U.S. National Whitewater Center’s Tuck Fest is a spring highlight in Charlotte
The spring festival season is in full swing in Charlotte, and the good news is that many of them are free to attend. Here are a few to put on your spring schedule.
We’re highlighting a few of the major festivals that take place in late April and May.
This list is for 2019.
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You almost might be interested in:
- Free things to do this week
- Outdoor Concerts
- The Calendar of Charlotte Events
- Outdoor Movies
- Upcoming free and cheap for kids to do
International Sandwich Festival
Saturday, April 27th, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive
Come hungry and enjoy sandwiches from around the world for purchase from a variety of food trucks and vendors. There will be international entertainment all day too, as well as kids’ activities like face-painting, balloon twisting and a make-your-own-sandwich station.
BOOM Festival (ticketed and free events)
April 26-28
Venues in Plaza Midwood
BOOM is an artist-led showcase of experimental and contemporary visual and performance art and is described as a weekend of art, performance and the unexpected. There are some family activities. The performances in venues like Petra’s and Snug Harbor are ticketed, but there are free performances all weekend at the Intersection Stage, across the street from Petra’s, as well as other places in the neighborhood.
Open Streets 704
April 28
Plaza Midwood, Belmont, Villa Heights, NoDa, Optimist Park and Commonwealth neighborhoods
Open Streets festival is a special event during which streets are closed to automobile traffic and filled with everything from recreation and health activities to entertainment and environmental activities. The activities along the route are free and include arts, entertainment, kids’ activities, science, environmental education, fitness activities and more.
Tuck Fest
April 25-28
U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
This popular festival celebrates the outdoor lifestyle with competitions, exhibitions, demos and live music. It’s free to attend, listen to the music, watch demos, do yoga, participate in workshops and watch the competitions. There’s a parking charge and a cost to participate in the competitions. The festival features eleven live bands, including Marcus King Band, Mo Lowda & the Humble, The Milk Carton Kids, Tyler Childers, J. Roddy Walston and the Business, Fantastic Negrito and more.
Taste of Ayrsley
May 4
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Piedmont Social House, 2135 Ayrsley Town Blvd
Taste of Ayrsley features food, drinks, kids activities, vendors and live music. Admission is free, but you need tickets for food and drink samples, and there’s a cost for kids’ activities.
Charlotte Jazz Festival (Ticketed and free events)
April 29-May 4
Levine Center for the Arts and Romare Bearden Park
The Charlotte Jazz Festival is a ticketed event. However, it includes many free events. There’s no cost to enjoy Lunch Hour Jazz, Jazz at the Pavilion or the Loonis McGlohon Young Jazz Artist Competition.
Charlotte SHOUT!
April 29-May 11
Various venues
This is the biggest arts festival Charlotte has ever seen. It includes more than 75 events (both free and ticketed), including music, dance, food and ideas. You won’t be able to miss the huge, imaginative art installations in Uptown Charlotte.
NC Science Festival
All April
Various locations
North Carolina Science Festival, a statewide collection of events that take place over the month of April, is intended to ignite an interest in science in both kids and adults. Events take place at a number of venues in the Charlotte area, including Discovery Place, UNC Charlotte, CPCC and libraries. Activities include demonstrations, movies, hands-on science activities, star parties, informational sessions, the UNC Charlotte Science & Technology Expo and more.
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