A Guide to Spring Festivals in Charlotte

Celebrate food, drink, music, and more with these festivals in Charlotte this spring

March 7, 2025

Amanda Pagliarini Howard,

There’s no shortage of ways to take advantage of the Queen City’s beautiful spring weather. From now through May, take part in one of these festivals in Charlotte.

March Festivals

5th Annual Donut Festival

March 9
Norfolk Hall

The festival showcases the delicious sweet treats from some of Charlotte’s favorite bakeries, all benefitting testicular cancer awareness. Enjoy music, lifestyle vendors, and goods from other local artisans and artists.

Savor Charlotte

March 12 – 25
Various locations

Join restaurateurs, food truck entrepreneurs, chefs, bakers, bartenders and beyond for special offers, exclusive menus, and hands-on events celebrating the Charlotte culinary scene.

Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Festival

March 15
Uptown

Watch a parade full of marching bands, floats, and civics organizations, then head to the festival with food, vendors, and attractions.

Green River Revival

March 15
Whitewater Center

Festivities begin with the Color Me Green 5K Trail Run and continue with yoga, the coloring of the river, and live music.

Rich & Bennett’s St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl

March 15
Uptown

Back for the 23rd year, visit over 40 Uptown and South End locations in Charlotte’s biggest pub crawl.

Charlotte Festival of Colors

March 15
Victoria Yards

Celebrate QueenCity Holi – a vibrant festival of colors with music, dance, food, and fun.

Olé España 2025

March 22
Camp North End (Boileryard Area)

Celebrate authentic Spanish cuisine and culture at this FREE event with live Flamenco dancing, paella cooking demonstration, sangria and Spanish wine selections.

No Man’s Land

March 22
Camp North End

100+ woman-owned businesses, hands-on workshops, breakout sessions, and activations celebrating women and Women’s History Month.

Charlotte Spring Fair

March 27 – April 6
Route 29 Pavilion, Concord

Fair food, rides for all ages, and carnival games.

Festivals in Charlotte Spring 2024 South End Wine And Hops Festival

Courtesy, South End Wine And Hops Festival

Spring South End Wine and Hops Festival

March 29
Lenny Boy Brewing Co

The annual festival, featuring wine, cider, and brew sampling, will host food trucks, pop-up shops, and live music.

CRAFT Fest

March 29 – 30
Petty Thieves Brewery

Craft Fest is CRAFT CLT’s annual fundraising event that merges vendor booths, an art show, demonstrations, classes, and food trucks in one location.

April Festivals

North Carolina Science Festival

April 1 – 30

There will be over 500 events all over the state for all ages. See site for list of events by location, age, and topic.

Charlotte AutoFair

April 3 – 5
Charlotte Motor Speedway

This automotive extravaganza brings together thousands of hot rods, muscle cars, exotic sports cars, and classic automobiles.

Carolina BBQ Festival

April 4 – 5
Victoria Yards

Sample a full range of Carolina BBQ, live crawfish boil, and lots of live music.

Charlotte SHOUT!

April 4 – 20
Uptown

This multi week festival features 200+ installations, performances, events, and activations. Nearly all the events are outdoors, free, and open to the public without tickets.

Charlotte Brewfest

April 5
South End

Enjoy unlimited sampling of beer made by 25+ national, regional, and local craft breweries in celebration of National Beer Day.

Charlotte Fair

April 10 – 20
Charlotte Motor Speedway

Enjoy rides, classic games, fair food, and live entertainment at the annual fair.

Come-See-Me Festival

April 11-20

This festival features more than 80 activities. Take part in a parade, a frog jump, teddy bear tea party, food trucks, live music, kids’ activities, fireworks, and more. Locations vary. See website for full schedule of events.

Earth Day Celebration at Anne Springs Close Greenway

April 11 – 13
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Take part in outdoor activities like lead-line horse rides, fishing clinics, kayaking, guided hikes, reptile encounters, and historic cabin tours, and vote on your favorite recycled art.

Pet Palooza

April 12
Truist Field

The event features a dog-friendly fundraising walk for the Humane Society of Charlotte, as well as a vendor fair, adoption area, music, a picnic pavilion, food and beer trucks, and fun activities for people and pets alike. Be sure to register for the walk in advance.

Regional Festival of India

April 12
Stumptown Park, Matthews

The free festival includes dance performances, Indian street food, pop-up vendors, turban tying and Henna tattoos, yoga, art galleries, and more.

Loch Norman Highland Games

April 12 – 13
Rural Hill, Huntersville

Come for a unique mix of the sporting, the cultural, the music, and the social. Activities include track and field events, piping and dancing competitions, tug-o-war, and a hammer throw.

Charlotte Wine & Food Week

April 23 – 27
Various locations

Enjoy vintner dinners, and wine and food pairing experiences around the city, all to benefit Charlotte-area children’s charities.

Tuck Fest 2025

April 25 – 27
Whitewater Center

Celebrate the great outdoors and try something new at this Whitewater Center festival filled with outdoor competitions, exhibitions, demos, and live music.

BOOM Charlotte 2025

April 25 – 27

The Shoppes at University Place

A three-day immersive experience celebrating arts and creativity, featuring dance, music, theater, poetry, visual art, film, and more.

Got Soul | Savor the Culture

April 26
The AMP Ballantyne

The inaugural event will feature live music, immersive art installations, culinary treats from local food trucks, and exclusive VIP experiences, all benefitting Do Greater, Families Forward Charlotte, Freedom Within Walls, and the Jack and Jill Foundation.

Art on the Green

April 26 – 27
Davidson

This juried art festival features regional artists, along with musical performances by local talents and food from on-site vendors and area restaurants.

May Festivals

South Carolina Strawberry Festival

May 2 – 3
Fort Mill

Celebrate the strawberry at this award-winning festival. Attend beauty pageants, a golf tournament, a strawberry scavenger hunt, and strawberry eating contest.

Lovin’ Life Music Fest

May 2 – 4
Uptown

Dave Matthews Band, Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, Pitbull, and Teddy Swims headline the concert event featuring over 40 artists over three days.

Riverfest

May 3

Celebrate the Catawba River with live music, local craft beer, food trucks, kids’ activities, artisan vendors, and a Floating Concert.

Davidson Town Day

May 3
119 S. Main Street, Davidson

Since May is National Bike Month, walk or bike to the town green in Davidson for family games, entertainment, and food.

Kings Drive Art Walk

May 3 – 4
Little Sugar Creek Greenway

This outdoor exhibition showcases paintings, drawings, sculptures, pottery, metal, stone, wood, and glass works from emerging artists. Families can also enjoy music and entertainment.

Hello Huntersville

May 4
Veterans Park

This festival highlights regional artists and musicians. Listen to live music while supporting local artists, food, and beverage vendors.

Matthews Summerfest

May 9 – 10
Stumptown Park

Enjoy live music, shag dancing, carnival rides, axe throwing, street food, and kids’ activities.

Reel Out Charlotte

May 14 – 18
The Independent Picture House

The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Charlotte Dragon Boat and Asian Festival

May 17
Ramsey Creek Park

Learn about various Asian cultures through food and activities and see teams race to the finish line in colorfully-decorated dragon boats.

The Cheerwine Festival

May 17
Salisbury

Cheerwine fans can enjoy cold Cheerwine, live music, great Southern food, shopping for Cheerwine merchandise, family-friendly activities, a beer garden, and local craft vendors in downtown Salisbury.

Dilworth Jubilee

May 17
Latta Park

The annual, free community event features a Pet Parade, live music, Food Trucks and craft beer from Triple C Brewing.

Midwood Mania

May 17
Midwood Park

Midwood Maynia is Plaza Midwood’s free event to welcome warmer weather, the blossoms of spring and the beginning of the outdoor festival season with live music, food, beer from a local brewery, parade, great local merchants and fun activities for the kids.