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🎡 The fair is back in town

Step right up for the return of the Charlotte Fair
A carousel chair rests in the foreground of a ferris wheel on a sunny day.
Expect to enjoy traditional fair ride favorite likes the Carousel and Ferris Wheel throughout the Charlotte Fair. | Photo by CLTtoday
It’s a place where childhood memories are made — the prize teddy bear, the savory corn dog + cotton candy, or the first merry-go-round ride in a whirl of neon lights.

That magic has now returned to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Charlotte Fair is back and promises to be better than ever with two extra days of family fun, dozens of thrilling rides, classic games, tasty fair food, live entertainment, and more.
  • Monday-Thursday: 4-10 p.m.
  • Friday: 4-11 p.m.
  • Saturday: 1-11 p.m.
  • Sunday: 1-10 p.m.
More than 40 rides stretched over 10 acres will be ready for guests to enjoy, from Sky Hawk to the stomach-churning Sea Dragon. There will also be plenty of attractions to enjoy:
A woman is smiling feeding a cup of food to hungry sheep.

CLTtoday editor Maria had the opportunity to feed the animals at the Charlotte Fair petting zoo.

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Photo by CLTtoday

Come hungry. All the classic fair food will be there, think funnel cakes, pizza, and ice cream. Editor’s pick: Jamaican cuisine to savor some jerk chicken.

The manpower required to bring a full-scale attraction to Concord for two weeks is not something to be overlooked. “It is the most wonderful challenge of my year,” said event producer Landon Linton, who emphasized he’s seen this production continue to grow in the last 16 years.

“In 20 years, people will be talking about how ‘I went to the Charlotte Fair.’ With any luck at all, we’ll be bigger and serving many more people in the county and the city even more than we have before.”

A man smiles for the camera with fair-concession food stands in the background.

Event producer Landon Linton says more attention has been made this year for the patron-experience: efficient security, places for shade, and more space to alleviate crowding.

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Photo by CLTtoday

Ticket packages can be purchased online. One-day admission includes:
  • $12 for adults (12+)
  • $8 for kids (5-11)
  • Kids 4 & under are free
Editor’s note: Special weekday deals offer parking/admission discounts for students, teachers, veterans, and first responders on respective days.

The Charlotte Fair runs through Monday, April 1.
Asked

🎡 What do you love most about the fair?
_________________________________________________________

A. Riding fun rides
B. Eating tasty food
C. Winning carnival games
D. Animals at the petting zoo
E. Enjoying a show
Give it a whirl
Events
Friday, March 22
  • UCITY Food Truck Friday 2024 | Friday, March 22 | 5-9 p.m. | Armored Cow Brewing Co., 8821 JW Clay Blvd. #1., Charlotte | Free | Savor the flavors of food trucks from the Charlotte area.
  • Jon Batiste: UNEASY Tour | Friday, March 22 | 8 p.m. | The Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte | $45 | Be serenaded by the Grammy award-winning singer live in concert.
  • Charlotte Symphony: Wagner and Strauss | Friday, March 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | $18 | Enjoy a night of classical music while surrounded by artwork.
Saturday, March 23
  • The Big Spring Clean | Saturday, March 23 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Multiple locations across Charlotte | Free | Come out and be a part of Mecklenburg County’s biggest stream cleanup event of the year — registration is required.
  • The Whole Enchilada MTB Race | Saturday, March 23 | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., Charlotte | $50-$70 | Ride in a 41-mile mountain bike race stretching the entire Whitewater Center trail course.
  • Easter at the Library | Saturday, March 23 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Billy Graham Library, 4330 Westmont Dr., Charlotte | Free | A children’s event for ages 5-12 including a scavenger hunt leading up to the Easter holiday.
  • No Man’s Land | Saturday, March 23 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Camp North End - Ford Building, 300 Camp Rd., Charlotte | $10 | Celebrate 100+ woman-owned businesses with a lively market, hands-on workshops, and photo ops
  • Charlotte FC vs. Columbus Crew | Saturday, March 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St., Charlotte | $1-$172 | Pro soccer returns to the Queen City in a primetime weekend matchup.
Sunday, March 24
  • Party in the Park | Sunday, March 24 | 1-5 p.m. | The Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Rd., Charlotte | Free | Enjoy the museum with art projects, food trucks, live music, and a cash bar on the front terrace.
  • Ronny Chieng | Sunday, March 24 | 8 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | $39.50 | Prepare to laugh watching the stand-up comedian, actor, and correspondent on “The Daily Show” during his routine.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Wellness

Not your grandpa’s hearing device
a hand holds a hearing aid between two fingers
Cutting-edge German technology allows users to control these hearing aids with the Horizon App using precision smartphone connectivity and Bluetooth. | Photo provided by hear.com
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Introducing the Horizon IX hearing aid by hear.com. It’s one of the world’s first dual processing hearing aids, which separates speech and background noise to deliver never-before-heard clarity.

Ready to join 385,000 people hearing better than ever? See if you qualify for a 45-day no-risk trial of the award-winning Horizon IX hearing devices below.
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News Notes
Trending
  • Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced this week that she’s giving $640 million to 361 small nonprofits nationwide — including three based in Charlotte. Crittenton of North Carolina, Carolinas CARE Partnership, and the Camino Community Development Corporation received $2 million each. (WCNC)
Community
  • The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced a Secondary Language Incentive. Officers earn five percent more in pay if they speak a second language.
Award
  • Bon Appétit. Charlotte restaurant Fin & Fino landed on Yelp’s list of top 100 seafood restaurants. The restaurant was recognized for fresh seafood, high-quality meats, house-made pastas, and craft cocktails. Fin & Fino has locations in Uptown and Huntersville’s Birkdale Village. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Travel
  • Charlotte Douglas International Airport announced plans for the Fourth Parallel Runway. The $1 billion airfield project will boost operations with the addition of the new runway, which will serve departing traffic.
Active
  • Get ready to run. The Colon Cancer Coalition is hosting the annual “Get Your Rear In Gear - Charlotte 5K Run/Walk” Saturday, March 23 at First Ward Park. The 5K begins at 8 a.m. Colorectal cancer survivors and patients register for free. The event helps raise money for colon cancer screening, research, education, and awareness efforts.
Traffic
  • Green light. Around $3.4 million will be spent repaving and repairing 7.3 miles of city roads — including a portion of East Charlotte’s Harris Blvd. The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced repairs will likely begin mid-April and be completed by the fall of 2025. (WCNC)
Health
  • All Novant Health hospitals have lifted visitor restrictions put in place in December 2023 for visitors 13 and under. Doctors credit a decline in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses.
Civic
  • Charlotte civic leader and breast cancer survivor Cathy Bessant established Novant Health Endowed Chair for Breast Health. The $1 million gift from Bank of America will support education, research, and equipment for oncology care.
Announced
  • We’re not bluffing. The Catawba Two Kings Casino will add 12 live table games — including craps, roulette, blackjack, and three-card poker. The table games are expected to begin play this summer. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Sports
  • UNC is a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Will they be dancing to the championship? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the North Carolina Tar Heels with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Learn
  • Meet The Daily Upside, a free business newsletter that offers sharp analysis of the latest finance, economics, and market news. Navigate the complexities of inflation, rate hikes, and more without clickbait headlines. Join 1+ million subscribers when you sign up for free.*
    TEGNA
     
    Food

    🌮 South of the border flavor in Uptown

    New Uptown restaurant offers flavor from South of the border
    An interior shot of a restaurant with people sitting in booths and staff cleaning tables.
    Dos Caminos has six locations nationwide. Four are located in Manhattan. Charlotte is the first southern city to host the cantina-style franchise. | Photo by CLTtoday
    An energetic new restaurant has opened its doors on South Tryon Street. The New York-based cantina Dos Caminos — at 601 S. Tryon St., Ste. 135, Charlotte — serves modern Mexican cuisine + made-to-order guacamole and tequila cocktails.

    The Uptown location is colorful, vibrant, and inviting. You feel you’re somewhere other than Charlotte — similar to the bustle of Manhattan or a street market in Mexico.

    Once inside, there’s ample seating with an active bar to grab a drink and watch the game. The decor is gorgeous — with warm-color light fixtures, illuminated drink displays, and massive artwork difficult to look away from.

    The true test for any restaurant is the food. Salted chips with fresh salsa as you sit down is a good start, and they make a mean margarita.

    Editors’ picks:
    Jack: The skillet burrito — pulled chicken, rice, beans, and cheese
    Maria: El Guapo — you get a quesadilla, enchilada, and taco

    Dos Caminos is open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
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    The Wrap
     
    CLT_Jack VanderToll

    Today’s edition by:
    Jack
    From the editor
    I highly recommend Coffee & Cream coffee shop if you’re ever in Concord. They make a delicious coffee milkshake.
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