Summer in the Queen City does NOT disappoint - from street festivals to baseball games, fun can be had all over town. Thanks to our friends at Atrium Health Levine Children’s, we’re rounding up all the summer fun from lake to lake and Charlotte to Rock Hill so that you and your family can spend time together having good, healthy fun! Please check ahead before you head out to ensure that activities are running as scheduled. We do our best to keep this guide updated, but there are things outside our control that sometimes interfere with fun!
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FESTIVALS:
North Carolina:
June:
Taste of Charlotte
Tryon Street (Trade to Brooklyn Village Way); Uptown Charlotte
June 9 - 11, 2023
11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
FREE
Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas
House of Africa, 1215 Thomas Avenue, in Plaza Midwood
June 15 - 18, 2023
Please check website for specific event times
FREE
Indian Trail Juneteenth Festival
Crossing Paths Park, 120 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail
June 16, 2023
6 - 9 p.m.
FREE
Town of Waxhaw Juneteenth Celebration
Downtown Waxhaw
June 17, 2023
12 - 4 p.m.
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4th of July Celebrations:
Uptown Charlotte/Skyshow
July 4, 2023
Fireworks following Knights Game (starts at 6:35 p.m.)
Carowinds
July 4, 2023
Check back for details
Symphony Park - Summer Pops Celebrates America
4400 Sharon Road
July 2, 2023 8 p.m.
Tickets required; $18 adults in advance, $25 at the gate; children ages 13-17 $5 in advance, $7 at the gate; children 12 and under are free but do require a ticket
US National Whitewater Center
July 3 - 4, 2023
City of Monroe
Belk Tonawanda Park
July 4, 2023 (fireworks at 9 p.m.)
Check back for details
Town of Indian Trail 4th of July Parade
Downtown Indian Trail
July 4, 2023
Details Coming
August:
Town of Indian Trail National Night Out
Multiple locations
August 1, 2023
6 - 9 p.m.
FREE
Town of Waxhaw National Night Out
Downtown Waxhaw
August 1, 2023
6 - 9 p.m.
Town of Waxhaw Back to School Bash
Downtown Waxhaw
August 12, 2023
Check back for details
Charlotte Pride Festival
Uptown Charlotte (parade route available online)
August 19-20, 2023 (parade is Aug 20)
All Day
FREE
Matthews Alive Festival
Downtown Matthews, Stumptown Park
September 1-4, 2023
Most activities are pay-to-play (food and games) but attendance is FREE
South Carolina:
June:
Rock Hill Juneteenth Festival
Downtown Rock Hill, Fountain Park
June 16-17, 2023
FREE
Rock Hill Pride Festival
Downtown Rock Hill
June 24, 2023
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
4th of July Celebrations:
Tega Cay
Windjammer Park
July 4th, 2023
Check back for details
Rock Hill’s Red White and Boom
Downtown Rock Hill; Fountain Park
July 3, 2023, 5 - 10 p.m.
Baxter Village Fourth of July
Check back for details
Historic Brattonsville
Check back for details
Van Wyck/Indian Land
July 4, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Non-4th July Events:
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Downtown Pageland
July 14-15, 2023
FREE
August:
Summerfest
Downtown York
August 26, 2023
More information coming soon
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Local Fun:
- Baseball games
Take the family out to a ball game! Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the boys of summer. Catch the Charlotte Knights, The Gastonia Honey Hunters, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers or the Hickory Crawdads for an afternoon or evening game.
- Soccer games
Don’t miss a chance to see Charlotte FC in action! MLS games are a real treat to see. The players interact with the fans before and after the games. Protip: Grab a seat behind the goal. Families, please note that although this typically is the liveliest section, adult beverages are typically sprayed after each goal. It is part of the fun to be with fans, there are lots of families in the section, the cheers and the singing make these the best seats.
You can also go watch Charlotte Independence, their games are super family-friendly, there are regular theme games with giveaways and halftime fun.
- Kids Bowl Free
- Check our events calendar for venue information
- Summer Movies
- Check our events calendar for venue information
- Local theater shows
- Children's Theatre of Charlotte has a full lineup through June and shows resume again in August.
- Belk Theater: Annie and Bluey will be in town this summer
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OUTDOOR CONCERTS AND MOVIES
There is no shortage of places to see live music or a free movie in the summer. You can catch outdoor music at the following locations:
South Charlotte
Blakeney Summer Concert Series
Ardrey Kell and Rea Road
Details forthcoming
Stonecrest Summer Concert Series
7800 Rea Road
Details forthcoming
Music at Promenade on Providence
10844 Providence Road
Details forthcoming
Party at the Park at Mint Museum Randolph
2730 Randolph Road
Last Sunday of month 1-5 PM
Music at the Met
Thursdays from April 20- October 5th
1111 Metropolitan Avenue, Charlotte
Matthews Beats ‘n Bites
The last Friday of the month, from April through September 5-9 PM
Stumptown Park
Mint Hill Family Fun Nights
July 15th, September 16th 6:30 p.m.
Mint Hill Veterans Park
Live at 11 in Ballantyne's Backyard
First Friday of each Month (July, August, September)
6 - 9 PM
$10 entry
11611 North Community House Road, Charlotte, North Carolina
South Carolina
Tega Cay Concert Series
One Saturday a month from April to September
Runde Park and Catawba Park in Tega Cay
Main Street Live
Downtown Rock Hill
Details forthcoming
Music in the Park at Ebenezer Park
June 9th
Ebenezer Park
Anne Springs Close Greenway Summer Concert Series
Thursdays
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Union County
Downtown Waxhaw’s Jammin’ By the Tracks
Two Fridays every month from June to August 2023
Community Corner, 116 McDonald Street, Waxhaw
Outdoor Movies
Information is still forthcoming - check back soon!
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TAKE A HIKE (OR BIKE)
- For a full list of hiking and bike trails, check out our guide.
- Local trails
- Drive-worthy waterfalls and tubing
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LET’S GET WET!
- Pool safety tips
- Where to get wet
- Local beaches and lakefronts
- Boat rentals
- Public/semi-public pools
- Mecklenburg Aquatic Center
- Ray’s Splash Pad
- Starclaire Recreation Club
- Monroe Aquatic Center
- Boyd Hill Swimming Pool
- Emmett Scott Rec Center and Swimming Pool
- Splash pads
- North and South Carolina Water Parks
- Ideas for places to drive and get wet
HIT THE ROAD
- Day trips
- Pisgah Forest
- Asheville
- Greenville
- Greensboro
- NC Zoo
- Riverbanks Zoo
- Waterfall Adventures
- Tubing Adventures
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GRAB A BITE/REFUEL ON A PATIO
Charlotte has a ton of great patio options for you and your family to take advantage of great weather. You can find some of our favorites in this article or check out any of those listed below. They all have kid-friendly food and those with an asterisk have an option for a kid-safe play area.
Charlotte
- Optimist Hall*
- Mac’s Speed Shop
- Olde Mecklenburg Brewery*
- Middle James Brewery*
- OpenTap*
- Seoul Food Meat Co.*
- Piedmont Social
- Leroy Fox
- Improper Pig*
Fort Mill / Rock Hill / Tega Cay
- The Office (Indian Land)
- Emmett’s Social Table (Fort Mill and Waxhaw)
- Hobo’s (Fort Mill and Rock Hill)*
- The Pump House (Rock Hill)
- Farm Haus Butcher (Indian Land)
- Fish Market (Fort Mill)*
- Legal Remedy Brewing (Fort Mill)*
Union County
- Franklin Court Grill (Waxhaw)*
- Hacienda El Rey (Indian Trail)
- Marios Pizza (Indian Trail)*
- Emmett’s Social Table (Waxhaw)
*please note: those with an asterisk have a safe/safer area for children to play
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HIT UP LOCAL MARKETS AND FARMS
We have great farmers markets and U-pick farms that are open all summer long; make sure to check the schedules to see what reservations (if any) are needed and what’s in season.
Fort Mill / Rock Hill Farmers Markets
Fort Mill / Rock Hill U-Pick Farms
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LOCAL PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
One thing Charlotte has a ton of is parks and playgrounds - after all, we are called the city of Trees! From Uptown to Rock Hill, we’ve got you covered. Linked below are playgrounds and parks across the Charlotte metro Area:
- Charlotte Parks and Playgrounds
- Fort Mill / Rock Hill Parks and Playgrounds
- Union County Parks and Playgrounds
Our thanks to Atrium Health Levine Children's for sponsoring this guide to ensure you and your family have a fun, healthy summer. For more information on how to keep your kids healthy and active this summer, always contact your pediatrician with questions. Looking for a pediatrician? Find one here.
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