words by Kate Carlson
With the recent official start to the summer season this June, celebration is in order. Whether you hope to take advantage of the extra sunny fresh air or duck away into the refreshing AC, here is a curated list of the best summer activities in Charlotte NC.
Peruse the Uptown Farmers Market
Every Saturday morning the Uptown Farmers Market offers producer-only goods from local vendors. Situated in a shady spot beneath the Charlotte skyline, visit tents providing fresh goods including produce, floral arrangements, meat, fish, baked goods, honey, skincare products, coffee, and even food trucks. At the end of your browse, use your finds to make an organic, refreshing brunch at home.
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Attend a pop-up with Charlotte’s traveling romance bookshop on wheels
Rather than your summer reading itself, one of the best bookish summer activities in Charlotte NC may actually be the unique browsing experience beforehand. Featuring a gorgeous green bus converted to a traveling bookshop, Trope Bookshop’s unique chic aesthetic displays a diverse collection of romance novels. Follow Trope on Instagram to track their activity as they open up shop beside your favorite local cafes and breweries. Additionally, if you’re looking for a better bookish community to motivate your reading goals, join their book club, Troop Trope.
Picnic in the park with Babe & Butcher charcuterie
Nothing says summer like a sunny seat on a blanket in the grass with a seasonal charcuterie spread. Located at both Ballantyne and Park Road, Babe & Butcher is a charcuterie lover’s future best friend, offering a high quality assortment of fruits, meats, cheeses, jams, etc. for you to select and pack up in a to-go box. From there, take the short drive to Freedom Park and have a picnic on the lawn.
Give the throwing wheel a go at Pottery Central
One of the best summer activities in Charlotte NC to satiate your search for a thrilling new creative outlet is a beginner’s workshop at Pottery Central with friends. Get your hands messy with a guided, accessible immersion into giving the throwing wheel a shot, after which your pieces will be fired in the kiln. Later, you’ll have a gorgeous personalized piece to display quintessentially summer goods in your home, whether that be a bowl of seasonal fruit or a vase to hold summer bouquets.
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Wanting to freshen up your rotation of summer recipes with some exciting new dishes? Book a group cooking lesson at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, offering its services to chefs of all skill levels, from novice to expert. This summer, classes include cuisines such as Korean, French, Thai, and Greek, among others. Afterward, enjoy getting to chat with your chef and cohort over an intimate group meal within the stunning design of their custom group kitchen.
Participate in The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery tour and community events
As clearly attributed by expert vote, one of the best summer activities in Charlotte NC has to be a visit to The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. The city’s oldest operating brewery offers a behind-the-scenes tour, which in 2014 was named by USA Today Magazine the #1 Best Brewery Tour in the country. After getting an exclusive look at their widely celebrated brewing process, stay to take part in one of the brewery’s unique community events offered daily such as trivia, brunch, movie nights, and live performances by local musicians.
Take a terrarium or candle design workshop at Plant House
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Looking to add more personal touches to your interior design this summer? Look no further than the expert design events offered at Plant House. Featuring workshops ranging between the traditional Japanese practice of Kokedama, dish gardening, and terracotta candle pouring, they offer a wide variety of exercises for your green thumb. Enjoy learning a new skill accompanied by friends and the refreshment of specialty house beverages.
Stroll through Nebel’s Alley Night Market
When scheduling your next South End visit, make sure to catch the vibrant Saturday pop-up of Nebel’s Alley Night Market. With more than 32 vendors present, featuring live performances by local musicians, Nebel’s Alley offers jewelry, candles, self-care products, cocktails, and more. After a dinner in one of LoSo’s beloved restaurants, grab dessert to-go on a lively stroll through the action right behind Jeni’s Ice Cream.
Attend a Fever candlelight concert
If the kitchen jam sessions along to your favorite classic summer playlist is not quite cutting it anymore, Fever’s candlelight concerts are perfect for you. Immerse yourself in a night of live string performances spanning from classical to tributes for ABBA, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Adele, Prince, Childish Gambino, among others. All shows are either held at Triple C’s Barrel Room, featuring their 20 taps of beer and wine, or situated beneath the Italian stained glass, mahogany accents, and grand organ of the Great Aunt Stella Center.