A Guide to 2025 Spring Events in Charlotte
BOOM, SHOUT!, rattle and roll into the warm season
The 2024 Charlotte Spring Guide is sponsored by Charlotte SHOUT! April 4-20, 2025
SHOUT! is an annual celebration of the city’s art, culture, and community. Built on the pillars of art, music, food and ideas, Charlotte SHOUT! is an inclusive and inspirational sensory feast for all ages, with more than 200 events and attractions taking place over 17 days in Uptown Charlotte.
The weather is warming up and it’s time to get outside again, so we’ve compiled our annual list of spring events happening around the Queen City to help you do just that.
SPORTS
Charlotte FC
Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.
March 22 vs. San Jose Earthquakes
April 5 vs. Nashville SC
April 19 vs. San Diego FC
April 26 vs. New England Revolution
May 17 vs. Chicago Fire FC
May 24 vs. Columbus Crew
Charlotte Independence
American Legion Memorial Stadium, 1218 Armory Drive
March 28 vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
April 11 vs. Forward Madison FC
April 20 vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC
May 16 vs. One Knox SC
May 31 vs. Lexington SC
June 15 vs. Greenville Triumph SC
Carolina Ascent FC
American Legion Memorial Stadium, 1218 Armory Drive
March 29 vs. Dallas Trinity FC
April 12 vs. Brooklyn FC
April 19 vs. Spokane Zephyr FC
May 17 vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC
May 31 vs. Lexington SC
June 15 vs. Greenville Triumph SC
Charlotte Knights
Truist Field, 424 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
March 28-30 vs. Gwinnett Stripers
April 1-6 Norfolk Tides
April 15-20 vs. Nashville Sounds
April 29-May 4 vs. Norfolk Tides
May 6-11 vs. Memphis Redbirds
May 20-May 25 vs. Round Rock Express
June 3-8 vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs
June 17-22 vs. Gwinnett Stripers
College Baseball at Truist Field
Truist Field, 424 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
March 25: University of South Carolina vs. UNC Chapel Hill
April 11: East Carolina University vs. UNC Charlotte
Charlotte Hornets
Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.
March 20 vs. New York Knicks
March 25 vs. Orlando Magic
March 31 vs. Utah Jazz
April 4 vs. Sacramento Kings
April 6 vs. Chicago Bulls
April 8 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Pkwy. S
April 3-5: Charlotte AutoFair/Heritage Invitational
April 25-27: NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
May 23: NC Education Lottery 200
May 24: BetMGM 300
May 25: Coca-Cola 600
PGA Championship
May 12-18 | times vary | Quail Hollow Club | $76 and up
The usual Wells Fargo Championship is moving to Philly to make room for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where the top names in golf will return to Charlotte to battle it out over the week as Xander Schauffele defends his title.
Savannah Bananas
June 6-7 | times vary | Bank of America Stadium | tickets available via lottery
The Harlem Globetrotters of baseball make a two-night stop in Charlotte on their worldwide stadium tour.
ARTS, CULTURE & RETAIL
South End Spring Fling
March 23 | 10 a.m.-noon | Pritchard at South End | Free
Live music, vendor market, Easter egg hunts, face paint, bounce houses and more.
No Man’s Land Festival
March 22 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Camden Road | Free
Celebrate all women with hands-on workshops, breakout sessions, and photo ops while supporting small women-owned businesses based in Charlotte.
Charlotte Spring Fair
March 27-April 6 | times vary | Route 29 Pavilion | $6-$12
Say hello to that fresh spring air with thrilling rides, carnival games, food, live performances and more entertainment.
Party in the Park
March 30, April 13, May 18 | 1-5 p.m. | Mint Museum Randolph | Free
Enjoy a festive afternoon with food trucks, live music, and a cash bar on the front terrace, plus free museum admission, self-guided tour options and more.
Charlotte Ideas Festival
April 3-8 | times vary | locations vary | prices vary
Bringing together some of the most innovative and thought-provoking voices of our time, this year’s theme, Timelines, invites attendees to explore the past, present and future through engaging interviews, lectures, panel discussions and performances.
Charlotte SHOUT!
April 4-20 | times vary | locations vary | Free
Charlotte SHOUT! is back, showcasing local artists, musicians, dancers, poets, photographers, chefs and more with interactive installations and panels.
Carolina Tiny House Festival
April 5-6 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Cabarrus Arena & Events Center | Free to $48
Discover the world of tiny houses to see innovative designs, creative solutions and sustainable living.
FOMO Night
April 9 | 5-10 p.m. | Levine Avenue of the Arts | Free
Spend the evening hopping between three museums with free admission — Mint Museum Uptown, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art — before an outdoor block party on Levine Avenue of the Arts from 9-10 p.m. with music, drinks and community vibes.
Pet Palooza 2025
April 12 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Truist Field | Free
This annual fundraising walk and community festival unites people and pets for a day filled with live music, food trucks, pet-focused vendors and family- and pet-friendly activities.
Festival of India
April 12 | noon-6 p.m. | Stumptown Park | Free
Experience Indian art cuisine, culture and community with dance performances, street food, a marketplace, saree draping, henna tattoos and a visual art gallery.
‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival
April 26 | 4-7 p.m. | Oak Street Mill | Free
See over 100 local artists and vendors, drink beers from local craft breweries, eat good food, participate in giveaways and more.
BOOM Charlotte
April 25-27 | times vary | The Shoppes at University Place | Prices vary
The 8th annual BOOM Charlotte arts festival brings its multifaceted and immersive experience to a new home in University City. Attendees will be met with an eclectic mix of dance, theatre, poetry, visual art, film and more with free and ticketed performances taking place throughout the weekend.
Read more: BOOM Charlotte Returns With a New Home in University City
Garibaldi Festival
April 26 | noon-9 p.m. | Stowe Park | Free
Be part of Charlotte’s vibrant art community and saturate yourself with creativity, culture, expression, craftsmanship and more. Walk around to see the open-air gallery, chalk art and artisan vendors to the sounds of live music.
Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Festival
May 10 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Camp North End | Free
Experience the work of more than 80 local potters alongside food vendors, flowers, live music and more.
Reel Out Charlotte
May 14-18 | times vary | The Independent Picture House | Prices TBD
See stories written and made by those within the LGBTQ+ community through independent film at a local scale.
For The Culture: Spring Fest Marketplace
May 18 | 1-4 p.m. | Upscale Studio and Events | Free
Celebrate the culture with live music, food, and shopping from local Black-owned businesses.
OUTDOOR WELLNESS
Walks, Runs & Races
March 15: Novant Health Lucky Day 7K
March 22: Lake Norman Half Marathon Wildman & 5K
March 22: 3-2-1 Dash for Down Syndrome 5K & Fun Run
March 29: Craft Beer Half Marathon: Relay & 5 Miler
March 29: Communication Counts 5K, Fun Run, Kids Dash & Mascot Race
April 5: The Sarcoma Stomp
April 5: Run! Ballantyne 8K/5K Race & Fun Run
April 5: Five Points 5K
April 5: Dog Jog
April 19: Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon, 10K & 10K Relay
April 27: The Loop 5K
May 3: Teal Diva 5K
May 4: Wings For Life World Run Charlotte
May 8 & June 12: River Jam Trail Race
May 10: HEARTest Yard + Showmars 5K
May 10: Water For People Annual 5K
May 10: Meck Mile
May 18: Mental Health Matters 5k
May 31: NoDa 5K
May 31: MMRF Team for Cures Walk/Run
USNWC Tuck Fest
April 25-27 | times vary | US National Whitewater Center | Prices vary
This festival celebrates all outdoor lifestyles with cash prize competitions, exhibitions, demos and live music.
Anne Springs Close Greenway EARTH DAY Celebration
April 11-13 | times vary | Anne Springs Close Greenway | Free
Everyone receives free entrance to the Anne Springs Close Greenway on Earth Day weekend to enjoy time in nature by camping out, taking part in the bass-fishing tournament, check out the recycled art contest or visit the Earth Day Community Village expo.
Charlotte Earth Day
April 12 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Independent Picture House | Free
Charlotte’s largest annual Earth Day celebration brings together community members to celebrate the environment, engage families with educational activities, foster lifelong connections with nature and connect attendees with local environmentally conscious organizations and businesses.
Spider Lily Kayak Tour
Weekends from May 17-June 1 | times vary | Landsford Canal State Park | $75
Have you ever wanted to paddle through a sea of flowers? Catawba River is home to the rocky shoals spider lily, which you can see in full bloom on this excursion.
FOOD & DRINK
Savor Charlotte
March 12-25 | times vary | locations vary | prices vary
Indulge in hand-crafted food from talented chefs during hands-on classes or by ordering from exclusive menus.
Olé España
Mar 22 | noon-5 p.m. | Camp North End | Free
Celebrate authentic Spanish cuisine and culture featuring live performances, cooking demonstrations, wine and more.
Charlotte Brewfest
April 5 | 1-4 p.m. | South End Station | $29 and up
Sample unlimited beer made by over 25 craft breweries while listening to live music, playing games and participating in a raffle drawing.
Wine & Food Festival
April 5 | noon-5 p.m. | Ballantyne’s Backyard | $49 – $89
Enjoy more than 100 international wines from Italy, Spain, France and California as well as beer, spirits and good food while listening to live music.
Uptown Farmer’s Market: Spring Market
April 12 through the end of spring | Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 300 S. Davidson St. | Free
Buy local produce and home-grown food from farmers.
Charlotte StrEATS Festival
April 13 | noon-4 p.m. | Gateway Village | Free
Experience options from the city’s top culinary vendors, a neighborhood cook-off, vendor market, cocktail demonstrations and tastings plus a cooking demo from celebrity chef Eric Adjepong.
South Carolina Strawberry Festival
May 2-3 | times TBA | Walter Elisha Park | Free
This outdoor venture is jam-packed with activities: corn hole, a car show, a strawberry-eating contest, rides, vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, music and more.
Japan Fest
May 17-18 | 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. | Urban District Market | Free
Urban District Market’s second annual celebration of Japanese culture includes matsuri games, music, food and drinks, origami, a cosplay contest, martial arts and a karaoke contest.
Cheerwine Festival
May 17 | 10 a.m.-10 p.m. | Main Street, Salisbury | Free
The South’s most treasured possession is Cheerwine, a cherry soda created just up the road in Salisbury. After celebrating its 100th birthday in 2017, the city vowed to make the festival an annual tradition and has since kept its promise.
Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival
May 17 | noon-6 p.m. | Ballantyne’s Backyard | $45 and up
This festival is every Southerner’s favorite day, filled with booze, bacon and more. Play ping pong, listen to seminars, dance to rock and blues music and shop with local vendors.
LIVE MUSIC
PNC Music Pavilion
707 Pavilion Blvd.
April 16: Tyler Childers
May 2: Cody Johnson
May 10: Primus w/ Puscifer, A Perfect Circle
May 11: Ivan Cornejo
May 13: Pierce the Veil
May 16: Billy Idol
May 28: Halsey
May 30: Keith Urban
Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
April 24: Warren Zeiders
April 25: Mt. Joy
May 12 & 13: Sturgill Simpson
May 15: Teddy Swims
May 17: Bullet For My Valentine & Trivium
June 3: Rick Springfield
June 6: Dispatch w/ John Butler
June 7: Barenaked Ladies
June 16: James Arthur
Bank of America Stadium
800 S. Mint St.
May 3: Kendrick Lamar & SZA
May 13: Shakira
May 31: Metallica
The Amp Ballantyne
11115 Upper Ave.
April 23: Chris Young
April 26: Charlotte Got Soul Fest
May 9: Journeyman
May 10: Michael Franti & Spearhead
May 14: Yacht Rock Revue
May 15: Wilco
May 17: The String Cheese Incident
May 29: Dark Star Orchestra
June 5: Run the Jewels
June 7: The Beach Boys
June 13: FJ
USNWC River Jam
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
May 1: Ladycouch
May 2: Billy Keane & the Waking Dream
May 3: Teddy & the Rough Riders
May 8: McKinley James
May 9: Chamomile & Whiskey
May 10: Jamie McLean Band
May 15: South Hill Banks
May 16: Josh Daniel
May 17: Ajeva
May 22: The Pink Stones
May 24: Caitlin Krisko & the Broadcast
May 29: Arts Fishing Club
May 30: The Pinkerton Raid
June 5: Maya De Vitry
June 12: Deltaphonic
June 14: Hustle Souls
June 19: Drew Foust & the Wheelhouse
The Music Yard at SouthBound
2433 South Blvd.
March 21: Mary Droppinz
March 22: Honeyluv
April 11: Derrick Carter
April 26: Dangermuffin w/ Kendall Street Company
May 3: Bumpin Uglies w/ Rockstead
May 9: Eli & Fur
May 10: Evening Elephants
May 16: Luttrell
June 7: BallyHoo! w/ Dale & the Zdubs
June 11: Jody Wisternoff
Lovin’ Life Music Festival
May 2-4 | times vary | First Ward Park | $345 and up
Charlotte’s biggest musical festival returns for its second year with national acts including Gwen Stefani, Dave Matthews Band, Benson Boone, Weezer, Pitbull and Teddy Swims.
Matthews Summerfest
May 9-10 | times vary | Stumptown Park | Free
Matthews hosts this festival formerly known as Beach Fest now features a wider range of musical genres along with shag dancing, carnival rides, food vendors, craft beer and more.
Cornelius Jazz Festival
May 17 | 6-10 p.m. | Smithville Park | Free
Get swept away by the blues and tunes of local jazz bands from Cornelius and the greater Charlotte area with food trucks, craft beer, local vendors and more.
