UNC Charlotte International Festival - Charlotte On The Cheap

two dancers at UNC Charlotte's International Festival — Photo courtesy of UNC Charlotte International Festival

UNC Charlotte’s International Festival, a popular, free festival that started in 1975, is taking place September 21, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission and parking are free.

This year the International Festival is part of the Charlotte International Arts Festival.

Fall is looking great around Charlotte, whether you’re looking for something spooky or totally kid-friendly! Check out our HUGE list of fall festivals, big lists of Halloween parties, and Trick or Treat events, plus our list of Charlotte area haunted trails and the best Charlotte area pumpkin patches, hayrides and corn mazes!

The festival takes place at Barnhardt Student Activity Center, 9290 Barnhardt Lane, Charlotte, NC.

The festival features:

Booths sharing the diverse cultures of 40 nations
Dance performances
Music performances
International Game Zone
Parade of Nations, showcasing the different communities’ traditional clothing.

UNC Charlotte International Festival Schedule

See a full schedule here.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Ethnic Group Display Booths (inside and outside)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Earth Balloon (Inside lobby)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Informational Booths (inside and outside)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: International Game Zone (outside — upper lawn)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Sponsors information (Outside)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Passport project (receive stamps) (Inside lobby)
10:15 to 11:15 a.m.: Loch Norman Pipe Band (inside and outside)
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Ethnic foods available (Inside and outside)
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Obakunle Akinlana (African folk tales) (inside stage)
12 p.m.: Festival of Music and Dance (inside arena floor)
12 to 6 p.m.: Customized tote bags (inside)
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Chinese Dragon Dance (outside by clock tower)
1 to 3 p.m.: Steel vibrations — Caribbean steel drums (outside stage at Star Quad)
2 p.m.: Parade of Nations (Inside arena floor)
3 to 4 p.m.: Hula Carolina — Polynesian entertainment (Inside stage)
3 to 3:45 p.m.: The Birdmen — larger than life Dutch puppets (outside on festival grounds)
5 to 6 p.m.: Trabucos Latin Band — Afro-Cuban/Caribbean Music Group (Inside stage)

Booths, Games and Food

Booths will be operated by UNC Charlotte’s international students, as well as members of Charlotte’s international community. The booths will include arts, crafts and attire.

Many booths are offering international food for sale. Please bring cash. There are some ATMs on campus, but lines can be long.

At the International Game Zone, you can participate in and learn about the cultural significance of games. Try out archery, play life-sized chess, or join a soccer match.

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.

More Festivals

Check out this list of fall festivals in Charlotte, or take a quick look at a few upcoming festivals: