Over 80,000 people attended the first Lovin’ Life Music Fest in Charlotte in May 2024. | Photo via Lovin Life Music Fest
Break out your calendar and start planning for the biggest and best events around Charlotte. Pro tip: Bookmark this article and see just how many events you can attend in the Queen City this year.
Heads up: Not all of these events have a set date yet and are subject to change.
Queens Feast Charlotte Restaurant Week| Jan.17-26 | 100+ restaurants across the Charlotte metro will be featuring three-course dining deals, ranging from $30 to $50 per person.
ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament| March 11-15 | Spectrum Center | The college basketball tournament willmake its 14th tournament appearance in the Queen City.
Charlotte SHOUT!| April 4-20 | Uptown | Join the annual party with 200+ events celebratingart, music, food, and creativity.
Charlotte StrEATS Festival| April 2025 | This culinary festival highlights Charlotte’s food scene during Charlotte SHOUT!, recognizing neighborhood chefs and their expertise.
Hamilton | 7:30 p.m. | Belk Theater | $49+ | “It’s Quiet Uptown” no longer when the Broadway hit takes the stage in Charlotte.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
Bechtler 15-Year Birthday Bash | 5-9 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art | Free | Celebrate this milestone of Queen City art culture with a night of live music, drinks, and exhibition tours.
Novels & Needles Meet-Up | 6-7 p.m. | That’s Novel Books | Free | Join fellow story lovers to discuss trending books while knitting and crocheting.
Community Run Club | 5:30 p.m. | Patagonia, South End | Free | Keep your New Years resolution going strong with a long run with new friends.
Community Engagement Visioning Workshop| 5-7 p.m. | North County Regional Library, Huntersville | Free | Join county leaders’ discussions about the future of housing, economic development, and community growth for 2025 and beyond.
🤝 Imagine the impact if we all volunteered on January 20
Presented by AmeriCorps
Join AmeriCorps in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King by volunteering this MLK Day. | Photos provided by AmeriCorps
Did you know? Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 20) is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer.
For 30 years, the MLK Day of Service has grown as more people embrace the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role in improving the communities where we live, work, and play.
Say double cheese. Whataburger is opening four upcoming locations in the Charlotte metro this year. The Texas-based burger chain will debut at 415 E. Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia in late spring. Another restaurant will open in early summer at 2060 US Highway 70 SE in Hickory.
Closing
Myers Park restaurant Fenwick’s announced its upcoming closure. The local-favorite spot has been serving guests since 1984. The closure aligns with the owner’s decision to retire. Doors will close in March but an exact date remains TBA. (WCNC)
Eat
Hungry, anyone? New York-based Pop Up Bagels announced an upcoming expansion in the Queen City this spring. This will be the popular bagel shop’s first location in the Southeast. We’ll keep you posted on its exact location and opening.
Community
Every second counts. Charlotte Fire launched Battalion 9, a new initiative which incorporates multiple fire stations across Charlotte to meet the National Fire Protection Association standards for emergency response times. The battalion seeks to improve city response times by 11 seconds.
Edu
South Carolina school districts have implemented a cell phone ban during school hours. The South Carolina Board of Education approved the ban last year to reduce student distractions and mental health issues linked to cell phone use. Schools must adhere to the ban to maintain state funding. (WCNC)
Development
The Huntersville Board of Commissioners could schedule a public hearing today regarding a rezoning request made for a 64.5-acre site at 12705 Commerce Station Dr. The site would host a massive industrial production line overseen by Crescent Communities. If approved, a public hearing would happen Tuesday, Feb. 4. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Civic
The town of Matthews rejected a state highway project expanding East John Street to four lanes through the historic downtown area. Town officials are seeking a three-lane alternative, focused on pedestrian and bicycle lanes, in hopes to make downtown Matthews more pedestrian-friendly. (WCNC)
Outdoors
Two new parks and a second splash pad are coming to Huntersville. Plans include 25 acres of nature trails, biking trails, and a dog park at Ramah Church Road Park. Another park will be built near Lake Norman Charter Elementary School on McIlwaine Road. Construction on Huntersville’s second splash pad begins in the spring.
Biz
Sauer Brands, the parent company of Duke’s Mayo, was sold by Charlotte-based Falfurrias Capital Partners to a private equity firm. Duke’s Mayo is the title sponsor for both the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and Duke’s Mayo Classic held at Bank of America Stadium. (WCNC)
Real Estate
Hey, neighbor. A 17,000-sqft Charlotte mansion recently sold for $5.6 million. The 11-acre estate at 9235 Sweetleaf Place boasts a movie theater room and guest house. (WCNC)
Sports
The Panthers will have the No. 8 pick for the NFL Draft on April 24. Go beyond the field for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Announced
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Wellness
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Category
Eat
🍽️ Dishing it out
There are still plenty of reasons to eat out in 2025. | Photo via Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria
How are those New Year’s resolutions holding up? We won’t judge.
Here’s some good news: If you vowed to have a healthier diet in 2025, you don’t have to give up your love of eating out.
Several popular Charlotte restaurants are providing healthy and delicious dishes to keep your goals on track. Let’s see what’s on the menu:
Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria Known for its Cuban, Peruvian, and other Latin American flavors, this Charlotte favorite is offering The Sol Bowl, packed with Panca salmon, roasted sweet potato, salsa criolla slaw, tomatoes, avocado, mojo corn, and salsa verde over kale and quinoa.
YAFO Kitchen The “Build Your Own Bowl” offers guests the chance to pick their favorites from a menu of clean protein, vegetables, and more.
Kid Cashew Savor a list of healthy flavor options, including the Wood Fired Chicken Avocado Sandwich, packed with garden greens, tomato, gouda, cilantro yogurt, and toasted multi-grain bread.
A highly-rated hydroponic growing system, so you can still have fresh herbs and vegetables in winter. We like this self-misting version, which avoids root rot and helps plants grow quicker. Hello, fresh leafy greens, basil, and tomatoes.
It may be cold outside, but this is also a great time of year to break out the fire pit. I enjoy just being with friends, sharing stories over food and music.
Only 72 days until spring... but who’s counting? I’m looking forward to March Madness, The Carolina Cup down in Camden, SC, and running on Little Sugar Creek Greenway when temperatures finally warm up.
