Grab lunch and shop at the upcoming Big Leaf Café + Shop. | Rendering via Daniel Stowe Conservancy
There’s lots of blooming in Belmont, and it’s not just the flowers.
The popular Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is transforming into the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, with new, upcoming attractions and features, allowing guests an even richer experience while touring 90 acres of Mecklenburg County’s natural beauty.
Get ready to browse for news plants at the upcoming Farmhouse Garden Center.
Rendering via Daniel Stowe Conservancy
What’s new indoors?
Visitors can look forward to grabbing coffee or lunch at the upcoming Big Leaf Café + Shop, with lots of tasty options for food and merchandise when it debuts this May.
Food for thought: The Trailhead Store is getting a face lift with expanded food choices + beer and wine.
Need new garden additions? The Farmhouse Garden Center is also debuting in May, serving as a one-stop shop for gardening supplies and plants.
Grab a coffee and stay a while.
Rendering via Daniel Stowe Conservancy
What’s fresh outside?
The Kimbrell Lost Hollow Children’s Garden is growing to include a brand new 0.5-mile kids’ Adventure Trail and Prairie Castle Playground, set to open in June. But that’s not all...
Taylor Swift Tribute Night | 7-10 p.m. | Starlight on 22nd | $15 | Celebrate all things Taylor Swift during a high-energy drag show.
UV Resin Workshop at CLT SHOUT! | 7-9 p.m. | 200 S. College St. | $55+ | Create a stunning glass and resin masterpiece in this hands-on workshop.
Nashville Sounds vs Charlotte Knights | 7:04 p.m. | Truist Field | $23+ | A Friday night in Uptown is incomplete without a Knights game and fireworks.
Saturday, April 19
Earth Day Rail Trail Clean Up | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Wooden Robot Brewery | Free | Meet new friends while cleaning the Rail Trail + celebrate with a cold drink and prizes after.
Charlotte Grilled Cheese Festival | 1-4 p.m. | SouthEnd Station | $20 | Grab a bite of cheesy goodness at this festival celebrating America’s favorite sandwich.
Spokane Zephyr FC vs Carolina Ascent FC | 7 p.m. | American Legion Memorial Stadium | $22+ | Cheer on the Ascent as they play their second-to-last home game of the regular inaugural season.
Tianyu Lights Festival | 7:30 p.m. | 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord | $17+ | Travel through an enchanted land of large illuminated installations.
Monday, April 21
Speed Puzzling | 7-9 p.m. | Lost Worlds Brewing Charlotte | Cost of purchase | Team up with friends to race to build a one-of-a-kind jigsaw puzzle for prizes.
Roadtrip: 🎶 Amos Lee headlines Appalachian Summer 2025
Presented by Appalachian State University
From intimate concerts to stunning dance performances, this is your ticket to summer done right. | Photos provided by AppState with permission/credit to Vanity Fair (Pink Martini), Sully Sullivan (Ranky Tanky), and Meagan Shuptar (Heather Headley)
Summer in the mountains, plus live music? Yes, please.
The 41st annual Appalachian Summer music + arts series returns to Boone, NC this summer, bringing four weeks of show-stopping music, dance, theater, film, and visual arts to the lush WNC mountains.
Taking place on the beautiful Appalachian State University campus June 28–July 26, the event series will feature headliners like:
Amos Lee — known for his soulful voice and chill hits like “Windows Are Rolled Down”
Joan Osborne + Lisa Loeb — “You say... I only hear what I want to,” and we want to hear this iconic duo
Pasta shop and Italian market Sorellina Pasta Co. opens today in Plaza Midwood at 2341 The Plaza. Come hungry for fresh pasta, lasagna, focaccia, ravioli, gelato, and wine.
Coming Soon
Dive Bar is opening its sixth North Carolina location in Concord this June at 14 Church St. South. Guests can look forward to a laid back atmosphere to hangout where they can enjoy darts, pool tables, pinball, Buck Hunter, and arcade games. (The Charlotte Observer)
Plan Ahead
Many grocer and retail stores across Charlotte will be closed for Easter Sunday on April 20, including Aldi, Publix, Costco, and Hobby Lobby. Other stores like Harris Teeter, Lidl, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods will still be open for Sunday shoppers. (WCNC)
Try This
Talk about an after party. The PGA HOPE Championship TEE-OFF Concert kicks off at Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall on Friday, May 16 during the PGA Championship. Tickets are available with proceeds benefiting PGA Hope and The Carmel Employee Assistance Fund.
Announced
FIFA is looking for volunteers in North and South Carolina ahead of the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup, with matches playing at Bank of America Stadium. Anyone interested is encouraged to submit an application on the Volunteers page at FIFA.com to be considered.
Transit
The City of Charlotte has launched a new Commercial Truck Parking tool to help truck drivers find legal, safe, and convenient parking. The mobile-friendly tool includes a searchable map of available lots and a real-time heat map showing areas with high violation rates.
Active
Rally Pickleball is hosting several upcoming family events. In April, join its Tuesday Music Series with a live DJ performing during game play from 5 to9 p.m. A weekly outdoor movie night will start on May 9, screening favorite films like “Remember the Titans,” “Cool Runnings,” and “The Sandlot.”
Travel
Charlotte’s Amtrak station has become one of the busiest train stations in the southeast, recording 328,008 passengers in 2024. Train travel in NC is experiencing an increase in ridership with connectivity to major cities while being cheaper on people’s wallets. (WCNC)
Weather
Fighting spring allergies? The WCNC Weather Impact team explored why pollen is so bad in the Carolinas. Reasons range from warm weather, pollution, and tree pollen peaking during late spring. (WCNC)
Sports
Is Dan Morgan’s preference to trade back from the 8th pick for the Panthers? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Biz
Make your business’s upcoming event or news the talk of the town. Through CLTtoday’s self-service ad portal, you can purchase an ad in as little as five minutes. Bonus: We now offer bundles so you can get in front of more eyes for less.
BOOM Charlotte boasts three days of a variety of live performances. | Photo by Juan Ossa
On the heels of Charlotte SHOUT!, prepare for the arts to explode when BOOM Charlotte — a three-day immersive art festival — kicks off next Friday, April 25, at the University City lakefront.
Festival dates + times
Friday, April 25, 6-10 p.m.
Saturday, April 26, 12-10 p.m.
Sunday, April 27, 12-8 p.m.
What is BOOM?
BOOM focuses on the power of creativity to build connection and community through two experiences: BOOM Fringe and BOOM Intersection. Fringe features ticketed indoor experimental art, whereas BOOM Intersection offers free outdoor family-friendly performances.
The eighth annual festival is happening in University City for the first time ever. You might remember BOOM was held at Camp North End in 2024 and drew ~10,000 people — so expect a crowd.
Take a look at the schedule and RSVP to attend Fringe events.
The Buy
The CrossOver Bra by Honeylove feels as good as it looks. It’s beautifully made + engineered for real life wear (read: sculpting support without digging in or discomfort).
Don’t forget, Sunday is the last day to check out Charlotte SHOUT!. There are so many cool installations and events across Uptown, including my personal favorite, the Queen’s Greens.
