The Charlotte area has a lot to offer it’s residents and tourists all year long but summer really takes the cake. If you’re looking for some fun, close to home events or things to do this summer with your family or for a fun date, check out the Stephen Cooley Real Estate Guide to the Charlotte Area Summer Happenings!
Mecklenburg County
June 8-10 – Taste of Charlotte
- The Taste of Charlotte has developed into a food and wine festival that celebrates local Charlotte businesses. The festival lasts for three days and spans over five blocks in Downtown Charlotte, guests can sample a wide array of dishes and wines. Admission to Taste of Charlotte is free, however you must purchase coins in order to get food and beverages during the festival. For more information, visit http://www.tasteofcharlotte.com
Alive After Five – Every Thursday thru September
- Every summer Uptown Charlotte hosts Alive After Five, a concert series and weekly happy hour featuring local entertainment.
Anytime this Summer
- Breweries: Come enjoy one of Charlotte’s finest beers with a side of live entertainment. Charlotte has begun to creep up in the craft brewing scene and now has several different breweries to choose from.
- Olde Mecklenburg (OMB)
- Triple C
- NoDa
- Sycamore
- Sugar Creek
- Heist
- Concerts & Music Venues: Come see your favorite artists at one of Charlotte’s top music venues.
- PNC Music Pavilion
- The Fillmore Charlotte
- Uptown Amphitheater/NC Music Factory
- US National Whitewater Center
- Located in West Charlotte, the US National Whitewater center is open daily and individuals can raft, kayak, conquor the ropes course as well as grab a beer and use the climbing wall. There is an admission fee and you can also buy a season pass. For more information visit their site.
York County
July 3 at 5:30 Red White & Boom!
- This annual event in Old Town Rock Hill also features local area bands, a kids zone, food trucks, beer and much more! Come hang out with other York County residents and enjoy the spectacular fireworks show as we celebrate Independence Day.
Summer Concert Series at the Greenway in Fort Mill – Every Thursday at 6:30 thru August
- 2018 will be the 6th year for the Summer Concert Series at Ann Springs Greenway. Bring chairs and blankets and relax on the lawn for a concert each week. Greenway members are free, $5 for non-members and parking is $5 per car. Check out the music line up here.
Ag + Art Tour – Saturdays and Sunday’s covering 12 counties over 4 weekends.
- June 9-10
- Chester County
- Lancaster County
- York County
- This is a self-guided tour of farms in South Carolina where you can meet local artisans and purchase produce from farmer’s markets. 2018 is the biggest tour yet, you do not want to miss it! This is a rain or shine event, for more information on this tour visit their website.
August 27-28 Summerfest in Historic Downtown York
- This is the 34 annual Summerfest and each year Summerfest offers York County residents music, food and a vendor selection that is unlike any other. There is a concert line up on Friday night and a car show on Saturday. If you’re looking for a southern good time with your family, check out Summerfest!
Anytime this Summer
- Carowinds Amusement Park: Have kids or friends looking for a day of fun? Bring them to one of the Southeast’s most popular theme parks, featuring Camp Snoopy, Carolina Harbor Water Park and live shows like Seasons of Cirque.
- Legal Remedy Brewing Company: Great spot for a date night or place to meet up with friends. Legal Remedy offers brewery tours, live music and on Saturdays they also host the Old Town Farmers Market. For more information on their events go to their website.
Gaston County
Gaston County Parks and Recreation – Summer Movie Series the 3rd Friday of every month thru August
- This is a free event at the Dallas Park Horse Arena, movies begin around 9 pm so bring some chairs , grab some of the free popcorn and enjoy a movie!
Anytime this Summer
- Crowders Mountain State Park: If you love the outdoors, check out Crowders Mountain State Park! This is the perfect place for nature walks, hiking, and beautiful views. Crowders mountain is has trails that link to Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park. Crowders mountain offers campaign sites and rugged terrain for rock climbing and bouldering. Visit their site for information on camping and park hours.
- Muddy River Distillery in Belmont, NC: Boasting the best rum you’ve ever tasted, Muddy River Distillery makes 4 different types of liquor. They offer tours and tastings on a regular basis, check out this hidden gem in Belmont.
- Growler USA: Great pub and restaurant that offers 104 taps of the best local and regional microbreweries, hard ciders, draught wine and food. Once a week they offer ‘Tap TakeOver‘ that features specific breweries from around the region.
- Schiele Museum of Natural History: Great museum for children, the Schiele Museum offers a multitude of displays and a planetarium. They host several events throughout the year and are constantly adding new exhibits, in June the Creepy Nature exhibit opened, parents and kids alike will love it. Be sure to check out their calendar of events when you’re looking to make a trip to the museum.
Lancaster County
July 19, 1-2pm Dinosaur Adventures at USC Lancaster
- Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at the door. Mr. Ed will lead you and your child with his favorite dinosaur, Dakota and his friends.
Monthly Red Rose Farmers Market
- Each month Lancaster will host the Red Rose Farmers Market on Meeting Street and Main Street. Come out and support your local area residents by buying local, farm fresh foods.
- June 21
- July 19
- August 16
Monthly – Native American Studies Lunch and Learn at USC Lancaster
- Want to expand your knowledge about the local region and historical culture? Grab some lunch and head to the free monthly lectures at USC Lancaster.
Anytime this Summer
- Andrew Jackson State Park: For those who love history, Andrew Jackson State Park is a must see as it features living history programs, interactive exhibits and a museum. The park features a campground, a replica of a schoolhouse, picnic shelters, trails for hiking and a lake to fish on. For hours of operation and rates for camping, check out their site.
- Edgewater Golf Course: Enjoy a relaxing round of 18 on Lancaster’s Edgewater golf course. Created in 2008, this is known as one of the tougher courses in the Carolina’s and is 7th in the United States for Best Value for a Golf Course. Visit their website to schedule a tee time or purchase a gift card for a loved one!
Chester County
June 26-28 at 10 am Camp Wild – Camping for Youth at Chester State Park
- Chester State Park is hosting Camp Wild this summer. This event is an opportunity for kids to learn archery, camping trivia, fish casting and much more! Chaperones for the camp are from Clemson Extension Service Staff. Attendees must be members of the 4-H club, for more information check out their site.
Anytime this Summer
- Skydive Carolina: Test your limits at the premier skydiving center of the Carolina’s. This is a family owned business that has been providing great skydiving experiences for over 30 years.
- Chester Transportation Museum: The museum is housed by the Seaboard Rail Road Depot and is the hub for the collection of transportation items and has been preserved by the Chester Historical Society. For more information, visit their website.
- Olde English District Visitors Center & Market: For historical buffs, visit the Olde English District Visitors Center and Market in Richburg. There were several revolutionary war battles fought in South Carolina and this is a place that pay homage to that time in our country’s history. The Market features local artisans, food entrepreneurs and much more to it’s visitors.
Union County North Carolina
Kids Bowl Free March – September
- Registration is online at kidsbowlfree.com but the Fox Alley Bowling, Bar and Grill in Monroe is a participate this summer. Kids younger than 15 can get 2 FREE games of bowling Monday thru Friday March thru September this year.
Classic Car Cruise In – 2nd Friday of every month in Downtown Monroe
- The second Friday of every month is the place to be for car lovers! It’s a great family friendly event each month to check out some classic cars and meet car enthusiasts.
- June 8th Mustangs
- July 14th Motocycles
- August 10th Jeeps
- September 14th Trucks
Anytime this Summer
- Two by Two Petting Zoo: This petting zoo is great for the kids. Two by Two is home to some of the most loving and unique animals, mostly rescue animals. This is the perfect for toddlers and older children alike to pet, feed and
- Big Air Trampoline Park: If you need to beat the heat this summer, check out Big Air Trampoline Park. This is fun indoor park where kids and adults can bounce around, shoot basketballs and jump into a foam pit.
- Discovery Place Science: Discovery Place brings out the curiosity in all of us with it’s exhibits! This is a great place for families to go to spark imagination and bring science to life for everyone. From dinosaurs to the IMAX theater, Discovery place offers a lot. There are different programs and classes offered monthly, to plan your visit check out their site.
Cabarrus County
Charlotte Motor Speedway – Events ALL Summer
- If you love racing and are a car enthusiast this is the place for you! From full racing experience ride along to NASCAR races, the speedway has what you’re looking for.
- Jun – July Bojangles Summer Shootout featuring Quad Racing, Principal School Bus Racing, Mascot Mania Go-Kart Racing, Media Mayhem School Bus Racing, NASCAR Drivers from ROVAL Test, Faster Pastor School Bus Racing, Little Luggies 600, Champions Night
- August 11 – Circle K Back-To-School Monster Truck Bash
- September 6-9 Pennzoil AutoFair
Anytime This Summer
- Sea Life Aquarium: The indoor aquarium showcases 10 interactive exhibits for kids and is an excellent day trip if you don’t want to go too far from home. Behind-the-scenes 30-minute tours are also offered to give a realistic look at the 17,000 gallon ocean tank in the aquarium.
- The Dale Trail: For NASCAR lovers and Earnhardt fans, you don’t want to miss the Dale Trail.
- This trail starts in Kannapolis and pays homage to the local NASCAR great by visiting multiple motor sports facilities and even Dale’s favorite diner.
- Reed Gold Mine: This is first documented place in the United States to find gold! This is a must see for families and is free to tour the mines! If you want to pan for gold for a small fee from April through October.