Upwards of 125,000 people attend the annual Matthews Alive Festival every year. | Photo via Matthews Alive Festival
It’s that time again. CLTtoday’s Plan Ahead list is packed with live music, fun festivals, and plenty more fun in the Queen City.
Take out your calendar and text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst... Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back.
Seasonal Events
Matthews Alive Festival | Monday, Sept. 1 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Historic Downtown Matthews | Free+ | Bring the family for a day of live music, games, food, shopping, a petting zoo, and carnival rides.
Charlotte Labor Day Parade | Monday, Sept. 1 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | North Tryon Street, Uptown | Free | Watch along as local labor union floats, vehicles, and marchers parade through Uptown.
Alex Warren returns to the Queen City just months after performing at Lovin’ Life Music Fest.
Photo by CLTtoday
Concerts
Simple Plan | Tuesday, Sept. 2 | 6:30 p.m. | Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre | $50+ | “I’d do Anything” to get a seat at this rock show.
Alex Warren | Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 8 p.m. | Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre | $97+ | There’s nothing “Ordinary” about this singer’s return to the Queen City — expect a magical show.
Collective Soul | 6 p.m. | Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre | $55+ | You’ll feel a new “Vibration” at this rocking concert.
Slow Burn | 6-8 p.m. | The Market at 7th Street | $42+ | Spend two hours crafting a personalized massage oil candle — parking will be validated.
Dustin Nickerson | Thursday, Aug. 29-Saturday, Aug. 30 | Various times | The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s | $37 | Prepare to laugh as the comedian returns to the Queen City for an intimate show.
Friday, Aug. 29
ANNIE LEIBOVITZ/WORK | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | The Mint Museum Uptown | $20+ | Time is running out to see the renowned photographer’s work on display — the exhibition closes Sunday, Aug. 31.
Hip Naughtic Belly Dance Class | 7-8:30 p.m. | 1431 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte | $25 | Laugh and learn how to move your hips to feel good in your skin.
The Magic of Motown | 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theater | $51 | Sing to the works of The Temptations, The Jackson Five, Aretha Franklin, and other major stars.
“Mimosa Land” Mimosa Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Romare Bearden Park | $25 | Bring a lawn chair and soak up the sunshine with mimosas, food trucks, and live entertainment.
Baylee Littrell | 7:30-10 p.m. | The Evening Muse | $20+ | Local “American Idol” fave Josh King will perform with the country singer and son of Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell.
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Construction is underway on the first phase of the expansion of UNC Charlotte’s Jerry Richardson Stadium. New stadium features include a new tower for events and dining, premium seating, and patio spaces. Construction will wrap in 2027. (WCNC)
Community
A 300-unit multifamily development is coming to North Charlotte called Stateswood. The project in Northlake will include one- and two-bedroom homes, a private clubhouse, coworking lounges, and a pool. Pre-leasing will start in early 2027. (WSOC)
Civic
Early voting is underway for the Tuesday, Sept. 9, primary, where Charlotte voters will choose their at-large city council and district representatives. Do you know where our representatives stand on certain issues? Check out this questionnaire. (WBTV)
Closed
The Dunhill Hotel is temporarily closed after flooding from a city water main break. The historic boutique hotel is working with the city and restoration officials to preserve the hotel. An opening timeline is TBA.
Quoted
“There would be no more fitting place to display my life’s work and share it with the people that mean so much to me than York County and right here in Rock Hill.” Internationally renowned artist Jim Shore will open a 22,000-sqft museum in downtown Rock Hill by late 2026. (WCNC)
Active
Lace up those sneakers.Registration is open for the fifth annual Drop Dead 5K, stepping off Saturday, Nov. 1. The race takes walkers and runners through a winding course within Charlotte’s Historic Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery.
Listen
Wide receiver Adam Thielen has been traded. Go beyond the clipboard for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Feel Good
St. Matthew Catholic Church in South Charlotte raised funds to address hunger, thanks to the honey harvested from the hives on campus. Get this — the bees once lived in the parish’s walls. (The Charlotte Ledger)
Sports
After a season-ending ACL tear, former Division 1 soccer player Madison Murray faced a tough road to recovery. With surgery and dedicated rehab at OrthoCarolina, she returned stronger than ever. Read her full journey to see how determination and expert care helped her get back on the field.*
Biz
Ready to launch ads in your pajamas? Our Self-Service Ad Portal gives you instant access to thousands of engaged readers — click, create, conquer. Got a real estate listing or a local event? Get it seen, stress-free.
Finance
The institutional firms that backed Uber and Venmo also invested in Pacaso, whose co-ownership tech revolutionizes the $1.3 trillion vacation home market. Pacaso has earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. Invest for $2.90/share before the opportunity ends Sept. 18.†‡*
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
What Spectrum Center renovations are you most excited for?
There’s a lot to be excited for when it comes to the relaunch of the Spectrum Center — 78% can’t wait to try out the new seats, while 22% are ready to savor the new menu items at the North and South districts.
Selfishly, I’m excited for September to roll around. There are so many events to look forward to, and it’s my birth month! Any recommendations on where I should go for dinner? I’m all ears.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
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