Race weekend is here: NASCAR's Bank of America 400 weekend takes over Charlotte Motor Speedway Friday through Sunday. Add a free vegan food festival in Uptown, Phoebe Bridgers at Spectrum Center, Charlotte FC under the lights, and BrewFest at the Renaissance Festival. Here's the insider rundown for Friday–Sunday, Oct 9–11.
1. Bank of America 400 Weekend — Fri–Sun at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Three days of racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord: the Craftsman Truck Series on Friday, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday, and the Bank of America 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday afternoon. It's a playoff race, so expect a big crowd and heavy traffic on I-85 and Bruton Smith Blvd.
Pro tip: arrive early, tailgate, and plan your exit. Leaving a few laps before the checkered flag or waiting an hour after both beat sitting in the lot.
2. Charlotte VegFest — Saturday at Victoria Yards (free)
Saturday noon–6 PM, Victoria Yards in Uptown turns into Charlotte's biggest plant-based party: 100+ vegan food vendors, cooking demos, a live DJ, free fitness classes, and local makers. Entry is free, and you don't have to be vegan to eat well here.
3. Phoebe Bridgers — Spectrum Center, Friday
Phoebe Bridgers brings The Lost Tour to Spectrum Center Friday at 7:30 PM, with Alex G opening. Grab dinner in Uptown first and walk over.
4. Charlotte FC vs. FC Dallas — Saturday
Charlotte FC hosts FC Dallas at Bank of America Stadium Saturday at 7:30 PM. Pregame in South End or Uptown and ride the light rail in to skip stadium parking.
5. Carolina Renaissance Festival: BrewFest Weekend — Sat & Sun
The Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville runs 9:30 AM–5:30 PM both days, and this is BrewFest Weekend: microbrew sampling and RenFest Beer Games from noon to 4 PM at the Haven, plus jousting and 25 acres of shows. Parking is free; buy tickets online ahead of time.
6. Charlotte Symphony: Scheherazade — Belk Theater, Fri & Sat
The Charlotte Symphony plays Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade at the Belk Theater in Uptown, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM. A great date night that doesn't involve a crowd of 40,000.
7. Two Door Cinema Club — Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre, Saturday
Two Door Cinema Club celebrates 15 years of Tourist History at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre on Saturday night. Indie-rock singalongs under an October sky.
8. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue — The Underground, Sunday
Close out the weekend with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at The Underground (below The Fillmore at AvidXchange Music Factory) Sunday at 8 PM. New Orleans funk in a small room is hard to beat.
9. Niko Moon — The Fillmore, Friday
Country-pop singalongs with Niko Moon and his Back To My Roots Tour at The Fillmore Charlotte Friday at 8 PM.
10. Build Your Own Saturday (CLT Local edition)
Not everything needs a ticket. Start with a croissant at Amélie's French Bakery in NoDa (open 24/7). Hit VegFest in Uptown for lunch. Spend the afternoon at Heist Brewery in NoDa, then book dinner at Haberdish for fried chicken and a sweet tea cocktail. Finish with a nightcap at The Crunkleton in Elizabeth. Every stop is independently Charlotte-owned.
Event details change. Confirm dates, times, and tickets with each venue before you go. New to Charlotte? Find the neighborhood that fits your weekends, or get the free weekly insider picks.