35 replies to this topic

[dbull75]

Don't forget that the Yiasou Greek Festival is this weekend too: http://www.yiasoufestival.org/.

[Urbanity]

^^^ Glad you mentioned that and revived the thread!  Yiasou was one of the first festivals I ever attended in Charlotte and still one of the best!

Also, this weekend sees the inaugural Gantt Fest!

And let's not forget that Charlotte Pride is under a month - this year it is at the North Carolina Music Factory.

Edit:  Forgot a biggie:  BBQ and Blues is this weekend (though I much prefer the previous name of Blues, Brews and BBQ)

Also the Charlotte Literary Festival is in NoDA this weekend, and Charlotte's Fashion Week starts September 23rd with events in both BoA (new tower) and Founder's Hall - I'm kinda hoping the do a runway on the skywalk between the two buildings!

Edited by Urbanity, 10 September 2010 - 01:59 PM.

[tozmervo]

Festival in the Park is this weekend (starts today, in fact). I have to admit that I've never been, but that'll change tomorrow. I don't reckon anyone has a good suggestion for bike parking over there?

[CLTNative]

A pumpkin carving competition called "GUTS" will be held at the square on Thursday, October 28 at 4:00 pm. This was started by Hawse Design from South End. They recruit creative professionals to compete and then auction off the completed pumpkins to raise money for Levine Children's Hospital. The event was very low key last year, but is getting elevated quite a bit this go round.

Other festivities include:
380lb pumpkin professionally carved
Children's costume contest in Polk Park with a photo booth
Beer/Food vendors
DJ from local radio station

Competition info: http://www.hawsedesign.com/guts

Last year's entries:

[Urbanity]

^^^Related to Halloween, it was very cool to see so many people in Uptown dressed in costumes from early afternoon through the evening on Saturday.  I think one of the things I really do like about Charlotte is that the people who live/come to the center city area are into events and festivities.

[Urbanity]

The inaugural Charlotte Turkish festival will be happening on November 13th

http://www.charlotte...al/Welcome.html

[Urbanity]

Looking forward to next week's Parade.   I understand that it's the fourth largest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country (behind NYC, Chicago and Philadelphia).

I've been here three years but never had a chance to actually go before.  I also think it's cool that they are ending it at the Cultural Campus!

http://www.carrouselparade.org/

[Urbanity]

I started my Christmas decorating yesterday and felt in the mood, so here's the rundown of Holiday events in the Charlotte area through December.

CHARLOTTE TREE LIGHTING (I like that there is something on all four corners

• Corporate Plaza @ Founder’s Hall

       5:30-6pm: Jazz Trio Performance
   6:00pm: Tree Lighting Ceremony
   6:20pm: Official Tree Lighting
   6:30pm: Nutcracker Performance
   6:30-8:00pm: Jazz Music
   (also within Founders Hall is The Leonard Bearstein animatronic orchestra starting Dec. 1 through the month.)

• Disc Plaza

6:30-8:00pm: Radio Music from K104.7 your official Christmas station of Charlotte.

• Polk Park

6:30-8:00pm: Santa Claus is in town!! Get your picture with Santa and interact with the elves as you wait for your picture to be taken with him. Balloon animals for those waiting in line.

• Twelve @ Independence Center (Formerly The Vue Location)

6:30-8:00pm: ACC mascots meet & greet! Small stage of performances by The Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, Dickens Carolers & Strolling Performers

TWELVE Shops

• Local Vendors set up a Holiday stores in the old VUE location in Independence Center (through December)

WBT Holidays on Ice

• Ice Skating Rink on the Green

Holiday Jazz at the Bechtler

• December 3rd. 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

NASCAR HOF HALLidays at the Hall.

• Saturdays in Dec starting on the 11th.  Various events on different Saturdays.  See HOF website for details

Holiday Lights at Daniel Stowe Boatanical Gardens

• Through the end of December.

Charlotte Motor Speedway's Carolina Christmas

• See Website for details.

McAdenville Christmas Lights

• Through Dec 26th.  M-F: 5:30-9:30; Sat & Sun: 5:30 - 11:00

Blumenthal Performing Arts . Check website for details but a few performances worth noting:

• Broadway revival of Irving Berlin's White Christmas;
• Charlotte' NC Dance Theater's Nutcracker;
• Charlotte Symphony's Magic of Christmas;
• Handel's Messiah Rocks
• My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm Home for The Holidays
• Charlotte Symphony and Oratorio Singers of Charlotte's Handle's Messiah

Actor's Theater of Charlotte

• Every Christmas Story Ever Told (Dec. 1-18

Edited by Urbanity, 27 November 2010 - 11:14 AM.

[Urbanity]

Sixth Annual Thunder Road, Marathon, Charlotte's 26.2 mile run, is on Saturday, December 11th

http://runcharlotte.com/welcome.htm

Edited by Urbanity, 01 December 2010 - 05:49 AM.

[Urbanity]

ACC Fan Fest is today,  Free Concert with country music duo Montgomery Gentry

12-7 p.m.
Mint street between Morehead & Graham
http://www.accfootba...te=70&objId=462,

[Urbanity]

Meineke Bowl and First Night coming up in a little over a week.

Meineke is having a street festival on the 30th with George Foreman in attendance

[Urbanity]

There was a parade down Tryon yesterday for MLK Day which seemed very well attended.  Events planned for Monday include:

• The City's official Celebration event which will be in the Halton Arena at CPCC from 11 -1.   Dance and Musical Performances with keynote speak being Joan Higginbothum who is a black female astronaut.

• Levine and Gantt are offering freee admission for the day
  • Gantt is having a full day of programming including Music, Step performances, round table discussions and film
    • Part of the Gantt Programming is a special event, Bridging the Gap: Rhythms, Rhymes and Race in America from 3-5pm  in the Auditorium of the Knight Theater
  • Levine is returning the exhibit Courage, The story that Changed the Carolinas in honor of MLK and the 10th anniversary of the award winning exhibit which originated at the Levine and has toured the country

• The Legacy Concert with Kelly Price will be at the Knight Theater (tonight; Sunday) starting at 7:30

[dbull75]

Next week (Feb 28 - Mar 5), the annual CIAA basketball tournament is in town. Annually it generates $35-40 million for the city of Charlotte. Additionally, two weeks later the men's NCAA basketball tournament (rounds 1 and 2) is in town. Charlotte has games on Friday and Sunday.

Edited by dbull75, 24 February 2011 - 01:16 PM.

[tozmervo]

I have to give props to Wells Fargo and their planners for putting on an excellent cultural celebration this past weekend. I'd go so far as to say it was the best street festival I've been to in CLT. Between Stonewall and 3rd, they made use out of every space and nook and cranny, filling the air with an incredible variety of quality music. Instead of the usual lame tent food, they had local food trucks set up along Tryon. In front of Amelie's, the street was covered with giant chalk and oil drawings.

At one point I walked down the green watching the Gantt-sponsored front porch story telling, and some incredible brass music filled up the park from up above. The brass section of the Charlotte Chamber had taken residence of one of the Ratcliffe's balconies and was playing from on high to great effect. There were also some excellent dance performances, and of course Bransford Marsalis is hard to beat.

Weirdly I never even made it into any of the museums. Go figure! Here's hoping WF decides to throw this party again next year

[Temeteron]

Well Fall was a very busy month.  September hosted the Greek Festival, Festival in the Park, Italian Festival.  October hosted the International Festival at UNCC, Turkish Festival, Oktoberfest and the Renaissance Festival. And November was the Puerto Rican festival at La Plaza Fiesta.  Hopefully next year I will remember to post this reminder before the festivals

[southslider]

This Saturday, the Plaza-Central Merchants Association hosts their 2nd annual "Holiday Central."  Late morning or midday, grab breakfast, brunch, or lunch at one of the area's various restaurants.  That afternoon, shop for unique holiday gifts at various merchants, including antiques, art, fashion, gifts, and home decor.  Early evening (5-8pm), check out the block party on Gordon Street.  Then late evening, crawl the various bars, lounges, and diners.

While likely known best for its eats and drinks, the Plaza-Central District continues to attract a variety of small-business retailers.  Those opening just within the last year include Plaza Muse, Eco-Licious, and Slate Interiors.  So if you didn't make it out last weekend to shop "Small Business Saturday," this Saturday offers another chance to buy local and support Charlotte's economy.