There’s a lot to celebrate in Charlotte this year! Check out this growing list of summer festivals. Celebrate the season with live music, culture, food, kids’ activities and much more. We’re adding to the list all the time, so keep checking back.
We are highlighting 20+ summer festivals.
We focus on free and cheap events here on Charlotte on the Cheap, and most of these events fall into that category. Make sure to click on each link for more details.
You can also jump right to the part of the list you’re interested in:
May Festivals
Memorial Day Celebration at Whitewater Center
Whitewater Center’s Memorial Day Celebration
Date: Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, 2025
Time: Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free admission. Parking is $12. There are additional costs for contests and activities.
Features: Live music, a trail race, yoga.
St. Sarkis Armenian Food Festival
St. Sarkis Armenian Food Festival
Date: May 30 to June 1, 2025
Time: 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday; 12 to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Place: St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, 7000 Park Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Admission is free. Pay for food.
Features: Enjoy authentic Armenian food, including beef and chicken kebabs, side dishes, homemade pastries, desserts and more. there will also be live entertainment and raffles.
June Festivals
Indian Trail Family Fun Day
Indian Trail Family Fun Day
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Time: 2 to 9:30 p.m.
Place: Crooked Creek Park, 9500 Oakwood Lane, Indian Trail, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Free carnival rides and kids’ activities. Food trucks and vendors. The night ends with a fireworks show.
Taste of Charlotte
Taste of Charlotte
Date: Friday, June 6, through Sunday, June 8, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Place: Tryon Street from Trade Street to Brooklyn Village Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free admission. Pay for food and drink, and kids’ activities, with Festival Coins, which you can buy in person at the festival, or digitally, through the festival app.
Features: Three stage of live entertainment, kids’ activities, many local restaurants and food vendors.
NC Trail Days
NC Trail Days
Date: June 5 to 8, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Elkin and Jonesville, North Carolina
Cost: Most activities are free
Features: This festival celebrates the outdoors, the NC Mountains to Sea Trail, and the local trails in Elkin, with hikes, art, music, and many nature activities.
Fairy and Enchanted Mystical Creatures Festival
Fairy and Enchanted Mystical Creatures Festival
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Dallas Lavender Lane Farm, 937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas, NC
Cost: Free. $5 for parking. Small fee for some activities
Features: Fairy trail, live music, bubble show, train rides, bounce house, petting zoo, more
Queen Charlotte Fair
Queen Charlotte Fair
Date: June 19 to July 5
Time: Time varies by day
Place: Route 29 Pavilion, 5650 Sandusky Blvd., Concord
Cost: Admission from $6 to $12, but the main cost will be rides and food.
Features: Rides, entertainment, fair food
HeroesCon
HeroesCon
Date: June 20 to 22, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Place: Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $35 on Friday and Saturday and $30 on Sunday. Kids 16 and under are admitted for free with a paying adult.
Features: Comic creators, cosplay, more.
Juneteenth Celebrations
Juneteenth Celebrations
Date: Various
Time: Various
Place: Various
Cost: Most are free
Features: We’ve compiled a big list of Juneteenth celebrations around the Charlotte area.
Fire Truck Festival
Fire Truck Festival
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Place: NC Transportation Museum, 1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer, NC
Cost: $9 for adults; $8 for seniors/military; $7 for children 3-12; Free for kids under 3. Additional cost if you want a train ride too.
Features: Fire trucks, Lil’ Firefighter Costume Contest, Jaws of Life Demonstration, Fire Truck Parade, Spraydown, much more.
Sensory Summer Bash
Sensory Summer Bash
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: Success on the Spectrum, 1041 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Fun-filled day for neurodiverse kids and their families, including sensory stations, games, a bouncy house, bubbles and more. Please RSVP.
July Festivals
4th of July Celebrations
4th of July Fireworks, Parades and Celebrations
Date: Various
Time: Various
Place: Various
Cost: Most are free
Features: We’ve compiled a big list of 4th of July celebrations in the entire Charlotte region.
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Date: Check back soon for details
Time: Typically Starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at noon on Saturday
Place: Downtown Pageland, South Carolina
Cost: Admission is free, but there’s a cost for rides and some activities.
Features: Live music, rodeo, parade, seed spitting contest, rides, more.
6th Annual Charlotte Peruvian Festival
Charlotte Peruvian Festival
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2025
Time: 12 to 8:30 p.m.
Place: Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $10 from 12 p.m. to 3:59 p.m.; $20 after 4 p.m.; Free for kids under 10
Features: Live music, folkloric dances of Peru, crafts by artisans, delicious food, entertainment for kids and more.
August Festivals
Charlotte Pride Festival
Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade
Date: August 16 and 17, 2025
Time: Check back for the time.
Place: The festival will be at First Ward Park, 301 E 7th Street, Charlotte, North Carolina. The parade will take place in Uptown Charlotte, on Tryon Street.
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, other entertainment, family activities, food trucks and more.
Matthews Alive
Matthews Alive
Date: August 29 to September 1, 2025
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday (rides open at 4 p.m.); 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday; 1 to 10 p.m. on Sunday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m on Monday.
Place: Stumptown Park, John and Trade Streets, Matthews, NC
Cost: Admission is free. Rides and games have a cost.
Features: Live music, carnival rides and games, art, vendors, and more. The Labor Day Parade is on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
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