Start easing into fall with this list of the top things to do in September, 2025, in the Charlotte area. September is a very busy season for festivals, with some of the most popular festivals of the year taking place this month.
Festival in the Park, Yiasou Greek Festival, Festival of India and UNC Charlotte International Festival are just a few of the longstanding events that are eagerly anticipated all year.
Also, Charlotte International Arts Festival takes place through the whole month of September, uniting many festivals under its banner, and also features multiple art installations and performance stages.
And of course, Oktoberfest kicks off in September!
We focus on the “free and cheap” so many of these events will be easy on your wallet.
After our list of highlighted events, we include a day by day list of everything on our calendar for September. You can also jump right to the day-by-day list. (Please give it a moment to load…it’s a lot!)
Top Things to do in Charlotte in September
Matthews Alive
Matthews Alive
Date: August 29 to September 1, 2025
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday; 1 to 10 p.m. on Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Downtown Matthews, NC
Cost: Admission is free. There’s a cost for rides, games and inflatable attractions.
Features: Live music, rides, games, vendors, art, a kids’ zone and a Labor Day parade.
Charlotte Labor Day Parade
Charlotte Labor Day Parade
Date: Monday, September 1, 2025
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: Tryon Street from 9th Street to 3rd Street
Cost: Free
Features: The parade will feature local labor union floats, vehicles and marchers, as well as political candidates, bands, car clubs and community groups.
Teacher-Penned Play Festival
Teacher-Penned Play Festival
Date: Monday, September 1, 2025
Time: 2 p.m.
Place: VAPA Center, 700 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Local actors read new plays written by local teaching artists.
CSO Roadshow at Metalmorphosis
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Roadshow at Metalmorphosis
Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025
Time: 5 p.m.
Place: Whitehall Corporate Center, 3701 Arco Corporate Drive, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: The giant metal head sculpture (pictured above) will be spinning, for the first time in years. DJ, food trucks, and Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
Free Uptown Funk Tours
Free Uptown Funk Tours
Date: September 5 to 7, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day
Place: Romare Bearden Park, 300 S Church Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free (follow above link for promo code and registration)
Features: One hour tour through Uptown Charlotte
Charlotte Soul Fest
Charlotte Soul Fest
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Place: First Ward Park, 301 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music all day, plus dance workshops, a kids’ zone and an art walk.
Yiasou Greek Festival
Yiasou Greek Festival
Date: September 5 to 7, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Place: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Tickets are $5, with free admission for children under age 12.
Features: Food, kids’ playland, entertainment, music dancing, live reenactments, tours of the cathedral and more.
Museums on Us
Bank of America’s “Museums on Us”
Date: The first weekend of the month — September 6 and 7, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte Museum of History, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Cutlure, Mint Museum Randolph, and Mint Museum Uptown
Cost: Free for Bank of America or Merrill card holders
Features: If you have a Bank of America or Merrill credit or debit card, you can get into any of the above museums for free the first weekend of the month. Special exhibits might not be included in the free admission.
Cabarrus County Fair
Cabarrus County Fair
Date: September 5 to 13, 2025
Time: 4 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 4 to midnight on Fridays; 1 to midnight. on Saturdays; 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays
Place: Cabarrus Events & Arena Center, 4751 NC Highway 49 N, Concord, NC
Cost: Gate admission is $8.50 for 12 and over, and $6.50 for ages 6-11, military ID and age 55+. Ride wristbands are $37.
Features: Rides, entertainment, livestock competition, and fair food. New this year is a rodeo, for an extra charge.
Southern Resonance Roots Festival
Southern Resonance Roots Festival
Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
Time: 12 to 7:30 p.m.
Place: Heist Brewery Barrel Arts, 1030 Woodward Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Artists representing many styles of American blues and roots music, on indoors and outdoor stages. Includes an artisan market.
Outdoor Concerts
Outdoor Concert Series
Date: Many dates
Time: Times vary
Place: Many locations
Cost: Most are free
Features: Charlotte’s huge calendar of outdoor concerts continue! Our expansive list can be perused by area or date.
Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum
Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
Place: Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC
Cost: Free
Features: One afternoon and evening a month, visit the Schiele for free. No registration is required.
Oktoberfest Celebrations
Oktoberfest Celebrations
Date: Various dates in September and October
Time: Various times
Place: Many places
Cost: Most are free
Features: Follow the above link to learn about dozens of Oktoberfest celebrations in the Charlotte area. Many feature German, or German-inspired food and beer, German music and dancing, stein-hoisting competitions and other festivities.
Outdoor Movies
Outdoor Movies
Date: Many dates
Time: Usually at dusk
Place: Many locations
Cost: Free
Features: Free outdoor movies continue into the fall! Check out our day by day list for movies at parks, breweries, shopping centers, churches and more. Many movies are for the whole family. There are often special features, like free retro video games, too.
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Date: September 1 to 30, 2025
Time: Time varies
Place: Many locations
Cost: Varies, but much of the festival is free.
Features: The festival features interactive art installations and performances in Uptown Charlotte and Ballantyne’s Backyard. In addition, many Charlotte festivals during this time period will be a part of Charlotte International Arts Festival. CIAF is one of Charlotte’s most anticipated festivals of the year.
Mooresville’s Bands Brews & BBQ Festival
Mooresville’s Bands Brews & BBQ Festival
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 4 to 9 p.m.
Place: Liberty Park, 255 E Iredell Avenue, Mooresville, NC
Cost: Free (pay for food and drink)
Features: Live music, featuring headliner Jo Dee Messina. Plus beer, multiple BBQ trucks, and a family zone.
Serb Fest
Serb Fest
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Place: St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church, 7609 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, authentic food for purchase, kids’ activities and a soccer tournament. Also, view the cultural displays and the beautiful interior of the church.
Cornelius Festival of Cultures
Cornelius Festival of Cultures
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 3 to 6 p.m.
Place: Cain Park, 21336 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live performance, art, cultural booths and food from many cultures.
Flow Fest
Flow Fest
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free, but parking is $12.
Features: More than 50 yoga and meditation practices and workshops, as well as vendors and live music.
28th Festival of India
29th Festival of India
Date: September 20 and 21, 2025
Time: 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday; 12 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday
Place: Saturday: Belk Theater, 130 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC. Sunday: Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Saturday: $5. Sunday: Free.
Features: Celebrate India with traditional and Bollywood dances, exhibits, visual arts, souvenir bazars, Indian food and much more.
Ramble On Music Festival
Ramble On Music Festival
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 12 to 10 p.m.
Place: The Car Wash, 415 S Main Street, Davidson, NC
Cost: Free
Features: 7 bands, food and drink vendors, interactive art station, and kids’ activities
Harrisburg Multicultural Festival
Harrisburg Multicultural Festival
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Celebrate cultures from around the world with art, music, fashion, games, food and more.
Festival in the Park
60th Festival in the Park
Date: September 19 to 21, 2025
Time: Friday: 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Freedom Park, 1900 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: More than 150 artists and artisans will display and sell their art. There will also be food vendors, performances, and family activities.
Festival of Lebanon
Festival of Lebanon
Date: Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday
Place: St. Matthews Catholic Church’s Gym, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, North Carolina
Cost: Admission is free
Features: Includes Lebanese music, food, a kids’ area, a raffle and more.
UNC Charlotte International Festival
UNC Charlotte International Festival
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Barnhardt Student Activity Center, 9290 Barnhardt Lane, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This long-standing festival on the UNC Charlotte campus features booths from diverse cultures, dance and music performances, international games and the Parade of Nations.
Latin American Festival
35th Latin American Festival
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Place: Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $10
Features: Latin American food, performances, visual artists, handmade crafts and more.
Charlotte Monarch Celebration
Charlotte Monarch Celebration
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, 2986 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Learn about monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Crafts, giveaways, photo booth, face painting, crafts, more.
Ciao Italia Matthews
Ciao Italia Matthews
Date: September 20 and 21, 2025
Time: 12 to 9 p.m.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Check back soon for ticket prices. Last year: $5 for ages 21+; $3 for ages 12-20; Free for under 12
Features: Italian entertainment, food and beverage, car show, more.
‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival
‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 2 to 8 p.m.
Place: Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music on two stages, kids’ zone, multiple food truck courts, 100+ artists, craftspeople and vendors, more.
Festival Latino in Gastonia
Festival Latino
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Place: WOW Supermarket Gastonia, 2557 West Franklin Blvd, Gastonia, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music and dance, games, food, more
Autumn Jubilee
Autumn Jubilee
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: Carl J. McEwen Historic Village, 7601 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Tour the historic village and museums, and enjoy face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, vendors, old time music and more.
All American Dog Show
All American Dog Show
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Place: Robbins Park, 17738 W Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free for spectators (cost to enter your dog in a contest)
Features: Multiple dog contests, vendors and concessions.
National Alpaca Farm Days
National Alpaca Farm Days
Date: September 27 and 28, 2025
Time: Throughout day
Place: Various locations
Cost: Varies (some are free)
Features: Visit alpaca farms throughout the region on this special weekend. Meet alpacas, see fiber demonstrations and more.
Full September Calendar
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