News

What to Do in Charlotte This Summer

Keyanna Metts
22 May 2024

This story was updated in May 2024 to reflect this summer's events in the city.

You will have so much fun visiting our Charlotte Campus, especially in the summer! After you take your amazing JWU tour, you’ll want to get to know the surrounding city and all it has to offer. For students entering their senior year of high school, a visit to JWU could earn you grant money. If you attend an on-campus visit before November 17 of your senior year in high school and complete your JWU application, you could receive a Visit Grant of up to $5,000 annually, which automatically renews for up to four years while at JWU. Even more reason to come visit this summer!

Here are some fun things to do when you visit Charlotte.

people enjoying charlotte street festival

1. Experience the Cookout Summer Shootout

If you’re a NASCAR fan, you’ll love this cookout/racing event that runs from June 10 – July 30 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Watch future racing stars from around the world battle for the title of Summer Cookout Champion in Legend Cars and Bandoleros.

2. Visit Carowinds Amusement Park

It's going to be a busy summer at this iconic amusement park! While you enjoy the waterpark and amusement rides, you can also check out the concerts happening all summer for the Carowinds Summer Music Fest. Mark your calendar for these awesome musical acts!

Friday, July 5: LeAnn Rimes
Saturday, July 6: The Bret Michaels Parti-Gras Tour 2024 featuring Dee Snider, Steve Augeri, Great White and Slaughter
Saturday, July 20: TobyMac featuring Tenth Avenue North
Friday, July 26: Brett Young featuring Restless Road.
Saturday, July 27: Brantley Gilbert featuring Lauren Alaina.
Friday, August 2: Skillet.
Saturday, August 3: Sugar Ray featuring Better Than Ezra and Tonic.
Friday, August 9: Flo Rida
Saturday, August 10: Russel Dickerson featuring Tyler Rich

3. Explore the Discovery Place Science Museum

At Discovery Place Science, you can see live shows such as Science at The Stage, which consists of science experiments, demonstrations and hands-on experiences. Or, get up close experiences with the museums reptiles and animals at Nose-to-Nose. Plus, the museum has an IMAX Dome theater for an immersive movie-watching experience.

4. Celebrate at Charlotte Pride Festival

Rep your pride flag and color the town with your beautiful rainbow at Charlotte Pride Festival on August 17-18 to celebrate all things pride! You can go to a drag pageant, dance to live music and eat some delicious food at each and every vendor.

people under a rainbow parachute at a pride festival

5. Grab a bite at Urban District Market

Urban District Market is a great spot to eat with food stalls that offer plenty of options, from classic burgers and steaks to dumplings and authentic Japanese Udon. Crispy Patty has amazing sandwiches with your choice of meat or seafood on a golden crust. Rare Butcher is a steakhouse that serves good cuts on a hot platter with sides you don’t want to miss. Burger Company makes their patties by hand for the most flavorful burger.

6. Enjoy the Botanical Garden

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has plenty of events happening this summer. On Saturday, June 1, you can attend Paws and Perennials Plant Palooza to check out different plant vendors in a dog-friendly setting. Or, you can take a photography class with Dave Kelly, a wildlife photographer. He'll host a Digital Photography class on June 23 and a Hummingbird Photography class on August 3. The garden's Butterfly Bungalow is open from May 25 through October 5, Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm to get an up-to-close look at their caterpillars, butterflies and chrysalides

7. Check out these summer concerts

Get excited because some big names are coming into town! Country superstar Morgan Wallen is set to perform at the Bank of America Stadium on July 18. At the PNC Music Pavilion, you can also catch these concerts throughout the summer:

June 5: Niall Horan
June 6: 21 Savage
June 22: OutLaw Fest with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, RObert Plant and Allison Krauss
June 27: Maroon 5
August 28: Imagine Dragons

and many more!

a music concert with confetti in the sky

8. Celebrate the Fourth of July in style

Join the Charlotte Symphony at Symphony Park for the Summer Pops Celebrate America concert on June 30 to start your patriotic celebrations. The evening will end with a fireworks finale. Then, on July 4th, you can get your party on early at the Stars and Stripes on Main parade in Mooresville at 10 am. End the day with some fireworks Uptown at the WBTV Skyshow, which you can watch for free from Romare Bearden Park.