plaza night Friday, and Friday also brings Billy Currington, Charlotte Symphony's Requiem, the OMB Mecktoberfest kickoff, and a food festival with 40-plus trucks at Charlotte Premium Outlets before the Yiasou Greek Festival opens in Dilworth.
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Venues citywide, across Uptown and Charlotte neighborhoods
Charlotte's International Arts Festival fills the whole month of September with visual art, live performance, dance, open studios, and community programming across the city. This week is prime time to catch exhibitions and pop-ups at venues across Uptown and the neighborhood arts districts, with many programs free or low-cost. It is the easiest way in one week to see how much creative energy this city holds.
9th Annual Teacher-Penned Play Festival
VisArt Video, Plaza Midwood
The 9th Annual Teacher-Penned Play Festival opens Labor Day Monday at VisArt Video in Plaza Midwood, presenting original short plays written by Charlotte's own teachers. It is a quirky, heartfelt local tradition that pairs classroom creativity with one of the city's beloved neighborhood institutions. Seating is first come in the intimate room, so arrive a few minutes early. Check the festival's social pages for the day's full schedule before you head over.
Charlotte Ballet: Free Drop-In Dance Class
Sugaw Creek Recreation Center, northeast Charlotte
Ease into the week with movement: Charlotte Ballet hosts free drop-in dance classes at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center this fall, open to all ages and experience levels. It is a relaxed, welcoming way to meet neighbors and get to know the teaching artists of one of the city's premier arts companies. Just wear comfortable clothes and bring a water bottle. No registration or dance background needed.
ArtBreak Free Guided Tour at the Bechtler
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S Tryon St, Uptown
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art hosts its ArtBreak free guided lunchtime tour this Thursday, a short, sharp look at the museum's collection of midcentury modern master works in the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. Bring your lunch and let the tour turn a mid-day break into a look inside one of the city's underrated art treasures. It is a genuinely nice Charlotte hour: art, skyline, and thirty minutes off your desk.
Charlotte Knights vs. Buffalo Bisons: Final Homestand of 2026
Truist Field, 324 S Mint St, Uptown
The Charlotte Knights play their final home series of the season this week, hosting the Buffalo Bisons for six games September 8-13. It is the Bisons' first visit to Truist Field since 2019, so the stand carries a little history with it. Fan Appreciation Week begins Friday night with giveaways and promotions, and with cheap seats and a $2 hot dog night midweek it stays one of the simplest, friendliest nights out in Charlotte. The Uptown skyline view behind home plate at dusk is its own attraction.
Charlotte Symphony: Mozart's Requiem, a 9/11 Memorial Concert
Booth Playhouse, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Uptown
Charlotte Symphony marks the September 11 anniversary with Mozart's Requiem in the intimate Booth Playhouse at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. It is a vivid, communal way to mark the date together, with the choir and orchestra filling the room in a concert of equal parts grief and comfort. It is one of the most memorable classical evenings on the fall calendar, and it repeats Saturday evening if Friday is already spoken for.
Billy Currington with Kip Moore
Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd, Uptown
Friday night belongs to country music in Charlotte as Billy Currington and Kip Moore share the Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre stage. Expect a greatest-hits-heavy set, from "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer" to "Good Directions," all under the open-air Music Factory sky. Grab dinner at one of the nearby spots first, then join the lawn crowd for the biggest country night of the first full fall week.
Chris Standring at Middle C Jazz
Middle C Jazz, Uptown
Guitarist and composer Chris Standring brings his polished, melody-driven jazz to Middle C Jazz on Friday night, a room built for listening up close. The supper-club format means dinner tables ring the stage, and the ticket covers a relaxing, carefully played set whether you sit to eat or stand at the bar. It is a quieter, very different pace from the big amphitheater shows, and a lovely way to close the workweek.
Staind: Break the Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour
Truliant Amphitheater, 707 Pavilion Blvd, University City
Staind celebrates the 25th anniversary of Break the Cycle, the album that turned them into one of the biggest rock bands of the early 2000s, with a Thursday night show at Truliant Amphitheater. Expect the aching hits that defined the era, "It's Been Awhile," "Outside," "Fade," and "Epiphany," played loud under the University City sky. It is the first of a monster three-show run at Truliant this week, which makes Thursday the perfect entry point for a bargain night out.
OMB Mecktoberfest: Weekend One Kickoff
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Rd (LoSo), Charlotte
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery kicks off its annual Mecktoberfest celebrations on Friday in Lower South End. Expect the taps flowing, live music on the beer garden lawn, and the traditional Bavarian spirit that makes OMB's fall festival one of Charlotte's most-loved free traditions. It is a relaxed, all-ages, dog-friendly Friday night way to welcome the weekend.
FOODEESFEST Food Truck & Craft Festival
Charlotte Premium Outlets, 5404 New Fashion Way, southwest Charlotte
Charlotte Premium Outlets hosts the traveling FOODEESFEST on Friday afternoon, packing the parking lot with 40+ food trucks and craft vendors. It is one of those eat-your-way-around-the-city afternoons, Korean tacos next to lobster rolls next to funnel cake, with vendors selling local art and handmade goods between bites. Take it easy on the way to the outlets and leave room for dessert.
Free Movie & Music Night on the Bechtler Plaza
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S Tryon St, Uptown
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art extends its evening hours for a free slate of activities on its Uptown plaza on Friday night. Expect a family-friendly movie on the big screen, live music, and the museum's mid-century modern collection open to browse, all at no charge. It is one of the most civilized free evenings downtown and a lovely warm-up before the weekend shows.
TOMO Kidz Consignment Sale
The Park Expo & Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Rd, Charlotte
The twice-yearly TOMO Kidz Consignment Sale is at the Park Expo & Conference Center this weekend, one of the biggest children's consignment events in the Southeast. Expect clothes, toys, gear, strollers, and nursery furniture at deep discounts, with leftover items donated to local children's nonprofits. Shoppers who arrive on Thursday and Friday get the best pick of the goods, while Sunday brings markdowns on what is left.
Saturday & Sunday.
The Yiasou Greek Festival takes over Dilworth both days, Iron Maiden headlines Truliant Amphitheater Saturday with Megadeth and Anthrax and James Taylor closes the amphitheater Sunday, the Knights wrap the season with Fan Appreciation Weekend, Charlotte FC plays at FC Cincinnati, and Sunday winds down with the Queen City Coolerfest at Symphony Park in SouthPark.
Yiasou Greek Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Blvd, Dilworth
This is the weekend of Charlotte's biggest block party, the Yiasou Greek Festival on the grounds of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Dilworth. Bring an appetite for gyros, souvlaki, and fresh-baked baklava, then settle in for live Greek music, folk dancing, cathedral tours, and the whole city swaying together on the lawn. It opened Friday and runs through Sunday evening, so you have both full days to catch it. It is one of those weekends that reminds you why you love the Queen City.
Charlotte Knights Fan Appreciation Weekend and Season Finale
Truist Field, 324 S Mint St, Uptown
The Knights wrap the season at home with Fan Appreciation Weekend, starting with a rare ballpark doubleheader on Saturday, two games on one ticket, followed by the final home game of 2026 on Sunday. Giveaways, good weather, and the last chance to see Triple-A baseball in Charlotte until April make it a weekend worth circling. Bring the whole family and let the kids keep score. This is the best-priced entertainment in town.
I.A.A.M. Festival
Victoria Yards, Charlotte
The I.A.A.M. Festival fills Victoria Yards on Saturday from noon to evening with live music, performance, artist vendors, and community programming. It is the kind of out-of-the-box gathering that shows Charlotte neighborhoods at their most welcoming, hosted on the grounds that hold markets and cultural events all year. Pop in for a couple of hours and let the evening flow toward dinner or the Knights doubleheader.
Ranky Tanky at Middle C Jazz
Middle C Jazz, Uptown
Grammy-winning Lowcountry band Ranky Tanky brings its Gullah-inspired celebration of work songs, spirituals, and dance rhythms to Middle C Jazz on Saturday night. The room is tiny and the joy factor is large, with a crowd that cannot help but dance from behind the dinner tables. If you have slept on this band, this is the perfect evening to discover them under the Uptown skyline.
Queen City Coolerfest 4
Symphony Park, SouthPark
Queen City Coolerfest returns to Symphony Park in SouthPark for its fourth year this Sunday afternoon, a laid-back community festival with food trucks, cold drinks, live music, and lawn chairs spread across the grass. Bring a blanket and a good mood and glide the weekend to a close the Charlotte way, outside and unhurried, minutes from the shops and greenway in SouthPark.
Tricks and Treats at Carowinds
Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Fort Mill SC
Carowinds debuts Tricks and Treats this weekend, a brand-new family-friendly Halloween daytime event running 12-5 PM on weekends with the season's first taste of spooky fun. It is a gentle on the nerves entry point for little ones, with seasonal theming, treats, and rides, and all of it is included with your park admission. A weekend trip is a smart move before the big fall haunt events take over the park.
Charlotte Congenital Heart Walk
McAlpine Creek Park, southeast Charlotte
Start Sunday with intention at the Charlotte Congenital Heart Walk at McAlpine Creek Park, a family-friendly stroll organized by children's heart advocates to support research and families facing congenital heart conditions. Kids, strollers, leashed pups, and whole teams are welcome, and the paved greenway loops make it easy at every pace. Register ahead on the walk's website to snag a tee and a spot in the photo wall.
Weekend Farmers Markets: Charlotte Regional and Mecklenburg County
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, 1801 Yorkmont Rd; Mecklenburg County Market, 1515 Harding Place
The two biggest markets in town are both open this weekend, and the produce sits at that perfect transition: late tomatoes, okra, and peppers sharing tables with the first apples, winter squash, and pumpkins. The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (1801 Yorkmont Rd) is the sprawling state-run pick, and Mecklenburg County Market (1515 Harding Place) is the easy-to-walk downtown option. Bring cash and a tote, this is your stock-up-the-week kitchen outing.
Iron Maiden: Run For Your Lives World Tour 2026
Truliant Amphitheater, 707 Pavilion Blvd, University City
The kings of heavy metal ride into Charlotte on Saturday night as Iron Maiden's Run For Your Lives World Tour stops at Truliant Amphitheater with Megadeth and Anthrax on the bill. It is a once-a-decade metal lineup, Eddie and all, and one of the biggest rock shows of the fall in the Queen City. Arrive early for the openers and expect a night of classics from "The Trooper" to "Run to the Hills."
James Taylor
Truliant Amphitheater, 707 Pavilion Blvd, University City
A North Carolina native son comes home: James Taylor brings his warm, evergreen catalog to Truliant Amphitheater on Sunday night. Expect "Fire and Rain," "Sweet Baby James," "Carolina in My Mind," and "You've Got a Friend" turned into an evening-long singalong under the fall sky. It is a gentle, gorgeous way to close a weekend that started with metal.
Cabarrus County Fair
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, 4751 Highway 49 N, Concord NC
Just north of the Charlotte metro line, the Cabarrus County Fair opens its annual nine-day run at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center. Think midway rides, livestock shows, funnel cake, demolition derbies, and the small-town fair spirit that makes fall feel official. It is an easy family outing from anywhere in northern Mecklenburg or Cabarrus County, and Friday night grandstand events draw the biggest crowds.
Charlotte FC at FC Cincinnati (Watch Parties)
Away match; watch at soccer bars across Charlotte
Charlotte FC plays its second straight road match this weekend, visiting FC Cincinnati on Saturday night. The Crown's supporters' groups pack Charlotte's soccer bars for away days, so expect a lively crowd at spots like The Hooligans in South End and other dedicated soccer pubs across the metro. It follows Wednesday's away match at CF Montreal, making it a true two-game week for Charlotte FC.
Ongoing & recurring.
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Venues citywide
The month-long festival continues through September 30 with exhibitions, performances, and open studios across Charlotte
Tricks and Treats at Carowinds
Carowinds, Fort Mill SC
New family-friendly Halloween event runs weekends 12-5 PM starting Sept 12, included with park admission
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
1801 Yorkmont Rd, Charlotte
Open Wednesday through Sunday year round, hours vary by season
Mecklenburg County Market
1515 Harding Place, First Ward
The county market runs Monday through Saturday plus Sunday afternoons, gearing up for the fall harvest
Charlotte Symphony 2026-27 Season
Knight Theater, Belk, Booth Playhouse
The fall season is underway at the Blumenthal halls, from the 9/11 Requiem to the holiday programs ahead
Don't miss these.
Yiasou Greek Festival (Saturday)
My annual "go hungry" recommendation. Between the souvlaki, the baklava, and the live Greek music filling the cathedral grounds in Dilworth, it is one of the most Charlotte afternoons of the year for a weekend. Bring cash, a big appetite, and a few friends, and let the crowd carry the conversation.
Charlotte Knights Final Homestand (Tue-Sun)
Charlotte sports at its most accessible: cheap seats, easy parking, giveaways all week, and the Bisons in town for the first time since 2019. I tell every family in the intown neighborhoods to pick one night and go. These are the last home games until next April, and the sunset over the skyline from the berm never gets old.
Iron Maiden + James Taylor at Truliant (Sat & Sun)
Metal royalty Saturday night, a North Carolina folk legend Sunday night, one amphitheater, one weekend: Truliant is hosting a once-in-a-decade run of shows. Iron Maiden with Megadeth and Anthrax is the big-ticket bill of the fall, and James Taylor's homecoming is the singalong of the year. If you can only pick one, that is your problem; I would find a way to do both.
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