A Guide to 2025 Fall Arts Events in Charlotte
Check out over 100 events happening in Charlotte this fall to experience as much local art as possible.
That chill in the air and the color in the trees tells us its time for autumn, the perfect time to reawaken your sense of creativity. Check out over 100 events happening in Charlotte this fall to experience as much local art as possible.
THE INSTITUTIONS
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
551 S. Tryon St.
Exhibits
Chop Shop: We Are Here (now through Oct. 26)
A group of Black and Brown male artists founded the Chop Shop Artists Collective in 2020 during the global pandemic as a space for virtual conversations and fellowship in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and its worldwide broadcast. The artists found strength in community, bonding over shared experiences while exploring racial consciousness and identity through drawing, painting and sculpture. This exhibit highlights the transformative role of the arts in confronting the challenges faced by Black and Brown men — issues frequently neglected by mainstream society.
a’driane nieves: A Time for Furious Dancing (now through Jan. 4, 2026)
Self-taught, interdisciplinary artist a’driane nieves showcases new and recent work in A Time for Furious Dancing, exploring the interior landscape of the self. Born in 1982 in San Antonio, Texas, “nieves investigates the physical, epigenetic, psychological and emotional effects of trauma — ancestral, inherited, historical and personal — on identity and behavior,” reads the Gantt Center’s website. Drawing deeply from memory and emotion, her abstract compositions serve as a vessel for confronting pain and reclaiming joy, offering viewers an intimate visual language of transformation.
Praise House: Adama Delphine Fawundu
With Praise House, Brooklyn-based visual artist Adama Delphine Fawundu weaves a constellation of connections between herself and her global kin, mapping both physical and metaphysical movements across Africa and its diaspora. “Fawundu’s practice centers on memory, conjuring and the radical imaginary, challenging the boundaries of the photographic medium,” reads the Gantt Center website.
Events
Sept. 23: Open Air: Steven Cozart and Roymieco Carter
Sept. 24: ‘THE MECCA’ Screening and Talkback
Oct. 4: Family First: Tangled Stories — Building Identity Through Hair & Texture
Nov. 8: Family First: The Standard Jazz Workshop
Dec. 5: Jazzy: Passport Through the Arts
Charlotte Museum of History
3500 Shamrock Drive
Sept. 25: Inside the Collection(s Room)
Sept. 27: More Than 250: Tories and Patriots
Oct. 11: East Side Sol
Oct. 21: Spirited History: Prescribed Spirits
McColl Center for Visual Art
721 N. Tryon St.
Sept. 22: Beyond the Studio: Ready to Hang w/ Atelier 4
Oct. 4: Beyond the Studio: The Mechanics of Sustaining a Creative Life w/ Sharon Ouden
Oct. 11: Reveal 1: Meredith Connelly
Oct. 16: Fall 2025 Artists-in-Residence Artist Talk & Studio Visit
Oct. 18-19: BIG INK & Queen City Zine Fest
Nov. 1-2: The Liberated Brush: Felicia van Bork Painting Workshop
Nov. 8: West Side Mural Walk & Pop Up Exhibition
Dec. 5: Reveal 2: Dammit Wesley
The Mint Museum – Randolph
2730 Randolph Road
Exhibits
Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks (Sept. 20 through Jan. 4, 2026)
Featuring approximately 60 shoe designs ranging from the self-lacing Nike MAG first conceived for Back to the Future Part II to digitally designed and 3D-printed shoes, Future Now explores how the shoe has evolved from functional footwear to glam runway designs and cultural phenomena. Featured designers include Salehe Bembury and Zaha Hadid while selections from the Nike ISPA (Improvise. Scavenge. Protect. Adapt.) Collection show how new materials, designs and sustainability are transforming the way we think about shoes.
Central Impact: Skateboarding’s Art and Influence (Sept. 20 through Jan. 4, 2026)
Central Impact explores skateboarding through its most iconic canvas: the deck. But the exhibition is more than a look at skateboard graphics — it’s a deep dive into the cultural currents that have shaped skateboarding in the Southeast and beyond. Spanning from the 1980s to present, Central Impact brings together rare boards, original artwork and archival media that trace the evolution of skate culture. At its core, the exhibit is a tribute to Charlotte and Southeastern skate communities — celebrating the professionals, local legends and unsung heroes — Kenny Hughes, Josh Frazier, Mike Sinclair, Bob Reynolds and Ty Brown, to name a few — who helped shape the region’s unique DIY skate ethos.
Events
Sept. 27: Potters Market at the Mint
Sept. 28: Party in the Park: Artist Market
Oct. 10: Members’ Preview of Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion
Oct. 11: Mint 2 Move for Kids
Oct. 18: Members-Only Tour of Art of Devotion: The Santos de Palo Tradition of Puerto Rico
Oct. 21: Storytime on the Lawn
Oct. 26: Party in the Park: Sneakspeaks
Nov. 2: The Art of Dining: Portals to the Past
Nov. 15: Mindful Sketching: Two Selves by Rose B. Simpson
Nov. 16: Future Now Public Talk w/ Elizabeth Semmelhack
The Mint Museum – Uptown
5000 N. Tryon St.
Oct. 3: Mint 2 Move Cultural Dance Night: Hispanic Heritage Month
Oct. 9: An Evening with Steve Naifeh: A Life of Writing and Art
Oct. 11: Opening of Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion: European Art from the Smith-Naifeh Collection
Oct. 22: Mindful Looking: Renaissance, Romanticism and Rebellion
Dec. 5: Mint 2 Move Cultural Dance Night: Día de las Velitas
Belk Theater
130 N. Tryon St.
Sept. 24-Oct. 26: Wicked
Nov. 1: Puccini’s Heroines: A Night to Remember
Nov. 4-9: Six: The Musical
Nov. 14-15: Charlotte Symphony: Respighi’s Pines of Rome
Nov. 18-23: The Sound of Music
Nov. 28-29: Charlotte Symphony: Home Alone in Concert
Dec. 5-21: Charlotte Ballet: Nutcracker
Booth Playhouse
130 N. Tryon St.
Sept. 26: From Porn to the Pulpit
Sept. 27: Hell From the Magic Tavern
Oct. 4: Pet Sounds Live
Oct. 5: El Boricua está de Fiesta
Oct. 6: Witches’ Night Off
Oct. 8: Giselle
Oct. 9: Creative 21
Oct. 10-11: Luther S. Allison Quartet
Oct. 17-18: Once
Oct. 29: Shards of Skelly
Oct. 31: Karla Bonoff
Nov. 7-8: Charlotte Symphony: Beethoven 360
Nov. 12-13: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show
Nov. 25: A Christmas Carol
Nov. 29: Sy Smith
Nov. 30: Snow Queen
Dec. 5-6: Jazz Room Holiday Edition: Preservation Hall All-Stars
Dec. 7: Noel and Maria: A Jazz Celebration of the Holidays
Dec. 10: Be a Lion
Dec. 12-14: Clara’s Trip
Knight Theater
430 S. Tryon St.
Sept. 27: Steep Canyon Rangers w/ Time Sawyer
Sept. 29: Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group
Oct. 3: Tosco Music Beatles Tribute
Oct. 4: Mary Chapin Carpenter w/ Brandy Clark
Oct. 10-11: Shostakovtich’s Symphony No. 5
Oct. 15: Home Free
Oct. 17-18: Charlotte Symphony: Dolly Parton’s Threads
Oct. 18: Charlotte Symphony: Peter & the Wolf
Oct. 19: How?! The Magic Show
Oct. 24-26: Charlotte Symphony: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5
Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Charlotte Ballet: Whispers, Echoes, Voices
Nov. 4: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac
Nov. 8: Mashina Vremeni
Nov. 9: Randy Rainbow
Nov. 14: The Life and Music of George Michael
Nov. 15: Henry Cho
Nov. 29: Tim Shropshire
Dec. 1: A Motown Christmas
Dec. 5-7: Charlotte Symphony: Handel’s Messiah
Dec. 12-14: Holiday Pops: A Carolina Christmas
Dec. 15: Tosco Music Holiday Party
Dec. 18: Charlotte Symphony: Festival of Lights: A Hanukkah Concert
Dec. 19-21: Charlotte Symphony: Cirque de Noel
Blume Studios
904 Post St.
Oct. 11: Grown-Up Play Day
Oct. 15: Elphaba vs. Glinda with The JAM CLT
Oct. 23: Mah Jongg with SkillPop
Oct. 30: Viva Frida: Neon Paint Party
Nov. 19-Jan 11: The Magicians Table
Stage Door Theater
155 N. College St.
Nov. 1: Phil Cook w/ William Tyler
Nov. 7: Ariella & Nicolaas
Nov. 14-15: Darling Grenadine
Nov. 21-22: Edmar Castañeda Quartet
Sarah Belk Gambrell Center
2319 Wellesley Ave.
Sept. 25: Rooted Art Exhibit
Sept. 30: Big Crass Monster
Oct. 18: The String Queens
Oct. 30: Cameron Carpenter plays ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
Nov. 4: A Conversation About Biophilia Design
Nov. 6: ‘A Man Named Pearl’ Film Screening
Nov. 7: The Wailin’ Jennys
Nov. 11: ‘Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia’ Film Screening
Nov. 16: Dido & Aeneas Choir Concert
Nov. 24: Rooted Resonance
Dec. 2: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Dec. 3: Charlotte Composition Factory Concert
Cain Center for the Arts
21348 Catawba Ave., Cornelius
Oct. 9: One Irish Rover: Van Morrison Tribute
Oct. 10: Jim Florentine
Oct. 17: How Sweet It Is: James Taylor Tribute
Oct. 18: Philip Sayce
Oct. 19: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Oct. 24: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Oct. 25: Tell Me Lies: The Fleetwood Mac Experience
Oct. 31: Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience
Nov. 1: Kathy Mattea
Nov. 20: The Pirates of Penzance
Nov. 21: Heart of Rock n Roll: Huey Lewis & the News Tribute
Nov. 22: Mike Super: Magic & Illusion
Dec. 4-5: Sons of Serendip: Christmas Beyond the Lights
Dec. 6: Mamma Mania: Abba Tribute
Dec. 13: Joe Grandsen’s Little Big Band Holiday Show
Dec. 18-19: Christmas with The Drifters
Dec. 20: Carolina Holidays w/ Charly Lowry
THE INDEPENDENTS
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
ImaginOn; 300 E. 7th Street
Sept. 20-Oct. 5: Journey to Oz
Oct. 11-Nov. 2: The Invisible Boy
Nov. 15-16: Bessie Coleman: Fearless & Free
Nov. 22-Dec. 23: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Theatre Charlotte
501 Queens Road
Now through Sept. 28: Little Shop of Horrors
Oct. 24-Nov. 9: Murder on the Orient Express
Three Bone Theatre
The Arts Factory at West End Studios, 1545 W. Trade St.
Nov. 7-23: Eureka Day
Matthews Playhouse
Fullwood Theatre, 100 E. McDowell St., Matthews
September 19-28: A Raisin in the Sun
Dec. 12-21: Scrooge! The Musical
Davidson Community Players
Cain Center for the Arts, 21348 Catawba Ave., Cornelius
Oct. 2-5: Beetlejuice, Jr.
Nov. 6-16: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS
Charlotte Film Festival
Sept. 23-28 | times vary | Independent Picture House | Prices vary, $14 for most single tickets
After opening at Carolina Theatre with the premiere of Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman, the new Charlotte true-crime feature starring Channing Tatum, the Charlotte Film Festival moves to IPH for a slate of dramatic and documentary shorts, features and animated films, including Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great, a gory remake of the 1983 grindhouse sword and sorcery favorite Deathstalker, gross and hilarious x-rated exploitation flick Fuck My Son!, a 4K restoration of director John Woo’s 1992 Hong Kong shoot-em-up Hard Boiled, surrealist dark comedy-drama Fucktoys, helmer Colin Hanks’ heartfelt documentary about a comic genius John Candy: I Like Me and plenty more.
Breakaway Music Festival
Sept. 26-27 | 6-9 p.m. | zMAX Dragway | $114 and up
Breakaway returns with two dozen acts including headliners John Summit, Eli Brown, Kaytranada, and Louis the Child.
Hola Charlotte Festival
Oct. 4 | noon-6 p.m. | North Tryon Street, Uptown | Free
Hola Charlotte is the largest Hispanic Heritage celebration in Charlotte, highlighting Latin American culture and all its diversity. On the 16th annual edition, the fest will be headlined by Puerto Rican crooner Elvis Crespo, plus a slate of other nationally recognized performers showcasing their talents in live music, dance and art installations. The Latin American Cultural Village will feature exhibits representing 15 Latin American countries.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Weekends in October & November | 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville | Prices vary
Take an autumn stroll through the wooded Village of Fairhaven where history comes alive with non-stop, day-long, immersive and interactive entertainments, and you can shop an abundance of arts and crafts in the village’s open-air Artisan Market.
Charlotte Bookpalooza Festival
Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Urban District Market | Free
The ultimate celebration of authors, books and literacy features more than 50 local and regional authors, 30+ bookish vendors, and a full slate of family-friendly activities, immersive experiences, music, food and more.
Charlotte Chalk Art Festival
Oct. 18-19 | noon-5 p.m. | NoDa Brewing Co. | Free
The Charlotte Chalk Art Festival returns to NoDa Brewing this October, again transforming the establishment’s parking lot into a vibrant street gallery, celebrating community and creativity through chalk art in the process.
Mad About Modern 2025
Nov. 8 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Locations vary | $TBD
The Mad About Modern Home Tour returns this November, making the most of the cooler weather as your guides open the doors to a curated selection of Midcentury and Modern homes across the Queen City, viewing history through a new lens: modern, meaningful and unmistakably Charlotte.
