Labor Day Weekend 2023 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 are Matthews Alive, the Labor Day Parade, and Yard Art Day.
Looking for even more Labor Day Weekend events? Scroll down for our complete calendar of free and cheap events from Friday, September 1, to Monday, September 4, 2023.
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 4, 2023
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 1, 2023: 6 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 2, 2023: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 3, 2023: 1 to 10 p.m.
Monday, September 4, 2023: 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 Garry Lowder & Smokin’ Hot, The Holiday Band, Brass Transit (Chicago tribute band) and Classic Stones (Rolling Stones tribute band.)
Opening Weekend of FunBox Charlotte
FunBox Charlotte
Concord Mills
8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC
Friday, September 1, 2023: 3 to 7 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday (September 2-3): 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
$9 per person for a 90 minute session (price after this weekend is $22 per person)
Take advantage of the Opening Weekend discount for FunBox, a massive, 25,000 square foot bounce park that will be at Concord Mills for 11 weeks. Please note that we originally said that tickets on September 4 were also $9, however that is no longer the case.
Labor Day Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center
Labor Day Celebration at Whitewater Center
Saturday, September 2, 2023: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 3, 2023: 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. The bands on Sunday are The Lone Bellow and Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters
Best Wurst Fest
Best Wurst Fest at OMB
Saturday, September 2, 2023: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, September 3, 2023: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
4150 Yancey Road, Charlotte, NC
Free
Tons of sausage varieties will be available for purchase. In addition, there will be live music and a “sausage toss” competition. If you bring a dachshund, you get a free beer!
International Vulture Awareness Day at Carolina Raptor Center
International Vulture Awareness Day
Saturday, September 2, 2023
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC
Regular admission: Age 23-65: $16; Age 13-22: $14; Age 3-13: $12; Seniors (65+), military, teachers, students: $14, Under age 3: free
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 2 and 3, 2023
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Historic Rural Hill
4431 Neck Road, Huntersville
Tickets:
- Day pass (age 13+): $10 (more at the gate)
- Day pass (age 5-12): $5 (more at the 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 (including pre-game activities)
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Game at Bank of America Stadium at 7:30 p.m.; pre-game activities earlier
Duke’s Mayo Classic pits the two Carolinas against each other. North Carolina and South Carolina will compete at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. Standard tickets (not resale) range from $70 to $145. ESPN College Game Day is covering the event and will be at Romare Bearden Park from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free to attend. You can expect Fan Fest activities too. (Check back soon for details.)
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
Front Porch Sundays
Sunday, September 3, 2023
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Atherton, at 2104 South Boulevard, Charlotte
Shop from 70+ vendors, and enjoy live music, food trucks and more.
South End Gallery Crawl
South End Gallery Crawl
Friday, September 1, 2023
Locations in South End
6 to 9 p.m.
Free
South End Gallery Crawl takes place the first Friday of the month. It’s the time when the art galleries in South End host receptions for new exhibits. The events often include live music, food, beer and wine. Times for individual venues might vary.
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 3, 2023, 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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