Charlotte Attractions and Activities
There are many things you can do in the Hornet’s Nest (the city is nicknamed this way due to the Hornets being based there), from the various museums that you can visit to the multiple celebrations and festivals that you can visit, there is something for you here in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina!
First off, the many festivities that you can participate in! The Charlotte region is home to many annual festivals and special events. The Carolina Renaissance Festival operates on Saturdays and Sundays each October and November. Located near the intersection of Highway 73 and Poplar Tent Road, the Carolina Renaissance Festival is one of the largest renaissance themed events in the country. It features 11 stages of outdoor variety entertainment, a 22-acre village marketplace, an interactive circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament, and a feast, all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure.
The Yiasou Greek Festival is an award-winning Greek Festival. It began in 1978 and since then has become one of Charlotte’s largest cultural events. The Yiasou (the Greek word for Hello, Goodbye and Cheers) Greek Festival features Hellenic cultural exhibits, authentic Greek cuisine and homemade pastries, entertainment, live music and dancing, wine tastings, art, shopping and more.
Taste of Charlotte is a three-day festival offering samples from area restaurants, live entertainment and children’s activities. Located on Tryon Street, Taste of Charlotte spans six city blocks from Stonewall to 5th Street.
Moo and Brew Fest is an annual craft beer and burger festival that is the largest in North Carolina, held each April. It includes various national musical acts hosted at the avidxchange music factory located in Uptown.
The CIAA Basketball Tournament is an annual five-day event in March that draws over 100,000 alumni, fans, and spectators and carries a $50 million impact.
For zoos, it’s unfortunate, but Charlotte is “… the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a zoo.” The Charlotte Zoo initiative is a proposal to allocate 250 acres (101 ha) of natural North Carolina land to be dedicated to the zoological foundation, which was incorporated in 2008. On August 18, 2012, News Channel 14 says that the initiative is “… still a few years away” and the plot of land is “… just seven miles from the center of uptown.” According to the news channel, “… the zoo will cost roughly $300 million, and will be completely privately-funded.” The Charlotte Observer references two other zoos, the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and the North Carolina Zoological Park as two “great zoos” that are accessible from the Charlotte-Mecklenberg area, both roughly more than 70 miles away.
Charlotte is also served by the Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium in the nearby city of Concord. The aquarium is 30,000 square feet in size, and is part of the Concord Mills mall. The aquarium opened on February 20, 2014.
Here is a list of the many museums here in Charlotte:
- Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
- Billy Graham Library
- Carolinas Aviation Museum
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum
- Charlotte Nature Museum in Freedom Park
- Charlotte Trolley Museum in Historic South End