Labor Day Weekend 2022 features some of the traditions that Charlotte has enjoyed for years! Read on to learn about some festivals and special events.
Some popular Labor Day traditions, notably Matthews Alive and the Labor Day Parade in Uptown Charlotte, are returning after being canceled in 2021.
Looking for even more Labor Day Weekend events? Scroll down for our complete calendar of free and cheap events from Friday, September 2nd, to Monday, September 5th, 2022.
In addition, we will be adding a list of Labor Day food freebies and deals, when it’s available.
Charlotte Labor Day Parade
Charlotte Labor Day Parade
Monday, September 5th, 2022
11 a.m.
Uptown Charlotte
Free
The parade is organized by the Labor Day Committee in conjunction with the Southern Piedmont Central Labor Council and other local labor unions. It honors the accomplishments of organized labor in our community, region and country.
The parade will start at North Tryon Street at 9th Street, head toward the Square, then turn left on 3rd Street, and ending on College Street. The parade will feature local labor union floats, vehicles and marchers, as well as political candidates, bands, car clubs and community groups.
Matthews Alive
Matthews Alive
Friday, September 2nd, 2022, 6 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 3rd, 2022, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 4th, 2022, 1 to 10 p.m.
Monday, September 5th, 2022, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stumptown Park
120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Free (pay for games, food and rides)
Matthews Alive features live music, rides, games, an arts and crafts market, food and drink vendors and a Labor Day parade. Some of the musical artists this year are Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot, The Entertainers, Double Vision (Foreigner tribute band) and Bohemian Queen (Queen tribute band.)
Labor Day Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center
Labor Day Celebration at Whitewater Center
Saturday, September 3rd, 2022, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 4th, 2022, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte
Free (parking is $6)
The Whitewater Center’s Labor Day Celebration features trail races, live music, and yoga. There’s a charge for the trail races and for the pass activities, but the music and yoga are free to enjoy.
Yard Art Day
Yard Art Day
Monday, September 5th, 2022
Various times and locations
The tradition of Yard Art Day returns to Charlotte (and other locations) on Labor Day. Residents and business owners, professional artists, hobbyists, and families, will be creating art in their yards for the community to enjoy. Follow the above link to learn how to participate in creating the art and enjoying it.
National Cinema Day
National Cinema Day
Saturday, September 3rd, 2022
Various times and locations
Movie theaters all over the country, including many in the Charlotte area, are participating in National Cinema Day on September 3rd, 2022. Participating theaters are offering tickets for $3. That means every movie, every showtime and every format.
International Vulture Awareness Day at Carolina Raptor Center
International Vulture Awareness Day
Saturday, September 3rd, 2022
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC
$12 for adults, $10 for seniors, teachers and military members, $8 for kids 4 and older, and free for children 3 and under
Learn about vultures and celebrate their important role in our eco-system with vulture related crafts, a scavenger hunt, giant vulture paint by numbers, and a chance to watch educators work with vultures.
Battle of Charlotte Living History Weekend
Battle of Charlotte Living History Weekend
September 3rd and 4th, 2022
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Historic Rural Hill
4431 Neck Road, Huntersville
Tickets:
- One day only (child 5-12): $8 ($10 at the gate)
- Weekend pass (child 5-12): $12 ($15 at gate)
- One day only (adult 13+): $10 ($15 at the gate)
- Weekend pass (adult 13+): $20 ($25 at gate)
Experience a weekend of battle re-enactments, music, camp life, cooking, kids’ activities, weapons demonstrations, more.
Duke’s Mayo Classic
Duke’s Mayo Classic pits football rivals N.C. A&T Aggies and NC Central Eagles against each other at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. As of the time of this post there are tickets available for under $50. In addition, there will be a FanFest at Romare Bearden Park the same day from 12 to 6:30 p.m., featuring live music, vendor activations, food trucks, tailgating activations and more. The FanFest is free to attend. Rounding out the weekend will be a Step Show ($30) , a college fair and a career fair, all on Friday, September 2nd, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The college fair and career fair are free.
Pumpkin Palooza at Hot Glass Alley
Hot Glass Alley’s Pumpkin Palooza
Saturday, September 3rd, and Sunday, September 4th, 2022
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day
Free
Watch glassblowing demonstrations throughout the day. There will also be hundreds of glass pumpkins for sale.
Best Wurst Fest
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, at 4150 Yancey Road, Charlotte, is hosting the Best Wurst Fest on Saturday, October 3rd, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sunday, September 4th, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. This promises to be the best sausage party around! The party will feature a wide variety of sausages for purchase, a Sausage Toss Game, a sausage relay race and obstacle course, live music, and the best beer to complement the sausages. Admission is free. Pay for your food and drink.
Free Museum Admission for Bank of America/Merrill Customers
The first full weekend of the month, customers of Bank of America/Merrill receive free admission in many museums around the country. In Charlotte, participating museums are:
- Mint Museum Uptown
- Mint Museum Randolph
- Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
- Levine Museum of the New South
- Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
The free admission will take place on Saturday, September 3rd, and Sunday, September 4th, 2022. Please make sure to check information on opening hours for each museum, as they may differ. Also, some special exhibits might not be included in the free admission.
Front Porch Sunday
Shop at a huge monthly vendor market at this popular event. Front Porch Sundays takes place at Sycamore Brewing, 2161 Hawkins Street, on Sunday, September 4th, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free Outdoor Concerts
There are many, many free outdoor concerts taking place this weekend, throughout the Charlotte area. They take place at shopping centers, breweries, town centers and more. Check out the list of outdoor concerts (mostly free) in the Charlotte area.
Around the Crown 10K
Ever want to see Charlotte from a different angle by foot? Around the Crown 10K presented by Truist closes I-277 to traffic and opens it to runners! The race, which takes place Sunday, September 4th, 2022, at 8 a.m., starts and ends at Truist Field. Runners will run the entirety of Charlotte’s 3-mile inner loop. Race day registration is $70, and you can save some money by registering early.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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