Charlotte SHOUT! Is Back: What Families Need to Know

In Partnership with Charlotte SHOUT!

Thousands of Charlotte families head into Uptown Charlotte each year to experience the Charlotte SHOUT! festival, an annual celebration of the city’s art, culture, and community. The event returns to Uptown Charlotte March 29-April 14, and with it, many, many activities to dazzle kids and adults alike. The festival, presented by Atrium Health and Bank of America, was built on the pillars of art, music, food, and ideas—with the addition of fashion this year. More than 200 events and attractions are found throughout these 17 days in Uptown, with returning favorites (yes, there will be see-saws and those gorgeous, vibrant eggs!) and a slew of new family-friendly creations. Below, we dive into some of the most kid-centric offerings:

In terms of visual art: At Levine Avenue of the Arts, you’ll find “Sonic Runway,” a light-art installation that converts audio signals into patterns of light that shoot down a 350-foot corridor of LED-lined arches at the speed of sound. “Disco Skies: Where Jellyfish Pirates Dance,” also at Levine Avenue of the Arts, is a mirror-balled pirate ship created by local artist Ali Loncar. At First Ward Park, stop by “e/motion,” the see-saw created by Olivier Landreville that features glowing liquid that responds to the movements of the attraction. All of the visual art is sponsored by Lowe’s, and you’ll also find returning favorites like “Easter Eggs on Parade” at The Green, the massive murals inside Luminous Lane, the 200 S Alleyway, and First Ward Park’s “Chair Monster.”

The music programming at the festival is sponsored by Ally and includes many events geared toward all ages. You’ll find those performances at the aforementioned Ally Main Stage at First Ward Park, Victoria Yards, lunchtime concerts at Cafe 400, and other corners of Uptown. There will be several daytime performances that are family-friendly, while parents can also make an evening of it for nighttime adventures. One popular musical event making a return this year is “Pianodrome,” is the world’s first amphitheater made entirely from upcycled pianos. Charlotte Shout’s Pianodrome is the first to be built in America, and it’s hosted at Grace A.M.E. Zion Church.

The SHOUT! food experiences, sponsored by Compass Group, include multiple festivals, like the Charlotte StrEATs Festival and the Carolina BBQ Festival. The Charlotte StrEATs Festival features the Neighborhood Cook-off battles, which pit chefs head-to-head in a cook-off to win the title of StrEATs Neighborhood Champion, and all ages are welcome at the event. Carolina BBQ Festival is also family-friendly, and 15 pitmasters offer samples across the event area in Victorial Yards. Elsewhere, families will also find food trucks throughout Uptown Charlotte, with the full schedule of trucks coming to the festival updated on the SHOUT! website soon. 

Whether it’s getting creative at the VAPA Wall Chalk Art display or playing one of the 9 holes at the Queen’s Greens Putt Putt at Wells Fargo Plaza, there’s something for the kids throughout Uptown Charlotte during SHOUT! See the entire line-up of activities in 2024 here.