Happy Wednesday!
Charlotte is lucky to have a variety of festivals each spring & fall, but it can be hard to choose which ones to attend. I’ve been to more quite a few of them, so I’m helping break down which ones might be a good fit.
In today’s Charlotte Invite, you’ll find:
ROI on local festivals
Gospel music is coming to Charlotte
$5 espresso martinis!
The perfect sunset watching park
- Happy reading! Bethany
If you’d be sad if this newsletter stopped hitting your inbox:
Getting the biggest bang for your buck at local festivals
It’s officially festival season in Charlotte! With so many to choose from, how do you decide which are worth your time & money? I Here’s a guide based on my professional festival-going expertise to make sure you get a good ROI (return on investment) on whichever festivals you go to:
No Man’s Land Festival celebrates Women's History Month with 100 woman-owned businesses, workshops, giveaways & photo ops.
March 21 | Free
Located in South End, so light rail, uber or walk
Vibes: if you’re a girls girl, this event is a 10/10
ROI: it’s free entry, but just be careful cuz you’ll be tempted to shop from all the cute vendors.
South End Wine & Hops Festival is one of my favorites. It offers 4 hours of wines, beer and cocktail tastings.
March 28 | General admission starts at $35
Located in South End, so definitely uber
Vibes: everyone gets tipsy and happy by the 2nd hour. The lines can be long, but it goes by fast.
ROI: totally worth it. $35 can barely get you two glasses of wine at a restaurant. Plus the pours are decent and you can go back for seconds lol.
Charlotte SHOUT! is a 17 day long festival that turns Uptown into a giant playground.
April 3 - 19 | most events & activations are free
Located in Uptown, so plan accordingly
Vibes: I recommend going on a weekday after work. It’s super chill, you’ll have easy access to all the fun activations
ROI: if you just go check out the installations (like putt putt or see-saws), you might be underwhelmed. But, find an event to attend for an exciting experience.
University City Wine Fest is a three-day event with a huge main festival where you can try over 40 different wines.
April 9 - 11 | general admission starts at $35
Located at the University City Boardwalk, so you can drive or light rail
Vibes: the festival takes place around the water
ROI: again, you can’t beat unlimited wine tastings for just $35.
Tuck Fest at the Whitewater Center is a weekend-long festival celebrating the outdoor lifestyle. They have expos, yoga, clinics, live music and vendors all weekend.
April 24 - 26 | free but some activities require RSVP or a fee
Located at the Whitewater Center and they have a huge parking lot for $12
Vibes: even if you aren’t “outdoorsy” the music, vendors & food is a vibe on it’s own
ROI: you could literally go and only spend $12. Bring your own food, walk around the river and attend a free expo.
Giveaway!
🍷🎉 Win 2 tickets to the South End Wine & Hops Festival!
Share this link with a friend, and if they sign up for this newsletter, you’re entered to win: {{rp_refer_url}}
Just so you know…
🍔 Two of our local favorites, Optimist Hall and The Market at 7th Street, have been nominated for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Award for best food hall in the country. They’re up against heavy hitters from NYC and D.C., but we know where the real flavor is. Go vote for them here.
🎤 Charlotte will host the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in this summer. Known as the “Grammys of Gospel Music,” the main event will be taped live at the Spectrum Center on August 15, 2026. It’s a huge win for the city’s cultural scene and is expected to bring in a $10 million economic boost
🛣 If you’re still a little confused by all the I-77 talk, here’s an explainer that gives you all the deets from start to finish.
🥗 Watch this honest review of the Naked Farmer
Weigh in
Last week, I asked which Charlotte neighborhood you’’d save if you can only choose one. 50% of you said Plaza Midwood and 37% said the West End.
Now I want to know, when it comes to festivals, what’s your actual vibe?
Events
Here are our top five:
ESPRESSO: Thursday 🍸 Grab a $5 espresso martini at Must Be Nice (they’re doing this every Thursday now!)
SCIENCE: Friday 🧪 if you haven’t been to Science on The Rocks at Discovery Place, get a ticket now to sip cocktails, meet animals & try hands-on experiments.
DOG PARENTS: Saturday 🐶 if you’re down for a 40ish minute drive, your dog can enjoy an easter egg hunt, costume contest & more at this animal sanctuary.
BLOCK PARTY: Sunday 🎉 South End turns into a block party with Camden Commons - shop from local businesses, play lawn games and hangout.
THRIFT: Sunday👖 shop from 25 secondhand & vintage vendors at Camp North End’s Vintage Market.
A budget-friendly weekend
Here’s your under $50 weekend schedule:
On Friday, try out Supperclub’s $6 margaritas or $8 Rosé glasses.
Grab a coffee from Wild Root’s “cereal menu” like their cinnamon toast crunch ($8)
Saturday, head to a picnic at Cordelia Park and watch the sunset over the skyline ($0)
Go for a hike at Crowders Mountain on Sunday. It’s the perfect weather for it and the mountain won’t be too crowded like it will later this summer. ($20 - for gas money & snacks)
The total for this weekend comes to around $34!
My sweet puppy Chester at Crowders Mountain
Last week, Charlotte Invite reader Jordan B. snagged a resy for Uchibā after seeing it in this newsletter!
LMK how / if you’re finding this newsletter helpful!
That’s it for this week.
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