Charlotte
Times to Visit
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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UPTOWN. For one whole month, art, culture, and community are celebrated in 200 events and activities. From art exhibits and dance troupe performances to appearances by local chefs and Food Network celebrities like Alton Brown and Tyler Florence, the fun doesn't stop! The Charlotte Film Festival premieres new independent films, the Charlotte Dance Festival showcases emerging talents, and the Actor's Theatre of Charlotte debuts new plays. Take your pick, and enjoy the bounty. Charlotte Shout's kick-off party, by the way, takes place in Wachovia Plaza.
DILWORTH. This four-day festival remembers the days when every city had a real park to bring residents together. Handcrafted collectibles, world-class art displays, and delicious fair food provide all the incentive people need to plan their schedules around the long weekend. Parking will likely be any space you can find in the area – enjoy the walk in, because it'll be a long one.
UPTOWN. One of the busiest weekends in Charlotte, this festival brings country, rock, and acoustic acts to fans, along with current and former NASCAR drivers like Richard Petty, Bobby Labonte, and Kasey Kahne. Other draws include steamy gyros, crinkle-cut fries, beer stands, the beginning of summer heat, racing simulations, and autographs. It's all an education on the phenomenon known as NASCAR.
HUNTERSVILLE. Proud of the fact that you're one-quarter Scottish? Then celebrate your heritage with bagpipes, Scotch eggs and meat pies, sheepdog herding demonstrations, Scottish dance contests, and turning the caber competitions. Don't know what that last one is? It doesn't matter, lad! Come out, sip some whiskey, and be entertained by the athleticism of the anything-but-ordinary Highland games.
UPTOWN. Fast a bit before heading to this gastronomic extravaganza, where some of Charlotte's best restaurants ply their wares. Buy a cup of food coins (they're your sampling currency), and taste 100 different tidbits from local places like Marguerite's French Bakery, Caribbean Hut, and Rí Rá Irish Pub. It's a good idea to study the map detailing the booth layout and then plan a route before you enter, because once you're confronted by the bounty, your stomach takes over for your brain.
At this, one of the year's most posh events, you can channel your high-society desires and cheer the beautiful racing stallions from a lawn box right next to the track. Sure, such luxurious digs will set you back a bit, but they do include an open bar and meals. In addition, you can don your most creative hat and try to win the Morrison Smith Hat Contest or lay out a gourmet spread for the Annual Tailgating competition. In the end, it's all just a little "country affair" on 300-acre Brooklandwood. (Yes, cheaper tickets are available for regular folks.)
SOUTHPARK. Pack a picnic, a bottle of wine, and comfortable lounge chairs, and unwind with the Charlotte Symphony on a sublime Sunday evening before the workweek begins. A summer staple since the early '90s, the music series has devoted past performances to Broadway, Father's Day, and Fourth of July numbers. Get there early to set up your blanket, and then shop at nearby SouthPark Mall until the music begins – it gets more crowded each year.
In 2007, Tiger Woods won this competition with a 3-under-par 69. Who knows who might win the next title? Charlotteans have been known to skip work for a chance to glimpse some of the biggest names in pro golf who compete at this highly publicized event. Homes on the green rent out quickly, and tickets go on sale in November, so start planning your "hooky excuse" now!
UPTOWN. It may not have the reputation of the ice rink at NYC's Rockefeller Center, but Charlotte's one-and-only outdoor skating rink has got it going on during the winter months. You'll forget that there isn't even any snow on the ground while you skate amid Uptown's towering skyscrapers. Afterwards, warm up with hot cocoa and a triple chocolate brownie at nearby Dean & DeLuca on South Tryon.
SOUTH END. For many Charlotte foodies, Yiasou ranks as the city's top festival. The Greek women of Holy Trinity start six months in advance preparing baklava, spanakopita, gyros, souvlaki, pita bread, and pastries, readying them for crowds of thousands to devour. An outdoor "drive-through" and "pick-up" station have even been installed to handle the great demand for these Greek delicacies. Art, entertainment, and crafts are available at the much-anticipated festival too, and a children's play land offers rides and activities. Oftentimes, you can't choose when you'll visit, but when you do have the option, why not let it coincide with a prominent event? Find out when the city is bursting with blooms, when holiday decorations are at their most enticing, or when a fabulously fun festival is being held. Discover, too, if there's a milestone that's being celebrated or if there's a small occasion that coincides with your own special interest. We'll spread the news and let you know when it's high time to visit the city.
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Oftentimes, you can't choose when you'll visit, but when you do have the option, why not let it coincide with a prominent event? Find out when the city is bursting with blooms, when holiday decorations are at their most enticing, or when a fabulously fun festival is being held. Discover, too, if there's a milestone that's being celebrated or if there's a small occasion that coincides with your own special interest. We'll spread the news and let you know when it's high time to visit the city. 
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