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 fresh air or duck away into refreshing AC, here is a list of the best summer activities in Charlotte.
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. You’ll fine 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.
Attend a pop-up with Charlotte’s traveling romance bookshop on wheels
One of the best bookish summer activities in Charlotte NC could be the unique browsing experience beforehand. Trope Bookshop is a gorgeous green bus converted to a traveling bookshop. It’s a unique chic aesthetic that 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
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 aer not quite cutting it, 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.
River Jam at the U.S. Whitewater Center
The Whitewater Center puts on an outdoor concert dubbed River Jam every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from May until September. You’ll come across all sorts of different genres, and each show will being at 6:30 p.m. It’s totally free, but you will have to pay for parking!
Shop at Front Porch Sundays in South End
On the first Sunday of every month in the summer, Front Porch Sundays comes to the Atherton Mill area in South End for a vendor market. You can shop everything from artwork to baked goods, and there are always food trucks too. Follow @frontporchsundays on Instagram to stay up to date on times and vendors!
Support the Charlotte Knights
There is no better way to spend a day in the summer than at Truist Field. In the heart of Uptown, the Charlotte Knights baseball team have games often on the weekends throughout the summer. You can get your tickets online in advance, or purchase them at the door. It’s fun for the whole family!
Spend a day on Lake Norman with Carolina Cruising Charter
You don’t have to own a boat to enjoy a day out on the lake. Carolina Cruising Charter offers a ton of boat rentals and packages that you can utilize for a perfect lake day. Whether it’s two people or twenty, they have a boat that will fit your needs, and at a great price!
Have a Rooftop Drink in Uptown
Options are endless in Uptown Charlotte to grab a drink, and you can’t go wrong with a rooftop drink during the summer. Some of our favorites are Nuvole, Buho Bar and Aura Rooftop.
Explore Anne Springs Close Greenway
There is so much to explore of the Anne Springs Close Greenway. You can hike, run, and bike all across the greenway, and you’ll also find lakes and ponds for fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding. You can stay up to date on all of their events online, but a can’t miss is the summer concert series every Thursday through July.
Head to the Mint Museum on Wednesday’s to See New Exhibits
At Mint Museum Uptown, you can visit for free on Wednesday evenings. This is a year-round promotion, but it’s a great way to escape the heat during the summer and see some incredible art. Currently, Whitfield Lovell: Passages is on display through the end of September.
Go Tubing in York County
York County is just 25 minutes outside of Charlotte, and one of the most exciting outdoor activities offered is tubing down the Catawba River. You’ll find stunning views and calm waters, and it’s the most relaxing way you can spend a summer day. Read more about tubing in York County here!
Dine on the patio at Chapter 6
Located on the Rail Trail, Chapter 6 has a spacious and comfortable patio for outdoor dining. They keep the area cool during the hot summer months, and you’ll love people-watching from your chair. Chapter 6 is a Mediterranean restaurant with bold coastal flavors and an old world curated wine menu.
Go Swimming at Carrigan Farms
Open swim in the quarry at Carrigan Farms is one of the best summer activities in Charlotte. It’s the perfect way to cool off on a hot day! Be sure to book your visit ahead of time, summer days fill up fast and walk-ins won’t be accepted.
