Spring festivals are blooming in Charlotte in 2025!
From cultural festivals to music festivals to kids’ festivals, there will be a lot going on! Check out this large, ever-growing list of spring festivals. We’re highlighting some major festivals, and then we are adding a day by day list that could include even more.
We include festivals in Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding areas.
Most of the festivals are free to attend. Make sure to click on each link for details.
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Boomtown Bash: Life at a Carolina Gold Mine
Boomtown Bash: Life at a Carolina Gold Mine
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Reed Gold Mine, 9621 Reed Gold Mine Road, Midland, NC
Cost: $5 per person (age 5 and older)
Features: Living history event. Experience the gold rush in the 1850s. Pan for gold for $3.
Green River Revival
Green River Revival
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free admission. $12 for parking. Charge for rafting, trail race, activities.
Features: Music, “Color Me Green” 5K, and yoga. The river will turn green.
Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Time: Parade: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m; Festival: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte
Cost: Free
Features: Irish music and dancing, vendors, food trucks, more.
Olé España: Flamenco, Paella and Sangria
Olé España
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Camp North End, 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music and dance performances, paella cooking demonstration
Gaston MAX Multicultural Arts Xperience
Gaston Max
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Rotary Centennial Pavilion, 107 N South Street, Gastonia, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Music, art, literature and culture
STEAMfest
STEAMfest
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Place: Woodlawn School, 135 Woodlawn School Loop, Mooresville, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Over 100 fun and engaging hands-on activities centered around science
Charlotte SHOUT!
Charlotte SHOUT!
Date: April 4 to 20, 2025
Time: Various times
Place: Multiple locations in Uptown Charlotte
Cost: Both free and ticketed events
Features: Large interactive installations, performances, food, more
Empanada Fest
Empanada Fest
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 12 to 6 p.m.
Place: Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina
Cost: Admission is free. Pay for food and drinks.
Features: Wide variety of empanadas for purchase. Live music, DJ, dancing, drink specials.
Come See Me Festival
Come See Me Festival
Date: April 3 to 12, 2025
Time: Various times
Place: Multiple locations in Rock Hill, South Carolina
Cost: Both free and ticketed activities
Features: Parade, concerts, beach party, visual art, more.
Earth Day Festivals
Earth Day Festivals
Date: Multiple dates
Time: Various times
Place: Multiple places
Cost: Mostly free (see individual events for details)
Features: Kids’ activities, entertainment, educational activities
Tuck Fest
Tuck Fest
Date: April 25 to 27, 2025
Time: Time varies per day
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Admission is free. Parking is $12. There’s a cost for activities, races and competitions.
Features: Live music, outdoor clinics, vendors, races, yoga
Loch Norman Highland Games
Loch Norman Highland Games
Date: April 12-13, 2025
Time: TBA
Place: Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, North Carolina
Cost: TBA
Features: Highland dancing, bagpipe bands, highland athletics, kids’ zone, historic reenactments, more
BOOM Charlotte Fringe Festival
BOOM Charlotte
Date: April 25 to 2, 2025
Time: TBA
Place: Shoppes at University Place, 8931 JM Keynes Drive, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Outdoor performances are free. Indoor performances: TBA
Features: Fringe festival with music, dance, spoken word, and visual art
South Carolina Strawberry Festival
South Carolina Strawberry Festival
Date: May 2-3, 2025
Time: TBA
Place: Walter Elisha Park, 345 N White Street, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Entertainment, contests, car show, vendors, food trucks
Kings Drive Art Walk
Kings Drive Art Walk
Date: May 3-4, 2025
Time: Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Little Sugar Creek Greenway, 600 South Kings Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: More than 70 artists, musicians and performers
Hello Huntersville
Hello Huntersville
Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025
Time: 1 to 6 p.m.
Place: Veterans Park, Main and Maxwell Streets, Huntersville, NC
Cost: Free
Features: art stations, characters, food trucks, beverage vendors, arts and crafts vendors.
Foothills Folk Art Festival
Foothills Folk Art Festival
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: 31 N College Avenue, Newton, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Local and regional folk artists, folk art demos, kids’ art activities, live music, beer garden
Matthews Summerfest
Matthews Summerfest
Date: May 9-10, 2025
Time: Friday: 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 South Trade Street, Matthews, North Carolina
Cost: Admission is free. There’s a cost for rides and other actiities
Features: Live music, shag dancing, carnival rides, arts and crafts vendors, more. This event was formerly BeachFest Matthews. It’s been rebranded as Matthews Summerfest, because it’s including more genres of music.
Cheerwine Festival
Cheerwine Festival
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Place: Downtown Salisbury, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, vendors, Cheerwine-inspired food, Cheerwine-infused craft beer, kids’ zone
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