Top 5 Festivals in Charlotte

June 25, 2013

Carolina Parent,

1. Festival in the Park
Each September since 1964, Charlotteans have flocked to Festival in the Park at Freedom Park for music, art and family-friendly fun. The award-winning three-day festival hosts local and regional artists, as well as a main stage with live music, a family fun zone, youth variety stage, magicians and more. festivalinthepark.org.

2. Greek Festival
Go for the homemade pastries and Greek cuisine, stay for the entertainment, kids’ rides, shopping and general festive spirit. "Greek Fest" is held each September at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Dilworth. yiasoufestival.org.

3. Matthews Alive
Held each Labor Day weekend, Matthews Alive boasts some of the best Midway rides, festival food, crafts, fun and games for children of all ages. Local, regional and national recording artists performances throughout the weekend, and there’s a Kids Stage with entertainment just for the young set. matthewsalive.org.

4. Come-See-Me Festival
Celebrate spring in Rock Hill in April at the Come-See Me Festival. The 10-day festival spans venues across the city. From the Everything Trucks event to a barbecue cook-off, fireworks extravaganza, skydiving exhibition and Mayor’s Frog Jump, it’s worth a visit. comeseeme.org.

5. Carolina Renaissance Festival
Catapult back to medieval times each November at this 16th-century European-style art and entertainment festival set in a 20-acre theme park filled with cottages and castles. There are jousts, circus entertainment, rides, arts and crafts, and turkey legs for all. royalfaires.com/carolina.

International Festivals

Charlotte Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Festival
Ramsey Creek Park, Huntersville in May.
charlottedragonboat.com