Making a summer bucket list? Add these 21 warm weather activities
Here's where to have fun in the sun this summer in Charlotte. The summer activities include a River Jam Concert at the U.S. National Whitewater Center and a patriotic bar crawl hosted by Rich + +. Camp North End's outdoor movies will be held every Thursday outside their Ford Building. A block party-meets-vendor market will take place on the first Sunday of every month through summer in South End. Free outdoor yoga classes are offered at various venues across Charlotte. The city also offers free outdoor yoga class. The summer calendar features events leading up to Juneteenth celebrations, including a youth day camp, a drum circle, and performers from around the world.
Pubblicato : 3 settimane fa di Alexis Clinton,McKenzie Rankin,Symphony Webber in Weather
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Go to a River Jam Concert at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
What to expect: The USNWC puts on outdoor concerts every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from May to September.
• None They bring in a variety of artists from all different genres, including roots rock, Americana, bluegrass, folk and funk beginning at 6:30pm.
Catch one of Camp North End's outdoor movies during their summer series.
What to expect: Iconic 80s, 90s and 2000s films every Thursday outside CNE's Ford Building. Before the screening, challenge your friends to a few retro arcade games or grab food and drinks from one of the many local vendors.
Dig in: You can find a good patio in nearly all of Charlotte’s neighborhoods. Here are a few to check out:
Go deeper: The 30+ best patios in Charlotte, right now
Zoom in: There are several events set to take place in the days leading up to Juneteenth and on the holiday itself, including:
Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas: June 13-16 in Plaza Midwood
• Expect festivities like a youth day camp, a drum circle and performers from around the world.
• None This day-long block party will have food trucks, DJs, a fashion show and, of course, "wave checks."
Take a picture under the rainbow arch at Camden Commons.
What to expect: South End's Camden Road will close off to street traffic and transform into a pop-up outdoor living space where folks can hang out, play games, listen to music and eat tasty food from South End restaurants.
What's next: The final two Camden Commons of the year will be Sunday, June 16, from 11am-5pm and Sunday, June 30, 11am-5pm.
The vibe: The block party-meets-vendor market happens on the first Sunday of every month through the summer in South End.
What to expect: Shop artwork, handmade jewelry, clothes, baked goods and more from over 90 local vendors along the Rail Trail at Atherton Mill. Check out the full vendor list here.
Pro tip: FPS gets packed quickly and parking is limited. Plan to take the light rail, carpool or Uber/Lyft.
What's next: The next FPS will be Sunday, July 7, from 10:30-4:30pm.
Zoom in: There are a handful of free and cheap outdoor yoga classes around the city. Here are a few that occur regularly:
Gantt Center – Meet on the rooftop every Sunday at 12:30pm. Free for members, $10 for non-members.
• None – Free classes are held daily May through September and are open to all levels. Whitewater Center – Free classes are held daily May through September and are open to all levels.
• None - The nonprofit organization hosts yoga classes at various venues across Charlotte including Giddy Goat, Freedom Park and Urban District Market. Habitual Roots - The nonprofit organization hosts yoga classes at various venues across Charlotte including Giddy Goat, Freedom Park and Urban District Market.
What to expect: Baseball season is in full swing, and The Knights have 13 Fridays, 13 Saturdays, and 13 Sundays at home in 2024.
The vibe: All Friday and Saturday home games will feature a fireworks show afterward.
• None Check out the season schedule and all promotions, from fireworks shows to themed nights, here
Go to Americrawl hosted by Rich + Bennett.
What to expect: Head to South End for a patriotic bar crawl. Wear your favorite red, white and blue get-up for a chance to win prizes for the best-dressed individual, duo and group.
If you go: Participating bars include The Rose, Hoppin', Brickyard, The Union and more.
Cost: Tickets start at $10 and increase until the event date. Cost includes drink specials, cover charges, commemorative koozies and giveaways.
• None has a 125-yard sand beach with a concession stand, bathhouse, restrooms and lockers. The main park is free to access. Lake Norman State Park has a 125-yard sand beach with a concession stand, bathhouse, restrooms and lockers. The main park is free to access.
• None is a 43-acre lakeside park with a half-acre sandy beach. Parking is $10 for Mecklenburg County residents and $15 for non-county residents. Ramsey Creek Beach is a 43-acre lakeside park with a half-acre sandy beach. Parking is $10 for Mecklenburg County residents and $15 for non-county residents.
Go deeper: 9 boat rentals near Charlotte starting at $255
Swim in the rock quarry at Carrigan Farms.
About the quarry: It’s a natural spring-fed body of water that was discovered in the 1960s when crews were mining for granite stone. Now, it’s become a popular local destination to spend hot days. The best part? It has a mini beach with sand.
If you go: Reservations are required in advance; pricing varies by date but starts at $25 per person. Only cash is accepted at the door.
Details: Nothing says summer like a photo on the lawn of the PNC Music Pavilion. Here are just a few artists making their way through Charlotte this summer.
• None Outlaw Fest feat. Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan at PNC Music Pavilion on June 22
• None Morgan Wallen at Bank of America Stadium on July 18
• None Dan and Shay at PNC Music Pavilion on August 16
Go deeper: Live music: 10 concerts coming to Charlotte in June, including Ben Folds and Samara Joy
If you go: Here are a few suggestions for your next rooftop outing, depending on the vibe you’re going for:
Go deeper: 17 best rooftop bars in Charlotte
Watch a fireworks show on the 4th of July.
Details: Depending on where you’re viewing from, sometimes you can see a couple of fireworks shows at once. Here are a few celebrations with fireworks that are on our radar:
Get your rear in gear during 24 Hours of Booty.
What to expect: Every year, hundreds of walkers and more than 1,000 bikers commit to walking and cycling for 24 hours (or as much as they’d like in that 24-hour period) around the famous Booty Loop in Myers Park.
• None Levine Cancer Institute, Levine Children’s Hospital, The Livestrong Foundation and Queens University of Charlotte are the main beneficiaries of the event. Several other cancer-related nonprofits will receive support, too.
• None If you don’t plan to walk/bike, you can cheer on the participants from the sidelines or hang out in the food/expo area.
Hike to the top of Crowder's Mountain and take in the views.
If you go: Take Crowder's Trail for a more moderate climb. Go with Rocktop Trail for a more strenuous hike and views along the way. If you want a shorter climb to the summit, hit up Backside Trail. It’s steep but it’ll get you to the top quicker.
• Trails are accessible from 8am-9pm from May to September.
Plus: Veronét Vineyards is a 12-minute drive from Crowder’s, so go for a post-hike drink and snack.
Details: This two-hour tour lets you and up to 14 people pedal around town while stopping at local bars and breweries.
• None Expect 2-3 stops along the way in South End or Uptown.
Cost: Individual seats are $39; private parties for groups of 8-15 start at $399.
The big picture: If you've never been to a drag show, you're in for a treat. They're a mix of comedy, burlesque, lip-syncing and dancing.
• Pride Icons Drag Brunch at Oh My Soul! | June 22 at 11am | $20 | Details
• Buff Faye's "Loud & Proud" Drag Brunch at The Kounter in Rock Hill. | June 23 at 11am | $40 | Details
• Pride Month Drag Brunch at The Vanity House. | June 23 at 11am | $20 | Details
Go deeper: 13 drag shows in Charlotte this June
What to expect: Join thousands of people celebrating more than 20 years of LGBTQ+ pride through the streets of Uptown with a weekend of live music, vendors, food and special performances.
Stop by: Lake Norman and Lake Wylie are about 30 minutes from Uptown, and each has a handful of lakefront restaurants. Here are two to check out:
Ride all the rides at Carowinds.
The vibe: Carowinds has more than 50 rides at varying thrill levels. Scan Carowinds’ full list of rides here and sort by attraction type, thrill level, minimum height and fast lane accommodations.
• Kid-friendly: There are several kid- and family-friendly rides, including the Flying Ace Balloon Race and the Kiddy Hawk coaster.
• The coasters: Carowinds is home to 14 roller coasters, including the world’s top-rated steel coaster, Fury 325.
Cost: Day passes cost $40. You can also opt for a season pass, which includes unlimited visits.
• None For $75, you can spare yourself the time spent standing in line for all the major rides with a Fast Lane pass.
Editor’s note: We first published this guide in June 2022 and updated it June 11, 2024.