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
Big Mecklenburg County Fair
Big Mecklenburg County Fair
Date: May 24 to June 2, 2024
Time: Weekdays: opens at 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays: opens at 1 p.m.; Monday, May 27: Opens at 1 p.m.
Place: The Park Expo and Conference Center, 800 Briar Creek Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $15 for gate admission. Half price tickets available online and at Walgreens. Unlimited rides: $35 at the gate, and $25 online or at Walgreens.
Features: Rides, shows, fair food and more.
Memorial Day Celebration at Whitewater Center
Whitewater Center’s Memorial Day Celebration
Date: Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, 2024
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, Watermelon Wrangle, trail race, yoga, and a used boat and bike sale.
World War II Living History Day
World War II Living History Day at Kings Mountain Historical Museum
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Kings Mountain Historical Museum, 106 E Mountain Street, Kings Mountain, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Displays and re-enactors, uniforms, gear, weapons, and equipment to share knowledge about the U.S. Military involvement in the European Theater of Operations in World War II, with a focus on the Airborne Operations.
June Festivals
Japan Fest
Japan Fest
Date: June 1 and 2, 2024
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day
Place: Urban District Market Mill District, 2315 N Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free admission. Food for purchase
Features: Performances, games, martial arts demonstrations, origami, cosplay, karoake, movies, food, more.
Taco Fest Carolinas
Taco Fest Carolinas
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Route 29 Pavilion, 5650 Sandusky Blvd, Concord, NC
Cost: Free admission. Food for purchase
Features: Live shows, children’s activities, community service providers, and tacos for purchase.
Bites on Seventh Festival
Bites on Seventh
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Place: 7th Street in Uptown Charlotte, from College to Brevard Streets, including Victoria Yards, The Market at 7th Street and First Ward Park
Cost: Free to attend. Pay for food and drinks.
Features: Multiple food trucks, entertainment.
Hippie Daze Festival
Hippie Daze Festival
Date: Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Place: Dallas Lavender Lane, 937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas, NC
Cost: $9.99 for a day pass and $12.99 for a weekend pass. Kids 12 and under are admitted for free.
Features: Bands, stilt walkers, jugglers, face painting, VW show, petting zoo, more.
Indian Trail Family Fun Day
Indian Trail Family Fun Day
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
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 7, through Sunday, June 9, 2024
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.
Features: Three stage of live entertainment, kids’ activities, many local restaurants and food vendors.
Jam at the Dam
Jam at the Dam
Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024
Time: 2 to 9 p.m.
Place: The Boathouse, 115 Willow Drive, McAdenville, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Three bands, food trucks, artisan vendors, kayak rentals.
HeroesCon
HeroesCon
Date: June 14 to 16, 2024
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.
St. Sarkis Armenian Food Festival
St. Sarkis Armenian Food Festival
Date: June 14 to 16, 2024
Time: 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday; 12 to 8 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.
Lavender Bloom Festival
Lavender Bloom Festival
Date: June 15 and 16, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Dallas Lavender Lane, 937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas, NC
Cost: Admission is free. Parking is $5.
Features: Lavender plant sale, U-cut lavender, music, bubble show, train rides, face painting, more.
Fire Truck Festival
Fire Truck Festival
Date: June 22, 2024
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. Double the cost if you want a train ride too.
Features: Fire trucks, Lil’ Firefighter Costume Contest, Jaws of Life Demonstration, much more.
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.
CLT Edge Fest
CLT Edge Fest
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2024
Time: 3 to 9 p.m.
Place: NoDa Brewing, 150 32nd Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live painting, music, dance, yoga, drum circle, fashion show art vendors, more.
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Date: July 18 to 20, 2024
Time: 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.
RiverFest
RiverFest
Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park, 1400 E Catawba Street, Belmont, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, bounce house, vendors, food trucks, kayaking.
5th Annual Charlotte Peruvian Festival
Charlotte Peruvian Festival
Date: Sunday, July 28, 2024
Time: 12 to 8:30 p.m.
Place: Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $10 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.; $25 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
American Legion World Series Festival
American Legion World Series Festival
Date: Saturday, August 10, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Place: Marion Street, between Washington and Lafayette Streets in Shelby, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Celebrate the American Legion World Series with live music on two stages, a kids’ zone, a car show and more.
Charlotte Pride Festival
Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade
Date: August 17 and 18, 2024
Time: Festival is 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Parade is 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Place: Uptown Charlotte, on Tryon Street
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, other entertainment, family activities, food trucks and more.
Cornelius Jazz Festival
Cornelius Jazz Festival
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
Place: Smithville Park, 19710 S Ferry Street, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, concessions, beer and wine, children’s activities
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