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👋 Yiasou = Hello 👋

Don’t miss the Yiasou Greek Festival
A large mass of people walking between buildings at the Yiasou Greek Festival.
For three days, the Yiasou Greek Festival feeds thousands of visitors from across the Carolinas. | Photo via Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
While you can’t travel to Greece from Charlotte (yet), you can experience Greece in Charlotte. The 46th annual Yiasou Greek Festival floods the Dilworth neighborhood with traditional cuisine, live dances and performances, and lifetime memories.

“We call it the biggest block party in Charlotte because that’s how it is,” said John Shelton, the Communication Director at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

City Editor Maria, here. This is one of the biggest festivals in Charlotte. Here’s just a snippet of what to expect.

A crowd of people standing outside of a striped tent at sunset.

Annually, the Yiasou Greek Festival draws more than 45,000 people.

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Photo by Helen McGinnis via Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Festival happenings

The festival kicks off today at 11 a.m. through Sunday, Sept. 8. Tickets are $5, children 12 and under are free.

Editor’s note: The money earned from ticket sales is redistributed into community nonprofits.

Savor fresh Greek cuisine like Athenian baked fish, homemade baklava, pastichio, and more.

“I am super excited about [the Athenian fish] because I did some taste testing the other day and the recipe we’ve decided on is just out of this world,” laughed Shelton.

Get your dancing shoes ready for live music, dancing, wine tastings, art, and shopping.

New this year, guests can watch a three-course cooking demonstration showcasing the origins and health benefits of Greek dishes.

Where to park

The festival is at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Organizers recommend parking two blocks away, at INVLIVIAN Housing Refined.

Pro tip: Parking is free after 5 p.m. Friday, all day Saturday, and Sunday.

Street parking is also available + the Light Rail can be taken to the East/West Boulevard Lynx station.

A large Greek Orthodox Church with tables set out on a lush lawn.

The Yiasou Greek Festival boasts live performances and cuisine rooted in Greek culture.

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Photo by Helen McGinnis via Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral

History of the festival

The festival is rich with tradition, starting as a one-day event in the 1970s. In 1978, the festival grew to a three-day event.

Today, it draws 45,000+ visitors to the Charlotte region.

“My favorite thing is being able to get everybody together in one spot and just enjoy all the good things about life,” Shelton said with a smile.
Asked

What’s your go-to menu item at the Yiasou Greek Festival?
A. Baklava - I love the crispy layers
B. Pastichio - Ground beef? Good. Cheese? Good. Pasta? Good.
C. Dolmades - Those grape leaves are delicious.
D. Gyro - It’s a classic.
E. Other
Pick your favorite
 
Events
Friday, Sept. 6
  • Jazz at the Bechtler: An Evening with Shana Tucker | Friday, Sept. 6 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art | $25-$30 | Sway to a blend of jazz, soul, folk, and acoustic pop as the cellist and vocalist performs.
  • Carolina Ascent FC vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC | Friday, Sept. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | American Legion Memorial Stadium | $22+ | Cheer as the Carolinas’ new women’s professional soccer team fights to stay undefeated.
  • RENT | Friday, Sept. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Booth Playhouse | $18-$40 | Watch this Broadway favorite as it performs “Another Day” in Charlotte.
Saturday, Sept. 7
  • International Vulture Awareness Day | Saturday, Sept. 7 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Carolina Raptor Center | $0-$16 | Learn what makes “nature’s clean-up crew” special to the ecosystem + anyone bald gets in free.
  • City Kitch Food Truck Rally | Saturday, Sept. 7 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | City Kitch | Cost of purchase | Enjoy live music + fresh eats from a variety of chefs using Charlotte’s co-working kitchen.
  • Duke’s Mayo Classic - 2024 - Tennessee vs. NC State | Saturday, Sept. 7 | 5-10 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium | $85+ | Who will take a mayo bath — the Tennessee Volunteers or the NC State Wolfpack? You’ll have to watch and see.
Sunday, Sept. 8
  • Fondo Bike Charity Ride | Sunday, Sept. 8 | 7:30-8 a.m. | Downtown Mooresville | Free | Cycle through the heart of Mooresville while benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention + Top of Lake Rotary Club.
  • Pasta Making at Pilot Brewing | Sunday, Sept. 8 | 7-9 p.m. | Pilot Brewing | $55 | Learn to make fresh pasta in this hands-on course + sip on craft beer.
Monday, Sept. 9
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Traffic
  • Expect heavy traffic along I-85 near Charlotte Douglas International Airport today. Former President Donald Trump is in town to address the National Fraternal Order of Police. The highway will be closed 2:30-7 p.m. (WCNC)
Edu
  • Student performance at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools improved in the 2023-2024 school year. The district released its report card. Data shows 108 schools earned a grade of A, B, or C — up from 103 from the 2022-2023 report. (WCNC)
Biz
  • Northlake Mall could soon go on sale. Wells Fargo & Co. and Spinoso Real Estate Group are working to list and sell the mall. The 1.06 million-sqft mall has struggled to keep tenants. A sale date remains TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Real Estate
  • Pre-leasing has begun for a new 12-story, 117-unit boutique multifamily building in South End. The Campbell boasts generous floorplans averaging nearly 1,200 sqft + a sky terrace on the top floor.
Development
  • Checkpoint C at CLT Airport is closed for construction. Travelers will notice the pre-check line has moved to Checkpoint A. The upgrades will make space for 24 new ticket counters. (WCNC)
Travel
  • Speaking of CLT... Spirit Airlines announced a nonstop flight to Fort Myers. The daily flights begin March 5, 2025. The new flight comes as the budget airliner announced flights to New Orleans, beginning Oct. 10. (WCNC)
Announced
  • A new sushi restaurant is coming to south Charlotte. Oshen will open at Colony Place in October. It’s the latest venture from Garcia Hospitality Group, the team behind Peruvian-Japanese fusion restaurant Yunta. Expect sushi, hibachi, and non-seafood items.
Number
  • 31,091 — How many students the University of North Carolina at Charlotte enrolled for the fall 2024 semester, breaking the University’s record enrollment of 30,488 in fall 2021. UNC Charlotte’s student body comes from 98 of 100 North Carolina counties, 49 states, and 99 countries.
Plan Ahead
  • Heading to the NC State Fair? Take the train. Amtrak will make special stops at the fair and Lexington Barbecue Festival this fall starting Oct. 18. Tickets can be booked online. (WCNC)
Giveaway
  • The City of Concord and Creation Care team at All Saints’ Episcopal Church are giving away 300 trees to homeowners. Trees may be reserved online and are available on a first come, first served basis. (WBTV)
Sports
  • Ready for the upcoming Panthers season? WCNC’s Nick Carboni sat down with Head Coach Dave Canales to discuss the career of QB Bryce Young. (WCNC)
Listen
  • Which Hornets players can take the spotlight this year? Go beyond the paint for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornets with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Seasonal
  • Imagine the crunch of crisp autumn leaves underfoot, the cries of geese flying south, the crackle of a bonfire. What if you couldn’t hear the sounds of fall clearly? This revolutionary hearing device makes sure that you can. (Test it out for 45 days with zero risk.)*
 
Biz

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Answered

Yesterday, we asked “where is your favorite spot to watch the Carolina Panthers?”
Carolina Panthers fans gather for a pep rally.

Roaring Riot is a loud and proud foundation of the Carolina Panthers’ fan base.

|

Photo by Josh Klein via Roaring Riot

The Panthers’ season is about to kick off, something the Roaring Riot has been preparing for for months.

In Charlotte, there’s no shortage of places to watch a Panthers game, yet 71% of people prefer to stay home and watch from their couch. Meanwhile, 29% prefer to cheer from Bank of America Stadium.
6AM City In-house
 
The Wrap
 
Headshot of CLTtoday author Maria Delgado

Today’s edition by:
Maria
From the editor
Personally, I can’t wait to grab a bite of baklava and a frappe from the Greek Festival. If you see City Editor Jack and I, be sure to stop and say hi, we’d love to meet you.
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