August is coming, and if you’re like us and many others, it may be time to get out your planners and fill in those empty weekend slots with something new. There are so many things to do around Charlotte, places to be and spots to see around town, that sometimes it’s hard to compile a night and feel like it’s the perfect way to spend it. We’ve gone ahead and taken a shot at it here: From concerts to hotels, gardens to parades, we’ve got a plan for August.
PNC Pavilion
Summer simply isn’t complete without heading out to see one of your favorite musical artists, and if you’ve only got time for one, PNC Pavilion is the event to be at. The PNC Pavilion is one of Charlotte’s best venues with a great capacity, open air feeling, and solid lineups year after year. This year’s PNC lineup is one of it’s best yet, incorporating a host of diverse talents from Pentatonix to Jason Aldean, and far more in between. The tickets won’t break the bank either, and they can be found on their website.
charlottemusicpavilion.com
Joedance Film Festival
If you haven’t been to a film festival before, Joedance is the perfect place to start. The Joedance Film Festival allows all to enjoy the endeavors of many different Charlotte connected artists in cute and comfortable outdoor screenings. Named in remembrance after Joe Restaino and dedicated towards raising funds for rare pediatric cancer research, this festival is held on August fourth and fifth and will feature 17 short films between both days. Volunteering is also welcome to anyone who feels so keen.
joedance.org
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Whether you’d like to enjoy beautiful botany, grab a drink, or play a round of mini-golf, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden can host it all. Apart from being a beautiful sanctuary for flora and mini-fauna, this botanical garden also caters it’s space towards weekend warriors with it’s Sip & Stroll events, where visitors can grab a glass of wine and wander through the gardens. Fear not, bringing your kids is welcome as well and they can enjoy the fun miniature golf course that snakes through its own maze of greens, focused on educating golfers about pollination.
dsbg.org
Charlotte’s Pride Parade
Come out and celebrate the LGBTQ community at North Carolina’s largest pride parade in Charlotte. Carrying on a tradition since the 70’s, this parade is filled with events, great food, and fantastic musical acts spurning up a wonderful and fun atmosphere. This free festival is carried out on both August 18th and 19th in Uptown, and will feature educational groups, a food court and a karaoke stage on the night of the 18th. Last year the festival drew in 150,000 people from around North Carolina, so it’s surely not something to miss out on.
charlottepride.org
A Luxury Weekend at the Ballantyne Hotel
Although it’s not too far from home, the Ballantyne Hotel offers enough accommodations and luxury treatments that you may feel as though you’ve achieved an incredibly relaxing vacation, without traveling too far. This hotel offers a full course of golf on impeccable links that can be played on year round, a spa treatment that is exquisite, and a menu and wine list that could satisfy any guest. The Ballantyne is the most incredible getaway one can have without truly getting away.
theballantynehotel.com
